Abstract:
The invention relates to an adjustable handle support of an exercise apparatus having a main frame, two rocker arms on the main frame and two planks in connection with power source (e.g. motor, flywheel, hydraulic cylinder, etc.). The rocker arms are individually movable in a swing motion or jointly movable with the planks. An adjusting mechanism is interposed between the handle support and the rocker arm for adjusting the handle support to suitable angles for different operators.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The invention relates to an adjustable handle support of an exercise apparatus, and more particularly, to an apparatus for adjusting the handle support to a suitable angle for different operators.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Prior Art  
         [0004]     Conventional oval-tracked exercise apparatuses include rocker arms that are jointly movable with the motion of the operators&#39; feet. The rocker arms are rigidly located at a normal height to suit most operators. Due to different heights of operators, this kind of the exercise apparatus is not suitable for operators with a lower height. Therefore, it&#39;s uncomfortable for them to use the oval-tracked exercise apparatus.  
         [0005]     In order to eliminate the aforementioned problem, the manufacturer produce different models to meet the requirement of different heights to raise their revenue. However, to reduce or to raise the height of the apparatus means that more components are required. Accordingly, this can&#39;t raise profits, but increase the manufacture cost.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     In light of the demerits of the prior art, the invention provides an adjustable handle support of an exercise apparatus that aims to ameliorate at least some of the disadvantages of the prior art and to provide a useful alternative.  
         [0007]     A primary objective of the invention is to provide a handle support that is adjustable to suitable heights for different operators.  
         [0008]     Another objective of the invention is to provide a handle support that is adjustable on the rocker arm of the exercise apparatus. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]     The accomplishment of this and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description and its accompanying drawings of which:  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the invention installed to an exercise apparatus;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of an adjusting mechanism in accordance with the invention;  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a cutaway view of the adjusting mechanism in accordance with the invention, wherein one clamping element is spaced from the cubic body;  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a cutaway view of the adjusting mechanism in accordance with the invention, wherein the clamping element is engaged with the cubic body; and  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a side view of  FIG. 1 .  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0015]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the oval-tracked exercise apparatus  10  has a main frame  11 . Two rocker arms  12  are linked to the front end of two planks  13 , respectively while the rear end of the two planks  13  are attached to both sides of a flywheel  14  in such a manner so that both planks  13  are alternately movable.  
         [0016]     The middle part of the rocker arms  12  is pivotably coupled to one end of a connecting strip  18  while the other end of the connecting strip  18  is pivotally connected to an auxiliary rod  17  and a connecting rod  19 . The whole movable configuration of the oval-tracked exercise apparatus  10  is controlled by a positioning rod  16  which is activated by a driving unit  15 . In this way, the rocker arms  12  can be moved with the planks  13  to undergo the swing motion.  
         [0017]     In operation, the operator holds with his hands the handle  21  of the handle support  20  at the top of the rocker arms  12  for simulating a climbing action. Meanwhile, the feet of the operator tread on the planks  13  for simulating an exercise of the whole body.  
         [0018]     Meanwhile, an adjusting mechanism  30  is interposed between the handle supports  20  and the rocker arms  12 , respectively and serves to adjust the handle  21  on the handle support  20  to suitable heights for different operators.  
         [0019]     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the adjusting mechanism  30  includes an adjusting knob  31  in form of a cap, a stepped middle projection  32  extending toward the free end of the adjusting knob  31 , a shaft  33  extending from the middle stepped projection  32  and a threaded head  34  at the free end of the shaft  33 . A U-shaped frame  40  rigidly sits on the rocker arm  12 . A pair of shaft holes  41  is formed in the side walls of the U-shaped frame  40 . A plurality of notches  42  and teeth  43  are formed on the semicircular top of each side wall. Moreover, two locating holes  44  are formed beneath each of the shaft holes  41 .  
         [0020]     Two clamping elements  50  each have teeth  52  on one of its sides around a shaft hole  51 . A series of uniformly spaced ridges  53  is disposed on the rim of the other side of the clamping element  50 . A notched part  54  is formed adjacent to the ridges  53 . At least one outwardly extending post  55  is located on the outer side of the clamping element  50 . The ridges  53  and the posts  55  on one of the clamping element  50  are longer than the ridges  53  and the posts  55  on the other clamping element  50 . The clamping element  50  are mounted on two side walls of the U-shaped frame  40  in such a manner that the ridges  53  are received in the notches  42  (or the teeth  43  are positioned in the notched part  54 ) and the posts  55  are introduced into the locating holes  44 . In this way, both clamping elements  50  are rigidly fixed in position on the two side walls of the U-shaped frame  40 .  
         [0021]     A cubic body  60  is mounted on the end of the handle support  20  opposing to the handle  21 . Two sides of the cubic body  60  communicate with each other through a shaft hole  61 . A series of uniformly spaced teeth  62  around the shaft hole  61  are formed on each of two sides of the cubic body  60 . A bolt  63  is screwed to the top of the cubic body  60 .  
         [0022]     As shown in  FIGS. 3 through 5 , the assembly of the aforementioned members of the adjusting mechanism  30  is done in such a way that the handle support  20  with the cubic body  60  is clamped between the clamping elements  50  on both sides of the U-shaped frame  40 . Then, the shaft  33  of the adjusting knob  31  is inserted through the shaft holes  41 ,  51 ,  61 , and a nut  35  is screwed on to the threaded head  34  of the shaft  33 .  
         [0023]     After assembly of the adjusting mechanism  30 , the cubic body  60  is slightly spaced from the clamping element  50  with the longer ridges  53  so that the cubic body  60  is rotatable on the shaft  33  for adjusting the cubic body  60  to a most suitable position for the operator.  
         [0024]     After the adjustment of the cubic body  60 , the adjusting knob  31  with the threaded head  34  can be further screwed to the nut  35  for allowing the clamping element  50  with the longer ridges  53  to move inwardly toward the cubic body  60  in such a way that the teeth  52  of the clamping elements  50  engage with the teeth  62  of the cubic body  60  in place.  
         [0025]     For a further adjustment of the handle support  20 , it&#39;s only necessary to loosen the joint between the adjusting knob  31  and the nut  35  and, therefore, to disengage the teeth  52  of the clamping element  50  from the teeth  62  of the cubic body  60 . The steps in adjusting the handle support  20  are the same to the above-mentioned.  
         [0026]     Concluded from the aforementioned, the invention has following effects and merits:  
         [0027]     1. A like model of rocker arm exercise apparatuses provided with the invention suits different operators with different heights. Thus, the adjustable handle support makes the exercise apparatus more universal. In addition, the adjustment of the handle support can be done by operators themselves to meet the requirements of simple operation.  
         [0028]     2. A fine adjustment is possible so that the handle support is adjustable to suitable heights for more operators.  
         [0029]     Many changes and modifications in the above-described embodiments of the invention can, of course, be carried out without departing from the scope thereof. Accordingly, to promote the progress in science and the useful arts, the invention is disclosed and is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.