1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an elliptical machine, more particularly to an elliptical machine that permits twisting movements of an upper body of a user.
2. Description of the Related Art
As shown in
The machine body 11 includes a support base 111, and an upright structure 112 extending upwardly from the support base 111. The transmission unit 12 is mounted rotatably to the support base 111, and is rotatable about a reference axis 15. The transmission unit 12 is disposed on a virtual vertical plane 16, which is perpendicular to the reference axis 15.
The handle unit 13 includes a rotary shaft 131 mounted rotatably on the upright structure 112, and left and right handles 133, 134 disposed on two opposite ends of the rotary shaft 131. The rotary shaft 131 has a rotation axis 135 that is parallel to the reference axis 15.
The pedal unit 14 includes a left pedal rod 141 and a right pedal rod 142. Each of the left and right pedal rods 141, 142 is pivoted to a respective one of the left and right handles 133, 134 at one end, and is pivoted to the transmission unit 12 at the other end. The left and right pedal rods 141, 142 are respectively disposed on two opposite sides of the virtual vertical plane 16. Foot plates 1411, 1421 of the left and right pedal rods 141, 142 respectively move along vertical elliptical paths that extend in planes parallel to the virtual vertical plane 16.
The left and right pedal rods 141, 142 of the conventional elliptical machine 1 can allow a user's feet to move along the vertical elliptical paths so as to achieve the effects of exercise. However, since the rotation axis 135 of the rotary shaft 131 is parallel to the reference axis 15, and since the handle unit 13, the pedal unit 14, and the transmission unit 12 are pivoted to each other using simple pivot connections, the left and right pedal rods 141, 142 merely swing back and forth along the vertical elliptical paths. Consequently, the amount of exercise the user obtains from using the conventional elliptical machine 1 is limited. That is, only a small number of the muscles on the upper and lower legs are exercised, and only a minimal exertion is required by the user in exercising these muscles
Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide an elliptical machine that provides better exercise to the user as compared to the prior art.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an elliptical machine that includes a machine body, a transmission unit, a swing unit, and a pedal unit.
The machine body includes a first support structure, and a second support structure extending upwardly from the first support structure.
The transmission unit includes left and right cranks mounted rotatably to the first support structure and rotatable about a substantially horizontal first rotation axis.
The swing unit includes left and right rotary shafts, and left and right handles. The left and right rotary shafts are mounted rotatably and respectively to two opposite sides of the second support structure. Each of the left and right handles has an intermediate part mounted to a respective one of the left and right rotary shafts. The left and right rotary shafts are respectively rotatable about substantially horizontal second and third rotation axes, each of which is inclined to a line parallel to the first rotation axis.
The pedal unit includes left and right pedal rods, each of which is connected rotatably to a respective one of the left and right handles and a respective one of the left and right cranks.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an elliptical machine that includes a machine body, left and right cranks, a swing unit, and left and right pedal rods.
The machine body includes a first support structure having front and rear ends, and a second support structure extending upwardly from the first support structure.
The left and right cranks are mounted rotatably to the first support structure on two opposite sides of an imaginary vertical plane, which extends in a front-to-rear direction.
The swing unit includes left and right rotary shafts, and left and right handles. The left and right rotary shafts are mounted rotatably to two opposite sides of the second support structure on the opposite sides of the imaginary vertical plane. Each of the left and right handles has an intermediate part mounted to a respective one of the left and right rotary shafts.
Each of the left and right pedal rods is connected to a respective one of the left and right handles and a respective one of the left and right cranks. The left and right pedal rods respectively have left and right foot plates thereon. The left foot plate is movable along a left elliptical path that has a forward portion extending to a right side of the imaginary vertical plane and a rear portion extending at a left side of the imaginary vertical plane. The right foot plate is movable along a right elliptical path that has a forward portion extending to the left side of the imaginary vertical plane, and a rear portion extending at the right side of the imaginary vertical plane.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an elliptical machine that includes a machine body, left and right cranks, a swing unit, and left and right pedal rods.
The machine body includes a first support structure, and a second support structure extending upwardly from the first support structure.
The left and right cranks are mounted rotatably to the first support structure.
The swing unit includes left and right rotary shafts mounted rotatably and respectively to two opposite sides of the second support structure, and left and right handles, each of which has an intermediate part mounted to a respective one of the left and right rotary shafts.
Each of the left and right pedal rods is connected to a respective one of the left and right handles and a respective one of the left and right cranks. The left pedal rod moves rightward and forward and the right pedal rod moves rightward and rearward when the left handle moves leftward and rearward and when the right handle moves leftward and forward. The left pedal rod moves leftward and rearward and the right pedal rod moves leftward and forward when the left handle moves rightward and forward and when the right handle moves rightward and rearward.
