Patent Publication Number: US-2017361152-A1

Title: Rowing machine

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to fitness equipment, particularly to a rowing machine. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Rowing machine is also called boating machine which is a kind of fitness equipment simulating boating. The traditional rowing machine mainly adopts with a left and right handles and an oil cylinder mechanism. The left and right handles are respectively connected to the oil cylinder mechanism, and the damping effect of the left and right handles in the shaking process is realized by using the oil cylinder mechanism. This kind of rowing machine with oil cylinder mechanism has disadvantages of high producing cost, easy leakage problem of the oil cylinder and pollution of environment. The rowing machine in current technology (as disclosed in the Chinese patent database with publishing number CN203425451U) has the handle connected to a webbing, the webbing is connected to a pulley, and the pulley drives the damping wheel. When the user pulls the webbing through the handle, the webbing drives the pulley to rotate, and also causes the damping wheel to rotate. The damping wheel produces a damping effect when the user pulls the handle. During the process of pulling and returning, cooperating with the sliding of the bottom seat, the user can achieve a simulation of rowing. This kind of rowing machine has disadvantages as follows: 1. the webbing is easily broken, which results in increasing of use costs. 2. the user can only pull and return through the handle, but can not achieve a simulation of rowing with both hands; 3. the handle is connected to the damping wheel by the webbing, so both hands need to work at the same time, one hand of rowing can not be achieved;  4 , The returning is achieved by the action of elastic element, resulting in unnatural phenomenon of the user&#39;s hands when returning. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is provided with a new rowing machine to overcome the disadvantages of the existing known technology, this new structure application can not only adjust the damping strength to adapt to different intensity of training, but also achieve simulation of single hand/double hands rowing. No resistance exists during the user returns hand/hands back, making the machine with well simulation effect, simple structure and low producing cost. 
     The technical proposal of the present invention is that: a rowing machine, comprising: 
     a base with a rack and a slope rail; 
     a seat cushion slidably coupled to the rail; 
     a rotating plate with a fixing rotating shaft rotatably assembled to the rack through the rotating shaft; 
     two oar components respectively connected to the two ends of the rotating shaft by unilateral bearings in universal joining way to unilaterally drive the rotating plate to rotate when swinging; 
     a rotation damping mechanism with strength adjustable and assembled to the rack; 
     and 
     an acceleration type transition transmission mechanism assembled between the rotating plate and the damping mechanism to drive a damping wheel of the damping mechanism when the rotating plate rotates. 
     In another preferred embodiment, the acceleration type transition transmission mechanism is a belt pulley component, which comprises a rotating belt pulley and a belt; the rotating belt pulley comprises a large and a small belt pulleys coaxially connected, the rotating belt pulley is assembled to the rack, the small belt pulley is linked to the rotating plate by a first belt, the large belt pulley is linked to the damping wheel by a second belt. 
     In another preferred embodiment, the acceleration type transition transmission mechanism further comprises two tensioning pulleys assembled to the rack respectively to couple to the first and the second belts. 
     In another preferred embodiment, the acceleration type transition transmission mechanism is a gear component with at least one stage. 
     In another preferred embodiment, the acceleration type transition transmission mechanism is a chain component comprising a rotating chain plate and a chain; the rotating chain plate comprises a large and a small chain plates coaxially connected, the rotating chain plate is assembled to the rack, the small chain plate is linked to the rotating plate by a first chain, the large chain plate is linked to the damping wheel by a second chain. 
     In another preferred embodiment, the oar component comprises a shaft sleeve, a bearing and an oar; the shaft sleeve is connected to the end portion of the rotating shaft by the bearing, so that the shaft sleeve is rotatable with respect to the rotating shaft, the shaft sleeve is disposed with two lugs, one end of the oar is inserted between the two lugs and pivoted to the two lugs, so that the oar is capable of axially swinging with respect to the shaft sleeve; the oar is universally jointed to the end portion of the rotating shaft by the shaft sleeve. 
