Elliptical fitness machine having incline adjusting mechanism

• US 7,462,135 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2005
• Issued: 12/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Chiu-Hsiang Lo
• Original Assignee: Chiu-Hsiang Lo
• Inventors: Lo, Chiu-Hsiang
• Primary Examiner(s): Crow; Stephen R.
• Application Number:
  US11/312,777
• Publication Number:
  US 20070060450A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,084 Days
• Field of Search: 482/51, 482/52, 482/53, 482/57, 482/70, 482 79- 80, 482/54
• US Class Current: 482/52
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0676 with crank and handles being on the same side of the exercising apparatus with respect to the frontal body-plane of the user, e.g. crank and handles are in front of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0051 using eddy currents induced in moved elements, e.g. by permanent magnets
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/225 with flywheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/001 by simultaneously exercising arms and legs, e.g. diagonally in anti-phase A63B22/0076 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0015 with an adjustable movement path of the support elements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0023 the inclination of the main axis of the movement path being adjustable, e.g. the inclination of an endless band
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0664 performing an elliptic movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/203 in a horizontal plane
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/56 electrically folded and erected

Abstract

A foldable elliptical fitness machine comprises a first frame, a second frame supported by the first frame, and an enabling assembly for enabling the second frame to rotate with respect to the first frame, the first frame securely supported on a floor and the second frame installed an elliptical structure, and the second frame is pivotally coupled to the first frame by a pivoting device, such that the second frame can be rotated with respect to the first frame, wherein the elliptical structure comprises a rotating member having two eccentric pivotal points, and two pedal arms. A central penetrating axle of the rotating member is pivotally coupled onto the second frame, and each eccentric pivotal point is pivotally coupled to the first end of the pedal arm, and each pedal arm includes a footrest for a user to step. If the first end of the pedal arm rotates with the crank, the footrest will move in an elliptic path. With the foregoing structural design, the elliptical structure of the invention has the functions of changing the inclination of the elliptical fitness machine so that users have the convenience of using by changing the level of difficulty of their exercise.

Claims

1. An elliptical fitness machine having inclination adjusting mechanism comprises:

a first frame, a second frame supported by the first frame, and an enabling assembly for enabling the second frame to rotate with respect to the first frame, wherein the first frame securely supported on a floor and the second frame mounted with an elliptical structure, and the second frame pivotally coupled to the first frame by a pivotal axle, such that the second frame and the elliptical structure can be rotated with respect to the first frame to change the inclination of the second frame when the enabling assembly actuates, wherein the enabling assembly including a support rod and an actuating device, the support rod pivotally coupled to the rear end of the second frame, and the actuating device coupled between the support rod and the second frame, and the actuating device including a body and a contractible rod, and the contractible rod can be contracted with respect to the body to swing the support rod to an angle, and wherein the elliptical structure comprising a rotating member coaxially coupled to two cranks to define a rigid body corresponding to an axle, and two pedal arms, and the middle of the rotating member and the two cranks pivotally coupled with the second frame by the axle, each crank having an eccentric pivotal point, each pivotal point of each crank pivotally coupled to a first end of one corresponding pedal arm, and each pedal arm including a footrest capable of moving in an elliptic path.

2. The elliptical fitness machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second frame includes two sliding tracks, and a second end of the two pedal arms separately have a roller, and a second end of the each pedal arm is embedded into the sliding track, such that the roller can roll on the corresponding sliding track.

3. An elliptical fitness machine having inclination adjusting mechanism comprises:

a first frame, a second frame supported by the first frame, and an enabling assembly for enabling the second frame to rotate with respect to the first frame, wherein the first frame securely supported on a floor and the second frame mounted with an elliptical structure, and the second frame pivotally coupled to the first frame by a pivoting device, such that the second frame and the elliptical structure can be rotated with respect to the first frame to change the inclination of the second frame when the enabling assembly actuates, wherein the pivoting device pivotally coupled to a link rod and a swinging rod at the same pivotal point at the front end of the second frame, another end of the link rod pivotally coupled to the first frame, the swinging rod including a roller pivotally coupled to a free end of the swinging rod, the first frame having a track thereon, the roller of the swinging rod being in contact with the track, the enabling assembly connected between the swinging rod and the first frame, the enabling assembly including an actuating device connected between the first frame and the swinging rod, the actuating device including a body and a contractible rod, and the contractible rod can be contracted with respect to the body to swing the swinging rod to an angle, and wherein the elliptical structure comprising a rotating member coaxially coupled to two cranks to define a rigid body corresponding to an axle, and two pedal arms, and the middle of the rotating member and the two cranks pivotally coupled with the second frame by the axle, each crank having an eccentric pivotal point, each pivotal point of the each crank pivotally coupled to a first end of one corresponding pedal arm, and each pedal arm including a footrest capable of moving in an elliptic path.

