Exercising device

An exercising device includes a front frame, a resistance flywheel mounted rotatably on the front frame, a drive wheel connected drivingly to the resistance flywheel, a crank wheel, a shaft connected rotatably to the front frame and extending centrally through the drive wheel and eccentrically through the crank wheel for co-rotating the drive wheel and the crank wheel, two pedal units connected respectively to left and right ends of the shaft, a handle assembly mounted on top of the front frame, a rear frame extending rearwardly from the front frame, a slide seat mounted slidably on the rear frame, a chair supported on the slide seat, and a link mechanism connected to and disposed between the slide seat and the crank wheel. The link mechanism is driven by the crank wheels as to move forward and rearward the slide seat.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Taiwanese Application No. 097213485, filed Jul. 30, 2008, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to an exercising device, more particularly to an exercising device that can be used to exercise a user's upper body, lower body, and abdomen, perform stretching, and to enhance coordination among different parts of the body.

2. Description of the Related Art

Referring toFIG. 1, a conventional exercising device10is shown to include a frame14, a pedal assembly11connected to a front side of the frame14and having left and right pedal members111(only one is visible), a handle assembly12disposed above the pedal assembly11and having left and right handgrips121, and a chair assembly13connected to a rear side of the frame14. In use, the user's feet extend to the respective pedal members111to perform a cycling exercise, and the user's hands extend to grasp the respective handgrips121to perform a hand-cycling exercise, thereby achieving simultaneous exercise of the user's arms and legs, but not other parts of the user's body. Hence, use of the conventional exercising device10is limited.

Referring toFIG. 2, another conventional exercising device20is shown to include a frame21, a wheel assembly22disposed on a front side of the frame21, and a chair assembly23disposed on a rear side of the frame21. The frame21is provided with a horizontal slide rail211, a support rod212connected to the front side of the frame21, and two footrest plates213connected respectively to two opposite sides of the support rod212. The chair assembly23has a chair232provided with a slide seat231on a bottom portion thereof, and a pull rope233having one end connected with a handgrip234, and another end extending downwardly from a top side of the support rod212so as to connect with the slide seat231. The slide seat231is engaged to the slide rail211, so that the chair232is slidable forwardly and rearwardly along the slide rail211. The handgrip234is disposed on a front side of the chair assembly23to facilitate grasping by the user's hands. To use the conventional exercising device20, after the user is seated on the chair232, the user's feet are placed on the respective footrest plates213, and the user begins the exercise by pulling the handgrip234so as to slide forwardly and rearwardly the chair232. Stretching of the user's body and an upper body workout are realized through such exercise. However, the conventional exercising device20does not provide exercise to the user's legs, so that use of the conventional exercising device20is also limited.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide an exercising device that is capable of overcoming the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art.

According to one aspect of this invention, an exercising device comprises a front frame, a resistance flywheel mounted rotatably on the front frame, a drive wheel connected drivingly to the resistance flywheel, a crank wheel, a shaft connected rotatably to the front frame and extending centrally through the drive wheel and eccentrically through the crank wheel for co-rotating the drive wheel and the crank wheel, two pedal units connected respectively to left and right ends of the shaft, a handle assembly mounted on top of the front frame, a rear frame extending rearwardly from the front frame, a slide seat mounted slidably on the rear frame, a chair supported on the slide seat, and a link mechanism connected to and disposed between the slide seat and the crank wheel. The link mechanism is driven by the crank wheel so as to move forward and rearward the slide seat.

According to another aspect of this invention, an exercising device comprises a front frame, a resistance flywheel mounted rotatably on the front frame, a drive wheel connected drivingly to the resistance flywheel and having a shaft, two pedal units connected respectively to left and right ends of the shaft, a crank wheel co-rotatable with the drive wheel about an axis of rotation, a handle assembly mounted on top of the front frame, a rear frame extending rearwardly from the front frame, a slide seat mounted slidably on the rear frame, and a link mechanism connected to and disposed between the slide seat and the crank wheel. The handle assembly includes a support rod extending upwardly from the front frame, a spindle connected to and projecting from left and right sides of the support rod, and two handgrips connected respectively to two opposite ends of the spindle. At least one of the handgrips is releasably connected to the spindle for adjusting an angular position of said one of the handgrips relative to the spindle. The handle assembly further includes at least one handgrip positioning unit that connects adjustably and releasably said one of the handgrips to the spindle. The link mechanism is driven by the crank wheel so as to move forward and rearward the slide seat.

According to still another aspect of this invention, an exercising device comprises a frame, a resistance flywheel mounted rotatably on the frame, a drive wheel connected drivingly to the resistance flywheel, a crank wheel co-rotatable with the drive wheel about an axis of rotation, a shaft connected rotatably to the frame and journalled to the drive wheel, and two pedal units connected respectively to left and right ends of the shaft. Each of the pedal units has a pedal crank journalled to the shaft, and a pedal plate fixed to an end of the pedal crank. At least one of the pedal cranks of the pedal units is rotatable relative to the shaft to adjust in angular position relative to the shaft. At least one of the pedal units further has a tightening member to prevent said one of the pedal cranks from rotation relative to the shaft.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring toFIGS. 3 to 10, an exercising device according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown to comprise a frame, a resistance flywheel32, a drive wheel33, a crank wheel36, two pedal units34,34′, a handle assembly40, a chair assembly50, and a link mechanism54.

