1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to an exercise device, and more particularly to an exercise device comprising an adjustable frame, in which a distance between a seat frame and a handle frame can be freely and conveniently adjusted.
2. Description of Related Arts
As shown in
More specifically, the frame disclosed in '958 patent comprises a seat holding mechanism which is capable of mounting the seat assembly at different positions relative to the frame. Moreover, the seat is adjustable for height and connected to the seat socket. The seat post pop pin permits height adjustment of the seat. The fore and aft saddle pop pin permits adjustment of the seat by sliding fore and aft in the seat socket. Thus, it can be seen that the seat is movable relative to the seat socket.
A major disadvantage of this configuration of the stationary exercise bicycle is that the connection between the seat socket and the seat is very easy to break because the connection is relatively weak while the seat is subject to heavy weight of a user. When the connection between the seat socket and the seat fails, it may cause harm to the rider because the rider may accidentally falls from the stationary exercise bicycle.
Furthermore, the handlebar of the stationary exercise bicycle comprises an upright portion lateral bar and a second bar extended forwardly from the lateral bar in one common plane. These can easily be observed from
The invention is advantageous in that it provides an exercise device comprising an adjustable frame, in which a distance between a seat frame and a handle frame can be freely and conveniently adjusted.
Another advantage of the invention is to provide an exercise device comprising an adjustable frame, wherein a seat frame is adjustably mounted to a main supporting frame. In this case, the seat frame can be adequately and optimally supported by the main supporting frame. This arrangement substantially overcomes the disadvantages described above for conventional stationary exercise bicycle.
Another advantage of the invention is to provide an exercise device comprising an adjustable frame wherein a handle frame comprises a first handle bar and a pair of second handle bars which are optimally designed to allow a user to ride on the exercise device in one of two predetermined postures.
Another advantage of the invention is to provide an exercise device comprising an adjustable frame, wherein the second handle bars are crafted and designed to guide the user riding at a particular posture.
Another advantage of the invention is to provide an exercise device comprising an adjustable frame, which is simple in structure and is easy to manufacture. As a result, the manufacturing cost of the present invention can be minimized.
Additional advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the description which follows, and may be realized by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particular point out in the appended claims.
According to the present invention, the foregoing and other objects and advantages are attained by providing an exercise device comprising an adjustable frame and an exercise equipment supported by the adjustable frame, wherein the adjustable frame comprises:
Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawings.
These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.
Referring to
The main supporting frame 30 comprises a frame member 31 for facilitating a predetermined exercise type, such as bicycle exercise, wherein the frame member 31 has a first end portion 311 and a second end portion 312.
The handle frame 40 is supported by main supporting frame 30 at a position above the first end portion 311 of the frame member 31, and comprises a first handle bar 41 and a plurality of second handle bars 42. The first handle bar 41 has a transverse portion 411 and two longitudinal portions 412 extended from two ends of the transverse portion 411 for a user's hands to grip thereon respectively so as to allow the user to selectively exercise in a first riding posture.
On the other hand, the second handle bars 42 are extended from the first handle bar 41 for the user's hand to grip thereon respectively so as to allow the user to selectively exercise in a second riding posture.
The adjustable seat assembly 50 is adjustably supported by the main supporting frame 30 at a position above the second end portion 312 of the frame member 31, and comprises a seat frame 51 and a seat member 52.
The seat frame 51 has a coupling portion 511 moveably coupled with the main supporting frame 30. On the other hand, the seat member 52 is mounted on a support portion 512 of the seat frame 51, wherein by adjustably and movably coupling the seat frame 51 with respect to the main supporting frame 30, a distance between the seat member 52 and the handle frame 40 is capable of being freely adjusted for fitting different users with different riding postures.
According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the exercise device is preferably embodied as a stationary bicycle, so that the adjustable frame 10 is embodied as a stationary bicycle frame. Thus, the exercise equipment 20 comprise a bicycle wheel 21 rotatably mounted on the first end portion 311 of the frame member 31, a plurality of pedals 22 operatively provided on the second end portion 312 of the frame member 31, and a driving mechanism 23 supported by the frame member 31 for transmitting the movement of pedals 32 into the rotation of the bicycle wheel 21.
As shown in
On the other hand, the handle frame 40 further comprises a supporting member 43 extended from the frame member 31 of the main supporting frame 30 to suspendedly support the first handle bar 41 and the second handle bars 42 at a predetermined elevation above the ground surface. The transverse portion 411 and the longitudinal portions 412 of the first handle bar 41 constitute a substantially U-shaped cross sectional shape thereof to define a handle cavity 413 between the transverse portion 411 and the longitudinal portions 412, wherein a user is arranged to grip on the two longitudinal portions 412 while seating on the seat member 52, wherein the user's legs are arranged to step on the pedals 22 of the exercise equipment 20 for exercising at the first riding posture.
