FOLDING ELLIPTICAL EXERCISE MACHINE
An elliptical exercise machine having a frame adjustable between an operational position and a folded position. A removable outer shell is hingedly connected to a base upon which the elliptical machine stands. The outer shell is configured to resemble two halves of a coffee table that are pivoted to either cover or expose the machine. Each handlebar on the machine includes a hinged section that is movable between a folded and an operational position. The machine is further provided with a latching assembly to lock the flywheel against rotation and to correctly position the same so that the outer shell can be placed over the folded machine.
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This is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/801,228 that was filed May 9, 2007, the entire specification of which is incorporated herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Technical Field
This invention generally relates to exercise equipment. More particularly, the invention relates to elliptical machines. Specifically, the invention relates to an elliptical machine that is foldable for storage and includes a two-part hinged outer shell that resembles a coffee table when in a storage position, hinged handlebars that are movable between a storage and operational position, and a latching assembly for preventing rotation of the flywheel and correctly positioning the swing arms on the machine when folded for storage in the outer shell.
2. Background Information
There is a growing trend in the fitness industry for equipment that is suitable for use in the home, especially pieces of equipment such as treadmills and elliptical machines. Elliptical machines are a popular choice as home exercise equipment as they give both the upper body and lower body an effective, low impact workout.
One of the key issues that people face when elliptical machines and similar pieces of equipment are brought into their homes is that of space. A good quality elliptical machine will be around 80 inches in length, have a width of between 32 and 36 inches, a height of around 63 inches and weigh anywhere from 190 lbs upwards. Obviously, there also needs for clearance space surrounding the actual machine so that a person may get safely on to and off from the machine. Basements tend to be one of the more typical places in the home to place exercise equipment because of the space constraints. However, exercising alone in a basement away from the center of activity in the home tends to be tedious. Additionally, because the elliptical machine is out of sight, it is easy for one to forget to exercise on a regular basis.
Bringing this type of space-utilizing device into a living room or family room causes two problems. Firstly, these pieces of equipment are not aesthetically pleasing and would be considered to be an eyesore in such a communal type of room. Secondly, the quantity of space in the room that is occupied by such devices is unacceptable.
Many manufacturers have attempted to address these issues by providing home-use elliptical machines that are foldable so that they will take up less space. One such home-use version of a foldable elliptical machine is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,149,551 and 6,190,289, both issued to Pyles et al. Pyles et al teaches that an elliptical machine may be reduced in dimensions by pivoting the pedal arms and/or the rails on which the arms ride upwardly toward a vertically extending mast. The device is therefore moved from an operational position into a vertically folded position. This mechanism for folding the elliptical machine does reduce the amount of floor space that the machine will occupy when not in use, but considering that the height of a mast for an elliptical machine is typically around five to six feet high, the folded machine would remain an eyesore in any room. Pyles et al discloses that the machine may also be provided with a plurality of wheels that will enable the homeowner to wheel the vertically folded device across a surface and into a suitable storage location, such as a closet.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,823,917 issued to Chen discloses an elliptical device in which the mast or handle comprises an upper and a lower portion that are pivotally connected together. The machine includes a pin mechanism that, when released, allows the upper portion of the handle to be folded downwardly over the swing arms. This folding mechanism somewhat addresses the mast height issue, but does not reduce the amount of floor space that the machine occupies. Even when the machine has been moved into a folded position the swing arms project beyond the length of the supporting base and are hazardous to people walking past the machine. Once again, the machine is provided with wheels to allow it to be moved into a storage area because keeping the device in a high traffic area would be unacceptable from both an aesthetic and space point of view.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,529,554 issued to Eschenbach discloses a collapsible exercise device in which the handle is pivoted downwardly to abut the pedal arms. When this occurs, the frame is actually elongated to ensure that the folded device has the lowest possible height so that it may be stored under a bed, for example. Consequently, the device occupies even more floor space when it is folded than when it is operational.
Furthermore, elliptical machines sold under the trademark PRO FORM SPACE SAVER®, a registered trademark of Icon Health & Fitness of West Logan, Utah, have a base frame that comprises two pivotally connected sections. The mast extends upwardly from the first section and a flywheel is mounted on the second section. When the device is to be folded for storage purposes, the pivot arms are detached from the flywheel and the second section of the base is pivoted over the first section of the base toward the mast. This reduces the length of the base, but does not address the height issue of the mast.