4. The elliptical fitness machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein the second frame includes two sliding tracks, and a second end of the two pedal arms separately have a roller, and a second end of the each pedal arm is embedded into the sliding track, such that the roller can roll on the corresponding sliding track.

5. The elliptical fitness machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein the sliding track includes a recessive guide groove disposed separately on both sides of the sliding track, and a second end of the pedal arm is pivotally coupled to a wheel base, and the wheel base includes a plate extended down separately from both sides of the wheel base, and the internal surface of the each plate is pivotally coupled to two of the rollers, and the roller of the each plate is embedded in the corresponding guide groove.

6. The elliptical fitness machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first frame includes a pillar extended downward separately from both sides of the first frame, and the each pillar includes a handgrip.

7. The elliptical fitness machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first frame includes a pillar extended upward separately from both sides of the first frame, and the each pillar is pivotally coupled to a shaking rod extended vertically up and down, and the each pedal arm on the second frame is pivotally coupled to a first end of a link rod, and a second end of the each link rod is coupled to the bottom of a corresponding shaking rod, and the each shaking rod includes a handle at the top of the shaking rod.

8. The elliptical fitness machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein the each shaking rod includes a C-shape cross section disposed at its lower half and a first guide groove extended axially along the shaking rod, and the second frame includes a guide track disposed separately on the two link rods, and the each guide track includes a C-shape cross section at a lateral side of the guide track and a second guide groove extended axially along the guide track, and the each link rod includes a first roller and a second roller disposed separately on the distal ends of the link rod, and the first roller is embedded and limited in the corresponding first guide groove and rolled in the first guide groove, and the second roller is embedded and limited in the corresponding second guide groove and rolled in the second guide groove.

9. The elliptical fitness machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first frame further comprising a sliding track, and the axial line of the sliding track is extended along the direction of the front and rear ends of the first frame, and the sliding track is sheathed onto the sliding rod, such that the sliding rod can move with respect to the sliding track for a contraction, and the sliding rod includes a second pivotal connecting portion, and the second pivotal connecting portion is pivotally coupled to a first end of a link rod, and the link rod second end is pivotally coupled to the second frame, and the sliding rod includes a latch pivotally coupled thereon, and a first end of the latch includes a hook portion, and a spring is installed between a second end of the latch and the sliding rod, and the first frame includes a hooked portion corresponding to the hook portion of the latch, such that when the second frame is rotated and folded upright with respect to the first frame, the sliding rod is contracted with respect to the sliding track, and the hook portion of the latch is hooked and fixed by the hooked portion of the first frame for fixing the second frame with the corresponding first frame.

10. The elliptical fitness machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein the second frame further comprises a flywheel, and the flywheel and the rotating member are coaxially and pivotally coupled to the second frame, and the flywheel includes a magnetic resisting device, such that when the flywheel is rotated to cut off a magnetic line of a magnet on the magnetic resisting device, the flywheel produces a magnetic resistance.

11. An elliptical fitness machine having inclination adjusting mechanism comprises a first frame, a second frame supported by the first frame, and an enabling assembly for enabling the second frame to rotate with respect to the first frame, the first frame securely supported on a floor and the second frame mounted with an elliptical structure, and the second frame pivotally coupled to the first frame by a pivoting device, such that the second frame and the elliptical structure can be rotated with respect to the first frame when the enabling assembly actuates, wherein the pivoting device comprising:

two side panels, disposed at the first frame, each side panel including a first pivotal connecting portion and a second pivotal connecting portion;

two side rods, disposed at the second frame, and each side rod including a pivotal connecting portion disposed proximate to an end of the second frame;

two first link rods, each having a first pivotal connecting portion, a second pivotal connecting portion, and a third pivotal connecting portion, and the third pivotal connecting portion on the each first link rod and the pivotal connecting portion corresponding to the rod on the second frame passed by a pivotal axle for defining a pivotal connection;