     In another preferred embodiment, the damping mechanism further comprises a magnetic board component, the damping wheel is a magnetic control wheel, the magnetic board component is assembled to the rack and is coupled to the magnetic control wheel, the magnetic board component is connected to a spinner or an electronic control component by a pull wire. 
     In another preferred embodiment, the damping mechanism further comprises an electromagnetic component, the damping wheel is a magnetic control wheel, the electromagnetic component is assembled to the rack and is coupled to the magnetic control wheel, the electromagnetic component is connected to an electronic control instrument by a wire. 
     In another preferred embodiment, the damping mechanism is a windage damping mechanism, the damping wheel is a fan blade. 
     In another preferred embodiment, the damping mechanism is a water resistance damping mechanism, the damping wheel is a water wheel. 
     Compared with the prior art, the invention has the following beneficial effects: 
     The present invention adopts the rotating plate, the oar components, the accelerating transition transmission mechanism and the rotation damping mechanism to form the main components of the new rowing machine, and the rotating plate with a fixing rotating shaft is rotatably assembled to the rack through the rotating shaft; two oar components are respectively connected to the two ends of the rotating shaft by unilateral bearings in universal joining way to unilaterally drive the rotating plate to rotate when swinging; the rotation damping mechanism assembled to the rack; the acceleration type transition transmission mechanism is assembled between the rotating plate and the damping mechanism to drive a damping wheel of the damping mechanism when the rotating plate rotates. This kind of new rowing machine of the present invention can not only adjust the damping strength to adapt to different intensity of training, but also achieve simulation of single hand/double hands rowing. the machine has well simulation effect, simple structure and low producing cost; it is a rowing machine with new structure. 
     The oar components of the present invention are linked to the damping mechanism through the rotating plate and the transmission mechanism; in this way, there is no drawback that the webbing of the existing known technology is easily broken. The oar components of the present invention are connected to the rotating shaft through the bearings and unilateral bearings. In this way, when the oar is rotated in one direction (it is actually the equivalent of swinging due to the small angle of rotation), the oar drives the rotating plate to rotate through the bearings and unilateral bearings. 
     When the oar is rotated in anther direction, the oar rotates by itself through the unilateral bearings, that is to say, the oar rotates bland with respect to the rotating shaft. In this way, no resistance exists when the oar returns; the present invention adopt two oar components, which are respectively connected to the unilateral bearing and the end portion of the rotating shaft in universal joining way. In this way, two oar components can be used simultaneously, but also one can be used only. The present invention can not only well simulate the rowing action, but also realize various simulation effects. 
     A seat back is added at the rear part of the cushion plate, and the seat back is pivoted to the rear end of the cushion plate by a torsion spring, such to provide support to the back of the rowing athlete in the process of simulating rowing, greatly improving the effect of simulating rowing. Further more, the cross bars are sleeved with cylindrical rollers, the cylindrical roller can roll when used, providing massage on the back of the rowing athlete, and increasing health care of the product. 
     The present invention will be further described with the drawings and the embodiments; but it should be noted that, the new rowing machine of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a schematic diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a schematic diagram of the first embodiment of the present invention in another view angle. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an exploded and schematic diagram of the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a schematic diagram of the rack of the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a schematic diagram of the rotating plate, the damping wheel and the transmission mechanism in coupling way of the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an exploded diagram of the rotating sleeve and the rotating plate of the oar component in coupling way of the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a sectional diagram of the rotating sleeve and the rotating plate of the oar component in coupling way of the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a first schematic diagram of the first embodiment of the present invention in usage state. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a second schematic diagram of the first embodiment of the present invention in usage state. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a third schematic diagram of the first embodiment of the present invention in usage state. 
