ROWING SIMULATOR

Abstract: A rowing simulator (10) includes a frame (12), a seat (20) slidably mounted on the frame (12), a pair of adjustable foot rests (28), and, on each side of the frame (12), a rotatably mounted flywheel (48), a driven wheel (50) secured to the flywheel (48), a rotatably mounted drive wheel (46), and connector means (52) connecting the drive wheel (46) to the driven wheel (50). A mock oar (36) is pivotally connected to a rotatable pivot stem (38) linked to a first universal coupling (40). The latter is connected to a drive shaft (42) which, in turn, is connected to a second universal coupling (44) connected to the drive wheel (46). Several frames (12) may be connected stem-to-stern.

Description: ttowTNG sraσiATOR This invention relates to a rowing simulator. Heretofore, many exercise rowing machines have been promoted. Among them are the following: US-A-4,743, Oil discloses an exercise rowing machine including a flywheel as a device supplying a resisting force, and cam sector arms which are mounted to swing to-and-fro with the machine's oar-like members. A cord of non-stretching material is anchored at its ends to the forward ends of the cam surfaces of the respective cam sectors and extends thence aft to respective pulleys disposed at the stern of a main frame and thence forward to run over a guide pulley mounted on one end of a chain arranged to drive a sprocket drive on the flywheel, which is mounted beneath the main frame so as to be rotatable about a vertical axis. The chain continues over an idler sprocket and thence to an anchorage at the main frame. The idler sprocket is mounted on one end of a resilient cord which is anchored at its other end to the main frame and which provides a return force on the chain. When the oar-like members are stroked, the chain is pulled to drive the flywheel. The arcuate shape of the cam surfaces is said to provide a constant resistance force to the stroke of the oar-like members are stroked, the chain is pulled to drive the flywheel. The arcuate shape of the cam surfaces is said to provide a constant resistance force to the stroke of the oar-like members over their sweep. An adjustable foot stretcher plate is provided. A shroud for the flywheel has an adjustable throttle or shutter to control air flow and thus the amount of resistance. An alternative version machine can be provided for sweep rowing, i.e., with just the starboard or port oar-like member for gripping its handle with both hands; it is recommended that the user should row for a time on each side so as to exercise evenly. US-A-4, 798, 378 discloses a rowing exercise machine including a flywheel and a one-way clutch connected thereto. The flywheel is rotated by a user pulling on a horizontally orientatable handle which is connected by cables, chains or toothed belts to sprockets connected to the flywheel through the clutch. The flywheel has a non-magnetic, conducting rim portion that passes through a magnetic field created by a stationary field piece having one or more field coils. US-A-4, 880, 224 discloses a rowing machine including a flywheel driven by a planetary gear system having a rotatable carrier, pinion gears mounted in the carrier, a stationary ring gear and a central gear. The user drives the carrier by pulling on a horizontally orientatable handle connected to a cable wound on a spool mounted on the carrier. US-A-4, 997, 181 discloses an exercise rowing unit including a wind-drag type flywheel with fan-type blades, and a one-way clutch with an associated horizontal handle and rope sheave. US-A-5, 013, 033 discloses a rowing apparatus including an axle journaled in a frame, and having a cable extending from a handle, a spiral configured spring, and a flywheel all associated with the axle. US-A-5, 072, 929 discloses an exercise rowing machine including two flywheels, a horizontally orientatable handle connected by means of a cord to the first flywheel, and a seat connected by means of a cord to the second flywheel. US-A-5, 076, 573 discloses a magnetic resistance type stationary rowing unit operable by means of a horizontal handle connected to a rope. US-A-5, 382, 210 discloses a rowing simulator having a slidably mounted energy dissipating unit including a flywheel with blades or fins, a one-way clutch and reduction gears, a handle and chain, and a chain take-up device encompassing an elastic cord and five pulleys associated with the chain and the elastic cord. According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rowing simulator comprising a frame, a seat, foot resting means adjustably mounted on the frame, resisting-force supplying means mounted on the frame, a rotatable pivot drivingly connected to said resisting-force supplying means, and an oar-like member connected so as to rotate said pivot, whereby said pivot drives said resisting- force supplying means, characterized in that universal means operatively interconnects said pivot and said resisting-force supplying means. Owing to this aspect of the invention, transmission of the driving force of the oar-like member from the pivot towards the flywheel can be reliably performed, since