ELLIPTICAL TRAINER WITH RESILIENT UNIT

An elliptical trainer with a resilient unit includes a frame, an exercising unit axially disposed on the frame, a pedal unit pivotally mounted to the exercising unit, a damper for providing a damping resistance to the pedal unit, a guide unit for supporting the pedal unit and guiding the pedal unit to slide thereon, and a pair of resilient units respectively disposed in proximity to the pivoted junctions between the exercising unit and the pedal unit for enabling a pair of rear end portions of the pedal unit to be constantly kept far from a pair of pivot-connection portions of the exercising unit so that an inertial-elastic force is produced during operation of the elliptical trainer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to fitness equipment technology and more particularly, to an elliptical trainer with a resilient unit.

2. Description of the Related Art

A fitness machine (US Patent Application 2013/0053218) consisting of a frame, a pedal unit, a driving unit and a damper is known. The frame comprises a base, an upright post fixedly connected to the base, a support rack connected between the upright post and the base, and a shaft fixedly connected between the upright post and the support rack. The pedal unit comprises a pair of rotary interlocking members respectively sleeved onto the shaft, a pair of sleeves respectively mounted around the rotary interlocking members, a pair of arm members respectively connected to the sleeves, and a pair of pedal shafts respectively pivotally connected to the arm members. The driving unit comprises a pair of detent cables slidably inserted through the support rack and connected between the rotary interlocking members and the pedal shafts. The damper is mounted at the frame and movable by the driving unit to impart a damping force to the pedal shafts.

This design of the fitness machine allows the user to exercise stepping exercises, and uses the elasticity of the detent cables to produce an inertial-elastic force during operation of the fitness machine. However, because these detent cables are respectively connected between the rotary interlocking members and the pedal shafts, the path of these detent cables is quite long, and the long opposite ends of the detent cables are exposed to the outside of the support rack. Thus, the exposed opposite ends of the detent cables can interfere with the user, and these detent cables are prone to elastic fatigue after a long period of use, and the maintenance of these detent cables is also very inconvenient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been achieved to overcome the above noted deficiencies. It is the main object of the present invention to provide an elliptical trainer with a resilient unit, which avoids interference with the user, has a simple structure, and facilitates maintenance.

To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, the elliptical trainer comprises a frame, an exercising unit, a pedal unit, a damper, a guide unit, and a pair of resilient units. The frame comprises a base. The exercising unit comprises a pair of arm members respectively pivotally connected to the frame and alternatively turnable and movable back and forth. Each arm member comprises a pivot-connection portion located at one end thereof and pivotally connected to the frame. The pedal unit comprises a pair of pedal shafts respectively pivotally connected to the arm members. Each pedal shaft comprises a rear end portion located at a rear end thereof. The damper is adapted for imparting a damping resistance to the pedal shafts. The guide unit is adapted for supporting the pedal shafts and guiding the pedal shafts to slide. The resilient units are respectively disposed in proximity to the pivoted junctions between the arm members and the pedal shafts, and adapted for constantly keeping the rear end portions of the pedal shafts far from the pivot-connection portions of the respective arm members.

The design of the elliptical training of the invention has the following effects: by means of the characteristic that the resilient units are respectively disposed in proximity to the pivoted junctions between the swinging portions of the arm members and the front end portions of the pedal shafts and the characteristic that the rear end portions of the pedal shafts are constantly kept far from the pivot-connection portions of the arm members, the elliptical trainer facilitates maintenance and can produce an inertial-elastic force and prevents the resilient units from interfering with the user during operation.

Other advantages and features of the present invention will be fully understood by reference to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference signs denote like components of structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring toFIGS. 1, 2 and 3, an elliptical trainer with a resilient unit in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention is shown. The elliptical exercise machine comprises a frame10, an exercising unit20, a pedal unit30, a damper40, a guide unit50, a pair of resilient units60, a handlebar unit70, a constraint unit80, and a shell90.

The frame10comprises a base11, and a support12fixedly mounted to a front side of the base11. The support12comprises an upright post13located at a top side thereof, a transverse axle131fixedly and transversely extending across the upright post13near a top end thereof, and an extension bar132extended from the upright post13below transverse axle131.

The exercising unit20comprises a pair of arm members21respectively pivotally connected to two opposite ends of the transverse axle131of the frame10and alternatively turnable back and forth about the transverse axle131. Each arm member21comprises a pivot-connection portion211located at a top end thereof and pivotally connected to the respective one end of the transverse axle131, a swinging portion212located at an opposing bottom end thereof, and a protruding rod213extended from the pivot-connection portion211.

The pedal unit30comprises a pair of pedal shafts31respectively pivotally connected to the arm members21of the exercising unit20, and a pair of pedals32respectively fixedly supported on the respective pedal shafts31. Each pedal shaft31comprises a front end portion311pivotally connected to the swinging portion212of one respective arm member21, and an opposing rear end portion312. The pedals32are respectively fixedly mounted on the rear end portions312of the respective pedal shafts31.