Similarly, elliptical machines sold by Sharper Image Corporation of San Francisco, Calif., also include a pivoting base section that is folded upwardly onto the mast of the device. The device is therefore of a low profile, but of an elongated length and cannot be simply left in the middle of a room.
Though some of the elliptical machines disclosed in the prior art may be folded up, they are still aesthetically displeasing and do not enhance the appearance of a room, such as a living room or family room, that is frequently used. While yet other machines may be folded up and wheeled away for storage purposes, it is problematic for the home exerciser to have to move the machine back and forth between the storage location and the use location. Additionally, it is also more likely that if a person has wheeled their elliptical machine into some sort of storage location, they will be less inclined to retrieve the elliptical machine in order to exercise because of the effort involved in setting the elliptical machine back in an appropriate location.
There is therefore a need in the art for an elliptical machine that is substantial and sturdy in construction that is foldable to reduce the amount of space it occupies when not in use, but which does not need to be placed in a remote storage location in order to enhance the aesthetic appearance of the room.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe device of the present invention comprises an elliptical exercise machine having a frame adjustable between an operational position and a folded position. A removable outer shell is hingedly connected to a base upon which the elliptical machine stands and preferably is secured thereto. The outer shell is configured to resemble two halves of a coffee table that are pivoted to either cover or expose the folded machine. Each handlebar on the elliptical machine includes a hinged section that is movable between a folded and an operational position. The hinged section is latched in place when in the operational position. The elliptical machine is further provided with a latching assembly to lock the flywheel against rotation and to correctly position the same so that the outer shell can be placed over the folded machine for storage.
The preferred embodiments of the invention, illustrative of the best mode in which applicant has contemplated applying the principles, are set forth in the following description and are shown in the drawings and are particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims.
Referring to
Exercise machine 10 includes an outer shell 12 that is configured to have the appearance of a piece of furniture and, most specifically, the appearance of a coffee table. Shell 12 has a top 14, four side walls 16 extending outwardly therefrom and defining an interior cavity 18 (
Elliptical machine 20 is adjustable between the folded position (
Elliptical machine 20 comprises a frame member 24, a mast 26, a pair of handlebars 28, a pair of swing arms 30, a pair of footrests 32 and a flywheel 34.
Frame member 24 comprises a base 36 that is elongated and terminates in a front floor support 38 at a first end and a rear floor support 40 at a second end.
Mast 26 extends upwardly away from base 36 of frame member 24 just rearwardly of front floor support 38. Mast 26 comprises a lower mast portion 44 and an upper mast portion 46 that are pivotally secured to each other at pivot 48. Lower mast portion 44 is welded or otherwise fixedly secured to base 36 and preferably includes a braced region 50 to provide strength and stability to mast 26. An end 52 of lower mast portion 44 extends upwardly for a short distance beyond pivot 48. This is most easily seen when elliptical machine 20 is in the folded position and mast 26 is therefore in the folded position (
Each handlebar 28 comprises a sleeve 60 and a bar 62. Sleeve 60 is fixedly secured to an upper end of one of the swing arms 30 by being welded thereto, for example. Bar 62 is adjustably engageable in a bore (not shown) in sleeve 60. Bar 62 is able to telescope further into or further out of sleeve 60 and may be completely disconnected from sleeve 60 by sliding the same completely out of the bore therein. Bar 62 is also able to rotate within the bore of sleeve 60 and to thereby assume a different orientation relative thereto. As shown in
When elliptical machine 20 is adjusted from the folded position to an operational position (
Swing arms 30 comprise an upper arm 68 and a lower arm 70 that are pivotally connected to each other by an elbow 72. Footrests 32 are secured to or integrally formed with lower arm 70. Each upper arm 68 is mounted by way of a pivot pin 74 to an upper end of the upper mast 46. Pivot pins 74 extend outwardly at right angles to the upper end of upper mast 46 and, consequently, swing arms 30 are disposed substantially parallel to mast 26 (
In the folded position, frame member 24 with its base 36, front floor support 38, plate 42 and rear floor support 40 remains in a stationary position on a floor surface. None of these components is foldable. Frame member 24 is of a rugged construction and preferably is manufactured from members that are welded or otherwise fixedly secured to each other. In order to fold or collapse elliptical machine 20 onto frame 24, latch 64 is disengaged and handlebars 28 are rotated inwardly to a position where ends 66 are as close as possible to each other. Latch 56 is disengaged by pulling upwardly on knob 58. As soon as upper mast 46 becomes movable relative to lower mast 44, upper mast 46 is rotated about pivot 48 and is folded over base 36 of frame member 24.
