Patent Grant
9750972
The entire contents of Taiwan Patent Application No. 105111272, filed on Apr. 11, 2016, from which this application claims priority, are expressly incorporated herein by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a rowing machine, and more particularly relates to a rowing machine having a folding mechanism.
2. Description of Related Art
An indoor rower or rowing machine is a machine used to simulate the action of watercraft rowing for the purpose of exercise or training for rowing.
Modern indoor rowers are often known as ergometers, which are devices measuring the amount of work performed. The indoor rower is calibrated to measure the amount of energy that the rower is using through the equipment.
The rowers may be folded for saving the space. For example, a Taiwan patent, publication number 320970, discloses a rower that includes a sliding structure and a front frame. The sliding structure pivotally couples with the front frame. When the sliding structure and the front frame are spread to an operable position, the rower can be used for simulating the action of watercraft rowing. A knob with a screw is used to fix the sliding structure with a first threaded hole so as to fasten the sliding structure at the operable position. The knob with the screw is needed to be detached from the first threaded hole and screwed to a second threaded hole so as to fasten the sliding structure at a storage position.
The conventional rower has disadvantages that the fixing by the knob with the screw may be not sufficient strong and the folding procedure is complicated and time-consuming.
In one general aspect, the present invention relates to a rowing machine having a folding mechanism.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a folding mechanism of a rowing machine is provided with a first frame, a second frame, a saddle member, and a control member. A front end of the second frame has a guiding portion that comprises an operation cut and a storage cut. The saddle member fixes with a rear end of the first fame and straddles on a rear end of the first frame. The saddle member has a slot. The first frame pivotally connects with the second frame via a pivot of the saddle member. The control member is arranged below the first frame, a rear end of the control member having a rod. When the first frame and the second frame are spread, the rod is within the operation cut and passes through the slot of the guiding portion. When a force is exerted on the control member to make the rod leaving the operation cut and sliding into the storage cut, the second frame is folded to a storage position.
In an embodiment, when the second frame is folded to the storage position, the rod is within the storage cut and passes through the slot of the guiding portion; and when a force is exerted on the control member to make the rod leaving the storage cut and sliding into the operation cut, the second frame is spread to the working position.
In an embodiment, the folding mechanism further comprises a spool arranged below the first frame, wherein the control member can rotate around the spool.
In an embodiment, the folding mechanism further comprises a torsion spring, wherein the spool passes through the torsion spring, and the torsion spring includes a first end coupling a bottom of the first frame and a second end coupling the control member.
In an embodiment, the slot of the guiding portion includes an upper end and a lower end, and when the first frame and the second frame are spread to be parallel with each other, the rod of the control member is within the upper end of the slot and is within the operation cut.
In an embodiment, when the second frame is folded to be perpendicular to the first frame, the rod of the control member is within the upper end of the slot and is within the storage cut.
In an embodiment, when the first frame and the second frame are spread to be parallel with each other, the guider portion of the second frame is within the first frame.
In an embodiment, the folding mechanism further comprises a seat movably mounted on a track of the second frame and being capable moved forward and backward along the track.
In an embodiment, the guiding portion is arc-shaped.
Embodiments of the invention are now described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, instances of which are to be interpreted to be to scale in some implementations while in other implementations, for each instance, not. In certain aspects, use of like or the same reference designators in the drawings and description refers to the same, similar or analogous components and/or elements, while according to other implementations the same use should not. According to certain implementations, use of directional terms, such as, top, bottom, left, right, up, down, over, above, below, beneath, rear, front, clockwise, and counterclockwise, are to be construed literally, while in other implementations the same use should not. While the invention will be described in conjunction with these specific embodiments, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to these embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. The present invention may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, well-known process operations and components are not described in detail in order not to unnecessarily obscure the present invention. While drawings are illustrated in detail, it is appreciated that the quantity of the disclosed components may be greater or less than that disclosed, except where expressly restricting the amount of the components.
Referring to
When operating, the user sits on the seat 111 with his or her feet stepping on the pedals 16 and hands holding the handle 12. When the belt is pulled out by the user's hands via the handle 12, the seat 111 is moved backward along the track 115 of the second frame 11. In addition, a homing element (not shown) is capable of pulling the handle 12 via the belt (not shown) to its original position. When the handle 12 is drawn back to its original position, the belt pulls the user moving forward and thus pulls the seat 111 moving forward along the track 115.
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Accordingly, the present invention provides a rowing machine having a folding mechanism to fold the rowing machine in a convenient, fast, and precise manner.
The intent accompanying this disclosure is to have each/all embodiments construed in conjunction with the knowledge of one skilled in the art to cover all modifications, variations, combinations, permutations, omissions, substitutions, alternatives, and equivalents of the embodiments, to the extent not mutually exclusive, as may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention. Corresponding or related structure and methods disclosed or referenced herein, and/or in any and all co-pending, abandoned or patented application(s) by any of the named inventor(s) or assignee(s) of this application and invention, are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties, wherein such incorporation includes corresponding or related structure (and modifications thereof) which may be, in whole or in part, (i) operable and/or constructed with, (ii) modified by one skilled in the art to be operable and/or constructed with, and/or (iii) implemented/made/used with or in combination with, any part(s) of the present invention according to this disclosure, that of the application and references cited therein, and the knowledge and judgment of one skilled in the art.
Conditional language, such as, among others, “can,” “could,” “might,” or “may,” unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that embodiments include, and in other interpretations do not include, certain features, elements and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements and/or steps are in any way required for one or more embodiments, or interpretations thereof, or that one or more embodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without user input or prompting, whether these features, elements and/or steps are included or are to be performed in any particular embodiment.
All of the contents of the preceding documents are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Although the disclosure herein refers to certain illustrated embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments have been presented by way of example rather than limitation. For example, any of the particulars or features set out or referenced herein, or other features, including method steps and techniques, may be used with any other structure(s) and process described or referenced herein, in whole or in part, in any combination or permutation as a non-equivalent, separate, non-interchangeable aspect of this invention. Corresponding or related structure and methods specifically contemplated and disclosed herein as part of this invention, to the extent not mutually inconsistent as will be apparent from the context, this specification, and the knowledge of one skilled in the art, including, modifications thereto, which may be, in whole or in part, (i) operable and/or constructed with, (ii) modified by one skilled in the art to be operable and/or constructed with, and/or (iii) implemented/made/used with or in combination with, any parts of the present invention according to this disclosure, include: (I) any one or more parts of the above disclosed or referenced structure and methods and/or (II) subject matter of any one or more of the inventive concepts set forth herein and parts thereof, in any permutation and/or combination, include the subject matter of any one or more of the mentioned features and aspects, in any permutation and/or combination.
Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention, which is intended to be limited solely by the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 105111272 A | Apr 2016 | TW | national |
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8062238 | Lindblad | Nov 2011 | B2 |
| 9365230 | Cheng | Jun 2016 | B2 |
| 20130144223 | Hewitt | Jun 2013 | A1 |
