Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6682462
-
Patent Number
6,682,462
-
Date Filed
Friday, February 21, 200321 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, January 27, 200420 years ago
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Inventors
-
-
Examiners
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 482 51
- 482 52
- 482 57
- 482 70
- 482 72
- 482 62
- 482 63
- 482 60
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A dual-purpose exerciser includes an axle mounted on a frame section, a pair of pedal units coupled to the axle, and a drive wheel connected to the axle through a first one-way clutch such that the drive wheel is rotatable with the axle in a certain direction. A drive belt is trained on the drive wheel and a resistance wheel. A pull wheel on the axle is connected to the drive wheel through a second one-way clutch such that the pull wheel can drive rotation of the drive wheel. A pull rope is secured to the pull wheel.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an exerciser, more particularly to a dual-purpose exerciser operable in pedaling and rowing modes.
2. Description of the Related Art
As shown in
FIG. 1
, a conventional rowing-type exerciser includes a frame unit
1
and a drive unit
2
. The frame unit
1
has a pair of foot rests
101
(only one is visible) mounted fixedly and respectively on lateral sides of a front section thereof, and a seat
102
. The drive unit
2
includes a first belt wheel
201
mounted rotatably on the frame unit
1
, a rope wheel
202
mounted coaxially on the first belt wheel
201
, a resistance wheel
203
mounted rotatably on the frame unit
1
, and a second belt wheel
2031
mounted coaxially on the resistance wheel
203
. The second belt wheel
2031
is smaller than the first belt wheel
201
. A drive belt
204
is trained on the first and second belt wheels
202
,
2031
. A pull rope
205
is wound on the rope wheel
202
, and a pull handle
206
is connected to one end of the pull rope
205
. During operation, the user sits on the seat
102
with his two feet placed on the foot rests
101
. Thereafter, the user pulls the pull handle
206
to drive the rope wheel
202
through the pull rope
205
such that the first belt wheel
201
is enabled to transmit power to the resistance wheel
203
through the drive belt
204
and the second belt wheel
2031
, thereby resulting in an exercising effect by virtue of a rowing motion.
As shown in
FIG. 2
, a conventional pedaling-type exerciser includes a frame unit
3
and a drive unit
4
. The frame unit
3
has a seat
301
mounted thereon. The drive unit
4
includes a drive axle
401
mounted rotatably on the frame unit
3
, a pair of pedal units
402
(only one is visible) coupled to opposite ends of the drive axle
401
, a first belt wheel
403
mounted on the drive axle
401
, and a second belt wheel
4041
mounted rotatably on the frame unit
3
. The second belt wheel
4041
is smaller than the first belt wheel
403
. A resistance wheel
404
is mounted coaxially on the second belt wheel
4041
. A drive belt
405
is trained on the first and second belt wheels
403
,
4041
. During operation, the user sits on the seat
301
with his two feet placed on the pedal units
402
. Thereafter, the pedal units
402
can be operated so as to drive the first belt wheel
403
to transmit power to the resistance wheel
404
through the drive belt
405
and the second belt wheel
4041
, thereby resulting in an exercising effect by virtue of a pedaling motion.
It is noted that each of the aforesaid conventional exercisers only permits one of a rowing exercising effect and a pedaling exercising effect.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, the main object of the present invention is to provide a dual-purpose exerciser operable in pedaling and rowing modes.
