Patent Publication Number: US-2009239714-A1

Title: Exercise machine

Description:
This application claims priority from U.S. provisional Application No. 61/069,949 filed Mar. 19, 2008. 
    
    
     The present invention deals with an exercise machine that incorporates multiple exercise machines into one unit. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Exercise machines are not new to the art. The instant device combines the skiing and rowing action with a stepping simulation combined with a multi-directional adjustable seat allowing for simulation of standard as well as recumbent cycling in one machine. All of these types of exercises are available from standard exercise equipment. The inventor has two patents U.S. Pat. No. 5,496,241 issued Mar. 5, 1996 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,961,423 issued Oct. 5, 1999 demonstrating the combination of skiing/rowing and stepping in one machine. The 423 patent provides details how a stepper, rower, skier, use a shaft-roller-belt shaft combinations allow for the use of one resistance mechanism to provide resistance for multiple exercise machine. The use of one resistance mechanism can be attached to a single shaft to allow the use of the add-on equipment with minimal effort or modifications. 
     However, the instant invention greatly improves the ability to do more, different exercises with one machine. Those exercises include a stair climbing movement, a stepping movement, elliptical training, cycling, rowing and skiing. This allows the user to have six exercise machines in one. 
     THE INVENTION 
     The instant invention is an exercise machine comprising in combination of a frame, a flywheel that is operatively connected to the frame for rotation about a flywheel axis relative to the frame. The exercise machine has at least one elongated member and at least one arm extension pole. 
     The first and second stepping members are operatively connected to the frame for movement relative to the frame, between raised and lowered positions, each stepping member has a stepping surface positioned and configured to be stepped upon by the user. 
     The stair-climbing drive mechanism is operatively connected to the flywheel in a manner that causes the flywheel to rotate about the flywheel axis upon movement of the stepping members from their raised positions to their lowered positions. 
     Elongated members are operatively connected to the frame for motion in a circular motion relative to the frame. And an elliptical drive mechanism operatively connects to each of the first cranks and second cranks operatively connected to the flywheel in a manner to cause the flywheel to rotate about the flywheel axis upon circular movement of the cranks relative to the frame. 
     There is also at least one crank pedal positioned above and attached to the elongated members facilitating a cyclic motion. This cyclic motion is a simulation of cycling. 
     The adjustable seat is mounted between the elongated members and is adjustable in both a vertical and a horizontal plane. The seat adjustment gives the exercise machine the ability to simulate standard and recumbent cycling motion. 
     There is also a set of arm extension poles operatively connect to a second elongated member that operatively connects to the elongated member. The arm poles are pivotally connected to a front riser. The front riser depends vertically from the flywheel housing. The flywheel housing contains the flywheel. When the arm poles, stepping pedal or foot pedals are engaged the flywheel begins to rotate about the flywheel axis. The flywheel speed and therefore resistance can be regulated by a flywheel regulator increasing or decreasing the amount of pressure necessary for the user to manipulate or rotate the flywheel. The step drive mechanism incorporates a cable pulley return mechanism. The flywheel resistance is magnetically controlled. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is full side view of the exercise machine. 
         FIG. 2  is an expanded view of the adjustable seat. 
         FIG. 3  is a full side view of the exercise machine with the stepper add-on and cable pulley mechanism. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The instant invention is an exercise machine capable of operating in a multitude of modes, the first mode simulating an activity such as skiing involving reciprocating linear motion in generally horizontal plane; the second mode for simulating climbing steps in generally a vertical plane; the third mode simulates cycling in a vertical plane, fourth simulates cycling in a horizontal plane, fifth simulates stair climbing motion and the sixth is simulates a rowing motion. 
       FIG. 1  is a full side view of the exercise machine  2 . The exercise machine  2  has a flywheel  4  that is the central motion mechanism for the instant device. From a standing position the operator can use step pedals  6  in an up and down motion rotating the flywheel  4  creating a motion that is a simulation of step climbing. The climbing motion can be enhanced by the further use of the arm extension poles  12 . This will complement the lower body activity of the climbing action with upper body movement from the arm extension poles  12 . From this position the exercise machine  2  and when combined with the arm extension poles  12  it is also used as a skiing device. The movement of the arm extension poles  12  simulates a skiing motion. The climbing motion occurs as the step pedals are slide along the bottom rails  48  it creates a forward and reverse and up and down motion that activates the flywheel  4  and the elongated members  10  raise and lower with each revolution of the flywheel  4 . The bottom rails  48  along with the bases form parts of the frame  14 . There is also present a flywheel housing  30  which incorporates into part of the frame  14 . At the bottom of the frame  14  are base members  50 . Base members  50  can be adjustable vertically. They can also be of a base configuration with deployable wheels for portability or without any deployable wheels. A standard exercise machine  2  would incorporate one type of base or a combination of two or more. Meaning that an exercise machine could have adjustable rear base members  50  and standard base members (non-wheeled)  50  in the middle region with the front base members  50  having deployable wheels. 
