Abstract:
An elliptical exerciser includes a magnetic resistance mold including a magnetic member and a fly wheel which cuts the magnetic flux to produce magnetic resistance, and a motor driving mold including a motor and several wheels so as to transmit the power from the output shaft of the motor. A clutch device including a lever is operated to set the exerciser to be operated in magnetic resistance mold or the motor driving mold.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to an elliptical exerciser which includes a magnetic resistance mold and a motor driving mold. The two molds can be shifted as needed.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     A conventional elliptical exerciser generally includes a base with a post and two handles are connected to the post. Two pedals each have a first end thereof pivotably connected to the post and a second end of each pedal is pivotably connected to respective one of two cranks which is connected to a first pivot shaft. An active wheel is connected to the first pivot shaft. A second pivot shaft is connected to a frame on the base and a first passive wheel and a fly wheel are respectively connected to the second pivot shaft. The fly wheel includes a plurality of devices that cut the magnetic flux and a first belt is reeved through the active wheel and the first passive wheel. Nevertheless, the conventional magnetic resistance elliptical exerciser requires a lot of efforts to overcome the resistance and could not be suitable for most of the exercisers. Another type of the exerciser employs electric motor which produces less resistance so that the user may easily to operate the exerciser. However, because of the less resistance, the exercising result is limited.  
         [0003]     The present invention intends to provide an elliptical exerciser that includes a magnetic resistance mold and a motor driving mold, and the user can optionally choose one of the two molds to meet his or her needs when operating the elliptical exerciser.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     The present invention relates to an elliptical exerciser that comprises a base with a post and a crank frame connected thereto. Two handlebars are connected to the post and a first end of a pedal is pivotably connected to each of the two handlebars. A second end of each of the pedals is pivotably connected to a first end of respective one of two cranks. A second end of each crank is fixed to a first pivot shaft which is connected to the crank frame. A magnetic resistance device includes a first active wheel fixed to the first pivot shaft and a wheel frame on the base and includes a second pivot shaft. A first passive wheel and a fly wheel are respectively connected to the second pivot shaft. The fly wheel includes a magnetic flux cutting device connected to a periphery thereof. A first belt reeves through the first active wheel and a first passive wheel. A magnetic member for producing magnetic flux is located beside the fly wheel at a distance. A motor transmitting device includes an electric motor which has an output shaft fixed to a second active wheel. A second passive wheel is co-axially connected to the first passive wheel. A second belt reeves through the second active wheel and the second passive wheel. A clutch device is able to set the second active wheel of the motor to be disconnected from other parts.  
         [0005]     The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]      FIG. 1  is a side view to show the elliptical exerciser of the present invention in motor driving mold;  
         [0007]      FIG. 2  is a top view to show the elliptical exerciser of the present invention;  
         [0008]      FIG. 3  shows the clutch device when in motor driving mold;  
         [0009]      FIG. 4  is a side view to show the elliptical exerciser of the present invention in magnetic resistance mold;  
         [0010]      FIG. 5  shows the clutch device when in magnetic resistance mold;  
         [0011]      FIG. 6  shows another embodiment of the clutch device when in motor driving mold, and  
         [0012]      FIG. 7  shows yet another embodiment of the clutch device when in magnetic resistance mold. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0013]     Referring to FIGS.  1  to  3 , the elliptical exerciser of the present invention comprises a base  10  with a post  20  and a crank frame  30  connected thereto. Two handlebars  21  are connected to the post  20  and two respective first ends  41  of two pedals  40  are pivotably connected to the two handlebars  21 . Two respective second ends  412  of the two pedals  40  are pivotably connected to two respective first ends  310  of two cranks  31 . A second end  311  of each crank  31  is fixed to a first pivot shaft  51  which is connected to the crank frame  30 . Each pedal  40  has a foot pad  43  connected thereto.  
         [0014]     A magnetic resistance device  50  includes a first active wheel  52  which is fixed to the first pivot shaft  51 . A wheel frame  11  is connected to the base  10  and includes a second pivot shaft  53  connected thereto. A first passive wheel  54  and a fly wheel  55  are respectively connected to the second pivot shaft  53 . The fly wheel  55  includes a magnetic flux cutting device connected to a periphery thereof. A first belt  56  reeves through the first active wheel  52  and a first passive wheel  54 . A magnetic member  57  for producing magnetic flux is an electro magnetic member which produces magnetic force when electric current passes through the magnetic member  57 . The magnetic member  57  is located beside the fly wheel  55  at a distance.  
         [0015]     A motor transmitting device  60  includes an electric motor  61  which has an output shaft  610  fixed to a second active wheel  62 . A second passive wheel  63  is co-axially connected to the first passive wheel  54 . A second belt  64  reeves through the second active wheel  62  and the second passive wheel  63 .  
