ELLIPTICAL TRAINER

Abstract

An elliptical trainer includes a base and a movement unit. The base includes a stem formed thereon and two longitudinal bars, with each of the longitudinal bars comprising a track. The movement unit includes a sleeve supported on the stem, two bushing halves inserted in the sleeve, a shaft sandwiched between the bushing halves, two cranks connected to two opposite ends of the shaft, a first pedal including an end connected to one of the cranks, a second pedal including an end connected to the other crank, a first caster connected to an opposite end of the first pedal and movable to and fro along the track of the first longitudinal bar, and a second caster connected to an opposite end of the second pedal and movable to and fro along the track of the second longitudinal bar.

Description

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to an exercise machine and, more particularly, to an elliptical trainer that occupies a small space and allows a long stroke of movement.

2. Related Prior Art

People have smaller space and less time for exercise than before since our life styles and environments are changing. Hence, there are various exercise machines for different purposes and to different effects. Steppers are popular because they occupy small space and allow users to exercise their muscles in their legs and hips. A typical stepper includes two pedals pivotally supported on a base. The pedals connected to each other so that they are pivoted alternately in operation. A user sets his or her feet on the pedals and exercises his or her legs and hips by moving the pedals up and down. However, the typical stepper allows a short stroke of movement of the pedals and hence allows the user to exercise his or her legs and hips to a small extent.

There is another stepper that allows a user to twist his or her waist while exercising his or her legs and hips. However, this stepper also allows a short stroke of movement of the pedals and hence allows the user to exercise his or her legs and hips to a small extent.

An elliptical trainer, this stepper allows a long stroke of movement of pedals and hence allows the user to exercise his or her legs and hips to a large extent. However, a typical elliptical trainer is bulky and involves a complicated structure that includes a large number of components. Obviously, the typical elliptical trainer is expensive. It takes a skilled mechanic to maintain the typical elliptical trainer. Hence, a typical elliptical trainer is often used in a gymnasium, and seldom used at home.

As discussed above, there is an unsatisfied need for an elliptical trainer that involves a simple structure and allows a long stroke of movement.

The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in prior art.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

It is an objective of the present invention to provide a structurally simple elliptical trainer that can be manufactured easily at a low cost and occupies small space in operation.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide an elliptical trainer that allows a long stroke of movement and hence allows a user to exercise to a large extent.

To achieve the foregoing objectives, the elliptical trainer includes a base and a movement unit. The base includes a stem formed thereon and two longitudinal bars, with each of the longitudinal bars comprising a track. The movement unit includes a sleeve supported on the stem, two bushing halves inserted in the sleeve, a shaft sandwiched between the bushing halves, two cranks connected to two opposite ends of the shaft, a first pedal including an end connected to one of the cranks, a second pedal including an end connected to the other crank, a first caster connected to an opposite end of the first pedal and movable to and fro along the track of the first longitudinal bar, and a second caster connected to an opposite end of the second pedal and movable to and fro along the track of the second longitudinal bar.

Other objectives, advantages and features of the present invention will be apparent from the following description referring to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described via detailed illustration of the preferred embodiment referring to the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an elliptical trainer according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the elliptical trainer shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, partial and cross-sectional view of the elliptical trainer shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a user exercising with the elliptical trainer shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a side view of the elliptical trainer shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, an elliptical trainer includes a base (10) and a movement unit (20) supported on the base (10) according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

The base (10) includes a first crossbar (11) and a second crossbar (12) extending parallel to the first crossbar (11). A pad (13) is connected to each end of each of the first and second crossbars (11, 12). Preferably, each of the pads (13) is in the form of a cap (or “collar”) for wrapping the corresponding end of the corresponding crossbars (11, 12). The pads (13) are used for anti-skid and cushioning purposes. The first crossbar (11) is formed with a stem (14) extending upward from a middle section thereof. The stem (14) is used to support the movement unit (20) in a manner to be described latter. Two longitudinal bars (16, 17) are located between and connected to the first and second crossbars (11, 12). The first longitudinal bar (16) is located on a side of the stem (14), and the second longitudinal bar (17) is located on an opposite of the stem (14). Each of the first and second longitudinal bars (16, 17) is a bent element that includes a peak formed between two slant sections. The first slant section of each of the first and second longitudinal bars (16, 17) is connected to the first crossbar (11). The second slant section of each of the first and second longitudinal bars (16, 17) is connected to the second crossbar (12). The first longitudinal bar (16) includes a track (160) along the second slant section thereof. The second longitudinal bar (17) includes a track (170) along the second slant section thereof. Preferably, the tracks (160, 170) are grooves.

