COLLAPSIBLE EXERCISE MACHINE

Abstract

In one embodiment, a collapsible exercise machine includes a seating assembly, a handlebar assembly, and a footrest assembly. The seating assembly includes an upper section configured with a seat for a user to sit on and a lower section supported by a support surface. The lower section is configured with a pair of frictional elements. The handlebar assembly is rotatably attached to the seating assembly and is supported by the support surface. The handlebar assembly includes a handlebar and a lower end section having a pair of wheels movable on the support surface. The footrest assembly is attached to the seating assembly and the handlebar assembly. The exercise machine is configured to transition between a first position and a second position, where the user exercises by overcoming resistance primarily generated by the user's own body weight in changing the exercise machine's position.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to exercise machines. More particularly, embodiments of the invention relate to collapsible exercise machines.

BACKGROUND

People who work long hours in an office environment wish to use exercise machines more frequently, preferably without having to visit a fitness center or gymnasium. As a result, many families would prefer to purchase one to use at home. However, such exercise machines available in the market occupy too much home space.

Exercise machines are usually configured to generate adjustable resistance and offer different levels of exercise for a user to choose from. Some exercise machines, known as stepper machines, are equipped with a resistance generating hydraulic cylinder. Such stepper machines can become overheated after using a short period of time. Other exercise machines include various resistive load components for the user to choose from and set a desired level of exercise. However, those exercise machines can be difficult to move, besides occupying a large space.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an exercise machine according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of an exercise machine according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3A shows a perspective view of a crossbar and a frictional element of a seating assembly according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3B shows a sectional view of a crossbar and a frictional element of a seating assembly according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4A shows a side view of an exercise machine according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4B shows a front view of an exercise machine according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4C shows a rear view of an exercise machine according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4D shows a top view of an exercise machine according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4E shows a bottom view of an exercise machine according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 5A and 5B show one position for a user to use an exercise machine according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 6A and 6B show another position for a user to use an exercise machine according to one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various embodiments and aspects of the inventions will be described with reference to details discussed below, and the accompanying drawings will illustrate the various embodiments. The following description and drawings are illustrative of the invention and are not to be construed as limiting the invention. Numerous specific details are described to provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments of the present invention. However, in certain instances, well-known or conventional details are not described in order to provide a concise discussion of embodiments of the present inventions.

Reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in conjunction with the embodiment can be included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification do not necessarily all refer to the same embodiment.

Embodiments of the invention improve traditional exercise machines by replacing resistive loads or other resistance generating components with a mechanism in a collapsible exercise machine to use a user's own body weight to generate a desired level of resistance. In one embodiment, an exercise machine is configured to transition between a first position and a second position, where the user exercises by overcoming resistance primarily generated by the user's own body weight in changing the exercise machine's position. In one embodiment, the exercise machine is foldable to reduce space for storage. In one embodiment, the exercise machine includes two or more pairs of footrest bars to provide different levels of exercise for the user to choose from.

In one embodiment, an exercise machine includes a seating assembly, a handlebar assembly, and a footrest assembly. The seating assembly includes an upper section configured with a seat for a user to sit on and a lower section supported by a support surface (e.g., floor, ground). The lower section is configured with a pair of frictional elements. The handlebar assembly is rotatably attached to the seating assembly and is supported by the support surface. The handlebar assembly includes a handlebar at an upper end section for the user to hold onto while sitting on the seat and a lower end section having a pair of wheels movable on the support surface. The footrest assembly is attached to the seating assembly and the handlebar assembly. In one embodiment, the footrest assembly includes a first pair of footrest bars and a second pair of footrest bars mounted at a lower position of the first pair of the footrest bars. With such a configuration, the user can rest his or her feet at different positions with different resistance and exercise levels. In one embodiment, the seat assembly can be collapsed towards the handlebar to reduce space for storage.

In one embodiment, the footrest assembly and the handlebar assembly are attached via an elongate linking member. The elongate linking member is pivotally mounted on the handlebar assembly and attached to the footrest assembly via a removable pin. The lower end section of the handlebar assembly includes a V-shape or U-shape section. The bottom or center part of the V-shape or U-shape section is attached to an intermediate section coupling the upper end section and the lower end section. The wheels are mounted on two ends of the V-shape or U-shape section.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an exercise machine 100 according to an embodiment of the invention includes seating assembly 120, handlebar assembly 140, and footrest assembly 160. Seating assembly 120 includes upper section 122 and lower section 124. Upper section 122 includes seat 126 for a user to sit on, while lower section 124 is supported by a support surface. Lower section 124 includes crossbar 134 fixed to the bottom part of lower section 124. Both ends of lower section 124 are covered by a pair of frictional elements 128 (e.g., caps), which may be made of rubber or the like and on which crossbar 134 can be pivotally mounted. The frictional elements 128 are to generate friction between the exercise machine and the support surface to prevent the exercise machine from unintentionally moving on the ground surface. Seating assembly 120 includes bracket 131 for attaching stopper element 130 (referred to as second stopper element hereinafter).