Accordingly, a dual-purpose exerciser of this invention comprises:
an elongate frame unit having a front frame section with front and rear ends, and a rear frame section with front and rear ends, the front end of the rear frame section being connected to the rear end of the front frame section;
a seat mounted on the rear frame section;
an axle mounted rotatably on the front frame section;
a pair of pedal units, each of which has a crank arm coupled to a respective end of the axle, the pedal units being operable so as to drive axial rotation of the axle;
a drive wheel;
a first one-way clutch interconnecting the drive wheel and the axle such that rotation of the axle in a first direction results in corresponding rotation of the drive wheel in the first direction, and such that the axle is incapable of driving rotation of the drive wheel when the axle rotates in a second direction opposite to the first direction;
a resistance wheel mounted rotatably on the front frame section;
a drive belt trained on the drive wheel and the resistance wheel such that rotation of the drive wheel is transmitted to the resistance wheel;
a pull wheel mounted rotatably on the axle;
a second one-way clutch interconnecting the pull wheel and the drive wheel such that rotation of the pull wheel in the first direction results in corresponding rotation of the drive wheel in the first direction, and such that the pull wheel is incapable of driving rotation of the drive wheel when the pull wheel rotates in the second direction;
a pull rope wound on the pull wheel and secured to the pull wheel at one end, wherein pulling of the pull rope to unwind the pull rope from the pull wheel drives rotation of the pull wheel in the first direction; and
a restoring unit connected to the pull wheel for rotating the pull wheel in the second direction to wind the pull rope on the pull wheel when the pull rope is released.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:
FIG. 1
is a schematic view of a conventional rowing-type exerciser;
FIG. 2
is a schematic view of a conventional pedaling-type exerciser;
FIG. 3
is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a dual-purpose exerciser according to the present invention;
FIG. 4
is a schematic view illustrating the preferred embodiment when a frame unit thereof is at an unfolded state;
FIG. 5
is a fragmentary cross-sectional schematic view of the preferred embodiment, taken along line
5
—
5
in
FIG. 4
;
FIG. 6
is a fragmentary, partly sectional, schematic top view of the preferred embodiment;
FIG. 7
is a fragmentary, partly sectional, schematic top view of the preferred embodiment to illustrate operation in a pedaling mode;
FIG. 8
is a schematic view of the preferred embodiment when operated in the pedaling mode;
FIG. 9
is a fragmentary, partly sectional, schematic top view of the preferred embodiment to illustrate operation in a rowing mode;
FIG. 10
is a schematic view of the preferred embodiment when operated in the rowing mode; and
FIG. 11
is a schematic view illustrating the preferred embodiment when the frame unit is at a folded state.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to
FIGS. 3
,
4
,
5
and
6
, the preferred embodiment of a dual-purpose exerciser according to the present invention is shown to include a frame unit
10
, a seat
20
, an axle
31
, a pair of pedal units
32
, a drive wheel
36
, a first one-way clutch
33
, a resistance wheel
37
, a drive belt
38
, a pull wheel
34
, a second one-way clutch
35
, a pull rope
421
, and a restoring unit.
The frame unit
10
includes a front frame section
11
with front and rear ends, a rear frame section
12
with front and rear ends, a fastener unit
13
, and a rear leg unit
14
. The front end of the rear frame section
12
is connected foldably to the rear end of the front frame section
11
. The rear leg unit
14
is connected to the rear end of the rear frame section
12
.
The front frame section
11
includes a T-shaped frame member
111
, a pair of angled support members
112
, an upright post
113
, a connecting plate
114
, a connecting rod
115
, a pair of upright plates
116
, a pair of foot rests
117
, and a pair of pivot lugs
118
(only one is visible in the drawings). Each of the support members
112
has a lower end mounted on a respective lateral side of a front end of the frame member
111
. The upright post
113
has a lower end mounted adjacent to a rear end of the frame member
111
. The connecting plate
114
interconnects upper ends of the support members
112
. The connecting rod
115
interconnects the connecting plate
114
and an upper end of the upright post
113
. Each of the upright plates
116
has a lower end secured to a respective lateral side of the frame member
111
and is disposed rearwardly of a respective one of the support members
112
. The foot rests
117
are mounted respectively on opposite lateral sides of the upright post
113
. The pivot lugs
118
are mounted on the rear end of the frame member
111
and are disposed rearwardly of the upright post
113
.
The rear frame section
12
has lateral sides formed with a pair of longitudinally extending rail grooves
121
, respectively. One of the rail grooves
121
is formed with a series of positioning holes
122
. The front end of the rear frame section
12
is connected pivotably to the pivot lugs
118
. The fastener unit
13
fastens releasably the rear frame section
12
to the front frame section
11
at a selected one of unfolded and folded positions. As shown in
FIG. 4
, when the rear frame section
12
is unfolded, the fastener unit
13
can be applied to fasten the front end of the rear frame section
12
to the rear end of the frame member
111
. As shown in
FIG. 11
, when the rear frame section
12
is folded, the fastener unit
13
can be applied to fasten the front end of the rear frame section
12
to the upright post
113
.
The seat
20
is mounted on and is slidable along the rear frame section
12
, and includes a seat portion
21
, and a backrest portion
22
connected to the seat portion
21
. With further reference to
FIG. 5
, a slide frame
23
is mounted on a bottom side of the seat portion
21
, and includes a pair of roller-mounting plates
231
that flank the rear frame section
12
. Each of the roller-mounting plates
231
is provided with a roller unit
24
that engages a respective one of the rail grooves
121
rollingly. A fastener
25
extends through one of the roller-mounting plates
231
and into a selected one of the positioning holes
122
. The fastener
25
cooperates with the positioning holes
122
to constitute a locking unit for locking releasably the seat
20
against sliding movement on the rear frame section
12
.
