Patent Publication Number: US-6663541-B1

Title: Exercise machine provided with means to enable a user thereof to assume interchangeably a seated position and an inverted position

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 an exercise machine designed to enable its user to assume interchangeably a seated position and an upside-down position so as to enhance the exercise effect. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The conventional exercise machines are generally so designed that they are used by exercisers in a standing or seated position. It is believed that the effect of exercise is further enhanced by calling for the exercisers to assume an upside-down position. None of the conventional exercise machines is designed to enable an exerciser to assume an inverted position at the same time that the exerciser is doing exercise. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an exercise machine with means to allow a user thereof to assume interchangeably a seated position and an upside-down position. 
     In keeping with the principle of the present invention, the foregoing objective of the present invention is attained by an exercise machine comprising a base, a seat mounted on the base, a leg-exercising mechanism mounted on the base, and two hand grips connected to the leg-exercising mechanism. The present invention is characterized by the seat which is provided with two rocking frames, each having a top portion, a bottom portion, an arcuate portion, and a support portion. The top portion is fastened with the backrest. The bottom portion is fastened with the underside of the seat. The arcuate portion is extended from the bottom portion. The support portion is located between the arcuate portion and the top portion. By virtue of the rocking action of the arcuate portion, the exercise machine can be caused to rest in its entirety on a floor surface by the support portions of the two rocking frames. 
    
    
     The features and the functions of the present invention I will be more readily understood upon a thoughtful deliberation of the following detailed description of two 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 with a user being in a seated position. 
     FIG. 4 shows a side schematic view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention in action with a user being in an upside-down position. 
     FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As shown in FIGS. 14, an exercise machine of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a base  10 , a seat  20  having a backrest  21 , a leg-exercising mechanism  30 , and two hand grips  40 . 
     The base  10  is rested on the floor surface. The seat  20  is mounted on one end of the base  10 . The leg-exercising mechanism  30  is mounted on the other end of the base and is formed of a damping device  31 , two crank arms  32 , and two pedals  33  fastened respectively to the two crank arms  32 . The two hand grips  40  are connected to the crank arms  32  by-an elastic pull cord  41 . 
     The exercise machine of the present invention is characterized by the seat  20 , which is provided with two rocking frames  50 , which are fastened to the underside of the seat  20  and an outer side of the backrest  21 . The two rocking frames  50  are similar in construction to each other, with each being a rod-shaped construction and having an L-shaped top segment  51 , a straight bottom segment  54 , an arcuate segment  52  extending from the straight bottom segment  54 , and a straight support segment  53  located between the arcuate segment  52  and the L-shaped top portion  51 . The arcuate segment  52  has a radian corresponding to one fourth of a circular radian. The arcuate segment  52  is similar in function to a rocker capable of a rocking motion. 
     As illustrated in FIG. 3. a user of the exercise machine of the present invention is doing exercise in a seated position. The user may do the exercise in an upside-down position by pressing his or her back against the backrest  21  so as to cause the backrest  21  to move toward the floor surface by virtue of the rocking act of the arcuate segments  52  of the two rocking frames  50 . As a result, the backrest  21  is rested on the floor surface by the straight support segments  53  of the rocking frames  50 , as shown in FIG.  4 . In the meantime, the base  10  and the seat  20  are caused to move away from the floor surface to be located uprightly. As the user of the exercise machine is in the inverted position, the exercise effect on the leg muscles of user is greatly enhanced. The upside-down position of the user can be returned to the seated position by moving the back of the user away from the backrest  21  so as to rest the user&#39;s weight on the seat  20 . By virtue of the rocking act of the arcuate segments  52  of the rocking frames  50 , the base  10  is reverted to the former position in contact with the floor surface, as shown in FIG.  3 . 
     As shown in FIG. 5, the second preferred embodiment is similar in construction to the first preferred embodiment, except that the former comprises two rocking frames  54 , each being a slat in place of a curved rod of the first preferred embodiment. The two slats  54  are fastened to the underside of the seat  20  and the outer side of the backrest  21 . The slats  54  have an arcuate portion  55  and a straight support portion  56 . The rocking act is brought about by the arcuate portions  55  of the slats  54 . The backrest  21  is rested on the floor surface by the two straight support portions  56  of the two slats  54 . The arcuate portions  55  have a radian corresponding to one fourth of a circular radian. 
     As illustrated in FIG. 4, a strenuous exercise is brought about for the purpose of training and developing the body of a user in the upside-down position. 
     The embodiments of the present invention described above are to be regarded in all respects as being illustrative and nonrestrictive. 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.