Abstract:
A multipurpose exercising machine for exercising the muscles of the arms, legs and abdomen includes a machine base, a seat pad mounted on the machine base, a back pad pivoted to the machine base behind the seat pad and forwardly backwardly turnable relative to the machine base and positionable at a predetermined angle, a pedal unit mounted on the machine base in front of the seat pad, the pedal unit having two pedals for pedaling by the user, and a chest and back developer grip unit detachably mounted on the machine base behind the seat pad. The chest and back developer grip unit has two operation arms for pulling by the user.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to physical exercisers and, more particularly, to a multipurpose exercising machine, which provides multiple operation modes including arm and chest exercise, front-bend, pedaling exercise, and etc.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     Various exercising machines have been developed, and have appeared on the market. These exercising machines commonly provide only one operation mode for exercising the muscles of a specific part of the body. Due to one single operation mode, the user becomes tired of operating the exercising machine within a short time. Nowadays, the new design concept is to provide a universal gym that provides multiple operation modes for exercising the muscles of different parts of the body. Because a universal gym allows the user to frequently change the operation mode, it greatly increases the user&#39;s willing of using the machine to exercise the muscles of the body.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVNEION  
       [0005]     The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present invention to provide a multipurpose exercising machine, which is practical for exercising the muscles of the arms, abdomen and legs.  
         [0006]     It is another object of the present invention to provide a multipurpose exercising machine, which allows the user to change the operation position.  
         [0007]     It is still another object of the present invention to provide a multipurpose exercising machine, which has a detachable individual exercising unit that is highly mobile.  
         [0008]     To achieve these objects of the present invention, the multipurpose exercising machine comprises a machine base; a seat pad mounted on the machine base; a back pad pivoted to the machine base behind the seat pad and forwardly backwardly turnable relative to the machine base and positionable at a predetermined angle; a pedal unit mounted on the machine base in front of the seat pad; and a chest and back developer grip unit having an open frame detachably mounted on the machine base behind the seat pad, two swivel connectors respectively pivoted to the open frame at two sides and selectively set between a first position and a second position, two operation handles respectively pivoted to the swivel connectors, the operation handles being moved to a vertical position when the swivel connectors set in the first position, the operation handles being moved to a horizontal position when the swivel connectors set in the second position, and a plurality of elastomeric members symmetrically bilaterally connected between the handles and the open frame. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a multipurpose exercising machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention, showing the chest and back developer grip unit installed and the back pad set in horizontal.  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is another side view of the first embodiment of the present invention, showing the chest and back developer grip unit removed from the machine base and the back pad set in vertical.  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a sectional view in an enlarged scale of a part of the first embodiment of the present invention, showing the connection between the supporting bar and one locating pin at the adjustment rack.  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is a schematic side view of the first embodiment of the present invention, showing adjustment of the retractable rack and the chest and back developer grip unit.  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is a front view of a part of the first embodiment of the present invention, showing the handles of the chest and back developer grip unit set in the vertical position.  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  is similar to  FIG. 5  but showing the handles of the chest and back developer grip unit set in the horizontal position.  
         [0015]      FIG. 7  shows one operation mode of the first embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 8  shows another operation mode of the first embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 9  shows still another operation mode of the first embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0018]      FIG. 10  shows still another operation mode of the first embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0019]      FIG. 11  shows still another operation mode of the first embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0020]      FIG. 12  is a side view of a multipurpose exercising machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0021]      FIG. 13  is a side view of a multipurpose exercising machine according to the third embodiment of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0022]     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a multipurpose exercising machine  10  in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention is shown comprising a machine base  20 , a seat pad  30 , a back pad  40 , a pedal unit  50 , a chest and back developer grip unit  60 , and two elastic cord members  70 .  
         [0023]     The machine base  20  is horizontally positioned on the floor, comprising a main frame  21 , a leg extension bar  22  disposed at the front side of the main frame  21 , a mounting tube  23  disposed at the back side of the main frame  21 , a retractable rack  24  forwardly movably extended from the main frame  21 , an adjustment rack  25  extended from the back side of the main frame  21 , and a lock screw  26  adapted to control adjustment of the pitch between the main frame  21  and the retractable rack  24 . Further, the adjustment rack  25  comprises a plurality of upright locating pins  27  arranged in a line.  