The damper40is adapted for imparting a damping resistance to the pedal shafts31, comprising a rotatable wheel41pivotally mounted in the support12, and a damping wheel42pivotally mounted in the support12and rotatable by the rotating wheel41. The rotatable wheel41comprises an axle411axially located at the center and pivotally mounted in the support12, and a pair of cranks412respectively fixedly connected to two opposite ends of the axle411in reversed directions.

The guide unit50comprises a pair of rockers51turnable relative to the frame10, and a pair of connection rods52respectively pivotally coupled between the rockers51and the rotatable wheel41of the damper40for driving the rotatable wheel41to rotate. The rockers51have an inverted T-shape, each comprising a pivoting portion511pivotally connected to the support12, a sliding guide portion512located at one side of the pivoting portion511for supporting one respective pedal shaft31and guiding the respective pedal shaft31to slide, and an interlocking portion513located at an opposite side of the pivoting portion511and pivotally connected to one respective connection rod52. The connection rods52are respectively pivotally connected to the cranks412.

The resilient units60are respectively disposed in proximity to the pivot-connection junctions between the swinging portions212of the arm members21and the front end portions311of the pedal shafts31, each comprising a first link61pivotally connected to one respective arm member21between the swinging portion212and pivot-connection portion211of the respective arm member21, a second link62pivotally connected between one respective pedal shaft31of the pedal unit30and the first link61, and a resilient member63. Each resilient member63comprises a first pivoting portion631pivotally connected to the swinging portion212of one respective arm member21or the front end portion311of one respective pedal shaft31, and a second pivoting portion632pivotally connected to the pivoted point between the first link61and second link62of one respective resilient unit60. The resilient force of the resilient members63enables the rear end portions312of the pedal shafts31of the pedal unit30to be constantly kept far away from the pivot-connection portions211of the respective arm members21of the exercising unit20. In this embodiment, the resilient members63can be spring members, elastic cords or pneumatic cylinders.

The handlebar unit70comprises a pair of grips71respectively connected to the top ends of the arm members21above the transverse axle131.

The constraint unit80comprises a pivot axle81pivotally mounted at the extension bar132of the frame10, a pair of upper cranks82respectively fixedly connected to two opposite ends of the pivot axle81in reversed directions, and a pair of linkage rods83respectively pivotally connected between the upper cranks82and the protruding rods213of the arm members21of the exercising unit20. The constraint unit80can limit the swinging stroke of the arm members21of the exercising unit20.

The shell90is mounted on the frame10to shield the damper40, a part of the guide unit50and the constraint unit80.

When a user uses the elliptical trainer to exercise free-stepping and/or orbitrek exercises, as shown inFIGS. 3-5, the legs are used to apply pressure to the pedals32and pedal shafts31of the pedal unit30horizontally forwards and vertically downwards. As the pedals32and pedal shafts31of the pedal unit30are being alternatively moved, the front end portions311of the pedal shafts31will be forced against the swinging portions212of the respective arm members21, causing the respective arm members21to turn back and forth about the transverse axle131of the frame10. Subject to the functioning of the constraint unit80, the pedal shafts31, the arm members21and the grips71are moved back and forth in the predetermined paths. Further, when the pedal shafts31are being alternatively moved during the stepping operation and the rear end portion312of one pedal shaft31is moved far from the pivot-connection portion211of the respective arm member21, as shown inFIG. 4, an inertial-elastic force is produced subject to the relative pivoting action between the first link61and second link62of the respective resilient unit60and the resilience of the respective resilient member63. Further, as shown inFIG. 5, when the user releases the pressure from the pedal shaft31, the rear end portion312of the respective pedal shaft31will be moved toward the pivot-connection portion211of the respective arm member21. Therefore, when the pedal shafts31of the pedal unit30are being alternatively moved, the pedal shafts31are forced to impart a pressure to the sliding guide portions512of the respective rockers51of the guide unit50, causing each rocker51to turn about the axis that extends through the pivoting portion511of the respective rocker51and the support12, and thus, the rotatable wheel41is forced by the respective connection rod52of the guide unit50to rotate the damping wheel42, causing generation of a damping resistance.

At this time, mating with the coordinated action of the user's legs, the resilient member63corresponding to the other pedal shaft31is forced to extend outwards, causing the rear end portion312of the pedal shaft31to be moved toward the pivot-connection portion211of the respective arm member21, and thus, the pedal shafts31can be forced to turn the respective rockers51of the guide unit50about the axes that extend through the pivoting portions511of the respective rockers51and the support12.