     From a sitting position the exercise machine  2  is capable of being used as both a standard elliptical exercise machine and a recumbent elliptical machine. The cycling aspect is facilitates through the use of the cycling pedals  6  that are affixed to the elongated members  10 . When the user engages the cycling pedals  6  by placing a forward pressure on the cycling pedals  6  it in turn forces the elongated members  10  to move in a forward movement thus rotating the flywheel  4 . The procedure simulates cycling. The ability to differentiate between the two types of cycling is from the adjustability of the seat  16 . 
     The adjustability of the seat  16  is significant to the device and its unique ability to offer a multitude of exercise from a single machine. With the seat  16  set to a position where it is above the highest rotation point of the flywheel  4  the machine provides a standard elliptical exercise device. The flywheel housing  30  encloses the flywheel  4 . Extending upward from the flywheel housing  30  is the front riser  20 . At approximately the mid point of the front riser  20  are attachment points  56  for the attachment of the arm extension pole  12  to their pivot points  40 . Near the top portion of the front riser  20  is an attached set of handles or bicycle handles  38  that support the user in the process of exercising. At the top of the front riser  20  is an exercise monitoring system  58 . 
     Also visible form  FIG. 1  are the elongated member  10  rollers  32 . These rollers  32  provide the movement of the elongated members  10  along the bottom rails  48  and are house with roller housings  34 . The rollers  32  are attached to the end of the elongated members  10  opposite the flywheel  4 . These rollers  32  facilitate the forward and backward movement along the bottom rails  48 . With one end of the elongated members  10  attached to the flywheel  4  the other end of the elongated member  10  is operatively attached to the roller  32  and slides along the bottom rail  48  facilitating movement. 
     Near the mid section of the elongated member  10  is the attachment point  46  of the second elongated member  44 . The second elongated member  44  is attached to the bottom of the arm extension  12  and then to the first elongated member  10 . This relationship gives the arm extension  12  a forward and reverse motion relative to the rotation of the flywheel  4 . 
       FIG. 2  is an expanded view of the adjustable seat  16 . With the seat  16  set below the highest rotation point of the flywheel  4  the exercise machine  2  provides the recumbent elliptical exercise. The adjustability of the seat  16  is derived from its ability to slide along inner and outer members and locking into position. Both the vertical  22  and horizontal  24  seat adjustments have an inner and outer member. The seat  16  is connected to the top of the outer vertical member  52 . Attached to the bottom of the seat  16  are a set of seat handles  18 . These seat handles  18  are provided to stabilize the individual as they perform exercises upon the exercise machine  2 . 
     The seat  16  is comprised of an inner vertical seat adjustment  22  and an outer vertical seat adjustment  52 . This is attached to the inner horizontal seat adjustment  26 ; which slides into the outer horizontal seat adjustment  54 . The outer vertical seat adjustment  52  has locking mechanism affixed to its outer surface. The outer horizontal seat adjustment  52  also has a horizontal locking mechanism  28  attached to its outer surface. When the inner vertical seat adjustment  22  is inserted into the outer vertical seat adjustment  52  and locked into position by the vertical locking mechanism  24  the seat  16  position becomes stationary vertically. 
     When the inner horizontal seat adjustment  26  is inserted into the outer horizontal seat adjustment  54  and locked into position by the vertical locking mechanism  28  the seat  16  position becomes stationary horizontally. 
     The ability to adjust the seat  16  both vertically and horizontally brings greater flexibility to the exercise machine  2 . 
     It should be noted that the stepping can be either performed from a seated position or from a standing position. 
     The flywheel  4  has a magnetic resistance that is controlled by a cable that rotates. The resistance is adjustable by rotating the control knob on the machine. The resistance can also be controlled electronically. The flywheel  4  is significant in that it is virtually silent. This gives the machine a much smoother rotation. The flywheel  4  is also capable of moving in either direction. The flywheel  4  is also manufactured in a variety of diameters that allow for different stride lengths. 
       FIG. 3  is a side view of an add-on device for stair climber  60 . A drive chain  62  is connected to the flywheel  4  and passes over a sprocket  64  to a set of stepping devices  70 . The add-on stair climbing equipment  60  attaches of the front of the machine  2 . The chain  62  is connected to a sprocket attached to the base  66 . This base is also connected to the stepper arms  72 . The stepper arms  72  are connected to foot platforms  70 . When the user steps up and down of the step platforms  70  it moves the sprocket  68  moving the chain  62  which in turn moves the flywheel  4 . There is also a stepper handle  74  that is attached to the rear of the front riser  20 . Other add-on includes a rower and a skier. 
     Other embodiments include variation such as foldable pedals, rotating seat handles and a rotating seat. Both the seat handles and the seat are capable of rotating 360°. The machine also is capable of having a variety of informational outputs; distance, time, heart rate, grade and resistance level. Also the drive mechanism for the add-on machines incorporates a cable recoil pulley  100 . 
     The add-on drive mechanism is accomplished by a shaft-roller-belt-shaft system. A cable, belt or chain is attached to the pulley mechanism then proceeding to the flywheel  4  where the resistance is set. Then the cable, belt or chain proceeds to the next shaft located below the handle portion of the front end of the machine or the riser  20 . From there the cable, belt or chain is attached to the add-on device and by providing movement on the add-on device the operation is complete.