Abstract:
An operator selectable mechanism for adjusting a moveable handle for use with an exercise apparatus is described. The handle can be selectively lowered or the upper portion of the handle can be moved laterally with respect to the apparatus in order to vary the motion of the upper portion of the handle.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates to handles for use with an exercise apparatus, and more particularly to handles that move with pedals. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art. 
         [0003]    In certain elliptical step type exercise machines arm handles are connected to the machine&#39;s pedals such that the handles move in synchronism with the pedals to provide a total body workout. When connected for motion with the pedals, the handles generally travel back and forth along an arcuate path as the pedals move. However, in some cases this motion of the handles can be bothersome or distracting to a user when he does not desire to use the moving handles. 
         [0004]    One approach to this problem has been to provide a mechanism to allow the user to selectively fix the handles to the frame of the apparatus to prevent movement of the handles. Examples of this approach are provide by the Star Trac Elite Cross Trainer and as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,846,272. 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an elliptical type exercise machine showing one handle assembly described in this disclosure; 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a fragmentary rear plan view of a handle assembly of the exercise machine of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is an additional fragmentary rear plan view of the handle assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a fragmentary side plan view of another handle assembly described in the disclosure; 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is an additional fragmentary side plan view of the handle assembly of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is a fragmentary side plan view of another handle assembly described in the disclosure; and 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  is an additional fragmentary side plan view of the handle assembly of  FIG. 6 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features. 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is an illustration of an elliptical type cross-trainer exercise apparatus  10  that is used as a representative environment for the handle mechanisms described in this disclosure. It will be appreciated that handle mechanisms of the type described herein can be used in a wide variety of exercise machines such as climbing machines where the movement of arm handles is coordinated with foot pedals. In this example, which is the type of elliptical apparatus shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,846,272, the apparatus  10  includes a main body portion  12 , a right and a left foot pedal assembly indicated respectively at  14  and  16 , a pair of rocker members  18  and  20 , and a pair of right and left handle assemblies  22  and  24 . The main body portion  12  includes a base  26 , a resistance mechanism  28  secure to a rear portion of the base  26 , and a support assembly indicated generally at  30  secured to a front portion of the base  26 . Here, the support assembly  30  includes a generally upright structure  32  having a horizontal portion  34  that serves as a pivot axel. 
         [0014]    The right foot pedal assembly  14  and the handle assembly  22  will be described in detail with the understanding that the description applies equally to the left foot pedal assembly  16  and the handle assembly  24 . The right foot pedal assembly  14  includes a first and a second end  36  and  38  and a foot pedal  40  located therebetween. The first end  36  is coupled to the resistance mechanism  28 . In this case the right rocker  18  includes an elongate portion  42  having a first and a second end  44  and  46 . The first end  44  of the rocker  18  is rotatably coupled to the second end  38  of the right foot pedal assembly  14  and the second end  46  is rotatably coupled to the pivot axel  34  at a point  48 . In this type of machine  10  the foot pedal assemblies  14  and  16  will move in an elliptical path. For purposes of describing the handle assemblies, the term rocker is used herein to represent at least one mechanical link between a foot pedal and an arm handle and could apply, for example, to a member in climber mechanism that forms part of a mechanical link between a reciprocating pedal and an arm handle that pivots on a portion of the frame of the climber so as to move in synchronism with the foot pedal. 
         [0015]      FIGS. 2 and 3  provide an illustration of a first embodiment  22  of a handle assembly for use with the apparatus  10 . Here, the second end  46  of the rocker  18  can include a pair of mounting brackets  50  and  52 . Each of the mounting brackets  50  and  52  preferably include a guide bushings  54  and  56  respectively. The handle assembly  22  is coupled to the rocker&#39;s second end  46  by mounting brackets  50  and  52  for rotation about pivot point  48 . 
         [0016]    The handle assembly  22  includes a handle member  58  and an actuator  60 . In this arrangement, the handle member  58  includes a portion  62  that is substantially linear which is slidably engaged with the guide bushings  54  and  56  along with a handgrip  64  secured to its upper end. Preferably the actuator  60  is mounted between the mounting brackets  50  and  52  having the linear portion  62  of the handle member  58  passing therethrough. As a result, the actuator  60  can be used to essentially retract the handle member  58  thus reducing the upward extent of the handle member  58  and handgrip  64  relative to pivot point  48 . The actuator  60  can be a linear actuator or any one of a number of well known electrical, mechanical or hydraulic devices capable moving a linear member. 