The frame includes a front frame31, and a rear frame51extending rearwardly from the front frame31. The rear frame51includes a hollow horizontal support bar511, and a support leg510connected to a rear end portion of the support bar511. The support bar511has two slide rails512provided respectively on two opposite lateral sides thereof. Each of the slide rails512is formed with an elongated slot513communicating spatially with an inner portion of the support bar511.

The resistance flywheel32is journalled to a shaft310provided on a rear side of the front frame31.

The drive wheel33is journalled to a shaft331provided on a front side of the front frame31, and is connected drivingly to the resistance flywheel32.

The crank wheel36includes a disc361, a ring362sleeved around the disc361, and a cover plate363screwed to one side of the disc361so as to retain the ring362on the disc361. The disc361has an eccentric hole3611, a predetermined width, and an annular flange3612opposite to the cover plate363. The ring362is rotatable relative to the disc361, and is disposed between the cover plate363and the flange3612.

A belt pulley35is connected coaxially to the drive wheel33, and is disposed between the drive wheel33and the crank wheel36. During use, the user overcomes the resistance of the resistance wheel32by pedaling the two pedal units34,34′ so as to rotate the drive wheel33. The drive wheel33, in turn, rotates therealong the belt pulley35and the crank wheel36. The disc361at this time undergoes an eccentric rotation, and the ring362moves relative to the disc361. It is to be noted that instead of the crank wheel36, other mechanisms may be used.

The shaft331is connected rotatably to the front frame31, and extends centrally through the drive wheel33and eccentrically through the disc361of the crank wheel36for co-rotating the drive wheel33and the disc361.

The pedal units34,34′ are connected respectively to left and right ends of the shaft331. Each of the pedal units34,34′ has a pedal crank341,341′ journalled to the shaft331, and a pedal plate342,342′ fixed to an end of the pedal crank341,341′ and adapted to be pedaled by a user's foot. At least one of the pedal units34,34′ is rotatable relative to the shaft331. In this embodiment, the pedal unit34is rotatable relative to the shaft331to adjust in angular position relative to the shaft331. The pedal unit34further has a pedal positioning plate343fixed around the shaft331adjacent the pedal crank341thereof, and a tightening member344connected to the shaft331adjacent the pedal crank341and oppositely of the pedal positioning plate343so as to prevent the pedal crank341from rotation relative to the shaft331. The pedal positioning plate343is engageable with the pedal crank341to restrict rotation thereof when the tightening member344is tightened so as to press the pedal crank341against the pedal positioning plate343. The pedal crank341and the pedal positioning plate343are provided with interengageable protrusions and recesses therebetween. Preferably, the pedal crank341is formed with the recesses3411, and the pedal positioning plate343is formed with the protrusions3431.

The pedal crank341of the pedal unit34can selectively adjust its angular position relative to the shaft331, so that the pedal plate342can be spaced apart from the pedal plate342′ at an angular distance of 180°, as shown inFIG. 5, or can be at the same angular position with the pedal plate342′, as shown inFIG. 6.

With reference toFIGS. 3,5,8, and9, the handle assembly40is mounted on top of the front frame31, and includes a support rod41extending upwardly from the front frame31, a spindle42connected to and projecting from left and right sides of the support rod41, and two handgrips43,43′ connected respectively to two opposite ends of the spindle42. The spindle42is provided with a belt pulley421at a central portion thereof. The belt pulley421and the belt pulley35are interconnected through a belt (not shown), so that when the drive wheel33rotates, the spindle42can be moved to rotate therealong. At least one of the handgrips43,43′ may be releasably connected to the spindle42. In this embodiment, each of the handgrips43,43′ is releasably connected to the spindle42for adjusting an angular position thereof relative to the spindle42. A handgrip positioning unit is provided on each handgrip43,43′ so as to connect adjustably and releasably a respective one of the handgrips43,43′ to the spindle42. The handgrip positioning unit includes a handgrip positioning plate431, a limit member432, and a tightening member433.

The handgrip positioning plate431has a proximal end portion4312substantially perpendicular and adjacent to the spindle42, and a distal end portion4313connected to the respective handgrip43,43′ and radially offset from the spindle42. The limit member432is disposed between the spindle42and the proximal end portion4312to limit rotation of the proximal end portion4312. The limit member432has a substantially U-shaped plate defining a channel4321that receives the proximal end portion4312. The tightening member433is connected to the spindle42to press the proximal end portion4312against the limit member432when the tightening member433is tightened. The tightening member433has a threaded portion4331extending through the proximal end portion4312and the limit member432and threaded into the spindle42, a knob4332, and a press part4333connected between the threaded portion4331and the knob4332to press the proximal end portion4312against the limit member432and the spindle42when the tightening member433is tightened.

