Patent Application
20160250513
The present invention relates generally to physical training machines, and in particular, exercise machines structured to facilitate rocking type of movements for exercising torso and leg muscles.
With the growing awareness of health problems caused by lack of exercise, the popularity of exercise machines has steadily increased. Typically, these machines are designed for movements of specific parts of the body. For example, stepping exercisers may be used to strengthen leg muscles. Existing stepping machines are usually based on springs or other expensive supporting components. Further, these components may require complicated manufacturing processes.
There is a continuing need for improvements on traditional exercise machines, such as stepping machines, which are not structured economically to facilitate effective exercising movements.
A rocker and a roller may be configured together via a torsion resistance mechanism to provide a space saving exercising device for supporting rocking/stepping type of exercising movements.
In one embodiment, an exercise machine can include a rocker frame movably coupled with a roller assembly via a torsion resistance mechanism. The roller assembly may be confined to a rolling motion on a floor via a rocking motion of the rocker frame. The rocker frame may include at least one arcuate rail to provide floor support for a rocking motion along a direction between two distal ends of the arcuate rail on a floor. One or more pedal control structures may be pivotally coupled with the rocker frame near each distal end of the arcuate rail to drive the rocking motion. In one embodiment, a torque force may be generated via the torsion resistance mechanism as a result of changes in relative positions between the rocker frame and the roller assembly. The force driving the rocking motion can be countered by the torque force to support exercising movements of a user exerting the force.
Other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.
The present invention is illustrated by way of examples and not limitations in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicate similar elements and in which:
In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth, such as examples of external surfaces, named components, connections between components, etc., in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known components or methods have not been described in detail but rather in a block diagram in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present invention. Further, specific numeric references such as first, second, third, etc., may be made. However, the specific numeric references should not be interpreted as a literal sequential order but rather interpreted as references to different objects. Thus, the specific details set forth herein are merely exemplary. The specific details may be varied from and still be contemplated to be within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection 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.
In one embodiment, exercising device 100 may be configured in a neutral position when no force is exercised on pedal control structures 105 (e.g. with rocker frame 101 and roller assembly 103 staying still without movements). Resistance force may be generated as rocker frame 101 rocks (e.g. to the left or to the right) to move roller assembly 103. The resistance force may counter the movement of roller assembly 103 induced by rocker frame 101. In other words, the rocking motion and rolling motion can cause the resistance force to balance the exercising force exerted by a user of exercise device 100.
A roller assembly, such as roller assembly 103 of
Leg structure 221 may include mid portion 225 between two distal ends thereon and one or more rolling members 211 rotably attached to each end of the leg structure to support the rolling motion of the roller assembly. Rolling member 211 may include a wheel or other rollable or slidable structures. The rocker frame may be rotably or pivotally coupled with mid portion 225 of leg structure 221 via coupling bar 203. In certain embodiments, leg structure 221 may be configured with a pair of legs directed towards two longitudinal distal ends to confine the rolling motion of the roller assembly via the rocker frame.
In one embodiment, a resistance mechanism (or torsion resistance mechanism) may include a resistance force provider, such as torsion bar 217, fixated with the rocker frame and the roller assembly at separate longitudinal positions (or engaging positions). The resistance force provider may be deformed (e.g. twisted) between the engaging positions to generate the torque force.
The resistance mechanism may include torsion bar 217 secured by torsion sleeve 223 and holder structures 215. Torsion sleeve 223 may be affixed to mid portion 225 of leg structure 221 of the roller assembly. Torsion bar 217 may be arranged fittingly through torsion sleeve 225.
In one embodiment, torsion bar 217 may be held fittingly at two distal ends via holder structures 215. Each holder structure 215 can be fixedly attached to bridge members 231 of the rocker frame. Holder structures 215 and torsion sleeve 223 can define separate engaging positions between torsion bar 217 with the rocker frame and the roller assembly. These engaging positions may be configured between two distal ends of torsion bar 217. Alternatively, two engaging positions may be defined at two distal ends of torsion bar 217 via holder structures 215.
In one embodiment, torsion bar 217 may comprise elastic or flexible material capable of force transmission and/or energy storage. For example, torsion bar 217 may be deformed (such as elongated, bent, twisted, stressed, pressed, decreased in diameter, etc.) to generate a torque force or other forces. In some embodiments, torsion bar 217 may be made of tendon material having viscoelastic structures exhibiting both elastic and viscous behavior.
Torsion bar 217 may be affixed between the roller assembly and the rocker frame transversely to generate a torque force or other applicable resistance force as a result of movements between the rocker frame and the roller assembly. For example, Torsion bar 217 may be associated with a torsion constant as a geometrical property of the bar's cross-section. The amount of torque force (or resistance force) generated around the axis of the bar may be related (e.g. substantially proportional linearly) to the angle of twist of the bar. The torsion constant, together with material properties and length can describes the bar's torsional stiffness.
In one embodiment, changes in relative positions between the roller assembly and the rocker frame (as the rocker frame rocks and the roller assembly rolls) can deform torsion bar 217 with a twisting angle to generate or cause a torque force or a resistance force which resists the changes. The torque force may counter a force driving the rocking motion of the rocker frame to support exercising movements of a user exerting the force. The amount of the torque force may be substantially linearly proportional to the size of the twisting angle between the rocker frame and the roller assembly) to effectively facilitate a user's exercising movements.
According to a certain embodiment, the cross section of torsion bar 217 may be shaped angularly to restrict or restrain torsion bar 217 from rotational movement at the engaging positions, such as within torsion sleeve 223 and holder structures 215. For example, the cross section of torsion bar 217 may be shaped in an angular form, such as a rectangle, a square, a diamond, an octagon or other applicable non-smooth shapes.
In one embodiment, a pedal control structure, such as pedal control structure 105 of
In one embodiment, the pedal control structure, such as pedal control structure 105 of
Alternatively, turning now to
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 to 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.
