Abstract:
A multi-function exercise machine is composed of a first base ( 20 ), a pair of swing arms ( 10 ), two reversing elements, an extension rod ( 30 ) and a second base ( 40 ). The swing arms ( 10 ) are pivotally mounted on the first base ( 20 ) and automatically returned to their original position by the reversing elements after they are pulled or pushed, thereby exercising a user&#39;s muscles. The extension rod ( 30 ) attached to the first base ( 20 ) is retractable and selectively secured to the second base laterally or vertically to make the exercise machine capable of being used with a variety of different exercises.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to a multi-function exercise machine, and more particularly to a multi-function exercise machine that has a simple structure to make the exercise machine cheap and easily stored.  
           [0003]    2. Description of Related Art  
           [0004]    Most people in cities do not get enough physical exercise because their jobs require little physical exertion and their living space does not provide room for outdoor activities. Therefore, a variety of indoor exercise machines have been developed to exercise different parts of their body such as running machines, step exercisers, stretching and expanding devices, weight lifting machines, etc. If a person wants to exercise the whole body, multiple exercise machines have to be purchased to accomplish this. However, storing different exercise machines causes a problem with stacking them together, especially when the storeroom is not wide enough.  
           [0005]    To avoid purchasing so many exercise machines, multi-function exercise machines have been developed. However, the multi-function exercise machines are generally expensive and require a dedicated space because of their complex structure so multi-function exercise machines cannot be by many consumers and are of interest only to high-end manufacturers.  
           [0006]    To overcome the shortcomings of conventional multi-function exercise machines, the present invention is provided to significantly mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    The objective of the invention is to provide a multi-function exercise machine that has a simple structure to reduce occupied space and decrease the manufacturing cost.  
           [0008]    Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a multi-function exercise machine in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the multi-function exercise machine in FIG. 1;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 3 is an enlarged side plan view in partial section of the multi-function exercise machine along line  3 - 3  in FIG. 2;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 4 is an operational top plan view of the multi-function exercise machine in FIG. 2 used to perform a first type of exercise;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 5 is an operational top plan view of the multi-function exercise machine in FIG. 2 used to perform a second type of exercise;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 6 is an operational top plan view of the multi-function exercise machine in FIG. 2 used to perform a third type of exercise;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 7 is an operational top plan view of the multi-function exercise machine used to perform a fourth type of exercise;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 8 is an operational top view of the multi-function exercise machine used to perform a fifth type of exercise; and  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 9 is an operational top view of the multi-function exercise machine in FIG. 2 used to perform a sixth type of exercise.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0018]    With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a multi-function exercise machine is composed of a pair of swing arms ( 10 ), a first base ( 20 ), an extension rod ( 30 ), a second base ( 40 ), and a housing ( 50 ).  
         [0019]    The pair of parallel swing arms ( 10 ) has a first end and a second end (free end). The first end of each swing arm ( 10 ) is pivotally mounted on a top face of the first base ( 20 ). Each swing arm ( 10 ) has a tube ( 11 ) attached to the first end and perpendicular to the swing arm ( 10 ). Further, a grip ( 13 ) is attached to the second end of each swing arm ( 10 ). Two reversing elements such as springs ( 15 ) are mounted around the tube ( 11 ) between the first base ( 20 ) and the swing arm ( 10 ). A first end of each spring is firmly attached to the first base ( 20 ) and a second end is firmly attached to the corresponding swing arm ( 10 ) to provide a recovery force to the swing arm ( 10 ). Additionally, each swing arm ( 10 ) has a wheel ( 17 ) attached to the second end to roll on the ground and disperse the weight applied to the swing arm ( 10 ) from the pivotal first end.  
         [0020]    The first base ( 20 ) has two pivot pins ( 21 ) projecting from the top face of the first base ( 20 ) around which the corresponding tubes ( 11 ) on the swing arm ( 10 ) are mounted. A stop bar ( 23 ) is mounted on and protrudes up from opposite end faces of the first base ( 20 ) to restrict the extent to which the swing arm ( 10 ) can move.  
         [0021]    The extension rod ( 30 ) comprises an outer tube ( 31 ) and an inner tube ( 33 ) movably received inside the outer tube ( 31 ). The extension rod ( 30 ) is attached to a side face of the first base ( 20 ) and extends toward the second base ( 40 ) parallel to the swing arms ( 10 ). With reference to FIG. 3, a screw knob ( 311 ) is rotatably mounted on the outer tube ( 31 ) and has a threaded rod ( 313 ) secured on a bottom face of the screw knob ( 311 ) to penetrate into the outer tube ( 31 ). The inner tube ( 33 ) is partially received inside the outer tube ( 31 ) and has multiple screw holes ( 331 ) defined in the inner tube ( 33 ) to correspond to the threaded rod ( 313 ). By aligning different screw holes ( 331 ) with the threaded rod ( 313 ), the length of the extension rod ( 30 ) is adjustable. In another embodiment, the threaded rod ( 313 ) is screwed into the outer tube ( 31 ) and the free end of the threaded rod ( 313 ) abuts against the inner tube ( 33 ) so as to secure the inner tube ( 33 ) relative to the outer tube ( 31 ). Additionally, a through hole ( 333 ) is defined near the free end of the inner tube ( 33 ) of the extension rod ( 30 ).  