In this embodiment, the proximal end portion4312is formed with an elongated slot4311having a predetermined length for extension of the threaded portion4331of the tightening member433therethrough. A desired radial distance of each handgrip43,43′ relative to the spindle42may be adjusted by loosening engagement of the tightening member433with the spindle42so as to permit radial movement of the proximal end portion4312relative to the spindle42. After the desired radial distance of each handgrip43,43′ is reached, the tightening member433is tightened. Further, when the tightening member433is loosened from the spindle42, the proximal end portion4312of one of the handgrips43,43′ may be rotated so as to position the handgrips43,43′ at the same angular position, as shown inFIG. 9, or spaced apart from each other at an angular distance of 180°, as shown inFIG. 3.

With reference toFIGS. 4,10, and11, the chair assembly50includes a slide seat52, a chair53, and a link mechanism54. The slide seat52is mounted slidably on the support bar511, and has two opposite lateral sides provided respectively with a plurality of rollers521engaged slidably to the respective slide rails512, so that the slide seat52can move forwardly and rearwardly along the slide rails512. Each lateral side of the slide seat52is formed with a fastening hole522. The chair53is supported fixedly on the slide seat52, and has two horizontal secondary handgrips531(only one is visible inFIGS. 4 and 11) provided respectively on two opposite lateral sides thereof.

The link mechanism54includes a first link rod3622having a front end welded to one side of the ring362, a telescopic second link rod connected pivotally to the first link rod3622, and a limiting member514inserted into the support bar511at a front end portion thereof and having a central hole5141. The second link rod includes an outer tube541, and an inner tube542connected telescopically to the outer tube541. The outer tube541extends into the support bar511via the central hole5141, and has a front end connected pivotally to a rear end of the first link rod3622. The inner tube542has a substantially T-shaped configuration, and has a hollow head section5421, and a plurality of positioning holes5422spaced apart from each other along the length of the inner tube542.

A fixing pin523extends through one of the fastening holes522, one of the elongated slots513, the head section5421of the inner tube542, the other one of the fastening holes522, and the other one of the elongated slots513. A C-shaped retaining ring524is engaged to the fixing pin523so as to fix slidably the slide seat52to the slide rails512and so as to restrict movement of the slide seat52along the elongated slot513. A knob543has a threaded portion extending through a bottom face of the support bar511so as to connect threadedly the outer tube541and engage selectively one of the positioning holes5422, thereby fixing the inner tube542to the outer tube541. When the knob543is loosened, the inner tube542is slidable relative to the outer tube541, the entire length of the link mechanism54can be prolonged or shortened, and the positioning of the slide seat52on the slide rails512can be controlled. This facilitates adjustment of the chair53according to the height of the user. When the link mechanism54is driven by the crank wheel36to move therealong, the slide seat52and the chair53also move so that the user performs a reciprocal forward and rearward exercise.

FIG. 12illustrates an exercise performed using the exercising device of the present invention. The user sits on the chair53with both feet stepping on the respective pedal plates342of the pedal units34and with both hands grasping the respective handgrips43. In this exercise, the handgrips43are spaced apart from each other at an angular distance of 180°, and the pedal plates342are also spaced apart from each other at an angular distance of 180°. Hence, the user's feet are used to perform a pedaling action, while the user's hands are used to perform a hand-cycling exercise, such that the user's upper body and legs are exercised.

FIG. 13illustrates another exercise performed using the exercising device of the present invention. In this exercise, the pedal unit34is adjusted so as to position the pedal plate342at the same angular position as the other pedal plate342′ (seeFIG. 6), and one of the handgrips43is also adjusted so as to be at the same angular position as the other hand grip43′. The pedal units34,34′ are pedaled by the user's feet to rotate in the same direction, and the handgrips43,43′ are also pushed by the user's hands to rotate in the same direction. The upper body and leg muscles of the user are exercised through such a use of the exercising device.

FIGS. 14 and 15are used to describe still another exercise performed using the exercising device of the present invention. In this exercise, the user's hands grasp respectively the secondary handgrips531, and the user's feet step respectively on the pedal plates342,342′ (seeFIG. 6) of the pedal units34,34′ (seeFIG. 6). Since the slide seat52is connected to the link mechanism54and the crank wheel36, and since the disc361of the crank wheel36is co-rotatable with the drive wheel33, when the user's feet start a pedaling action, the slide seat52together with the chair53is brought to move forwardly and rearwardly along the slide rails512. The user's legs and abdomen are exercised through such a use of the exercising device.

From the aforementioned description, it is apparent that the exercising device of the present invention can resolve the aforementioned drawbacks of the conventional exercising devices10and20. The present invention provides adjustment to the angular positions of the pedal units34,34′ and the handgrips43,43′ of the handle assembly40, so that the user can adjust the pedal units34,34′ and the handgrips43,43′ according to his/her exercise requirements. The pedal units34,34′ and/or the handgrips43,43′ may be adjusted so that the pedal plates342,342′ and/or the handgrips43,43′ can be spaced apart from each other at an angular distance of 180° or can be at the same angular position. Further, movement of the chair assembly50in cooperation with the different exercises performed using the pedal units34,34′ and the handle assembly40allows for further training of the user's body.