Patent Application
20220288447
The present invention relates to an exercise machine, in particular, an exercise machine in which a user rotates an upper section in a circular path around a base section against a variable resistance.
Exercise equipment for home and gym use usually fall into two categories, i.e, strength training and cardiovascular training. In both cases, the amount of floor space required for the exercise machine is important considering the limited space typically available in a home or in a gym that includes a number of different exercise machines for different users and different purposes.
Strength oriented exercise machines typically simulate isolated barbell or dumbbell movements, such as arm curls, leg presses, pull-downs, etc., in which the user stands or sits in one position while perform the exercise. As such, these machines do not require much floor space.
Exercise machines intended to provide cardiovascular training typically simulate distance exercises such as running or walking, stair climbing, cross-country skiing, or rowing, while trying to minimizing the floor space typically needed to perform such exercises. Accordingly, such exercise machines may accommodate only one step or movement at a time. Also, exercise machines intended to provide cardiovascular training do not typically provide resistance, and instead rely on speed, time, and the user's bodyweight.
Some exercises, such as different types of “loaded carry” exercises, attempt to combine both strength and cardiovascular training. For example, exercises used in, or in training for, “strong-man” type competitions may involve pushing or pulling a weighted object over a distance. This may include pushing a heavy object, such as a weighted sled, with a handle, or pulling the object with a harness. Other examples include pushing, pulling, or flipping truck tires, or a “farmer's walk”, in which a person holds heavy weights while walking a distance. However, these exercises are not necessarily appropriate for indoor use without a significant amount of floor space, such as homes or most gyms.
It would be advantageous to provide an exercise machine for home or gym use that provides the benefits of loaded carries without requiring excessive floor space.
A rotational exercise machine according to various embodiments includes an upper section that can pushed around a base section by a user, such that the user is pushing the upper section along a circular path.
The upper section may include a back rest and handle on an arm that can be adjusted for comfort. The upper section may also include a handle frame with handles at different heights the user can select for comfort and/or to change the difficulty of the exercise.
The user may adjust the resistance against pushing the upper section about the base using a resistance adjustment knob. The knob in turn may be connected through a cable to a resistance module, for example, a magnetic shoe including a number of substantially equally spaced magnets. The spacing of the magnets, and hence the resistance provided against the user pushing the upper section about the base, may be adjusted by the resistance adjustment knob.
The resistance of the magnetic shoe may be regulated using one or more gearing mechanisms to translate the number of revolutions of the upper section about the base section to a slower rotation of the magnetic shoe.
Other means of resistance are contemplated below.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and constitute part of this specification, illustrate exemplary aspects of the claims, and together with the general description given above and the detailed description given below, serve to explain the features of the claims.
Various aspects will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. References made to particular examples and implementations are for illustrative purposes, and are not intended to limit the scope of the claims.
The push handle frame 108 may be attached to the back of the back of a backrest support frame 114, which supports an optionally padded backrest 116. Both the backrest support frame and arm 112 may be connected to a side of the upper section 104.
The user may also select to push the upper section 104 without back support using one of the push handles 106 on the push handle frame 108. The user can select a push handle appropriate to the user's height, or change heights to vary the difficulty of the exercise.
The user may also change the difficulty of the exercise by changing his or her pace, or by adjusting the resistance of the exercise machine 100.
In an embodiment, the resistance provided by the exercise machine may be provided by a series of substantially equally spaced magnets 600 arranged in a two-piece circular magnetic shoe 602, as shown in
The magnetic shoe 602 may be housed in a fly wheel 606.
The resistance may be adjusted using a resistance adjustment knob 700, which may be provided at the end of arm 112, as shown in
Depending on the strength of the magnets, it may be desirable to regulate the resistance provided by the magnets. A gearing mechanism may be used to translate the number of revolutions performed by the user to a slower revolution of the magnetic shoe. In an embodiment, the gearing ratio may be 1:32, i.e., 32 rotations of the upper portion to one rotation of the magnetic shoe. This may be accomplished by using one or more gearing mechanisms.
As shown in the sectional view of
As shown in
Although various construction methods and materials have been described with respect to the various components of one preferred embodiment of the invention, many other materials and construction methods would be acceptable taking into consideration functional and structural considerations. For example, variable resistance to pushing the upper section may be provided by mechanisms including one or more of friction or braking elements, ratchet-and-pawl mechanisms, springs, pulleys, belts, etc.
The preceding description of the disclosed aspects is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make, implement, or use the claims. Various modifications to these aspects will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other aspects without departing from the scope of the claims. Thus, the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the aspects illustrated herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the claims disclosed herein.