         [0024]     The seat pad  30  is mounted on the main frame  21  of the machine base  20  between the leg extension bar  22  and the mounting tube  23 . The top side of the seat pad  30  is disposed at an elevation relatively higher than the top end of the mounting tube  23  for the sitting of the user.  
         [0025]     The back pad  40  is pivoted to the main frame  21  of the machine base  20  behind the seat pad  30  and the mounting tube  23  for supporting to support the user&#39;s back and can be biased forwards and backwards, having a supporting bar  41  disposed at the back side. The supporting bar  41  has one end pivoted to the back side of the back pad  40 , and the other end provided with a locating hole  42  (see  FIG. 3 ). By means of selectively coupling the locating hole  42  to one of the upright locating pins  27 , the back pad  40  is locked to the adjustment rack  25  at one of a series of angles.  
         [0026]     The pedal unit  50  is of the known design mounted on the retractable rack  24  of the machine base  20 , comprising two pedals  51  for pedaling by the user. The pedals  51  can be of the design similar to the pedals of a climber for stepping, or the design similar to the pedals of a bicycle for pedaling.  
         [0027]     Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the chest and back developer grip unit  60  is comprised of an open frame  61 , a mounting bar  62 , two swivel connectors  63 , two operation handles  64 , two elastomeric members  65 , a cushion  66 , a lock screw  68 , and two shoulder straps  69 . The open frame  61  has a rectangular profile. The cushion  66  is mounted on the open frame  61  and adapted to support the user&#39;s back. The mounting bar  62  is a rectangular bar having a plurality of mounting holes  67  longitudinally aligned in a line. One end of the mounting bar  62  is fixedly connected to the open frame  61 . The other end of the mounting bar  62  is detachably inserted into the mounting tube  23  and locked by the lock screw  68 . The lock screw  68  is provided at the mounting tube  23  and selectively threaded into one of the mounting holes  67  to lock the mounting bar  62  to the mounting tube  23  at one of a series of vertically spaced positions. The swivel connectors  63  are bilaterally provided at the back side of the open frame  61 , each having one end pivoted to the open frame  61  near the top and the other end respectively detachably locked to the two opposite longitudinal sides of the open frame  61  in the first position (see  FIG. 5 ) or the transverse top side of the open frame  61  in the second position (see  FIG. 6 ) by a respective lock screw  631 . The operation handles  64  are respectively pivoted to the swivel connectors  63 , and can be turned with the swivel connectors  63  between a vertical position (see  FIG. 5 ; where the swivel connectors  63  are respectively moved to the first position) and a horizontal position (see  FIG. 6 ; where the swivel connectors  63  are respectively moved to the second position). The elastomeric members  65  are rubber blocks respectively connected between the operation handles  64  and the open frame  61 . The shoulder straps  69  are detachably provided at two sides of the open frame  61 . When the chest and back developer grip unit  60  detached from the machine base  20  for independent use, the user can carry the chest and back developer grip unit  60  on the back with the shoulder straps  69  fastened to the shoulders and the cushion  66  of the chest and back developer grip unit  60  supported on the back (see  FIG. 11 ).  
         [0028]     The two elastic cord members  70  each have a hook  71  at one end for hooking on the front side of the machine base  20  (see  FIG. 7 ) or the rear side of the machine base  20  (see  FIG. 8 ), and a grip  72  at the other end for the holding of the hand.  
         [0029]     The multipurpose exercising machine can be operated to exercise the muscles of different parts of the body as follows:  
         [0030]     1. Pedaling exercise (see  FIGS. 7 and 8 ): When sitting on the seat pad  30 , rest the back on the back pad  40  after the back pad  40  has been adjusted to the desired elevation, or on the cushion  66  of the chest and back developer grip unit  60  as desired after the chest and back developer grip unit  60  has been installed in the mounting tube  23  and adjusted to the desired elevation, and then pedal the pedals  51  of the pedal unit  50 .  