         FIG. 11  illustrates a schematic diagram of the rotating plate, the damping wheel and the transmission mechanism in coupling way of the second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  illustrates a schematic diagram of the rotating plate, the damping wheel and the transmission mechanism in coupling way of the third embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 13  illustrates a schematic diagram of the rotating plate, the damping wheel and the transmission mechanism in coupling way of the fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 14  illustrates an exploded diagram of the shaft sleeve and the rotating plate of the oar component in coupling way of the fifth embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 15  illustrates a sectional diagram of the rotating sleeve and the rotating plate of the oar component in coupling way of the fifth embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 16  illustrates a schematic diagram of the seat cushion of the sixth embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 17  illustrates a schematic diagram of the seat cushion in usage state of the sixth embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 18  illustrates a schematic diagram of the sixth embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 19  illustrates a schematic diagram of the sixth embodiment of the present invention in another view angle. 
         FIG. 20  illustrates a schematic diagram of the sixth embodiment of the present invention in usage state. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     First Embodiment 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-10 , a rowing machine of the present invention comprises: 
     a base  1  with a rack  11  and a slope rail  12 ; 
     a seat cushion  2  slidably coupled to the rail  12 ; 
     a rotating plate  3  with a fixing rotating shaft  31  rotatably assembled to the rack  11  through the rotating shaf  31 ; 
     two oar components  4  respectively connected to the two ends of the rotating shaft  31  by unilateral bearings  51  in universal joining way to unilaterally drive the rotating plate  3  to rotate when swinging; 
     a rotation damping mechanism  6  with strength adjustable and assembled to the rack  11 ; and 
     an acceleration type transition transmission mechanism  7  assembled between the rotating plate  3  and the damping mechanism  6  to drive a damping wheel  61  of the damping mechanism when the rotating plate  3  rotates. 
     The base  1  further comprises a front base pipe component  13  and a rear base pipe component  14 , the front base pipe component  13  is connected to the front portion of the rack  11 , the rail  12  is connected between the rear portion of the rack and the rear base pipe component  14 ; the rack  11  is disposed with a rotating plate assembly portion  15 , a transmission mechanism assembly portion  16  and a damping mechanism assembly portion  17 . 
     The acceleration type transition transmission mechanism  7  is a belt pulley component, which comprises a rotating belt pulley  71  and a belt  72 ; the rotating belt pulley  71  comprises a large and a small belt pulleys coaxially connected, the rotating belt pulley  71  is assembled to the rack  11 , the small belt pulley  711  is linked to the rotating plate  3  by a first belt  72 , the large belt pulley  712  is linked to the damping wheel  61  by a second belt  72 . The rotating plate is a belt pulley as well, the damping wheel  61  is disposed with a small wheel, a belt connection portion is disposed at the small wheel. 
     The acceleration type transition transmission mechanism further comprises two tensioning pulleys  73  assembled to the rack  11  respectively to couple to the first and the second belts. The effect of the tensioning pulleys  73  is to make the belts tension between the rotating plate  3  and transition transmission mechanism  7 , and between transition transmission mechanism  7  and the damping wheel  61 . 
     The transmission mechanism of this embodiment is belt transmission; it can also be available when it is gear transmission or chain transmission. When using gear transmission, the acceleration type transition transmission mechanism is a gear component with at least one stage. When using chain transmission, the acceleration type transition transmission mechanism is a chain component comprising a rotating chain plate and a chain; the rotating chain plate comprises a large and a small chain plates coaxially connected, the rotating chain plate is assembled to the rack, the small chain plate is linked to the rotating plate by a first chain, the large chain plate is linked to the damping wheel by a second chain. 
     The oar component  4  comprises a shaft sleeve  41 , a bearing  42  and an oar  43 ; the shaft sleeve  41  is connected to the end portion of the rotating shaft  31  by the bearing  42 , so that the shaft sleeve  41  is rotatable with respect to the rotating shaft  31 , the shaft sleeve  41  is disposed with two lugs  411 , one end of the oar  43  is inserted between the two lugs  411  and is pivoted to the two lugs  411 , so that the oar  43  is capable of axially swinging with respect to the shaft sleeve  41 ; the oar  43  is universally jointed to the end portion of the rotating shaft  31  by the shaft sleeve  41 . In this way, the shaft sleeve  41  is connected to the rotating shaft  31  by the bearing  42  and the unilateral bearing  51 . When the oar  43  drive the shaft sleeve  41  rotated in one direction, the rotation of the rotating shaft  31  is caused by the action of the unilateral bearings  51 , which is equivalent to drive the rotating plate  3  to rotate. When the oar  43  drives the shaft sleeve  41  to rotate in anther direction, as with the universal bearing  51 , the shaft sleeve doesn&#39;t drive the rotating shaft  31  to rotate blank with respect to the rotating shaft  31 , therefore, the rotating plate  3  doesn&#39;t rotate. 