the universal means helps to avoid transmission faults owing to undesired relative movements among parts of the simulator because of the strong forces applied thereto by the user. According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rowing simulator, comprising a frame, outrigging means extending laterally from one side of said frame, a pivot having an axis of turning which is inclined to the horizontal and carried by an outer end zone of said outrigging means, receiving means at an upper end zone of said pivot for receiving an oar-like member for oscillating said pivot about said axis, a transmission member extending towards said frame from a lower end zone of said pivot and resisting-force supplying means to which said transmission member is drivingly connected at an inner end zone of said member, said transmission member being connected at an outer end zone thereof to said pivot at said lower end zone for being driven by said pivot, characterized in that said transmission member has said inner end zone translationally fixed relatively to said frame. Owing to this aspect of the invention, the risks of injury to other persons and of damage to the simulator can be reduced, since the transmission member does not move to-and- fro over the ground or floor and throughout its length can remain near to the outrigging means. The transmission member may be a shaft, which is particularly advantageous in avoiding transmission faults such as occurs with belts, chains and the like. Moreover, if the shaft has input and output universal couplings, there is no need for the shaft itself to be directly supported by fixed bearings. According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rowing simulator, comprising a frame, first and second pivots at respective opposite sides of said frame and having respective axes of turning inclined to the horizontal, first and second receiving means at respective zones of said first and second pivots for receiving respective first and second oar-like members for oscillating the respective pivots about their respective axes, and resisting-force supplying means to which said first and second pivots are drivingly connected, characterized in that said resisting-force supplying means comprises first and second resisting-force supplying means the resisting forces supplied by which are substantially independent of one another. Owing to this aspect of the invention, a much more realistic simulation of rowing can be obtained since, in actual rowing, the forces resisting pulling of the oars are substantially independent of each other. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided rowing simulating apparatus, comprising frame means, a first seat carried by said frame means for a first user, a first handle for grasping by said first user, and a first resisting-force supplying means carried by said frame means for resisting pulling strokes of said handle, characterized in that behind said first seat are a second seat carried by said frame means for a second user, and a second handle for grasping by said second user, and in that said frame means carries another resisting-force supplying means for resisting pulling strokes of said second handle. Owing to this aspect of the invention, a much more realistic simulation of rowing, particularly sculling or sweeping with two or more rowers, can be obtained. Owing to the present invention, it is possible to provide a realistic, simplified, compact, and efficient rowing simulator. In a preferred embodiment, the rowing simulator includes a pair of oar-like members {within which expression are included real oars and mock oars) for actuating oppositely disposed drive wheels operating driven wheels connected to flywheels. Each oar-like member may be connected, through a pivot on an outrigger and linked to one of two universal couplings, with an intermediate drive shaft connected through the other coupling to a drive wheel, in turn connected, via one of a belt and a chain and a gear wheel, to a driven wheel secured to a flywheel having a resistance device associated therewith . In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a perspective view from above of a rowing simulator; Figure 2 is a top plan view of the simulator; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along a plane of the line III-III of Figure 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows; Figures 4, 4A, 4B and 5 are perspective views of alternate embodiments of portions of the simulator; and Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of a portion of the Figures 1 and 2 simulator. Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, there is illustrated a rowing simulator 10 including a framework 12 having stem and stern braces 14 extending to support bars 16. A pair of wheels 18 are secured adjacent opposite ends of the stern support bar 16, adapted to permit manual lifting of the stem of the simulator 10 to thereby readily roll the simulator 10 to a different location. A seat 20 is slidably mounted on runners 22 secured along the upper surface of the framework 12. Upper and lower plates 24 formed with respective series of notches are fixed to the stem end zone of the framework 12. Parallel rods 26 are adapted to being adjustably mounted across the respective upper and lower notched plates 24. A pair of foot rests 28 are secured to the rods 26 on opposite sides of the framework 12. An electronic measuring device 30, such as a speedometer, or the like, is secured at a convenient location, such as to the upper rod 26 intermediate the pair of foot rests 28. The device 30 is adapted to interpret information generated from detection devices (not shown) on at least one of the flywheel, seat, or other selected component, to disclose various readouts, e.g., distance travelled, time lapsed, strokes per minute, and/or energy expended, etc. The detection devices can be provided at selected components at the respective opposite sides of the simulator, so that the rowing performances of the user in relation to respective port and starboard "mock" oars 36 can be separately indicated at the device 30. This feature is particularly valuable in realistic training of rowers. A pair of outrigger arms 32 are pivotally connected to the respective opposite sides of the framework 12. A downwardly and forwardly oriented outrigger sleeve 34 is secured to the distal end of each arm 32 to form a "T" therewith. An oar 36 is pivotally connected at one end thereof to a pivot pin 37 connected to a pivot stem 38 pivotally extended through the sleeve 34. Oppositely disposed bushings 39 are mounted between the ends of the sleeve 34 and surfaces of the stem 38. A universal coupling 40 is connected between the lower end of each stem 38 and a respective drive shaft 42 by virtue of a pin 41 extending through adjacent ends of the coupling 40 and the stem 38. Each drive shaft 42 rotates about its own axis (so that both end zones thereof are translationally fixed relative to the frame 12) and extends laterally inwards (in the neighbourhood of the outrigger 32) to a second universal coupling 44 connected so as to drive a drive wheel 46. The shaft 42 is supported by only the couplings 40 and 44. The drive wheels 46 are independently rotatably mounted on suitable shafts 47 (Figure 2) and bearings (not shown) on oppositely disposed sides of the framework 12. A pair of flywheels 48 are independently rotatably mounted on a suitable shaft/bearing combination 49 (Figure 6) on oppositely disposed sides of the framework 12 forward of the respective drive wheels 46. A driven wheel 50 is secured to a suitable freewheel clutch, represented at 51 in Figure 6, on the outer side of each flywheel 48. One of a V-belt and a toothed belt and a linked chain 52, or, as shown in Figure 5, where the drive wheel 46 and the driven wheel 50 are each formed as spur gears, an idler gear 53 in mesh with both, operatively connect each drive wheel 46 to the adjacent driven wheel 50 and, hence, to the flywheel 48. An adjustable spring-tensioned roller 54 is mounted on the framework 12 in engagement with the flywheel 48 to provide resistance to the unidirectional rotation of the flywheel. Alternatively, in lieu of the roller 54, resistance could be provided by vanes 56 (Figure 4B) formed on the flywheel and covered by a vent door 58 and an outer cover 60, an adjustable electromagnetic brake 62 (Figure 4), or a lapped belt 64 (Figure 4A) around the flywheel perimeter and secured to a spring 66 at one end and a tensioner 68 at the other end. As an option, rollers 70 may be mounted on the framework 12 in engagement with the respective drive wheels 46 to add resistance thereto to simulate the weights of the oars on the push strokes, for example. In operation, while each oar 36 may be turned in any direction relative to the pivot stem 38, when the oar is pulled toward the user, to thereby rotate the pivot pin 37 and the stem 38, the latter, through the connector pin 41 and the first universal coupling 40, serves to rotate the drive shaft 42, and, hence, the second universal coupling 44 and the associated drive wheel 46. Then, through the belt or chain 52, or the idler gear 53, the driven wheel 50 and, hence, the flywheel 48 are driven against the resistance of the adjustable spring-tensioned roller 54. In other words, the driven wheel 50 drives the flywheel 48 on the oar 36 pull stroke, but not on the oar push stroke, when the flywheel 48 freewheels. If desired, a plurality of simulators 10 ,may be linked together, in line, by joining them stem-to-stern with releasable fasteners (not shown) , possibly fitted to each end of each simulator, to simulate a double scull, a quad scull, or an eight scull, for example. Instead, the linked-together simulators may be fitted on alternate sides with only the oar, drive, and flywheel components to simulate any multiple of rowing sweeps. Additionally or alternatively, the simulators may be linked together side-by-side with releasable fasteners (not shown) , possibly fitted to each side of each simulator, with the oar, drive and flywheel components at each outer side only, to simulate one or more rowing pairs. In such circumstances, a display device, such as the device 30, may be provided for each user and for a trainer, if so desired. It should be apparent that the simulator described with reference to the drawings is realistic, simple, compact and efficient. It should also be apparent that the simulator, as a single or a multiple, is capable of simulating substantially all methods of rowing.