ELLIPTICAL EXERCISE APPARATUS
An elliptical exercise apparatus includes a main device, a guider frame rotatably connected to the main device via an axis, the guider frame being rotatable relative to the ground and the main device, two crank units respectively rotatably connected to a right side and a left side of the main device, two supporting sets both interconnected between the two crank units and the guider frame, two swing links respectively pivotally connected to two sides of the main device, and two control links both interconnected between the two supporting sets and the two swing links. Under this arrangement, when the elliptical exercise apparatus is folded, one supporting set abuts against the guider frame and one corresponding control link simultaneously, so that when the user moves the elliptical exercise apparatus which is folded, the structure of the elliptical exercise apparatus prevents unwanted motion of the cranks and the supporting sets.
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The application claims priority to Taiwan Application Serial Number 102126056, filed Jul. 19, 2013.
BACKGROUND1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a stationary exercise apparatus and, more particularly to an elliptical exercise apparatus which is foldable.
2. Description of the Related Art
U.S. Pat. No. 7,946,962 discloses that an elliptical exercise apparatus is foldable and unfoldable. The elliptical exercise apparatus comprises a main device, a guider frame, two crank units, two supporting sets, two swing links and two control links. When the elliptical exercise apparatus is unfolded, the guider frame is parallel to the ground. In contrast, when the elliptical exercise apparatus is folded, the guider frame is generally perpendicular to the ground. Therefore, many components of the elliptical exercise apparatus are in a substantially vertical position, and the elliptical exercise apparatus in this folded orientation has a smaller footprint compared to an unfolded orientation. However, although the elliptical exercise apparatus is folded, the two crank units are still unexpectedly rotatable in a limited range and the two supporting sets, the two swing links and the two control links are still unexpectedly movable in the limited range via the rotatability of the two crank units (as shown in FIGS. 12 and 15 of U.S. Pat. No. 7,946,962). In this way, when a user moves the elliptical exercise apparatus which is folded, this unexpected motion and rotation would be undesirable for the user.
The elliptical exercise apparatus disclosed in German Pat. No. 202007011405 tries to overcome this issue. The elliptical exercise apparatus has a mechanism for locking two crank units while the elliptical exercise apparatus is in the unfolded, usable state. As taught in the German patent application, the user inserts a screw bolt into a screw hole at one crank unit for locking the two crank units. However, the foregoing technique is not automatic, and requires an extra step for fastening the locking mechanism to lock the two crank units, making the operation very inconvenient.
The elliptical exercise apparatus disclosed in US. Pat. Publication No. 20130310225 is another attempt to overcome the above issue. The elliptical exercise apparatus has a locking device. The locking device is configured to automatically engage the lock between the large pulley and the main device as the guider frame is pivotally rotated from the use position to the storage position. When the large pulley is locked so as to prevent it from rotating relative to the main device, the large pulley, the crank units, the supporting members and the pedals are prevented from engaging in any uncontrolled or unintended motion. The locking device is also configured to automatically disengage the lock between the large pulley and the main device as the guider frame is pivotally rotated from the storage position back to the use position. When the large pulley is unlocked so as to allow it to freely rotate relative to the main device, the supporting members and the pedals are permitted to move in relationship to the guider frame. In this way, the foregoing technique is automatic, and does not require an extra step for fastening or unfastening the locking device to engage or disengage the lock between the large pulley and the main device, so that the operation is very convenient. However, this elliptical exercise apparatus requires an additional locking device, adding additional cost to the manufacture of the elliptical exercise apparatus.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the disadvantages of the conventional method of building an exercise apparatus. Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.
SUMMARYThe present invention involves an elliptical exercise apparatus. Generally speaking, the elliptical exercise apparatus is to be foldable and unfoldable, wherein the user doesn't need to further lock the components after the folding operation to prevent unintended movement, and doesn't need to unlock the components prior to the unfolding operation.
