The present disclosure relates to handles for use with an exercise apparatus, and more particularly to handles that move with pedals.
The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
In certain elliptical step type exercise machines arm handles are connected to the machine's pedals such that the handles move in synchronism with the pedals to provide a total body workout. When connected for motion with the pedals, the handles generally travel back and forth along an arcuate path as the pedals move. However, in some cases this motion of the handles can be bothersome or distracting to a user when he does not desire to use the moving handles.
One approach to this problem has been to provide a mechanism to allow the user to selectively fix the handles to the frame of the apparatus to prevent movement of the handles. Examples of this approach are provide by the Star Trac Elite Cross Trainer and as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,846,272.
The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features.
The right foot pedal assembly 14 and the handle assembly 22 will be described in detail with the understanding that the description applies equally to the left foot pedal assembly 16 and the handle assembly 24. The right foot pedal assembly 14 includes a first and a second end 36 and 38 and a foot pedal 40 located therebetween. The first end 36 is coupled to the resistance mechanism 28. In this case the right rocker 18 includes an elongate portion 42 having a first and a second end 44 and 46. The first end 44 of the rocker 18 is rotatably coupled to the second end 38 of the right foot pedal assembly 14 and the second end 46 is rotatably coupled to the pivot axel 34 at a point 48. In this type of machine 10 the foot pedal assemblies 14 and 16 will move in an elliptical path. For purposes of describing the handle assemblies, the term rocker is used herein to represent at least one mechanical link between a foot pedal and an arm handle and could apply, for example, to a member in climber mechanism that forms part of a mechanical link between a reciprocating pedal and an arm handle that pivots on a portion of the frame of the climber so as to move in synchronism with the foot pedal.
The handle assembly 22 includes a handle member 58 and an actuator 60. In this arrangement, the handle member 58 includes a portion 62 that is substantially linear which is slidably engaged with the guide bushings 54 and 56 along with a handgrip 64 secured to its upper end. Preferably the actuator 60 is mounted between the mounting brackets 50 and 52 having the linear portion 62 of the handle member 58 passing therethrough. As a result, the actuator 60 can be used to essentially retract the handle member 58 thus reducing the upward extent of the handle member 58 and handgrip 64 relative to pivot point 48. The actuator 60 can be a linear actuator or any one of a number of well known electrical, mechanical or hydraulic devices capable moving a linear member.
The handle member 158 includes a substantially linear portion 162 and can include a handgrip 164 secured to the upper end of the portion 162. In this example of the preferred embodiment, the actuation mechanism 160 includes a handle receptacle 166, in this case configured as a cylindrical housing, along with a first actuator 168 and a second actuator 170. Here, the receptacle 166 has its first or upper end 172 pivotally coupled to the rocker 118 at the pivot point 148. A second or lower portion 174 of the receptacle 166 can be coupled to rocker 118 through the first actuator 168. In this embodiment, the first actuator 168 includes a first end portion 176 pivotally coupled to rocker 118 and a second end portion 178 pivotally coupled to the receptacle 166. Here, the first actuator 168 is linearly extendable and retractable, so as to cause lateral rotation of the receptacle 166 and hence the handle member 158 thereby effectively moving the upper portion of the handle member 158 containing the handgrip 164 latterly away from the body portion 12. Although the receptacle 166 is shown as an enclosed cylinder in the preferred embodiment, it need only provide enough structure to provide support for the first actuator 168 and need not be an enclosed housing.
In addition or alternatively, the portion 162 of the handle member 158 can be configured to be slidably disposed within the receptacle 166. The second actuator 170 can in one embodiment be located near the first or upper end 172 of the receptacle and can operate to advance and retract the handle member 158 thereby varying the radially outward extent of the handle member 158 in a similar manner to the arrangement shown in
A portion 262 of a handle member 258 can be configured to be slidably disposed within a receptacle 266. The second actuator 270 can be located on the receptacle 266 near a lower portion 274 and can operate to advance and retract the handle member 258 thereby varying the radially outward extent of the handle member 258 in a similar manner to the arrangement shown in
It will be appreciated that the disclosure describes the preferred embodiment of two mechanisms 22 and 122 that allow for the physical adjustment of handles, but various modifications might be desirable based on various criteria including the nature, type and configuration of the exercise apparatus along with variations in components such as locking mechanisms and actuators.