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A rowing simulator comprising a frame (12), a seat (20), resisting-force supplying means (48, 54;48,56;48, 62; 48, 64) mounted on the frame (12), foot resting means (28) adjustably mounted on the frame (12), a rotatable pivot (38) drivingly connected to said resisting-force supplying means (48,54;48, 56;48, 62;48, 64) , and an oar-like member (36) connected so as to rotate said pivot (38) , whereby said pivot (38) drives said resisting-force supplying means (48, 54; 48, 56; 48, 62;48, 64) , characterized in that universal means (40,42,44) operatively interconnects said pivot (38) and said resisting-force supplying means (48, 54;48, 56; 48,62;48, 64) . 2. A rowing simulator according to claim 1, and further comprising a driven wheel (50) secured to a flywheel (48) of said resisting-force supplying means (48, 54; 48, 56; 48, 62;48,64), a drive wheel (46) rotatably mounted on the frame (12), and connecting means (52,53) interconnecting said drive wheel (46) and said driven wheel (48), said universal means (40,42,44) being operatively connected to said flywheel (48) by way of said drive wheel (46) , said connecting means (52,53) and said driven wheel (50) . 3. A rowing simulator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said universal means (40,42,44) includes a first universal coupling (40) adapted to be rotated by said pivot (38) , a drive shaft (42) adapted to be rotated by said first universal coupling (40) , and a second universal coupling (44) adapted to be rotated by said drive shaft (42) to drive said resisting-force supplying means (48, 54;48,56;48, 62;48, 64) . 4. A rowing simulator according to any preceding claim, and further comprising an adjustable resisting-force supplying means (70) serving to resist return strokes of said oar-like member (36) . 5. A rowing simulator according to any preceding claim, wherein the or each resisting-force supplying means (48, 54; 70) comprises an adjustable spring-tensioned roller (54;70) . 6. A rowing simulator according to any preceding claim, wherein said oar-like member (36) is connected to said pivot (38) by way of a pivot pin (37) so as to be upwardly and downwardly pivotable relative thereto. 7. A rowing simulator according to any preceding claim, and further comprising one-way clutch means (51) connected between said pivot (38) and said resisting-force supplying means (48, 54;48, 56;48, 62;48, 64) and whereby said resisting- force supplying means (48,54;48, 56;48, 62;48, 64) does not resist return strokes of said oar-like member (36) . 8. A rowing simulator according to any preceding claim and further comprising fastening means at at least one end of said frame (12) whereby said simulator (10) is connected stem-to-stern to one or more similar rowing simulators (10) . 9. A rowing simulator according to any preceding claim, and further comprising a series of upper and lower slots (24) formed at the stem end zone of said frame (12) , and a pair of upper and lower transverse rods (26) for mounting in selected upper and lower slots (24) to adjust along said frame (12), said foot resting means (28) comprising a pair of foot rests (28) at respective opposite sides of said frame (12) and interconnected by said transverse rods (26) . 10. A rowing simulator, comprising a frame (12), outrigging means (32,34) extending laterally from one side of said frame (12) , a pivot (38) having an axis of turning inclined to the horizontal and carried by an outer end zone (34) of said outrigging means (32) , receiving means (37) at an upper end zone of said pivot (38) for receiving an oar-like member (36) for oscillating said pivot (38) about said axis, a transmission member (42) extending towards said frame (12) from a lower end zone of said pivot (38) and resisting-force supplying means (48, 54; 8, 56;48, 62;48, 64) to which said transmission member (42) is drivingly connected at an inner end zone of said member (42) , said transmission member (42) being connected at an outer end zone thereof to said pivot (38) at said lower end zone for being driven by said pivot (38) , characterized in that said transmission member (42) has said inner end zone translationally fixed relatively to said frame (12) . 11. A rowing simulator according to claim 10, wherein said transmission member (42) comprises a shaft (42) . 12. A rowing simulator according to claim 11, wherein said shaft (42) is connected to said pivot (38) by way of a first universal coupling (40) at said outer end zone and is connected to said resisting-force supplying means (48,54;48,56;48, 62;48, 64) by way of a second universal coupling (44) at said inner end zone. 13. A rowing simulator according to any one of claims 10 to 12, and further comprising one-way clutch means (51) connected between said pivot (38) and said resisting-force supplying means (48, 54;48, 56;48, 62;48, 64) and whereby said resisting-force supplying means (48, 54;48,56;48, 62;48, 64) does not resist return strokes of said oar-like member (36) . 