HINGE APPARATUS TO FACILITATE POSITION ADJUSTMENT OF EQUIPMENT

• US 20100077564A1
• Filed: 09/30/2008
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Expresso Fitness
• Original Assignee: Expresso Fitness Corporation
• Inventors: Saier, Mohammed, Thiers, Jean-Michel, Fisher, John
• Application Number:
  US12/242,680
• Publication Number:
  US 20100077564A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 16/277
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0658 Position or arrangement of display
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0056 the pivoting movement being in a vertical plane, e.g. steppers with a horizontal axis platforms for rocking motion about a horizontal axis A63B22/16
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0076 Rowing machines for conditioning the cardio-vascular system seats moving during exercise A63B22/0087; training appliances for rowing or sculling on boats A63B69/06
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/02 with movable endless bands , e.g. treadmills other training appliances for running on the spot A63B69/0028
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0605 performing a circular movement, e.g. ergometers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0664 performing an elliptic movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/09 Adjustable dimensions

Abstract

A hinge apparatus to facilitate equipment position adjustment is disclosed. One embodiment of a system includes, a hinge apparatus having a through-hole, a rotate-able portion and a body portion. The system further includes, equipment having a first portion coupled to the rotate-able portion of the hinge apparatus, a second portion coupled to the body portion of the hinge apparatus, and an electrical wire that facilitates function of the equipment. The electrical wire is disposed in the hinge extending through the through-hole. The hinge apparatus is operatively configured such that the electrical wire remains intact during when the rotate-able portion of the hinge rotates.

Claims

1. An exercise apparatus, comprising,

a hinge apparatus having a through-hole, the hinge apparatus comprising a rotate-able portion and a body portion;

cardio-fitness equipment having;

a first portion coupled to the rotate-able portion of the hinge apparatus;

a second portion coupled to the body portion of the hinge apparatus; and

an electrical wire that facilitates function of the cardio-fitness equipment;

wherein, the electrical wire is disposed in the hinge extending through the through-hole;

wherein, the cardio-fitness equipment is suitably configured for operation when the rotate-able portion of the hinge apparatus is secured to the body portion of the hinge apparatus at a first hinge location and when the first portion of the cardio-fitness equipment is in a first position;

wherein, the cardio-fitness equipment is suitably configured for a reduced-dimension purpose when the rotate-able portion is rotated from the first hinge location to a second hinge location and when the first portion of the cardio-fitness equipment is in a second position;

wherein the hinge apparatus is operatively configured such that the electrical wire remains intact during when the rotate-able portion of the hinge rotates.

2. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein, the reduced-dimension purpose comprises, one or more of, packaging, shipping, or storage.

3. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein, the first portion of the cardio-fitness equipment reaches the second position when rotated away from a seat of the cardio-fitness equipment.

4. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein, the cardio-fitness equipment has at least one reduced dimension when in the second position relative to when in the first position.

5. The exercise apparatus of claim 4, wherein, the cardio-fitness equipment has an increased dimension when in the second position relative to when in the first position.

6. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein, the cardio-fitness equipment is an exercise bicycle.

7. A system, comprising,

a hinge apparatus having a through-hole, the hinge apparatus comprising a rotate-able portion and a body portion;

an equipment having;

a first portion coupled to the rotate-able portion of the hinge apparatus;

a second portion coupled to the body portion of the hinge apparatus; and

an electrical wire that facilitates function of the equipment;

wherein, the electrical wire is disposed in the hinge extending through the through-hole;

wherein the hinge apparatus is operatively configured such that the electrical wire remains intact during when the rotate-able portion of the hinge rotates.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the equipment is exercise equipment.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the equipment is cardio-fitness equipment.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein, the equipment is a bicycle, stepper, elliptical trainer, treadmill, or rower.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein, the first portion of the equipment is rotate-able between at least two positions comprising a first position and a second position.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein, the equipment has a reduced dimension when in the second position relative to when in the first position.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein, the reduced dimension of the equipment in the second position allows packing two of the equipments in an International Container;

wherein the reduced dimension is not more than approximately 35″

.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the exercise equipment comprises a seat and a foot actuator.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the exercise equipment further comprises, a display unit and a computing unit.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the exercise equipment further comprises a steering member and a gear-shifting unit.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the foot actuator comprises pedals or steppers.

18. The system of claim 7, further comprising,

a physical construct to limit motion of the rotate-able portion of the hinge apparatus;

a first securing mechanism disposed along a rotational axis of the hinge apparatus about which the rotate-able portion is able to rotate; and

a second securing mechanism use-able to secure the rotate-able portion to the body portion.

19. A hinge apparatus, comprising

a rotate-able portion;

a body coupled to the rotate-able portion along a rotational axis;

a first securing mechanism disposed along the rotational axis about which the rotate-able portion is able to rotate;

a second securing mechanism use-able to secure the rotate-able portion to the body; and

a through-hole through which at least one electrical connection extends;

wherein the hinge apparatus is operatively configured such that the electrical connection remains intact during when the rotate-able portion rotates.

20. The hinge apparatus of claim 19, further comprising, a physical construct to limit motion of the rotate-able portion.

21. The hinge apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first and second securing mechanisms comprise first and second bolts.

22. The hinge apparatus of claim 21, further comprising, first and second washers coupled to the first and second bolts, respectively.

23. The hinge apparatus of claim 22, wherein the first and second washers are cupped spring washers.

24. A method of position adjustment for assembly of equipment having a hinge, comprising:

rotating a portion of the equipment at the hinge in a first predetermined direction until a predetermined stopping point is reached; and

securing the portion of the equipment via the hinge at the predetermined stopping point.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the equipment is cardio-fitness equipment.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising, maintaining the portion of the equipment at the predetermined stopping point prior to securing the portion of the equipment.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein, the predetermined stopping point of the portion of the equipment is a position at which the equipment is able to operate.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein, the predetermined stopping point is determined via a physical construct in the hinge.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein, the securing the portion of the equipment comprises bolting a rotate-able portion of the hinge to a body portion of the hinge.

30. A method of position adjustment for de-assembly of equipment having a hinge, comprising:

rotating the portion of the equipment at the hinge in another predetermined direction until another predetermined stopping point is reached;

wherein the another predetermined stopping point is a position at which the equipment has a smaller height or length.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising, detaching a rotate-able portion of the hinge from a body portion of the hinge prior to rotating the portion of the equipment.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein, the detaching the rotate-able portion from the body portion comprises un-bolting the rotate-able portion from the body portion.

33. The method of claim 30, further comprising, optionally securing the portion of the equipment via the hinge at the another predetermined stopping point.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising, packaging or shipping the equipment when the portion of the equipment is at the another stopping point.