Each of the second handle bars 42 is also inwardly extended from the longitudinal portion 411 of the first handle bar 41 in the handle cavity 413. It is worth mentioning that each of the second handle bars 42 also has a predetermined cross sectional shape designed to allow the user to grip on the second handle bars 42 for riding on the exercise device at a second riding posture.
At this point, it is important to mention that since there are two second handle bars 42, each of the second handle bars 42 substantially guide the corresponding user's hand to grip thereon. The result is that the user is prevented from gripping on incorrect positions on the second handle bars 42, and this feature ensures that the second riding posture is correctly made by the user.
The frame member 31 of the main supporting frame 30 further has an elongated coupling slot 313 formed at a second end portion 312, wherein the coupling portion 511 of the seat frame 51 is adjustably inserted into the elongated coupling slot 313 so as to adjustably couple the seat frame 51 to the main supporting frame 30. More specifically, the coupling portion 511 and the support portion 512 of the seat frame 51 are extended at a predetermined angle of inclination in which the support portion 512 is upwardly extended to support the seat member 52, while the coupling portion 511 is longitudinally extended (with respect to the frame member 31) from a lower end of the support portion 512 to adjustably insert into the elongated coupling slot 313.
Thus, the adjustable seat assembly 50 further comprises a securing locker 53 provided on the second end portion 312 of the frame member 31, and is arranged to penetrate the second end portion 312 to lock up a position of the coupling portion 511 of the seat frame 51. Thus, the adjustable seat assembly 50 further has a plurality of locking holes 314 spacedly formed on the coupling portion 511 of the seat frame 51, wherein the securing locker 53 is arranged to selectively lock up a position of the seat frame 51 through a corresponding locking hole 314 and by penetrating through the second end portion 312. Note that by locking up the coupling portion 511 through different locking holes 314, the distance between the seat frame 51 and the handle frame 40 can be altered and adjusted.
In other words, a cross sectional shape of the coupling portion 511 of the seat frame 51 is substantially similar to that of the elongated coupling slot 313 while a cross sectional area of the coupling portion 511 is slightly smaller than that of the elongated coupling slot 313 so that the coupling portion 511 is adapted to slidably connect to the frame member 31 by inserting into the elongated coupling slot 313.
Furthermore, the seat frame 51 further has an elongated connecting slot 513 formed in the upper end of the support portion 512, wherein the seat member 52 comprises a seat cushion 521 and a seat connector 522 downwardly extended from the seat cushion 521, and is arranged to be inserted and slidably moved along the elongated connecting slot 513 so as to adjust the elevation of the seat cushion 521 above the ground surface.
Thus, the adjustable seat assembly 50 further comprises a seat locking device 54 provided on the support portion 512 of the seat frame 51, and is arranged to penetrate the seat connector 522 to lock up a position of the seat cushion 521 with respect to the ground surface. Thus, the seat frame 51 further has a plurality of seat locker holes 55 spacedly formed on the support portion 512 of the seat frame 51, wherein the seat locking device 54 is arranged to selectively lock up a position of the seat frame 51 through a corresponding seat locker hole 55. Note that by locking up the support portion 512 through different seat locker holes 55, the height of the seat connector 522 and thus the seat cushion 521 can be selectively altered and adjusted.
From the above description, it can be seen that the user may adjust the position of the seat frame 51 by sliding the coupling portion 511 along the coupling slot 313 of the second end portion 312 of the frame member 31. Furthermore, the user may adjust the elevation of the seat cushion 521 by sliding the seat connector 522 along the elongated connecting slot 513 formed on the seat frame 51. Thus, the user may, according to his or her particular height and desired riding posture, freely adjust the distance between the seat cushion 521 and the handle frame 40, and the height of the seat cushion 521 with respect to the ground surface.
Referring to
The adjustable seat assembly 50′ is adjustably supported by the main supporting frame 30′ at a position above the second end portion 312′ of the frame member 31′, and comprises a seat frame 51′ and a seat member 52′. As in the preferred embodiment, the seat frame 51′ has a coupling portion 511′ moveably coupled with the main supporting frame 30′.