         [0031]     2. Arm and chest exercise: When sitting on the seat pad, rest the back on the back pad  40  after the back pad  40  has been adjusted to the desired elevation, or on the cushion  66  of the chest and back developer grip unit  60  as desired after the chest and back developer grip unit  60  has been installed in the mounting tube  23  and adjusted to the desired elevation, and then hook the hooks  71  of the elastic cord members  70  on the back side of the machine base  20  (see  FIG. 8 ) or the front side of the machine base  20  (see  FIG. 7 ), and then lift the grips  72  with the hands (see  FIG. 7 ) or push the grips  73  alternatively obliquely forwards and backwards with the hands (see  FIG. 8 ).  
         [0032]     3. Front-bend (see  FIG. 9 ): Detach the chest and back developer grip unit  60  from the machine base  20 , and then adjust the connection between the supporting bar  41  and the locating pins  27  to further adjust the angular position of the back pad  40 , and then lie the body on the seat pad  30  and the back pad  40 , and then hook the feet on the leg extension bar  22  of the machine base  20 , and then bend the trunk of the body to exercise the muscles of the abdomen.  
         [0033]     4. Chest and back exercise (see  FIGS. 10 and 11 ): Insert the mounting bar  62  of the chest and back developer grip unit  60  to the mounting tube  25  of the base frame  20  and then adjust the distance between the chest and back developer grip unit  60  and the base frame  20  by means of the mounting holes  67  (see  FIG. 10 ). If desired, directly carry the chest and back developer grip unit  60  on the back and fasten the shoulder straps  69  to the shoulders (see  FIG. 11 ). When exercising, lock the operation handles  64  to the desired position, and then alternatively push and pull the operation handles  64 . When the operation handles  64  set in the vertical position (see  FIGS. 5 and 10 ), synchronously or alternatively pull and push the operation handles  64  in vertical direction. When the operation handles  64  set in the horizontal position (see  FIGS. 6 and 11 ), synchronously or alternatively pull and push the operation handles  64  in horizontal direction. The number of the elastomeric members  65  may be increased so as to relatively increase damping resistance and exercising intensity.  
         [0034]     As indicated above, the multipurpose exercising machine can be operated in either of the aforesaid four operation modes to exercise the muscles of the arms, abdomen and legs. Alternatively, the user can simultaneously perform two of the four operation modes, for example, Pedaling exercise plus Chest and back exercise, or Pedaling exercise plus Arm and chest exercise. Further, the user can also carry and operate the chest and back developer grip unit  60  while walking. In general, the multipurpose exercising apparatus provides multiple operation options for choice to exercise the muscles of different parts of the body.  
         [0035]     The invention may be variously embodied.  FIG. 12  shows a multipurpose exercising apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the multipurpose exercising apparatus  80  comprises a machine base  81 , which has a front leg extension bar  86  and a rear adjustment rack  82 , a seat pad  83  provided at the top side of the machine base  81 , a back pad  84  pivoted to the machine base  81  behind the seat pad  83 , the back pad  84  having a pivoted supporting bar  85  adapted to support the back pad  84  on the adjustment rack  82  in one of a series of elevational positions, a chest and back developer grip unit  90 , and two elastic cord members  95 . The chest and back developer grip unit  90  is comprised of an open frame  91 , two swivel connectors  92 , two operation handles  93 , and at least two elastomeric members  94 . The open frame  91  is detachably mounted on the machine base  81  behind the seat pad  83 . The elastic cord members  95  each have one end respectively fastened to the machine base  81  and the other end provided with a grip  96 . This embodiment allows the user to perform the operation modes of Arm and chest exercise, Front-bend, and Chest and back exercise to exercise the muscles of the abdomen and the arms.  
         [0036]      FIG. 13  shows a multipurpose exercising machine according to the third embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the multipurpose exercising machine  100  comprises a machine base  110 , a seat pad  111  provided at the top side of the machine base  110 , a pedal unit  112  provided at the front side of the machine base  110 , a chest and back developer grip unit  113  provided behind the seat pad  111 , and two elastic cord members  114  fastened to the machine base  110  at two sides. This embodiment allows the user to perform the operation modes of Pedal exercise, Arm and chest exercise, and Chest and back exercise to exercise the muscles of the arms and the legs.