When elliptical machine 20 is in this folded position it should be noted that ends 66 of handlebars 28 do not extend rearwardly of rear floor support 24 (
When a person wishes to exercise, they lift outer shell 12 from over the folded elliptical machine 20. Elliptical machine 20 is then adjusted from the folded position (
Referring to
Referring to
When the person has finished using machine 120, they collapse machine 120 back into a fully folded position as previously described herein. They then grasp one of the sides 182, 184 along an upper edge 192 (
Referring to
Each drive member 239 has an exterior surface 239a (
Flywheel 234 also includes a latching assembly 233 to latch it against rotational motion and to orient arms 270 in a position that is suitable for folding of elliptical machine 220 into a storage position. Latching assembly 233 comprises a lever arm 251 that releasably engages at least one of drive members 239. To this end, at least one of drive members 239 has a pair of spaced-apart pins 247, 249 that extend outwardly from the interior surface 239b thereof. Pins 247, 249 are disposed substantially at right angles to interior surface 239b and project inwardly toward post 235. Pins 247, 249 may be dowels, bolts or any other suitable projecting member that extends outwardly from drive member 239 or is integrally formed therewith such as by molding. Lever arm 251 is a substantially S-shaped component that is pivotally secured by a bolt 253 to an exterior surface 237a of crossbar 237. Surface 237a is opposed to interior surface 239b of drive member 230. Lever arm 251 is a thin, planar member that extends substantially parallel to exterior surface 237a and at right angles to the axis of rotation “R.” Lever arm 251 has a mid-region with first and second free ends 251a, 251b extending outwardly away therefrom. Bolt 253 is received through lever arm 251 proximate the mid-region thereof and secures lever arm 251 to crossbar 237. Bolt 253 permits lever arm 251 to pivot about an axis “S” extending therethrough (
As shown in
Flywheel 234 and latching assembly 233 are used in the following manner. When the coffee-table shaped outer shell (not shown) is unfolded or removed, elliptical machine 220 is in the folded position shown in
When a person wishes to use the machine 220, the handlebars 228 and mast 226 must be rotated into the upright position for use, as has been previously described. At this point, flywheel 234 is still locked and cannot be rotated. In order to release flywheel 234 for rotation, the exerciser pushes free end 251a of lever arm 251 downwardly in slot 293 and in the direction of arrow “D” and then laterally in the direction of arrow “E”. This movement causes free end 251a to slide past septum 267 and into the vicinity of release region 265 and also cause spring 257 to be expanded. When free end 251a is adjacent release region 265, the exerciser releases free end 251a and spring 257 rebounds causing free end 251a to slide upwardly into release region 265. Septum 267 prevents free end 251a from sliding back in the opposite direction to arrow “E” and back into latch region 263. As shown in
When the person has exercised to a sufficient degree and wishes to store elliptical machine 220 once again, they apply finger pressure to first end 251a of lever arm 251 to push the same downwardly in the direction of arrow “D” and then laterally in the opposite direction to arrow “E”. These motions move free end 251a laterally beneath septum 267 and into the vicinity of latch region 263. The motions also cause spring 257 to be expanded. The exerciser releases free end 251a and spring 257 contracts drawing free end 251a upwardly into latch region 263. As free end 251a slides vertically upwardly, lever arm 251 pivots about bolt 253 and second end 251b is moved vertically downwardly. Spring 257 biases second end 251b to shift laterally toward drive member 239. Consequently, when flywheel 234 is rotated in the direction of arrow “M”, such as by peddling elliptical machine 220 in the forward direction, one of pins 247, 249 will become captured in slot 261 (
First hinge plate 371 includes a plurality of spaced apart bosses 377 that extend outwardly away from an end of the plate that is remote from hinge pine 375. Each boss 377 defines an aperture therein (not numbered) and these apertures are sized and aligned with each other so that they may receive the shaft 379a of a cotter pin 379 therethrough.
As shown in
When elliptical machine 320 is set up for a person to exercise thereon, handlebars 328 are in the position shown in
When the person wishes to store elliptical machine 320, cotter pin 379 is pulled outwardly in the direction of arrow “T” (
When, at a later time, the person wishes to use elliptical machine 320, the outer shell is removed, latching assembly 333 is disengaged so that arms 370 are free to move, mast 326 is rotated and locked into the operating position. Cotter pin 379 is withdrawn from the apertures in bosses 377a and 377b and second bar 362 to rotated upwardly in a direction opposite to arrow “U” (
In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed.
Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention are an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described.
Claims
1. An elliptical exercise machine comprising:
- a frame adjustable between an operational position and a folded position, said frame comprising: a base; a mast extending upwardly from the base; a rotatable flywheel mounted on the base a spaced distance from the mast;
- a first and a second swing arm assembly; wherein a first end of each of the first and second swing arm assemblies is pivotally mounted to the mast and a second end of each of the first and second assemblies is operatively connected to the flywheel; and
- a pair of handlebars, each handlebar comprising: a first section fixedly mounted to one of the first and second swing arm assemblies; a second section; a hinge pivotably securing the first and second sections together; wherein said second section is pivotable between a first orientation when the frame is in the operational position and a second orientation when the frame is in the folded position.
2. The elliptical machine as defined in claim 1, wherein each hinge comprises:
- a first hinge plate fixedly secured to the first section of the handlebar;
- a second hinge plate fixedly secured to the second section of the handlebar; and
- a hinge pin engaging both of the first and second hinge plates, whereby said second hinge plate is pivotable about the hinge pin; and when the hinge is in the first orientation an interior surface of the first hinge plate is in abutting contact with an interior surface of the second hinge plate; and when the hinge is in the second orientation the interior surface of the first hinge plate is coplanar with the interior surface of the second hinge plate.
3. The elliptical machine as defined in claim 3, wherein the hinge further includes a latching mechanism for releasably connecting the first and second hinge plates together when the hinge is in the first orientation.
4. The elliptical machine as defined in claim 3, wherein the latching mechanism comprises:
- a pair of spaced bosses extending outwardly from an end of the first hinge plate remote from the hinge pin;
- an aperture defined in each of the bosses, said apertures being aligned with each other;
- a latching member extending outwardly from an end of the second hinge plate remote from the hinge pin;
- a hole defined in the latching member; said hole being alignable with the aligned apertures in the bosses when the hinge is in the first orientation; and
- a pin member releasably received through the aligned hole and apertures when the hinge is in the first orientation.
5. The elliptical machine as defined in claim 3, wherein the second section of each handlebar extends vertically upwardly when the hinge is in the first orientation.
6. The elliptical machine as defined in claim 3, wherein the second section of each handlebar extends substantially downwardly when the hinge is in the second orientation.
7. The elliptical machine as defined in claim 1, wherein the mast comprises a first mast section that is fixedly secured to the base and a second mast section that is pivotally secured to the first mast section; and wherein the first and second swing arm assemblies are secured to the second mast section; and wherein the second sections of the handlebars are disposed substantially parallel to the second mast section when the hinge is in the second orientation and the frame is in the folded position.
8. The elliptical machine as defined in claim 7, further comprising an outer shell that is selectively received over the elliptical machine when the frame is in the folded position.
9. An elliptical exercise machine comprising:
- a frame adjustable between an operational position and a folded position, said frame comprising: a base; a mast extending upwardly from the base; a rotatable flywheel mounted on the base a spaced distance from the mast;
- a first and a second swing arm assembly; wherein a first end of each of the first and second swing arm assemblies is pivotally mounted to the mast and a second end of each of the first and second assemblies is operatively connected to the flywheel; and a latching assembly operationally engageable with the flywheel; said latching assembly being movable between a latched position where rotation of the flywheel is substantially prevented, and a release position where the flywheel is rotatable.
10. The elliptical exercise machine as defined in claim 1, wherein the frame further includes a post extending vertically upward from the base a spaced distance from the mast; said post having a first face and a second face;
- and wherein said flywheel comprises:
- a first drive member;
- a pivot pin extending between an interior surface of said first drive member and the first face of the post; and said first drive member is rotatable about an axis extending through said pivot pin;
- a first shaft extending outwardly from an exterior surface of said first drive member; said first shaft being operationally connected to the first swing arm assembly; and wherein said latching assembly operationally engages the first drive member.
11. The elliptical exercise machine as defined in claim 10, further comprising at least one latching pin extending outwardly away from the interior surface of the first drive member and toward the first face of the post.
12. The elliptical machine as defined in claim 11, wherein the latching assembly engages the latching pin when in the latched position and does not engage the latching pin when in the released position.
13. The elliptical machine as defined in claim 12, wherein the latching assembly comprises:
- a substantially S-shaped lever arm having a mid-section and a first and a second free end extending outwardly from the mid-section and in opposite directions to each other;
- a pivot member securing said mid-section of the lever arm to the first face of the post a spaced distance from the pivot pin; whereby said first free end extends rearwardly toward a rear end of the elliptical machine and the second free end extends forwardly toward a front end of the elliptical machine; and
- a spring extending between the first free end of the lever arm and a portion of the post.