The movement unit (20) includes a sleeve (21) connected to an upper end of the stem (14) of the base (10). Two bushing halves (22) are inserted in the sleeve (21). The bushing halves (22) can be moved toward or away from each other in operation. The bushing halves (22) together make a bushing around a shaft (23), i.e., the shaft (23) is located between the bushing halves (22). A crank (24) extends from each end of the shaft (23). The cranks (24) and the shaft (23) together make a crankshaft. Each of the cranks (24) is made with a pedal-supporting section (240) extending parallel to the shaft (23). There is an adjusting unit including a knob (25) and a pressing plate (250). The knob (25) is supported on the sleeve (21). In detail, the knob (25) includes a threaded bolt (not numbered) inserted in a screw hole (not numbered) made in the sleeve (21). The threaded bolt of the knob (25) is adapted for contact with a side of a pressing plate (250) inserted in the sleeve (21). An opposite side of the pressing plate (250) is adapted for contact with a selected one of the bushing halves (22). The knob (25) is rotatable relative to the sleeve (21) in a direction to abut the threaded bolt thereof harder against the pressing plate (250), which in turn moves the selected bushing half (22) closer to the remaining bushing half (22). Thus, the bushing halves (22) clamps the shaft (23) harder to exert larger resistance against rotation of the shaft (23). A cover (210) is connected to each end of the sleeve (21). The covers (210) are adapted for protecting the bushing halves (22) and the pressing plate (250) inserted in the sleeve (21). A first caster (260) is connected to an end of the first pedal (26) located opposite to another end of the first pedal (26) that is connected to the pedal-supporting section (240) of one of the cranks (24) extending from an end of the shaft (23). A second caster (270) is connected to an end of the second pedal (27) located opposite to another end of the second pedal (27) that is connected to the pedal-supporting section (240) of the remaining crank (24) extending from the other end of the shaft (23). The first and second pedals casters (260, 270), which are respectively connected to the first and second pedals (26, 27), are respectively movable to and fro in the tracks (160, 170) of the first and second longitudinal bars (16, 17) of the base (10).

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the operation of the elliptical trainer will be described. A user puts her legs on the first and second pedals (26, 27) of the movement unit (20), and steps down the first and second pedals (26, 27) alternately. Thus, the user rotates the cranks (24), which are connected to the first and second pedals (26, 27). Hence, the user rotates the shaft (23), which is connected to the cranks (24). The casters (260, 270), which are connected to front ends of the first and second pedals (26, 27), are movable to and fro along the tracks (160, 170) of the first and second longitudinal bars (16, 17) of the base (10) while rear ends of the first and second pedals (26, 27) are rotated. Thus, the first and second pedals (26, 27) are moved in a substantially elliptical manner, not just a simple circular or rectilinear manner. Hence, the elliptical trainer allows the user to exercise her legs and hips to a relatively large extent while occupying small space.

Moreover, the user is allowed to operate the adjusting unit, which includes the knob (25) and the pressing plate (250), to change the extent to which the bushing halves (22) clamp the shaft (23), thereby adjusting the resistance against the movement of the first and second pedals (26, 27) when the user exercise with the elliptical trainer.

The present invention has been described via the illustration of the preferred embodiment. Those skilled in the art can derive variations from the preferred embodiment without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the preferred embodiment shall not limit the scope of the present invention defined in the claims.

Claims

1. An elliptical trainer comprising:

a base comprising: a stem formed thereon; a first longitudinal bar made with a track; and a second longitudinal bar made with a track; and

a movement unit comprising: a sleeve supported on the stem of the base; two bushing halves inserted in the sleeve; a shaft sandwiched between the bushing halves; two cranks connected to two opposite ends of the shaft; a first pedal comprising an end connected to one of the cranks; a second pedal comprising an end connected to the remaining one of the cranks; a first caster connected to an opposite end of the first pedal and movable to and fro along the track of the first longitudinal bar of the base; and a second caster connected to an opposite end of the second pedal and movable to and fro along the track of the second longitudinal bar of the base.

2. The elliptical trainer according to claim 1, wherein the base further comprises a first crossbar and a second crossbar extending to the first crossbar, and the stem is supported on a middle portion of the first crossbar.

3. The elliptical trainer according to claim 2, wherein the base further comprises four pads, with each of the pads connected to a corresponding end of a corresponding one of the first and second crossbars.

4. The elliptical trainer according to claim 1, wherein the first and second longitudinal bars are located on two opposite sides of the stem.

5. The elliptical trainer according to claim 1, wherein the first and second longitudinal bars extend parallel to each other.

6. The elliptical trainer according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second longitudinal bars comprises two slant sections and a peak formed between the slant sections.

7. The elliptical trainer according to claim 6, wherein the track of each of the first and second longitudinal bars extends along one of the slant sections.

8. The elliptical trainer according to claim 7, wherein the track of each of the first and second longitudinal bars is a groove.

9. The elliptical trainer according to claim 1, wherein the track of each of the first and second longitudinal bars is a groove.

10. The elliptical trainer according to claim 1, wherein the movement unit further comprises an adjusting unit adapted for adjusting resistance against the rotation of the shaft.

11. The elliptical trainer according to claim 10, wherein the adjusting unit comprises a knob rotatable to adjust a force exerted on the shaft by the bushing halves.

12. The elliptical trainer according to claim 11, wherein the adjusting unit comprises a pressing plate formed with a side adapted for contact with the knob and an opposite side adapted for contact with one of the bushing halves.

13. The elliptical trainer according to claim 1, wherein the movement unit further comprises two covers connected to two ends of the sleeve, thereby protecting at least the bushing halves and the shaft inserted in the sleeve.

14. The elliptical trainer according to claim 1, wherein each of the cranks comprises a pedal-supporting section extending parallel to the shaft, and each of the first and second pedals is connected to the pedal-supporting section of the corresponding crank.