Referring further to
FIG. 6
, the axle
31
is mounted rotatably on and extends between the support members
112
. Each of the pedal units
32
has a crank arm
321
coupled to a respective end of the axle
31
such that the pedal units
32
are operable so as to drive axial rotation of the axle
31
. The drive wheel
36
is mounted coaxially on the axle
31
. The first one-way clutch
33
includes an inner race
331
secured to the axle
31
, and an outer race
332
secured to the drive wheel
36
. Due to the presence of the first one-way clutch
33
, rotation of the axle
31
and thus the inner race
331
in a first or counterclockwise direction drives corresponding rotation of the outer race
332
and thus the drive wheel
36
in the first direction, as best shown in
FIG. 7
, whereas rotation of the inner race
331
in a second or clockwise direction cannot drive rotation of the outer race
332
. On the other hand, rotation of the outer race
332
in the second direction drives corresponding rotation of the inner race
331
in the second direction, whereas rotation of the outer race
332
in the first direction cannot drive rotation of the inner race
331
.
The resistance wheel
37
is disposed between and is mounted rotatably on the upright plates
116
. The drive belt
38
is trained on the drive wheel
36
and the resistance wheel
37
such that rotation of the drive wheel
36
is transmitted to the resistance wheel
37
. The pull wheel
34
is mounted rotatably on the axle
31
. As best shown in
FIG. 6
, the second one-way clutch
35
includes an inner race
351
secured to the pull wheel
34
, and an outer race
352
secured to the drive wheel
36
. The second one-way clutch
35
interconnects the pull wheel
34
and the drive wheel
36
such that rotation of the pull wheel
34
in the first or counterclockwise direction results in corresponding rotation of the drive wheel
36
in the first direction, as best shown in
FIG. 9
, and such that the pull wheel
34
is incapable of driving rotation of the drive wheel
36
when the pull wheel
34
rotates in the second or clockwise direction.
As shown in
FIGS. 3
,
4
and
6
, the pull wheel
34
is formed with first and second annular grooves
341
,
342
. The pull rope
421
is connected to a pull handle
423
at one end, is trained on a guide roller
39
that is mounted rotatably on the upper ends of the support members
112
and that is disposed above the pull wheel
34
, is wound on the pull wheel
34
in the first annular groove
341
, and is secured to the pull wheel
34
at the other end. Pulling of the pull handle
423
to unwind the pull rope
421
from the pull wheel
34
drives rotation of the pull wheel
34
in the first direction, as best shown in FIG.
9
.
Referring once again to
FIGS. 3 and 4
, the restoring unit includes a set of guide rollers
41
and an elastic cord
422
. The guide rollers
41
are mounted rotatably and respectively on a rear end of the connecting rod
115
, on top of the frame member
111
, and the lower end of one of the support members
112
. The elastic cord
422
has a first end secured to the connecting plate
114
of the front frame section
11
, a second end secured to the pull wheel
34
in the second annular groove
342
, and an intermediate part between the first and second ends of the elastic cord
422
and trained on the second guide rollers
41
. The restoring unit acts to rotate the pull wheel
34
in the second or clockwise direction to wind the pull rope
421
on the pull wheel
34
when the pull rope
421
is released.
Referring now to
FIGS. 7 and 8
, to operate the dual-purpose exerciser of the present invention in the pedaling mode, the position of the seat
20
is manually adjusted, and the seat
20
is retained at the desired position on the rear frame section
12
with the use of the fastener
25
. Thereafter, the user sits on the seat
20
and treads the pedal units
32
in the first or counterclockwise direction. Due to the first one-way clutch
33
, the axle
31
will rotate the drive wheel
36
in the first direction so that rotation of the drive wheel
36
is transmitted to the resistance wheel
37
through the drive belt
38
. Rotation of the drive wheel
36
in the first direction is not transmitted to the pull wheel
34
due to the second one-way clutch
35
. On the other hand, treading of the pedal units
32
in the second or clockwise direction results in idle rotation of the axle
31
by virtue of the first and second one-way clutches
33
,
35
.