two second link rod, and a first end of the each second link rod having a pivotal axle and pivotally coupled to a first pivotal connecting portion corresponding to the side panel of the first frame, and the second end including a pivotal axle pivotally coupled to a corresponding first pivotal connecting portion of the first link rod; and

two third link rods, and a first end of the each third link rod including a pivotal axle pivotally coupled to a second pivotal connecting portion corresponding to the side panel of the first frame, and a second end including a pivotal axle pivotally coupled to the second pivotal connecting portion corresponding to the first link rod; and

wherein the enabling assembly comprising;

a fixed rod, fixed to the two first link rods, and a lateral side of the fixed rod extended to a connecting rod; and

an actuating device including a motor and a moving element driven by the motor to move and contract, and the moving element pivotally coupled to the connecting rod of the fixed rod;

each set of the first link rod, the second link rod, the third link rod, and the side panel constitutes a structure of four link mechanism, such that when the actuating device drives the moving element, the structure of four link mechanism will move to drive an end of the second frame to ascend to change the inclination of the second frame.

12. The elliptical fitness machine as claimed in claim 11, wherein the second link rod and the third link rod are rotated in opposite directions with respect to the first frame.

13. The elliptical fitness machine as claimed in claim 11, wherein the actuating device has an output end being a rotate rod, and the rotate rod is screwed with the moving element, such that when the rotate rod is rotated, the moving element can move on the rotate rod.

14. The elliptical fitness machine as claimed in claim 11, wherein the second frame includes two sliding tracks, and a second end of the two pedal arms separately have a roller, and a second end of the each pedal arm is embedded into the sliding track, such that the roller can roll on the corresponding sliding track.

15. The elliptical fitness machine as claimed in claim 14, wherein the sliding track includes a recessive guide groove disposed separately on both sides of the sliding track, and a second end of the pedal arm is pivotally coupled to a wheel base, and the wheel base includes a plate extended down separately from both sides of the wheel base, and the internal surface of the each plate is pivotally coupled to two of the rollers, and the roller of the each plate is embedded in the corresponding guide groove.

16. The elliptical fitness machine as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first frame includes a pillar extended downward separately from both sides of the first frame, and the each pillar includes a handgrip.

17. The elliptical fitness machine as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first frame includes a pillar extended upward separately from both sides of the first frame, and the each pillar is pivotally coupled to a shaking rod extended vertically up and down, and the each pedal arm on the second frame is pivotally coupled to a first end of a link rod, and a second end of the each link rod is coupled to the bottom of a corresponding shaking rod, and the each shaking rod includes a handle at the top of the shaking rod.

18. The elliptical fitness machine as claimed in claim 17, wherein the each shaking rod includes a C-shape cross section disposed at its lower half and a first guide groove extended axially along the shaking rod, and the second frame includes a guide track disposed separately on the two link rods, and the each guide track includes a C-shape cross section at a lateral side of the guide track and a second guide groove extended axially along the guide track, and the each link rod includes a first roller and a second roller disposed separately on the distal ends of the link rod, and the first roller is embedded and limited in the corresponding first guide groove and rolled in the first guide groove, and the second roller is embedded and limited in the corresponding second guide groove and rolled in the second guide groove.

19. The elliptical fitness machine as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first frame further comprising a sliding track, and the axial line of the sliding track is extended along the direction of the front and rear ends of the first frame, and the sliding track is sheathed onto the sliding rod, such that the sliding rod can move with respect to the sliding track for a contraction, and the sliding rod includes a second pivotal connecting portion, and the second pivotal connecting portion is pivotally coupled to a first end of a link rod, and the link rod second end is pivotally coupled to the second frame, and the sliding rod includes a latch pivotally coupled thereon, and a first end of the latch includes a hook portion, and a spring is installed between a second end of the latch and the sliding rod, and the first frame includes a hooked portion corresponding to the hook portion of the latch, such that when the second frame is rotated and folded upright with respect to the first frame, the sliding rod is contracted with respect to the sliding track, and the hook portion of the latch is hooked and fixed by the hooked portion of the first frame for fixing the second frame with the corresponding first frame.

20. The elliptical fitness machine as claimed in claim 11, wherein the second frame further comprises a flywheel, and the flywheel and the rotating member are coaxially and pivotally coupled to the second frame, and the flywheel includes a magnetic resisting device, such that when the flywheel is rotated to cut off a magnetic line of a magnet on the magnetic resisting device, the flywheel produces a magnetic resistance.