         [0016]     A clutch device  70  which is able to set the second active wheel  62  of the motor  61  to be disconnected from other parts. The clutch device  70  includes a lever  71  which includes a first end  710  pivotably connected to the base  10 , and a second end  711  of the lever  71  is used as a handle  712 . A first roller  72  and a second roller  73  are pivotably connected to the lever  71 , wherein an outer diameter of the first roller  72  is larger than that of the second active wheel  62 . The first roller  72  is located at an inside of the second belt  64  and the second roller  73  is located at an outside of the second belt  64 . The thickness of the second active wheel  62  is less than a width of the second belt  64  so that the second belt ( 64 ) partially reeves through the second active wheel ( 62 ).  
         [0017]     Further referring to  FIGS. 3 and 5 , a positioning device  74  is able to used to position the lever  71  to the base  10  and includes a pin  75  which extends through the lever  71  and one of two positioning holes  120 ,  121  defined through a bar  12  on the base  10 . The two positioning holes  120 ,  121  are located at a section of a circular path.  
         [0018]      FIG. 1  shows that the elliptical exerciser of the present invention is in motor driving mold and the second active wheel  62  is disengaged from other parts so that the rotation of the second active wheel  62  cannot be output to any part. The lever  71  is shifted to be connected to the base  10  by extending the pin  75  through the positioning hole  121 . The first roller  72  is disengaged from the second belt  64  and the second active wheel  62  is engaged with the second belt  64 . The second roller  73  is in contact with the second belt  64  so that the second active wheel  62  drives the second belt  64  and the power of the motor  61  is transmitted from the output shaft  610 , the second active wheel  62 , the second belt  64 , the second passive wheel  63 , the second pivot shaft  53 , the first passive wheel  54 , the first belt  56 , the first active wheel  52 , the first pivot shaft  51 , and the cranks  31 . Therefore, the pedals  40  and the handlebars  21  are rotatable and the foot pads  43  are moved along an elliptic trace.  
         [0019]     As shown in  FIGS. 1, 3 ,  4  and  5 , when the user wants to shift the operation mold from motor driving mold to magnetic resistance mold, the pin  75  is first pulled from the positioning hole  120  and the lever  71  is pivoted clock wise, and the pin  75  is engaged with the other positioning hole  121 . This makes the first roller  72  and the second active wheel  62  to be located at the same axis, and the lever  71  is fixed to the base  10 . The first roller  72  raises the second belt  64  because the diameter of the first roller  72  is larger than that of the second active wheel  62 , and the thickness of the second active wheel  62  is less than the width of the second belt  64  so that the first roller  72  can touch and raise the second belt  64 . The second active wheel  62  is not in contact with the second belt  64  so that the second active wheel  62  becomes an independent wheel and the user has to swing the handles  21  and the pedals  40  to overcome the magnetic resistance generated due to that the magnetic flux form the magnetic member  57  is cut by the fly wheel  55 . The power of the second passive wheel  63  is transmitted to the first roller  72  and cannot be transmitted to the second active wheel  62  so that the motor  61  is protected from being damaged by the power.  
         [0020]     The elliptical exerciser can be optionally shifted by the user so as to meet the user&#39;s need between the motor driving mold and the magnetic resistance mold. The motor is protected when the exercisers is set to the magnetic resistance mold.  
         [0021]     Referring to  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7 , the clutch device  70  may have bearings  80  and a one-direction bearing  81  installed at an inner periphery of the second active wheel  62  of the motor  61 . The output shaft  610  includes an extension portion  611  with smaller diameter and the bearings  80  are mounted to the output shaft  610  and the one-direction bearing  81  encloses the extension portion  611  with an annular gap defined between the extension portion  611  and the one-direction bearing  81 . A tube  90  is movably mounted to the extension portion  611  and an outer periphery of the tube  90  is in contact with the one-direction bearing  81  so that the power of the motor  61  is transmitted from the output shaft  610 , the tube  90 , the one-direction bearing  81 , the second active wheel  62 , the second belt  64 , the second passive wheel  63 , the second pivot shaft  53 , the first passive wheel  54 , the first belt  56 , the first active wheel  52 , the first pivot shaft  51 , and the cranks  31 . Therefore, the pedals  40  and the handlebars  21  are rotatable and the foot pads  43  are moved along an elliptic trace. And when the tube  90  is pulled out apart from the touching position with the one-direction bearing  81 , the one-direction bearing  81  does not touch the output shaft  610  and the extension portion  611  so that the motor  61  is protected from being damaged by the power from the user. In another embodiment, wherein the one-direction bearing  81  can be a needle bearing.  
         [0022]     While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.