14. A rowing simulator according to any one of claims 10 to 13, and further comprising an adjustable resisting-force supplying means (70) serving to resist return strokes of said oar-like member (36) . 15. A rowing simulator according to any one of claims 10 to 14, wherein the or each resisting-force supplying means (48,54;70) comprises an adjustable spring-tensioned roller (54;70) . 16. A rowing simulator according to any one of claims 10 to 15, and further comprising fastening means at at least one end of said frame (12) whereby said simulator (10) is connected stem-to-stern to one or more similar rowing simulators (10) . 17. A rowing simulator, comprising a frame (12), first and second pivots (38) at respective opposite sides of said frame (12) and having respective axes of turning inclined to the horizontal, first and second receiving means (37) at respective zones of said first and second pivots (38) for receiving respective first and second oar-like members (36) for oscillating the respective pivots (38) about their respective axes, and resisting-force supplying means (48,54; 48,56;48, 62; 8, 64) to which said first and second pivots (38) are drivingly connected, characterized in that said resisting-force supplying means (48, 54;48, 56;48, 62;48, 64) comprises first and second resisting-force supplying means (48, 54;48, 56;48, 62;48, 64) the resisting forces supplied by which are substantially independent of one another. 18. A rowing simulator according to claim 17, wherein said first and second resisting-force supplying means (48, 54;48, 56;48, 62;48, 64) are disposed at respective opposite sides of said frame (12) . 19. A rowing simulator according to claim 18, wherein said first and second resisting-force supplying means (48, 54;48, 56;48, 62;48, 64) comprise respect first and second flywheels (48) disposed at said respective opposite sides of said frame (12) . 20. A rowing simulator according to claim 19, wherein said first and second flywheels (48) are rotatably mounted upon a common axle (49) so as to be rotatable independently of one another. 21. A rowing simulator according to any one of claims 17 to 20, and further comprising first and second one-way clutch means (51) connected between the respective first and second pivots (38) and the respective first and second resisting- force supplying means (48, 54; 48, 56; 8, 62; 8, 64) and whereby said first and second resisting-force supplying means (48,54;48,56;48, 62;48, 64) do not resist return stokes of the respective first and second oar-like members (36) . 22. A rowing simulator according to any one of claims 17 to 21, and further comprising first and second adjustable resisting-force supplying means (70) serving to resist return strokes of said first and second oar-like members (36) . 23. A rowing simulator according to any one of claims 17 to 22, wherein each resisting-force applying means (48, 54;70) comprises an adjustable spring-tensioned roller (54;70) . 24. A rowing simulator according to any one of claims 17 to 23, and further comprising fastening means at at least one end of said frame (12) whereby said simulator (10) is connected stem-to-stern to one or more similar rowing simulators (10) . 25. Rowing simulating apparatus, comprising frame means (12), a first seat (20) carried by said frame means (12) for a first user, a first handle (36) for grasping by said first user, and a first resisting-force supplying means (48,54;48,56;48, 62;48, 64) carried by said frame means (12) for resisting pulling strokes of said handle (36) , characterized in that behind said first seat (20) are a second seat carried by said frame means for a second user, a second handle for grasping by said second user, and in that said frame means carries another resisting-force supplying means for resisting pulling strokes of said second handle. 26. Rowing simulating apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said first handle (36) is of a first oar-like member (36) at one side of said frame means and said second handle is of a second oar-like member at the opposite side of said frame means, there being no other oar-like member for either user. 27. Rowing simulating apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said first handle (36) is one of two handles of two oar-like members (36) for the first user at the respective opposite sides of said frame means and said second handle is one of two handles of another two oar-like members for the second user at the respective opposite sides of said frame means. 28. Rowing simulating apparatus according to any one of claims 25 to 27, wherein said frame means (12) comprises first and second frames (12) fastened together stem-to-stern and carrying the respective first and second seats and the respective first and second resisting-force supplying means.

Inventors: PAPE LESLIE, PAPE, LESLIE
Applicants: PAPE LESLIE, PAPE, LESLIE
Application year: 1996
Main classification: A63B69
IPC codes: A63B21, A63B23, A63B69