         [0017]      FIG. 2  depicts the handle member  58  in an extended state and  FIG. 3  depicts the handle member  58  in a retracted state. Since the handle member  58  is coupled for rotation with the rocker  18 , the handle member  58  will travel along a generally arcuate path toward and away from a user occupied area generally located between the front and rear portions of base  26 . The height and length of the arcuate path traced by the upper end of the handle member  58  including the handgrip  64  is reduced when the handle member  58  is moved by the actuator  60  from the extended state ( FIG. 2 ) to the retracted state ( FIG. 3 ) due to the reduced radially outward or upward extension of the handle member  58 . 
         [0018]      FIGS. 4 and 5  provide an illustration of a second embodiment  122  of a handle assembly for use with the apparatus  10 . This arrangement includes a rocker  118  that is rotatably coupled at a pivot point  148  and which is generally similar in operation to the rocker  18  described above. Also, the handle assembly  122  includes a handle member  158  along with an actuation mechanism generally indicated at  160 . 
         [0019]    The handle member  158  includes a substantially linear portion  162  and can include a handgrip  164  secured to the upper end of the portion  162 . In this example of the preferred embodiment, the actuation mechanism  160  includes a handle receptacle  166 , in this case configured as a cylindrical housing, along with a first actuator  168  and a second actuator  170 . Here, the receptacle  166  has its first or upper end  172  pivotally coupled to the rocker  118  at the pivot point  148 . A second or lower portion  174  of the receptacle  166  can be coupled to rocker  118  through the first actuator  168 . In this embodiment, the first actuator  168  includes a first end portion  176  pivotally coupled to rocker  118  and a second end portion  178  pivotally coupled to the receptacle  166 . Here, the first actuator  168  is linearly extendable and retractable, so as to cause lateral rotation of the receptacle  166  and hence the handle member  158  thereby effectively moving the upper portion of the handle member  158  containing the handgrip  164  latterly away from the body portion  12 . Although the receptacle  166  is shown as an enclosed cylinder in the preferred embodiment, it need only provide enough structure to provide support for the first actuator  168  and need not be an enclosed housing. 
         [0020]    In addition or alternatively, the portion  162  of the handle member  158  can be configured to be slidably disposed within the receptacle  166 . The second actuator  170  can in one embodiment be located near the first or upper end  172  of the receptacle and can operate to advance and retract the handle member  158  thereby varying the radially outward extent of the handle member  158  in a similar manner to the arrangement shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . Various arrangements for the second actuator  170  can be used such as a mechanical locking arrangement that includes a collar  171  secured to the first or upper end  172  of the receptacle  166  with a set screw  173  that can be used by a user to lock the handle member  158  in position with respect to the receptacle  166 . 
         [0021]      FIGS. 6 and 7  provide an illustration of an alternate handle assembly  222  for use with the apparatus  10 . Handle assembly  222  may be generally similar to handle assembly  122  with the exception of a second actuator  270 . As such, only the second actuator  270  will be discussed in detail with the understanding that the description of handle assembly  122  applies equally to the remainder of handle assembly  222 . 
         [0022]    A portion  262  of a handle member  258  can be configured to be slidably disposed within a receptacle  266 . The second actuator  270  can be located on the receptacle  266  near a lower portion  274  and can operate to advance and retract the handle member  258  thereby varying the radially outward extent of the handle member  258  in a similar manner to the arrangement shown in  FIGS. 2-5 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 4  depicts the handle member  158  in an extended state and the receptacle  166  in a non-rotated state.  FIG. 5  depicts handle member  158  in a retracted state and receptacle  166  in a rotated state. Since in this embodiment, the handle member  158  is coupled for rotation with the rocker  118 , the handle member  158  will travel along a generally arcuate path toward and away from the user occupied area generally located between the upright structure  32  and the resistance mechanism  28  portions of the exercise apparatus  10 . In this example of a handle assembly  122 , the length of the arcuate path traced by the handle member  158  and handgrip  164  can be reduced by moving the handle member  158  from the extended state as shown in  FIG. 4  to the retracted state as shown in  FIG. 5 . Additionally, or alternatively, the inward extent of the handle member  158 , and more specifically the handgrip  164 , can be reduced utilizing the first actuator  168 . Here extending the first actuator  168  will result in the handgrip  164  rotated outward relative the user occupied area as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0024]    It will be appreciated that the disclosure describes the preferred embodiment of two mechanisms  22  and  122  that allow for the physical adjustment of handles, but various modifications might be desirable based on various criteria including the nature, type and configuration of the exercise apparatus along with variations in components such as locking mechanisms and actuators.