According to one aspect of the present invention, the elliptical exercise apparatus includes a main device, a guider frame, two crank units, two supporting sets, two swing links and two control links. The guider frame is rotatably connected to the main device via a first pivot and is rotatable relative to the ground. When the guider frame is rotated down to the ground, the guider frame is positioned in the unfolded, usable position. When the guider frame is rotated up to the main device, the guider frame is positioned in the folded, storage position. When the guider frame is positioned at either the usable position or the storage position, the guider frame is locked so that it cannot switch positions. The guider frame has two track members respectively assembled at a right side and a left side thereof, and each track member has a front end and a rear end. The two crank units are respectively rotatably connected on a right side and a left side of the main device, and are simultaneously rotatable in a first direction or a second direction being opposite to the first direction. The two supporting sets are both interconnected between the two crank units and the guider frame. Each supporting set has a first portion, a second portion and a third portion. The first portion of each supporting set is rotatably connected to each corresponding crank unit and is rotatable along a circular path defined by the rotation of each corresponding crank unit. The second portion of each supporting set is slidably mounted on each corresponding track member. The two swing links are respectively pivotally connected on two sides of the main device. The two control links are both interconnected between the two supporting sets and the two swing links. Each control link has a first portion, a second portion and a third portion. The first portion of each control link is rotatably connected to each corresponding swing link and is swingable along an arc path defined by a swing of each corresponding swing link. The second portion of each control link is configured to support the user's corresponding foot. The third portion of each control link is pivotally connected to the third portion of each corresponding supporting set. Under this arrangement, when the guider frame is rotated into the folded, storage position, one supporting set abuts against the guider frame and defines a first abutting relation. The first abutting relation prevents the second portion of one supporting set from further sliding upward, away from the front end of one corresponding track member, and prevents the first portion of one supporting set from being rotated along the circular path in the first direction. At the same time, a second abutting relation occurs which prevents the two crank units from being rotated in the second direction. The second abutting relation is defined between two potentially abutting components selected from the group consisting of: one crank unit, one supporting set, one swing link and one control link. These two components abut against each other, and this interference is what prevents the two crank units from being rotated in the second direction.
According to another aspect of the present invention, when the guider frame is positioned in the usable position, the first and second abutting relations no longer exist, and the crank units are free to rotate. When the guider frame is not fully rotated into the storage position, one supporting set does not create the first abutting relation and the two potentially abutting components don't create the second abutting relation at the same time. When the guider frame is fully rotated into the storage position, one supporting set creates the first abutting relation and the two potentially abutting components create the second abutting relation at the same time, thereby preventing the two crank units from being rotated in either direction.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the abutting portion is made of an elastic material.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a first angle is defined between the two potentially abutting components selected from the group consisting of: one crank unit, one supporting set, one swing link and one control link. When the guider frame is positioned in the usable position and the two crank units both rotate, because the potentially abutting components move in relation to one another, the first angle is enlarged and reduced repeatedly between a maximum degree and a minimum degree. When the guider frame is rotated up into the storage position, one of the two potentially abutting components abuts against another of the two potentially abutting components, so that the first angle is almost zero degree.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the second abutting relation is defined by one control link and one corresponding supporting set which abut against each other when the guider frame is rotated into the storage position.
According to another aspect of the present invention, each control link has an abutting body. Each supporting set has an abutting portion. The abutting body corresponds to the abutting portion of each corresponding supporting set. When the guider frame is positioned in the usable position, the abutting body of each control link keeps above the abutting portion of each corresponding supporting set. In contrast, when the guider frame is rotated into the storage position, the abutting body of each control link abuts against the abutting portion of each corresponding supporting set.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a distance is defined between a portion of one of the two potentially abutting components and a portion of another of the two potentially abutting components. When the guider frame is positioned in the usable position and the two crank units both rotate, because the potentially abutting components move in relation to one another, the distance is enlarged and reduced repeatedly between a maximum length and a minimum length. When the guider frame is rotated into the storage position, the portion of one potentially abutting component abuts against the portion of another potentially abutting component, so that the distance between the two portions of the two potentially abutting components is almost nonexistent.
According to another aspect of the present invention, each swing link has a handle. When the elliptical exercise apparatus is folded, the two swing links, especially the two handles thereof, are mirror images of each other.
According to another aspect of the present invention, when the guider frame is rotated into the storage position, the first abutting relation prevents the two crank units from being rotated in the first direction, and the second abutting relation prevents the two crank units from being rotated in the second direction.
There are several advantages of a basic embodiment of the present invention. The user does not need to further lock the components after the folding operation, and does not need to unlock the components before the unfolding operation, so that it is convenient for the user to fold or unfold the present invention. In addition, because the present invention does not need any lock structure for locking the components after finishing the folding operation, the manufacture of the present invention is cost-effective.
The reader is advised that this summary is not meant to be exhaustive. Further features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description, accompanying drawings and appended claims.
Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.
The present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art by reading the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:
In the following detailed description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosed embodiments. It will be apparent, however, that one or more embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are schematically depicted in order to simplify the drawings.
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A lock mechanism 70 is assembled between the guider frame 20 and the main device 10. The lock mechanism 70 is configured to prevent the guider frame 20 from unexpectedly moving relative to the main device 10 when the guider frame 20 is positioned in the usable position or the storage position. A lever 71 is assembled at a rear end of the guider frame 20 (as shown in
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A freewheel 91 is rotatably assembled on the frame body 12 of the main device 10. A driving belt mechanism 92 connects the freewheel 91 and the crank axle 31, so that the crank axle 31 can drive the freewheel 91 via the driving belt mechanism 92 according to a predetermined speed ratio. The driving belt mechanism 92 has a first belt wheel, a second belt wheel and a belt member. The first belt wheel is coaxially connected to the freewheel 91 (not shown). The second belt wheel is coaxially connected to the crank axle 31. The belt member is mounted around the first belt wheel and the second belt wheel. A resistance device 93 is assembled at one side of the freewheel 91. The resistance device 93 is configured to resist a rotation of the freewheel 91; in addition, the magnitude of the resistance is adjustable via manipulating the console 14 (the detail of the cooperation between the freewheel 91, the resistance device 93 and the crank unit 30 is well-known and will not be further described here).