Referring now to FIGS. 3A and 3B, both frictional element 128 of seating assembly 120 and crossbar 134 pivotally mounted on frictional element 128 are shown. Crossbar 134 has two holes 129 to secure crossbar 134 to lower section 124 by screws. As shown in FIG. 3B, crossbar 134 includes two projections 136/138 positioned near the left and right edges of crossbar 134, each of which fits within one of frictional elements 128 having a corresponding recess. Thus, crossbar 134 is rotatably attached to both frictional elements 128, while being secured to lower section 124 of seating assembly 120.

Referring back to FIGS. 1 and 2, handlebar assembly 140 is supported by the support surface and is rotatably attached to seating assembly 120 via bolt 143. Handlebar assembly 140 includes handlebar 142 at upper end section 141 for the user to hold onto while sitting on seat 126. Handlebar assembly 140 includes lower end section 144 having a pair of wheels 146/148 movable on the support surface. In one embodiment, lower end section 144 of handlebar assembly 140 includes V-shape (as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) or U-shape section 145. The bottom or center part of V-shape or U-shape section 145 is attached to intermediate section 147 coupling upper end section 141 and the lower end section 144. Wheels 146/148 are mounted on the ends of V-shape or U-shape section 145 via a respective U-shape bracket.

Footrest assembly 160 is mounted on seating assembly 120 via bolt 165. Footrest assembly 160 is also attached to handlebar assembly 140 via elongate linking member 162. Elongate linking member 162 is attached to footrest assembly 160 via removable pin 168 and pivotally mounted on handlebar assembly 140 via bolt 169. Footrest assembly 160 includes first pair of footrest bars 164 and second pair of footrest bars 166 mounted at a lower position than first pair of footrest bars 164. In this example, footrest bars 164 and 166 are formed in a U-shape bar. The bottom or center portions of the footrest bars 164 and 166 are mounted on an elongate member. The elongate member is then mounted on lower section 124. A user can rest his or her feet on either end of the U-shape bars. The user can place the feet at one of the two different positions to choose a desired level of exercise with suitable resistance. In another embodiment, more than two pairs of footrest bars may be included in footrest assembly 160.

Referring now to FIGS. 5A and 5B, a user exercising on an exercise machine according to one embodiment of the invention is shown. In FIGS. 5A and 5B, the user puts her feet on first pair of footrest bars 164. FIG. 5A shows a first position where the user rests her on the exercise machine. In this position, first stopper element 150 is in contact with upper section 122 of seating assembly 126 and stopping the same, thereby supporting the user's body weight. First stopper element 150 is fixed to or is part of handlebar assembly 140. The first position is also a position when the exercise machine is not in use. FIG. 5B shows a second position where the user pulls handlebar 142 by hand towards her body and pushes footrest bars away by feet until second stopper element 130 is in contact with and stops lower end section 144 of handlebar assembly 140. As is more clearly shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4A, second stopper element 130 is attached to lower section 124 of seating assembly 120 via removable pin 132 and bolt 133. The resistance the user overcomes during her exercise to move the exercise machine from the first position to the second position is generated primarily by the user's own body weight, thereby eliminating the needs for any resistive loads or other resistance generating components, such hydraulic cylinders in many stepper machines.

FIGS. 6A and 6B show a user exercising on an exercise machine by putting her feet on second pair of footrest bars 166. The second pair of footrest bars 166 are mounted at a lower position than first pair of footrest bars 164, providing the user with a different level of exercise.

Referring back to FIGS. 1, 2, and 4A, according to one embodiment of the invention, exercise machine 100 is foldable by making seat assembly 120 collapse towards handlebar 142 to reduce space for storage. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and described above, two removable pins 168 and 132 are used to attach elongate linking member 162 to footrest assembly 160 and to attach second stopper element 130 to seating assembly 120, respectively.