Thus, by means of the stepping action of the user's legs in an alternative manner and characterized in that the resilient units60are respectively disposed in proximity to the pivoted junctions between the swinging portions212of the arm members21and the front end portions311of the pedal shafts31and because the rear end portions312of the pedal shafts31are constantly kept far from the pivot-connection portions211of the arm members21, an inertial-elastic force can be produced during operation of the pedal unit30, and the resilient units60are prohibited from interfering with the user. Furthermore, this design facilitates maintenance.

In addition to the aforesaid operating modes, when the user intends to carry out a simple mode of stepping up and down, by using the two legs to alternatively impart a vertically downward pressure to the pedals32and pedal shafts31of the pedal unit30, forcing the pedals32and the pedal shafts31to give a downward pressure to the sliding guide portions512of the respective rockers51, and thus, subject to the functioning of the damper40, a damping in the column vector is produced. At this time, the arm members21are almost prohibited from swinging.

When the user intends to carry out a sliding mode, by using the two legs to alternatively impart a horizontally forward pressure to the pedals32and pedal shafts31of the pedal unit30, forcing the front end portions311of the pedal shafts31against the swinging portions212of the respective arm members21and causing the respective arm members21to turn about the transverse axle131, and thus, subject to the functioning of the constraint unit80, the swinging stroke of the arm members21are almost prohibited from swinging and the pedal shafts31is limited.

Therefore, the user can operate the elliptical trainer to selectively carry out the desired operating mode, such as free-stepping and orbitrek mode, sliding mode, or simple stepping mode.

Referring toFIGS. 6 and 7, an elliptical trainer with resilient unit in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention is shown. This second embodiment is substantially similar to the aforesaid first embodiment with the exception that: each resilient unit60′ comprises a link61′ pivotally connected to one respective arm member21between the swinging portion212and the pivot-connection portion211, a roller62′ pivotally connected to the link61′ and slidably supported on one respective pedal shaft31, and a resilient member63′. Each resilient member63′ comprises a first pivoting portion631′ pivotally connected to the swinging portion212of one respective arm member21or the front end portion311of one respective pedal shaft31, and a second pivoting portion632′ pivotally connected to the link61′ adjacent to the roller62′. The resilient force of the resilient members63′ enables the rear end portions312of the pedal shafts31to be constantly kept far away from the pivot-connection portions211of the respective arm members21. In this embodiment, the resilient members63′ can be spring members, elastic cords or pneumatic cylinders. This second embodiment achieves the same effects as the aforesaid first embodiment does.

Referring toFIGS. 8 and 9, an elliptical trainer with resilient unit in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention is shown. This third embodiment is substantially similar to the aforesaid second embodiment with the exception that: each resilient unit60″ comprises a link61″ pivotally connected to one respective pedal shaft31between the front end portion311and the rear end portion312, a roller62″ pivotally connected to the link61′ and slidably supported on one respective arm member21, and a resilient member63″. Each resilient member63″ comprises a first pivoting portion631″ pivotally connected to the swinging portion212of one respective arm member21or the front end portion311of one respective pedal shaft31, and a second pivoting portion632″ pivotally connected to the link61″ adjacent to the roller62′. The resilient force of the resilient members63″ enables the rear end portions312of the pedal shafts31to be constantly kept far away from the pivot-connection portions211of the respective arm members21. In this embodiment, the resilient members63″ can be spring members, elastic cords or pneumatic cylinders. This third embodiment achieves the same effects as the aforesaid first embodiment does.

Referring toFIGS. 10 and 11, an elliptical trainer with resilient unit in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention is shown. This fourth embodiment is substantially similar to the aforesaid first through third embodiments with the exception that: each pedal shaft31′ of the pedal unit30′ further comprises an extension portion313′ extended from said front end portion311′ opposite to the rear end portion312′, a top wall314′ extended from the rear end portion312′ to the extension portion313′ and facing upwards, and an opposing bottom wall315′ opposite to the top wall314′ and facing downwards; each arm member21of the exercising unit20further comprises an inner wall214facing toward the rear end portion312′ of the respective pedal shaft31′ of the pedal unit30′, and an outer wall215opposite to the inner wall214; each resilient unit6comprises a resilient member601connected between one respective arm member21and one respective pedal shaft31′; each resilient member601comprises a first positioning portion602connected to the outer wall215of one respective arm member21of the exercising unit20, and a second positioning portion603connected to one respective pedal shaft31′; the resilient members601of the resilient unit6provide a resilient force for enabling the rear end portions312′ of the pedal shafts31′ of the pedal unit30′ to be constantly kept far away from the pivot-connection portions211of the respective arm members21of the exercising unit20. In this embodiment, the second positioning portions603of the resilient members601can be selectively disposed in proximity to the top wall314′ or the bottom wall315′. Further, the resilient members601can be spring members, elastic cords or pneumatic cylinders. This fourth embodiment achieves the same effects as the aforesaid first embodiment does.