14. The elliptical machine as defined in claim 13, wherein the second free end of the lever arm defines a slot therein, said slot being oriented to receive said latching pin therein when the latching assembly is in a latched position
15. The elliptical machine as defined in claim 14, wherein the spring biases the second free end of the lever arm laterally toward the first drive member when the latching assembly is in the latched position, and does not bias the second free end of the lever arm laterally toward the first drive member when the latching assembly is in the release position.
16. The elliptical machine as defined in claim 12, wherein the elliptical machine further includes a housing that houses the flywheel therein, and said housing has a rear face that defines a substantially L-shaped slot therein; and said first free end of the lever arm extends outwardly from the housing through said L-shaped slot.
17. The elliptical machine as defined in claim 16, wherein said L-shaped slot includes:
- a latch region;
- a release region; and
- a septum dividing a portion of the latch region from the release region; and wherein a length of the first free end of the lever arm extends through the L-shaped slot and is selectively movable between the latch region and the release region thereof.
18. The elliptical machine as defined in claim 17, wherein the latch region is horizontally adjacent the release region; and the first free end of the lever arm is in the latch region when the latching assembly is in the latched position, and the first free end of the lever arm is in the release region when the latching assembly is in the latched position
19. The elliptical machine as defined in claim 18, wherein the elliptical machine further comprises an outer shell that resembles a piece of furniture, said outer shell being selectively positioned over the elliptical machine when in the folded position, and wherein the outer shell is only positionable over the folded elliptical machine when the latching assembly is in the latched position.
20. The elliptical machine as defined in claim 18, wherein the latching assembly must be in the release position in order for the elliptical machine to be operational for exercising.
21. The elliptical exercise machine as defined in claim 10, wherein said flywheel further comprises:
- a second drive member pivotally mounted by the pivot pin to the second face of the post, said second drive member being rotatable about the axis extending through the pivot pin;
- a second shaft extending outwardly from an exterior surface of said second drive member; said second shaft being operationally connected to the second swing arm assembly; and wherein the first shaft and second shaft are substantially parallel to the pivot pin and extend outwardly from the post in opposite directions to each other; and wherein the first shaft is radially disposed substantially one hundred and eighty degrees away from the second shaft.
22. In combination;
- an elliptical exercise machine that is movable between an operational position where the machine is useable for exercise purposes and a folded position where the machine is reduced in overall outer dimensions and is not useable for exercise purposes;
- a cover selectively positionable to hide the exercise machine when in the folded position and removable therefrom prior to the machine being placed into an operational position; wherein said cover comprises: a base upon which the elliptical exercise machine is received; a first cover portion hingedly connected to the base and being movable between a first position where it covers a part of the elliptical machine and a second position where it does not cover a part of the elliptical machine; and a second cover portion hingedly connected to the base and being movable between a first position where it covers a second part of the elliptical machine and a second position where does not cover the second part of the elliptical machine.
23. The elliptical machine as defined in claim 22, wherein each of the first and second cover portions comprises:
- a substantially U-shaped perimeter wall having a U-shaped first edge and an opposed U-shaped second edge;
- a planar wall mounted across said first edge and extending perpendicularly to said perimeter wall, whereby said planar wall and perimeter wall define a U-shaped cavity region therebetween; and when the first and second covers are moved into the first position the part of the folded elliptical machine is received with the cavity.
24. The elliptical machine as defined in claim 23, further comprising:
- a first hinge operationally securing a portion of the second edge of the first cover section to the base; and wherein the first cover section pivots about the first hinge between the first and second positions; and
- a second hinge operationally securing a portion of the second edge of the second cover section to the base, and wherein the second cover section pivots about the second hinge between the first and second positions.
25. The elliptical machine as defined in claim 1, wherein the first cover portion comprises substantially half of the cover and the second cover portion comprises substantially half of the cover; and wherein an end of the first cover portion abuts an end of the second cover portion when both of the first and second cover portions are in the first position over the folded elliptical machine.
Type: Application
Filed: May 1, 2008
Publication Date: Nov 13, 2008
Applicant: SPARK INNOVATIONS, INC. (King City)
Inventors: Robert G. Dickie (King City), Steve A. Copeland (Barrie)
Application Number: 12/113,279