     The damping mechanism  6  further comprises a magnetic board component  62 , the damping wheel  61  is a magnetic control wheel, the magnetic board component  62  is assembled to the rack  11  and is coupled to the magnetic control wheel, the magnetic board component  62  is connected to a spinner  63  by a pull wire. 
     In this embodiment, the damping mechanism  6  is magnetic control type and manual operated, the distance of the magnetic board component  62  and the magnetic control wheel is adjustable by the spinner  63 , such to adjust the damping. 
     In another case, an electronic control method is availbale to adjust the distance between the magnetic board component  62  and the magnetic control wheel by a motor (i.e., an electronic control component). 
     The oar component of the present invention is linked to the damping mechanism  6  through the rotating plate  3  and the transmission mechanism  7 ; in this way, there is no drawback that the webbing of the existing known technology is easy broken. The oar component  4  of the present invention is connected to the rotating shaft  31  by the bearing  42  and unilateral bearing  51 . In this way, when the oar  43  is rotated in one direction (it is actually the equivalent to swinging due to the small angle of rotation), the oar  43  drives the rotating plate  3  to rotate through the bearings  42  and unilateral bearings  51 . When the oar  43  rotates in anther direction, the oar  43  rotates by itself through the bearings  42  and unilateral bearings  51 , that is to say, the oar  43  rotates blank with respect to the rotating shaft  31 . In this way, no resistance exists when the oar  43  returns back, user&#39;s hands can return naturally; the present invention applies with two oar components  4 , which are connected to the end portions of the rotating shaft  31  by unilateral bearings  51  in universal joining way. In this way, two oar components  4  can be used simultaneously, but also one can be used only. It can not only well simulate the rowing action, but also realize various simulation effects (such as single hand and double hands rowing, etc.). As can be seen from  FIG. 8  to  FIG. 10 , during the use, the user  100  can achieve simulation of single hand/double hands rowing, and have a better exercise on enhancing the muscles of the legs, the waist, the upper limbs, the chest and the back. 
     Second Embodiment 
     Referring to  FIG. 11 , the difference of a rowing machine of this embodiment from the first embodiment is the damping mechanism. The damping mechanism further comprises an electromagnetic component  64 , the damping wheel  61  is a magnetic control wheel, the electromagnetic component  64  is assembled to the rack  11  and is coupled to the magnetic control wheel, the electromagnetic component  64  is connected to an electronic control instrument by a wire. 
     The damping strength of the damping wheel  61  can be adjusted by adjusting the current of the electromagnetic component  64 . 
     Third Embodiment: 
     Referring to  FIG. 12 , the difference of a rowing machine of this embodiment from the first embodiment is the damping mechanism. The damping mechanism is a windage damping mechanism; the damping wheel is a fan blade  65 . 
     Fourth Embodiment: 
     Referring to  FIG. 13 , the difference of a rowing machine of this embodiment from the first embodiment is the damping mechanism. The damping mechanism is a water resistance damping mechanism; the damping wheel is a water wheel  66 . 
     Fifth Embodiment: 
     Referring to  FIGS. 14-15 , the difference of a rowing machine of this embodiment from the first embodiment is the oar component. The oar component  4  of this embodiment comprises a shaft sleeve  41  and an oar  43 , without the bearing; the shaft sleeve  41  is connected to the end portion of the rotating shaft  31  by two unilateral bearings  51 , so that the shaft sleeve  41  is rotatable unilaterally with respect to the rotating shaft  31 ; the shaft sleeve  41  is disposed with two lugs  411 , one end of the oar  43  is inserted between the two lugs  411  and is pivoted to the two lugs  411 , so that the oar  43  is capable of axially swinging with respect to the shaft sleeve  41 ; the oar  43  is universally jointed to the end portion of the rotating shaft  31  by the shaft sleeve  41 . 