According to the first alternative mode of the present invention, the frame member 31′ of the main supporting frame 30′ further has an elongated coupling slot 313′ formed at a second end portion 312′, wherein the coupling portion 511′ of the seat frame 51′ is adjustably inserted into the elongated coupling slot 313′ so as to adjustably couple the seat frame 51′ to the main supporting frame 30′. Unique to this first alternative mode, the coupling portion 511′ of the seat frame 51′ has a T-shaped cross section which defines a vertical section 5111′ and a horizontal section 5112′, wherein the horizontal section 5112′ of the coupling portion 511′ of the seat frame 51′ is slidably inserted into the coupling slot 313′ so as to adjust the position of the seat member 52′.
In other words, the vertical section 5111′ of the coupling portion 511′ is integrally extended from the support portion 512′ while the horizontal section 5112′ is horizontally extended from the vertical section 5112′ toward two sides thereof so as to constitute a T-shaped cross section of the coupling portion 511′.
Moreover, the securing locker 53′ is provided on the second end portion 312′ of the frame member 31′, and is arranged to penetrate the second end portion 312′ to lock up a position of the horizontal section 5112′ of the coupling portion 511′ of the seat frame 51′. Thus, the plurality of locking holes 314″ is spacedly formed on the second end portion 312′, wherein the securing locker 53′ is arranged to selectively lock up a position of the seat frame 51′ through a corresponding locking hole 314′. Note that by locking up the coupling portion 511′ through different locking holes 314′, the distance between the seat frame 51′ and the handle frame 40 can be altered and adjusted.
Referring to
The main supporting frame 30″ comprises a frame member 31″ for facilitating a predetermined exercise type, such as bicycle exercise, wherein the frame member 31″ has a first end portion 311″ and a second end portion 312″.
The adjustable seat assembly 50″ is adjustably supported by the main supporting frame 30″ at a position above the second end portion 312″ of the frame member 31″, and comprises a seat frame 51″ and a seat member 52″.
The seat frame 51″ has a coupling portion 511″ pivotally coupled with the main supporting frame 30″. On the other hand, the seat member 52″ is mounted on a support portion 512″ of the seat frame 51″, wherein by adjustably and pivotally coupling the seat frame 51″ with respect to the main supporting frame 30″, a distance between the seat member 52″ and the handle frame 40 is capable of being freely adjusted for fitting different users with different riding postures.
As shown in
Thus, in this second alternative mode, the coupling portion 511″ and the support portion 512″ of the seat frame 51″ are integrally extended and do not form the angle of inclination with respect to each other. The coupling mechanism 56″ comprises a first and a second gear units 561″ 562″ provided at the second end portion 312″ of the frame member 31″ and the coupling portion 511″ of the seat frame 51″ respectively for selectively and pivotally moving the coupling portion 511″ with respect to the second end portion 312″.
The first and the second gear units 561″, 562″ are normally engaged with each other so as to lock up a lateral movement between the coupling portion 511″ of the seat frame 51″ and the second end portion 312″ of the frame member 31″. However, the coupling mechanism 56″ may be selectively disengaged so as to disengage the first gear unit 561″ from the second gear unit 562″. Afterwards, the user may pivotally move the seat frame 51″ with respect to the frame member 31″ for adjusting a distance and height of the seat member 52″ with respect to the handling frame 40. After the adjustment, the first gear unit 561″ and the second gear unit 562″ are driven to engage with each other again so as to lock up the position of the seat frame 51″ again.
Accordingly, the coupling mechanism 56″ further comprises an actuator 563″ connected to the first and the second gear unit 561″, 562″ for selectively driving the first gear unit 561″ to engage to or disengage from the second gear unit 562″.
Referring to
In this third alternative mode, the supporting frame 43A is pivotally coupled with the main supporting frame 30A so as to selectively adjust a distance between the handling frame 40A and the adjustable seat assembly 50A. More specifically, the handling frame 40A further comprises a driving cylinder 45A comprising a first cylindrical member 451A inclinedly mounted on the main supporting frame 30A, and a second cylindrical member 452A having one end portion slidably coupled to the first cylindrical member 451A, and another end portion mounted to the supporting frames 43A of the handling frame 40A, in such a manner that the second cylindrical member 452A is arranged to selectively slide with respect to the first cylindrical member 451A for pivotally moving the supporting frame 43A. Moreover, the first and the second handle bar 41A, 42A are both upwardly extended from the main supporting frame 30A, and are pivotally extended from the main supporting frame 30A.
For example, the movable first and the second handle bar 41A, 42A disclosed in the third alternative mode may be used in conjunction with the adjustable seat frame assembly disclosed in the preferred embodiment. These variations are also covered by the present invention.
Referring to
One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment of the present invention as shown in the drawings and described above is exemplary only and not intended to be limiting.
It will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. It embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structural principles of the present invention and is subject to change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.