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;
As shown in
The machine body 2 includes a first support structure 21, and a second support structure 22 extending upwardly from the first support structure 21. In this embodiment, the first support structure 21 has front and rear ends, and the second support structure 22 is disposed proximate to the front end of the first support structure 21. The transmission unit 3 includes a drive wheel 31 that is mounted rotatably to a rear portion of the first support structure 21, left and right cranks 32, 33 that are respectively connected to left and right sides of the drive wheel 31, a flywheel 34 that is mounted rotatably to the first support structure 21, and a transmission belt 35 that interconnects the drive wheel 31 and the flywheel 34. The left and right cranks 32, 33 are rotatable along with the drive wheel 31 and about a substantially horizontal first rotation axis 311. The first rotation axis 311 is perpendicular to an imaginary vertical plane 6 (see
The swing unit 4 includes left and right rotary shafts 41, 42, and left and right handles 43, 44. The left and right rotary shafts 41, 42 are mounted rotatably and respectively to two opposite sides of the second support structure 22. Each of the left and right handles 43, 44 has an intermediate part that is mounted to a respective one of the left and right rotary shafts 41, 42. The left and right rotary shafts 41, 42 are respectively rotatable about substantially horizontal second and third rotation axes 411, 421. Each of the second and third rotation axes 411, 421 is inclined to a line parallel to the first rotation axis 311. In other words, the left rotary shaft 41 extends leftward and forward from the second support structure 22, and the right rotary shaft 42 extends rightward and forward from the second support structure 22. In addition, the left and right rotary shafts 41, 42 are disposed symmetrically relative to the imaginary vertical plane 6. The left and right handles 43, 44 are respectively disposed on the two opposite sides of the imaginary vertical plane 6. Each of the left and right handles 43, 44 has an upper grip section 432, 442 extending upwardly from the intermediate part, and a lower section 431, 441 extending downwardly from the intermediate part.
The pedal unit 5 includes left and right pedal rods 51, 52, each of which is connected rotatably to a respective one of the left and right handles 43, 44 and a respective one of the left and right cranks 32, 33.
The left and right pedal rods 51, 52 are disposed on the two opposite sides of the imaginary vertical plane 6, respectively. Each of the left and right pedal rods 51, 52 includes a rod body 511, 521 having a foot plate 519, 529 formed thereon. A user places his or her feet respectively on the foot plates 519, 529. The pedal unit 5 further includes two universal connectors 512, 522, and two universal couplers 513, 523.
Each of the universal connectors 512, 522 connects a respective one of the left and right pedal rods 51, 52 to the respective one of the left and right handles 43, 44. Each of the universal connectors 512, 522 has first, second and third pivot axes 531, 532, 530 that are perpendicular to each other. Each of the left and right pedal rods 51, 52 is turnable about the first, second and third pivot axes 531, 532, 530 so as to rotate relative to the respective one of the left and right handles 43, 44. In particular, each of the universal connectors 512, 522 includes a pedal pivot block 514, 524 pivoted to a forward end of the respective one of the left and right pedal rods 51, 52 about the first pivot axis 531, a handle pivot block 515, 525 pivoted to a bottom end of the lower section 431, 441 of the respective one of the left and right handles 43, 44 about the second pivot axis 532, and a bridge block 516, 526 connected between the respective pedal pivot block 514, 524 and the respective handle pivot block 515, 525. Each of the bridge block 516, 526 is rotatable relative to the pedal pivot block 514, 524 about the respective third pivot axis 530.
Each of the universal couplers 513, 523 connects a respective one of the left and right pedal rods 51, 52 to the respective one of the left and right cranks 32, 33. Each of the universal couplers 513, 523 has fourth and fifth pivot axes 533, 534 that are perpendicular to each other. In particular, each of the universal couplers 513, 523 includes a pedal pivot portion 517, 527 pivoted to a rear end of the rod body 511, 521 of the respective one of the left and right pedal rods 51, 52 about the respective fourth pivot axis 533, and a crank pivot portion 518, 528 pivoted to the respective one of the left and right cranks 32, 33 about the respective fifth pivot axis 534.
Referring to
The elliptical machine is operable between a first waist-twisting position (see
In operation, when the left hand of the user moves the left handle 43 leftward and rearward, the left pedal rod 51 is moved rightward and forward, bringing the left foot of the user rightward and forward. When the right hand of the user moves the right handle 44 leftward and forward, the right pedal rod 52 is moved rightward and rearward, bringing the right foot of the user rightward and rearward. Therefore, when the elliptical machine is disposed at the first waist-twisting position, the upper body of the user is forced to face left, while the lower body of the user is moved right, resulting in a waist twisting gesture.
When the left hand of the user moves the left handle 43 rightward and forward, the left pedal rod 51 is moved leftward and rearward, bringing the left foot of the user leftward and rearward. When the right hand of the user moves the right handle 44 rightward and rearward, the right pedal rod 52 is moved leftward and forward, bringing the right foot of the user leftward and forward. Therefore, when the elliptical machine is disposed at the second waist-twisting position, the upper body of the user is forced to face right, while the lower body of the user is moved left, resulting in another waist twisting gesture.
The elliptical machine according to the present invention not only provides a back and forth movement to the user, but since the second and third rotation axes 411, 421 of the left and right rotary shafts 41, 42 are inclined to the first rotation axis 311, the elliptical machine is also capable of providing leftward and rightward movement to the user. Consequently, other than exercising both the inner and outer muscles of the upper and lower legs, muscles around the waist also get exercised. Furthermore, a significant amount of exertion is required by the user in exercising these muscles.
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 and equivalent arrangements.