Patent Application
20090293227
1. Fields of the Invention
The invention relates to a universal-joint roller for an exercise apparatus, and more particularly, to a structure for facilitating the movement of the exercise apparatus in all directions, thereby achieving the expected convenience and practicalness.
2. Description of the Related Art
As we all know, most of the indoor fitness equipment (such as electric treadmills, fitness bikes, elliptical motion machines, rowing exercisers, stepping exercisers, weightlifting sets, etc.) are made of metal material. They usually have huge volume and therefore have great weight. It must take up great effort when an operator moves or turns them. In order to avoid the above-mentioned problem, at least one wheel assembly 60 is installed at a ground-touching support foot (see
The conventional wheel assembly 60 includes a wheel shaft 61. Therefore, this conventional product is only suitable for the forward and backward movement of the wheel rather than for the turning movement. The problem of the turning movement can be resolved by a pivotal structure. However, the huge weight of the exercise apparatus must cause the operator difficulties and inconvenience in moving it.
An object of the invention is to provide a universal-joint roller without a wheel shaft to conduct the movement in all directions, thereby ensuring a labor saving, smooth, and convenient effect.
According to the invention, a universal-joint roller for an exercise apparatus includes a main body, a ball roller, and an arresting ring. The main body has a connecting bar at one end thereof and a receiving portion at the other end thereof. Three layers of ball grooves are disposed within the receiving portion for receiving several balls in certain position to enclose the circumference of the ball roller. Thereafter, the ball roller is received by the hollow arresting ring in position such that the ball roller is exposed from the arresting ring to achieve an expected rolling movement in all directions.
The accomplishment of this and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description and its accompanying drawings of which:
The present invention will now be described in more detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings that show various embodiments of the invention.
Referring to
The main body 10 has a connecting bar 11 at one end thereof for attaching to a certain support foot of an exercise apparatus and a receiving portion 12 at the other end thereof. A first-layer ball groove 13, a second-layer ball groove 14, and a third-layer ball groove 15 are disposed within the receiving portion 12 for receiving first-layer balls 16, second-layer balls 17, and third-layer balls 18 in a certain amount as well as in certain position to enclose the circumference of the ball roller 20
The ball roller 20 is formed in a ball shape and received within the receiving portion 12 of the main body 10.
The arresting ring 30 is formed in a ring shape and attached to the main body 10 for locking the ball roller 20 in place. A third-layer ball groove 31 is formed at a position opposing to the third-layer ball groove 15 of the main body 10 for working together to receive and lock the third-layer balls 18 in position.
Based on the assembly of the above-mentioned components, the ball roller 20 can be exposed from the arresting ring 30 to achieve an expected rolling movement in all directions.
The assembly of the above-mentioned components is illustrated in
Referring to
Many changes and modifications in the above-described embodiment of the invention can, of course, be carried out without departing from the scope thereof. Accordingly, to promote the progress in science and the useful arts, the invention is disclosed and is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.