Each supporting set 40 has a front end, a rear end and a middle portion between said two ends. The front end of each supporting set 40 is rotatably connected to an outmost radial end portion of each corresponding crank unit 30. A pivot axis defined between each supporting set 40 and each corresponding crank unit 30 is transverse to the frame body 12. The front end of each supporting set 40 is rotated around the second pivot axis A2 along a circular path T1, by a rotation of each corresponding crank unit 30 (as shown in
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the fifth pivot axis A5 is adjacent to a front end of the pedal 61. Consequently, when each control link 60 and each corresponding supporting set 40 are rotated back and forth relative to each other via the fifth pivot axis A5, the entire pedal 61 is moved upwardly and downwardly relative to each corresponding supporting set 40. In another embodiment of the present invention, the fifth pivot axis A5 might be defined between the front end and the rear end of the pedal (as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,946,962 or German pat. No. 202007011405); under this arrangement, when each control link and each corresponding supporting set are rotated back and forth relative to each other via the fifth pivot axis A5, the front end and the rear end of the pedal are moved in opposite directions. In another embodiment of the present invention, the fifth pivot axis A5 might be defined at the front end of the pedal. In another embodiment of the present invention, a front end of the pedal might be pivotally connected to each corresponding supporting set, and a rear end of each control link might be fixedly connected to the pedal (as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,316,633).
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In another embodiment, the abutting unit 42 of one supporting set 40 and the abutting portion 43 of one supporting set 40 might not respectively abut against the abutting member 24 of one corresponding abutting plate 23 of the guider frame 20 and the abutting body 62 of one corresponding control link 60, until the guider frame 20 is rotated into the storage position and the folding operation is finished. In another embodiment, the abutting unit 42 of one supporting set 40 might abut against the abutting member 24 of one corresponding abutting plate 23 of the guider frame 20 and then be away from that, during the folding operation. In another embodiment, the abutting portion 43 of one supporting set 40 might abut against the abutting body 62 of one corresponding control link 60 and then be away from that, during the folding operation. No matter which one embodiment is practiced, when the guider frame 20 is not fully rotated into the storage position, the abutting unit 42 of one supporting set 40 and the abutting portion 43 of one supporting set 40 will not simultaneously respectively abut against the abutting member 24 of one corresponding abutting plate 23 of the guider frame 20 and the abutting body 62 of one corresponding control link 60. When the guider frame 20 is fully rotated into the storage position, the abutting unit 42 of one supporting set 40 and the abutting portion 43 of one supporting set 40 must simultaneously respectively abut against the abutting member 24 of one corresponding abutting plate 23 of the guider frame 20 and the abutting body 62 of one corresponding control link 60.
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In the preferred embodiment, referring to
Furthermore, although the first abutting relation is defined by the abutting unit 42 of one supporting set 40 and the abutting member 24 of one corresponding abutting plate 23 of the guider frame 20, and the second abutting relation is defined by the abutting portion 43 of one supporting set 40 and the abutting body 62 of one corresponding control link 60 in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the technical features shouldn't limit the present invention; in other words, the first abutting relation or the second abutting relation of the present invention might be defined by two components selected from the group consisting of the guider frame, one crank unit, one corresponding supporting set, one corresponding swing link and one corresponding control link. Specially, the two components which define the first abutting relation or the second abutting relation are movable relative to each other or rotatable relative to each other under the present invention.
As above description, another embodiment of the present invention is described as follows (not shown). There are many similarities between the preferred embodiment and another embodiment, so generally speaking, only the difference between the preferred embodiment and another embodiment is further described. Two abutting components are respectively assembled at the bottom end of each swing link and the front end of each corresponding control link for replacing the abutting body and the abutting portion. A second angle θ2 (or θ2′) is defined between the bottom end of each swing link 50 and the front end of each corresponding control link 60 (this feature of another embodiment can be illustrated in
The preferred embodiment of the present invention has several advantages as following.
First, when the folding operation of the elliptical exercise apparatus of the present invention is finished, each of the crank units 30, the supporting sets 40, the swing links 50 and the control links 60 is automatically locked by the abutting relations; in other words, the user does not need to further lock each of said components after the folding operation, so that it is convenient for the user to fold the present invention. In contrast, when the unfolding operation of the elliptical exercise apparatus of the present invention is beginning, each of said components is automatically unlocked because the abutting relations disappears; in other words, the user does not need to unlock each of said components before the unfolding operation, so that it is convenient for the user to unfold the present invention. In addition, the present invention does not need any lock structure for locking said components after finishing the folding operation, so that the manufacture of the present invention is cost effective.