     In this way, the shaft sleeve  41  is connected to the end portion of the rotating shaft  31  by two unilateral bearings  51 . When the oar  43  drives the shaft sleeve  41  rotated in one direction, the rotation of the rotating shaft  31  is caused by the action of the unilateral bearings  51 , which is equivalent to driving the rotating plate  3  to rotate. When the oar  43  drives the shaft sleeve  41  rotated in anther direction, as with the unilateral bearing  51 , the shaft sleeve  41  doesn&#39;t drive the rotating shaft  31  to rotate blank with respect to the rotating shaft  31 , therefore, the rotating plate  3  doesn&#39;t rotate. 
     Sixth Embodiment: 
     Referring to  FIGS. 16-20 , the difference of the rowing machine of this embodiment from the first embodiment is the seat cushion. The seat cushion  2  of this embodiment comprises a cushion plate  21 , a sliding groove  22  disposed at the bottom portion of the cushion plate and a seat back  23 , the seat back  23  is pivoted to the rear end of the cushion plate  21  by a torsion spring. The sliding groove  22  is coupled to the rail  12  of the base  1 . 
     A connecting element  24  is disposed between the cushion plate  21  and the sliding groove  22 , the seat back  23  is pivoted to the rear end of connecting element  24  by a torsion spring. The seat back  23  comprises a seat back bar  231  and a plurality of cross bars  232 , the bottom end of the seat back bar  231  is pivoted to the rear end of the connecting element  24  by the torsion spring, the cross bars  232  are respectively fixedly connected to the two sides of the seat back bar  231 ; The number of the cross bars  232  is even, two cross bars  232  for a group symmetrically fixed on both sides of the seat back bar  231 . The seat back bar  231  is a rectangular hollow tube, two cross bars  232  for a group symmetrically fixed on both sides of the rectangular hollow tube. Two cross bars  232  for a group connect into an integrated structure, and pass through the rectangular hollow tube in the transverse direction. That is, two cross bars  232  fixed on both sides of the seat back bar  231  is actually one. And each cross bar  232  is sleeved with a cylindrical roller  233 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 17 , as the seat back  23  is pivoted to the rear end of the connecting element  24  by torsion spring, when the rowing simulator applies force on the seat back  23 , the seat back  23  can overturn backwardly, theoretically, the seat back  23  can overturn from position A to position B; when the rowing simulator doesn&#39;t apply force on the seat back  23 , the seat back  23  is reset under the action of the torsion spring and overturns from position B to position A. 
     To summarize, the new rowing machine can have a variety of acceleration type transition transmission mechanism, such as belt transmission mechanism, gear transmission mechanism, and chain transmission mechanism. The purpose is to connect the power of the oar component to the damping mechanism to form a different damping effect. The rotation damping mechanism can also have many types, such as magnetic control, electromagnet control, windage control and water resistance control. Among them, some rotation damping mechanism can choose manual control, electric control is also available. The seat cushion can be provided with a seat back or without a seat back. 
     Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof for carrying out the patent for invention, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the patent for invention which is intended to be defined by the appended claims. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     The present invention adopts the base, the seat, the rotating plate, the oar components, the rotation damping mechanism and the acceleration type transition transmission mechanism to constitute a new rowing machine. The base with a rack and a slope rail; the rotating plate with the rotating plate and a fixing rotating shaft; the oar component with a shaft sleeve and an oar; the rotation damping mechanism with a magnetic board component and a magnetic control wheel,or an electromagnetic component and a magnetic control wheel, or a fan blade, or a water wheel; the acceleration type transition transmission mechanism with a belt pulley component, or a gear component, or a chain component. The invention is easy to realize in industry, and the base, the seat, the rotating plate, the oar components, the rotation damping mechanism and the acceleration type transition transmission mechanism and other components is also easy to process in the industry.