By removing removable pin 168, elongate linking member 162 releases footrest assembly 160 from being attached thereto. After releasing, footrest assembly 160 drops in a direction 172 towards lower section 124 of seating assembly 120 by the effect of gravity. Then, footrest assembly 160 can be secured to another position closer to lower section 124 of seating assembly 120 where holes 171 and 170 overlap, by re-inserting removable pin 168 into both holes 171 and 170, for example, for the purposes of locking footrest assembly 160 again to seating assembly 120 and keeping removable pin 168 close to exercise machine 100 when exercise machine 100 is folded.

Similarly, by removing removable pin 132 attaching second stopper element 130 to lower section 124 of seating assembly 120, second stopper element 130 is released from the position preventing lower end section 144 of handlebar assembly 140 from being folded. After releasing, second stopper element 130 drops in a direction 137 towards the support surface by the effect of gravity. As is more clearly shown in FIG. 4A and similar to pin 168, second stopper element 130 can be secured at another position facing downwards when hole 135 and another hole 139 (see FIG. 2) located on second stopper element 130 overlap, by re-inserting removable pin 132 into both holes 135 and 139, for example, for the purposes of attaching second stopper element 130 again to seating assembly 120 and keeping removable pin 132 close with exercise machine 100 when exercise machine 100 is folded.

FIG. 4A shows a side view of an exercise machine according to one embodiment of the invention. FIG. 4B shows a front view of an exercise machine according to one embodiment of the invention. FIG. 4C shows a rear view of an exercise machine according to one embodiment of the invention. FIG. 4D shows a top view of an exercise machine according to one embodiment of the invention. FIG. 4E shows a bottom view of an exercise machine according to one embodiment of the invention.

In one embodiment, exercise machine 100 includes a display unit to display user exercise information or data related to an exercise session. For example, such information or data may include the time spent on an exercise session, the calorie consumed, etc.

Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which the invention pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing description and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

Claims

1. An exercise machine, comprising:

a seating assembly having an upper section configured with a seat for a user to sit on and a lower section supported by a support surface with a pair of frictional elements,

a handlebar assembly rotatably attached to the seating assembly and supported by the support surface, the handlebar assembly having a handlebar at an upper end section for the user to hold onto while sitting on the seat and a lower end section having a pair of wheels movable on the support surface; and

a footrest assembly attached to the seating assembly and the handlebar assembly.

2. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the footrest assembly and the handlebar assembly are attached via an elongate linking member, the elongate linking member pivotally mounted on the handlebar assembly and attached to the footrest assembly.

3. The exercise machine of claim 2, wherein the lower end section of the handlebar assembly includes a V-shape or U-shape section, and wherein the V-shape or U-shape section is attached to an intermediate section coupling the upper end section and the lower end section of the handlebar assembly.

4. The exercise machine of claim 3, wherein the wheels are mounted on two ends of the V-shape or U-shape section.

5. The exercise machine of claim 2, wherein the footrest assembly comprises:

a first pair of footrest bars; and

a second pair of footrest bars mounted at a lower position of the first pair of the footrest bars, such that the user can exercise at different positions with different resistance.

6. The exercise machine of claim 2, wherein the seat assembly can be collapsed towards the handlebar to reduce space for storage.

7. The exercise machine of claim 2, wherein the exercise machine is configured to transition between a first position and a second position by the user overcoming resistance generated primarily by the user's own body weight, the first position being a position when the exercise machine is not in use.

8. The exercise machine of claim 7, wherein the first position is defined by a first stopper element disposed on the handlebar assembly while being in contact with the upper section of the seating assembly, and the second position is defined by a second stopper element disposed on the seating assembly while being in contact with the lower end section of the handlebar assembly.

9. The exercise machine of claim 8, wherein the user exercises on the exercise machine by using both hands and feet of the user to switch the exercise machine between the first position and the second position.

10. The exercise machine of claim 9, wherein the exercise machine is foldable by removing a first pin mounting the elongate linking member on the footrest assembly and removing a second pin fixing the second stopper element on the seating assembly.

11. The exercise machine of claim 2, wherein the lower section of the seating assembly includes a crossbar mounted on the frictional elements, the frictional elements to generate friction between the exercise machine and the support surface preventing the exercise machine from unintentionally moving on the support surface.

12. The exercise machine of claim 11, wherein the crossbar is configured with two projections each of which fits within one of the frictional elements.

13. The exercise machine of claim 2, further comprising a display unit to display user exercise information.