Second, when the preferred embodiment of the present invention is folded, the two swing links 50, especially the two handles 51 thereof, are mirror images of each other, so that the preferred embodiment is symmetrical. This has the preferred embodiment of the present invention look neat. In addition, this also has the user comfortable when the user moves the preferred embodiment which is folded, because the preferred embodiment is symmetrical.
Third, because the abutting body 62 is made of the elastic material, the abutting body 62 is prevented form being damaged, when the user folds the preferred embodiment. In addition, the second abutting relation would be more stable.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.
Claims
1. An elliptical exercise apparatus comprising:
- a main device;
- a guider frame rotatably connected to the main device via a first pivot which defines a first transverse pivot axis, the guider frame being rotatable relative to the ground and the main device, the guider frame positioned in the usable position when the guider frame is rotated to the ground, the guider frame rotated into the storage position when the guider frame is rotated to the main device, the guider frame having two track members respectively assembled at a right side and a left side thereof, each track member having a front end and a rear end;
- two crank units respectively rotatably connected to the main device, the two crank units being rotatable in a first direction or a second direction;
- two supporting sets each having a first portion, a second portion and a third portion, the first portion of each supporting set rotatably connected to each corresponding crank unit, the first portion of each supporting set being rotatable along a circular path with a rotation of each corresponding crank unit, the second portion of each supporting set slidably mounted on each corresponding track member;
- two swing links respectively pivotally connected to the main device; and
- two control links each having a first portion, a second portion and a third portion, the first portion of each control link rotatably connected to each corresponding swing link, the second portion of each control link configured to support the user's corresponding foot, the third portion of each control link rotatably connected to the third portion of each corresponding supporting set;
- wherein, when the guider frame is rotated into the storage position, the second portion of one of the supporting sets abuts against the guider frame for defining a first abutting relation, the first abutting relation preventing the second portion of one of the supporting sets from further sliding upwardly and preventing the first portion of one of the supporting sets from being rotated along the circular path in the first direction and a first further abutting component selected from the group consisting of the crank units, the supporting sets, the swing links and the control links abuts against a second further abutting component selected from the group at an abutting portion for defining a second abutting relation, the second abutting relation preventing the first portion of one of the supporting sets from being rotated along the circular path in the second direction.
2. The elliptical exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein when the guider frame is positioned in the usable position, the first further abutting component doesn't abut against the second further abutting component.
3. The elliptical exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the abutting portion is made of an elastic material.
4. The elliptical exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein a minimum angle is defined between the first further abutting component and the second further abutting component when the guider frame is positioned in the usable position and the two crank units both rotate repeatedly and when the guider frame is rotated into the storage position, an angle defined between the first further abutting component and the second further abutting component is smaller than the minimum angle.
5. The elliptical exercise apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first further abutting component is one of the control links and the second further abutting component is one of the supporting sets.
6. The elliptical exercise apparatus of claim 5, each of the control links further comprising an abutting body respectively abutting against the abutting portion positioned at one of the supporting sets when the guider frame is rotated into the storage position.
7. An elliptical exercise apparatus comprising:
- a main device;
- a guider frame rotatably connected to the main device via a first pivot which defines a first transverse pivot axis, the guider frame being rotatable relative to the ground and the main device, the guider frame configured to be rotated down into a substantially horizontal useable position when the exercise apparatus is in use, the guider frame configured to be rotatable up into a storage position when the exercise apparatus is stored, the guider frame having two track members respectively assembled at a right side and a left side thereof, each track member having a front end and a rear end;
- two crank units respectively rotatably connected to the main device, the two crank units being rotatable in a first direction or a second direction;
- two supporting sets each having a first portion, a second portion and a third portion, the first portion of each supporting set rotatably connected to each corresponding crank unit, the second portion of each supporting set slidably mounted on each corresponding track member;
- two swing links respectively pivotably connected to the main device; and
- two control links each having a first portion, a second portion and a third portion, the first portion of each control link rotatably connected to each corresponding swing link, the second portion of each control link configured to support the user's corresponding foot, the third portion of each control link rotatably connected to the third portion of each corresponding supporting set;
- wherein, when the guider frame is rotated into the storage position, a first abutting relation prevents the two crank units from being rotated in the first direction; a second abutting relation prevents the two crank units from being rotated in the second direction.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 27, 2014
Publication Date: Aug 27, 2015
Applicant:
Inventor: Yun-Bo Long (Songjiang District)
Application Number: 14/191,443