Patent Publication Number: US-7223208-B1

Title: Exercise machine comprising two hand grips which are provided with a damping device

Description:
RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS 
     Not applicable. 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
     Not applicable. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to an exercise machine, and more particularly to a damping mechanism of two hand grips of the exercise machine. The hand grips are thus provided with a damping effect independently. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The conventional exercise machines are generally formed of two hand grips, which are fastened fixedly or pivotally with the machine body to facilitate the balancing of the body of an exerciser. Such a conventional hand grip structure as described above is defective in design in that it is ineffective in providing a user of the machine with a means to balance his or her body at such time when the user of the machine is in motion. In other words, the conventional hand grips are capable of acting to balance the body of the user of the machine at the time when the exerciser is in a stationary state. The case in point is the conventional leg exercising machine comprising two hand grips capable of moving along an oval track. The swinging motion of the hand grips cannot be properly coordinated with the adjustment in dynamic balance of the exerciser. In addition, the swinging range of the hand grips, the onset of the swinging motion of the hand grips, and the timing of the swinging motion of the hand grips cannot be properly modified. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The primary objective of the present invention is to provide two hand grips of an exercise machine with a damping device enabling the hand grips to swivel independently, so as to provide a user of the exercise machine with an effective means to balance the body of the user of the exercise machine. 
     The features and the advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood upon a thoughtful deliberation of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  shows a side schematic view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  shows a side schematic view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention in action. 
         FIG. 4  shows an exploded perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  shows an exploded perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  shows an exploded perspective view of a third preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  shows a perspective view of a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  shows a perspective view of a fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  shows a partial exploded perspective view of the fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  shows a partial sectional view of the fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  shows a partial side schematic view of the fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  shows a partial side schematic view of the fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention in action. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As shown in FIGS  1 – 4 , an exercise machine  10  of the present invention comprises two hand grips  11 , each being provided with a damping device  20 . The exercise machine  10  has a base  12  on which the hand grips  11 , the two damping devices  20 , and other mechanisms are mounted. The two hand grips  11  are capable of swinging in such a way that the swinging action of the hand grips  11  is dampened by the damping device  20 . 
     The damping devices  20  are formed of two tension elements  21 . The tension elements  21  of the present invention are two endless rubber belts, as shown in FIGS  1 – 4 . 
     The damping devices  20  of the present invention are of two tension springs  22  in place of the endless rubber belts  21 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the damping devices  20  of the present invention are formed of two pneumatic rods  23 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the damping devices  20  of the present invention are formed of a pneumatic bar  24 , which is capable of dual-direction damping effect. The pneumatic bar  24  is fastened at one end with the base  12 , and at the other end with one end of the hand grips  11 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 8–10 , the damping devices  20  of the present invention comprises a torsion element  25 , a confinement disk  31 , and a shield  33 . The torsion element  25  of a rubber material is provided with a plurality of retaining slots  26  and an engagement hole  27 . The confinement disk  31  is provided with a plurality of retaining portions  32  corresponding in location and number to the retaining slots  26  of the torsion element  25 . The torsion element  25  is disposed between the confinement disk  31  and the shield  33  such that the retaining portions  32  of the confinement disk  31  are retained in the retaining slots  26  of the torsion element  25 , and that the engagement hole  27  of the torsion element  25  is engaged with one end of the hand grip  11 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , the damping effect is brought about by the torsion element  25 . Meanwhile, the torsion element  25  serves to provide the hand grip  11  with a recovery force. 
     The swinging amplitude and mode of the hand grips  11  of the present invention can be thus adjusted in conjunction with the motion state of a user of the exercise machine  10  by virtue of the damping devices  20 . In addition, the operational flexibility and independence of the hand grips  11  are enhanced by the damping devices  20 . 
     It must be noted here that the rubber belts  21 , the tension springs  22 , and the pneumatic rods  23  of the present invention are capable of providing not only the damping effect but also the recovery force. 
     In light of the nature of dual-directional damping effect of the pneumatic bar  24  of the present invention, the damping devices  20  of the present invention are cost-effective by virtue of the fact that the number of the pneumatic bar  24  is reduced. 
     The torsion element  25  of the rubber material is effective in providing the hand grip  11  with both damping effect and recovery force. 
     It is therefore readily apparent that the damping devices  20  of the present invention enhance effectively and economically the operational flexibility and independence of the hand grips  11 . Moreover, the magnitudes of the damping effect and the recovery force of the hand grips  11  can be feasibly adjusted by an increase or reduction in number of the damping devices  20 . 
     The embodiments of the present invention described above are merely illustrative. Accordingly, the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without deviating from the spirit thereof. The present invention is therefore to be limited only by the scope of the following claims.