Patent Application
20180078807
Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to exercise machines. More particularly, embodiments of the invention relate to collapsible exercise machines.
People who work long hours in an office environment wish to use exercise machines more frequently, preferably without having to visit a fitness center or gymnasium. As a result, many families would prefer to purchase one to use at home. However, such exercise machines available in the market occupy too much home space.
Exercise machines are usually configured to generate adjustable resistance and offer different levels of exercise for a user to choose from. Some exercise machines, known as stepper machines, are equipped with a resistance generating hydraulic cylinder. Such stepper machines can become overheated after using a short period of time. Other exercise machines include various resistive load components for the user to choose from and set a desired level of exercise. However, those exercise machines can be difficult to move, besides occupying a large space.
Embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements.
Various embodiments and aspects of the inventions will be described with reference to details discussed below, and the accompanying drawings will illustrate the various embodiments. The following description and drawings are illustrative of the invention and are not to be construed as limiting the invention. Numerous specific details are described to provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments of the present invention. However, in certain instances, well-known or conventional details are not described in order to provide a concise discussion of embodiments of the present inventions.
Reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in conjunction with the embodiment can be included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification do not necessarily all refer to the same embodiment.
Embodiments of the invention improve traditional exercise machines by replacing resistive loads or other resistance generating components with a mechanism in a collapsible exercise machine to use a user's own body weight to generate a desired level of resistance. In one embodiment, an exercise machine is configured to transition between a first position and a second position, where the user exercises by overcoming resistance primarily generated by the user's own body weight in changing the exercise machine's position. In one embodiment, the exercise machine is foldable to reduce space for storage. In one embodiment, the exercise machine includes two or more pairs of footrest bars to provide different levels of exercise for the user to choose from.
In one embodiment, an exercise machine includes a seating assembly, a handlebar assembly, and a footrest assembly. The seating assembly includes an upper section configured with a seat for a user to sit on and a lower section supported by a support surface (e.g., floor, ground). The lower section is configured with a pair of frictional elements. The handlebar assembly is rotatably attached to the seating assembly and is supported by the support surface. The handlebar assembly includes a handlebar at an upper end section for the user to hold onto while sitting on the seat and a lower end section having a pair of wheels movable on the support surface. The footrest assembly is attached to the seating assembly and the handlebar assembly. In one embodiment, the footrest assembly includes a first pair of footrest bars and a second pair of footrest bars mounted at a lower position of the first pair of the footrest bars. With such a configuration, the user can rest his or her feet at different positions with different resistance and exercise levels. In one embodiment, the seat assembly can be collapsed towards the handlebar to reduce space for storage.
In one embodiment, the footrest assembly and the handlebar assembly are attached via an elongate linking member. The elongate linking member is pivotally mounted on the handlebar assembly and attached to the footrest assembly via a removable pin. The lower end section of the handlebar assembly includes a V-shape or U-shape section. The bottom or center part of the V-shape or U-shape section is attached to an intermediate section coupling the upper end section and the lower end section. The wheels are mounted on two ends of the V-shape or U-shape section.
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Footrest assembly 160 is mounted on seating assembly 120 via bolt 165. Footrest assembly 160 is also attached to handlebar assembly 140 via elongate linking member 162. Elongate linking member 162 is attached to footrest assembly 160 via removable pin 168 and pivotally mounted on handlebar assembly 140 via bolt 169. Footrest assembly 160 includes first pair of footrest bars 164 and second pair of footrest bars 166 mounted at a lower position than first pair of footrest bars 164. In this example, footrest bars 164 and 166 are formed in a U-shape bar. The bottom or center portions of the footrest bars 164 and 166 are mounted on an elongate member. The elongate member is then mounted on lower section 124. A user can rest his or her feet on either end of the U-shape bars. The user can place the feet at one of the two different positions to choose a desired level of exercise with suitable resistance. In another embodiment, more than two pairs of footrest bars may be included in footrest assembly 160.
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By removing removable pin 168, elongate linking member 162 releases footrest assembly 160 from being attached thereto. After releasing, footrest assembly 160 drops in a direction 172 towards lower section 124 of seating assembly 120 by the effect of gravity. Then, footrest assembly 160 can be secured to another position closer to lower section 124 of seating assembly 120 where holes 171 and 170 overlap, by re-inserting removable pin 168 into both holes 171 and 170, for example, for the purposes of locking footrest assembly 160 again to seating assembly 120 and keeping removable pin 168 close to exercise machine 100 when exercise machine 100 is folded.
Similarly, by removing removable pin 132 attaching second stopper element 130 to lower section 124 of seating assembly 120, second stopper element 130 is released from the position preventing lower end section 144 of handlebar assembly 140 from being folded. After releasing, second stopper element 130 drops in a direction 137 towards the support surface by the effect of gravity. As is more clearly shown in
In one embodiment, exercise machine 100 includes a display unit to display user exercise information or data related to an exercise session. For example, such information or data may include the time spent on an exercise session, the calorie consumed, etc.
Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which the invention pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing description and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.