FIGS. 9 and 10
illustrate the dual-purpose exerciser of the present invention when operated in the rowing mode. After adjusting the position of the seat
20
, the user sits on the seat
20
with his feet placed on the footrests
117
. The user then pulls the pull handle
423
to unwind the pull rope
421
from the pull wheel
34
against biasing action of the elastic cord
422
, thereby driving rotation of the pull wheel
34
in the first or counterclockwise direction. Due to the second one-way clutch
35
, the drive wheel
36
will be driven to rotate in the first direction so that rotation of the drive wheel
36
is transmitted to the resistance wheel
37
through the drive belt
38
. When the pull handle
423
is released, the elastic cord
422
contracts to rotate the pull wheel
34
in the second or clockwise direction for winding the pull rope
421
on the pull wheel
34
. Due to the second one-way clutch
35
, rotation of the pull wheel
34
in the second direction is not transmitted to the drive wheel
36
.
While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.
Claims
- 1. A dual-purpose exerciser comprising:an elongate frame unit having a front frame section with front and rear ends, and a rear frame section with front and rear ends, said front end of said rear frame section being connected to said rear end of said front frame section; a seat mounted on said rear frame section; an axle mounted rotatably on said front frame section; a pair of pedal units, each of which has a crank arm coupled to a respective end of said axle, said pedal units being operable so as to drive axial rotation of said axle; a drive wheel; a first one-way clutch interconnecting said drive wheel and said axle such that rotation of said axle in a first direction results in corresponding rotation of said drive wheel in the first direction, and such that said axle is incapable of driving rotation of said drive wheel when said axle rotates in a second direction opposite to the first direction; a resistance wheel mounted rotatably on said front frame section; a drive belt trained on said drive wheel and said resistance wheel such that rotation of said drive wheel is transmitted to said resistance wheel; a pull wheel mounted rotatably on said axle; a second one-way clutch interconnecting said pull wheel and said drive wheel such that rotation of said pull wheel in the first direction results in corresponding rotation of said drive wheel in the first direction, and such that said pull wheel is incapable of driving rotation of said drive wheel when said pull wheel rotates in the second direction; a pull rope wound on said pull wheel and secured to said pull wheel at one end, wherein pulling of said pull rope to unwind said pull rope from said pull wheel drives rotation of said pull wheel in the first direction; and a restoring unit connected to said pull wheel for rotating said pull wheel in the second direction to wind said pull rope on said pull wheel when said pull rope is released.
- 2. The dual-purpose exerciser of claim 1, wherein said first one-way clutch includes an inner race secured to said axle, and an outer race secured to said drive wheel.
- 3. The dual-purpose exerciser of claim 1, wherein said second one-way clutch includes an inner race secured to said pull wheel and an outer race secured to said drive wheel.
- 4. The dual-purpose exerciser of claim 1, further comprising a pair of foot rests mounted on said rear end of said front frame section.
- 5. The dual-purpose exerciser of claim 1, wherein said front end of said rear frame section is connected foldably to said rear end of said front frame section.
- 6. The dual-purpose exerciser of claim 5, further comprising a fastener unit for fastening releasably said rear frame section to said front frame section at a selected one of unfolded and folded positions.
- 7. The dual-purpose exerciser of claim 1, wherein said seat is slidable along said rear frame section, and said dual-purpose exerciser further comprises a locking unit for locking realeasably said seat against sliding movement on said rear frame section.
- 8. The dual-purpose exerciser of claim 7, wherein said rear frame section has lateral sides formed with a pair of longitudinally extending rail grooves, respectively,said seat being formed with a pair of roller-mounting plates that flank said rear frame section, each of said roller-mounting plates being provided with a roller unit that engages a respective one of said rail grooves rollingly.
- 9. The dual-purpose exerciser of claim 8, wherein said locking unit includes a series of positioning holes formed in one of said rail grooves, and a fastener extending through one of said roller-mounting plates and into a selected one of said positioning holes.
- 10. The dual-purpose exerciser of claim 1, wherein said restoring unit includes a guide roller set mounted on said front frame section, and an elastic cord having a first end secured to said front frame section, a second end secured to said pull wheel, and an intermediate part between said first and second ends of said elastic cord and trained on said guide roller set.
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Date |
Kind |
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Lin |
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A |
5072929 |
Peterson et al. |
Dec 1991 |
A |
5961423 |
Sellers |
Oct 1999 |
A |
6080088 |
Petersen et al. |
Jun 2000 |
A |
6361479 |
Hildebrandt et al. |
Mar 2002 |
B1 |