         [0022]    With reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and  3 , the second base ( 40 ) is rectangular and has a first port ( 41 ) defined in a side face facing the first base ( 10 ) and a second port ( 43 ) defined in a top face of the second base ( 40 ). Both ports ( 41 ,  43 ) are adapted to receive the free end of the inner tube ( 33 ). A first pin hole ( 411 ) is defined in the top face of the second base ( 40 ) and communicates with the first port ( 41 ). The first pin hole ( 411 ) corresponds to the through hole ( 333 ) in the extension rod ( 30 ). Therefore, when the free end of the inner tube ( 33 ) is inserted into the first port ( 41 ) in the second base ( 40 ), a locking pin ( 45 ) penetrates the first pin hole ( 411 ) and the through hole ( 333 ) to lock the extension rod ( 30 ) to the second base ( 40 ). A deep slot ( 47 ) is defined in the top face of the second base ( 40 ) near the second port ( 43 ) and adapted to allow the locking pin ( 45 ) to be inserted into a through hole ( 471 ) defined in a side-wall of the slot ( 47 ) and communicating the second port ( 43 ). Therefore, when the extension rod ( 30 ) is vertically inserted into the second port ( 43 ), the locking pin ( 45 ) is able to be embedded inside the slot ( 47 ) and inserted into the second pin hole ( 471 ) and the through hole ( 333 ) of the inner tube ( 33 ) to securely attach the extension rod ( 30 ) to the second base ( 40 ).  
         [0023]    Additionally, the housing ( 50 ) is mounted on the first base ( 10 ) and has two L-shaped slots ( 51 ) defined in a side facing the second base ( 40 ) to movably receive the pair of swing arms ( 10 ). A counter ( 53 ) is mounted in the housing ( 50 ) and is electrically connected to a sensor (not show) inside the swing arms ( 10 ) to count the number of times swing arms ( 10 ) are pushed or pulled.  
         [0024]    With reference to FIG. 4, a first exercise that can be used with the multi-function exercise machine uses the extension rod ( 30 ) installed in the first port ( 41 ) and firmly attached to the second base ( 40 ). Then, a user kneels on the second base ( 40 ) and holds the swing arms ( 10 ) with two hands in a first position. Hereafter, the user pushes the swing arms ( 10 ) outwardly along an arc to a second position, and then the spring ( 15 ) automatically returns the swing arms ( 10 ) to the first position. The user repeats the foregoing sequence to stretch the body and exercise the arms and waist using this exercise.  
         [0025]    With reference to FIG. 5, a second exercise for use with the multi-function exercise machine uses the exercise machine in the same configuration used with the first exercise. The user holds only one swing arm ( 10 ) with two hands and then repeatedly pushes the swing arm ( 10 ) outwardly to exercise the side waist.  
         [0026]    With reference to FIG. 6, a third exercise for use with the multi-function exercise machine uses the exercise machine in the same configuration used with the first exercise. The user repeatedly pushes the swing arms ( 10 ) with his or her feet to exercise the legs.  
         [0027]    With reference to FIG. 7, a fourth exercise for use with the multi-function exercise machine the extension rod ( 30 ) installed vertically in the second port ( 43 ) and firmly attached to the second base ( 40 ). Then, a user sits on the second base ( 40 ) and holds the swing arms ( 10 ) with two hands in the first position. The user pushes up and lifts the swing arms ( 10 ) to the second position repeatedly to exercise the arms.  
         [0028]    With reference to FIG. 8, a fifth exercise for use with the multi-function exercise machine uses the exercise machine in the same configuration used with the fourth exercise except the extension rod ( 30 ) is adjusted to a relatively long length. In this configuration, when the user lifts the swing arms ( 10 ) repeatedly, back muscles of the user are exercised.  
         [0029]    With reference to FIG. 9, a sixth exercis for use with the multi-function exercise machine uses the exercise machine in the same configuration used with the first exercise. The first base ( 20 ) is placed against the abdomen of the user. Then the user holds the grips ( 13 ) and pulls the swing arms ( 10 ) inwardly from the first position to the second position. The first base ( 20 ) presses against the abdomen and exercises the muscles of abdomen.  
         [0030]    Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment and exercising statuses, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.