EP2210647B1

EP2210647B1 - Swing handle arrangment for an exercise equipment

Info

Publication number: EP2210647B1
Application number: EP09151342A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Leao Wang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-01-26
Filing date: 2009-01-26
Publication date: 2012-08-29
Anticipated expiration: 2029-01-26
Also published as: EP2210647A1

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Fields of the Invention

The invention relates to a swing handle arrangement for an exercise equipment, and more particularly, to a structure through which a leg movement of the lower body and a waist-twisting movement of the upper body can be synchronically achieved.

2. Description of the Related Art

As well-known, the fitness apparatus used for training the legs, such as fitness bike, treadmills or elliptical cross trainers, etc. is provided with structure on which the operator's feet stand. Some of the above-mentioned apparatuses include additional coupled handles on which both hands of the operator hold. However, they can be held by both hand of the operator only for conducting a forward and backward swing action that simulates the movement of the extremities when people walk or run. In other words, the upper body of the operator such as abdominal muscle can not be trained at the same time.
In order to resolve the above-mentioned problem, another structure disclosed in US Pat. Appl. No. 2006/0293153 aims to achieve a synchronic stretching-forward effect of both hands (like the boxing action in the boxing game) when both feet of the operators conducts a treading movement.
The stretching-forward action of the upper limbs may achieve the training effect of the arm strength. However, it is not beneficial to the waist and abdominal muscles of the operator. When the operator requires the training of his waist and abdominal muscles, another fitness apparatuses must be used to fulfill his personal needs. As a result, the conventional apparatus requires further improvement.
EP 1 870 138 A1 of the applicant discloses pace-adjusting mechanism of an elliptical cross trainer including a swing handle arrangement. An electric adjusting mechanism is interposed between a U-shaped coupling rod and the frame unit of the cross trainer. However, a resistance load mechanism including two swingable load weights is not included but instead a disk flywheel. Furthermore, also the coupling of the pivotable handles with the pedal rods is different.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A primary object of the invention is to provide a swing handle arrangement for an exercise equipment that achieves the effect of training the legs at the lower body and at the same time the upper body of the operator by use of a single exercise equipment. It is a further object of the present invention to provide an exercise equipment including a swing handle arrange of the above kind.
The above object is achieved by a swing handle arrangement according to claim 1. Further advantageous embodiments are the subject-matter of the dependent claims.
In a swing handle arrangement according to the present invention through a synchronic coupled and swing movement of the upper and lower body of the operator the effect of twisting the waist and abdominal muscles of the upper body of the operator only by use of a single exercise equipment can be achieved to thereby train also the upper body when the legs at the lower body are exercised. In this way, an overall training and fitness effect is achieved, thereby increasing the application value and the body-building effect.
According to the invention, a swing handle arrangement for an exercise equipment includes a pair of drive rods driven by the pedal rods such that longitudinal drive gears fixed at the drive rods are cooperated with swing handles having the lateral drive gears for conducting a swing action. In this way, a waist-twisting movement of the upper body can be synchronically achieved when the operator holds the swing handles to take exercise at his feet of the lower body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accomplishment of this and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description and its accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a top view of the preferred embodiment of the invention according to FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a schematic drawing of the partial structure of the preferred embodiment of the invention according to FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a top view of the preferred embodiment of the invention according to FIG. 2 wherein the operation thereof is illustrated;
FIG. 5 is a top view of the preferred embodiment of the invention according to FIG. 2 wherein a continuous operation thereof is illustrated;
FIG. 6 is a side view of the preferred embodiment of the invention according to FIG. 4;
FIG. 7 is a side view of the preferred embodiment of the invention according to FIG. 5; and
FIG. 8 is a schematic drawing of the partial structure of another embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention will now be described in more detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings that show various embodiments of the invention.
A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 1 through 3 that is applied to an elliptical cross trainer. According thereto, the preferred embodiment of the invention includes a base frame 10, a resistance load mechanism 20, two drive rods 30, and two swing handles 40.
The base frame 10 includes a front ground-touching rod 11, a rear ground-touching rod 12, a front support 13, and two pedal rods 14. An electronic console 15 and a fixed type handle unit 16 are provided at the top of the front support 13. The fixed type handle units 16 are pivotally connected to the pedal rods 14 through suspension rods 17 and connection rods 18 at both sides of the front ground-touching rod 11.
The resistance load mechanism 20 includes two swingable load weights 21 and a synchronic drive gear set 22. Moreover, the load weights 21 are pivotally connected to the other end of the pedal rods 14, respectively, such that a coupled relationship is created.
The drive rods 30 are pivotally coupled to the pedal rods 14 through the transmission rods 31 to create a coupled relationship. The other end of the drive rods 30 is pivotally connected to a first cross shaft 191 of the front support 13. A longitudinal drive gear 32 is positioned at the top of the drive rods 30, respectively.
The swing handles 40 are formed in a bent shape and pivotally coupled to a second cross shaft 192 of the front support 13. The swing handles 40 further include a lateral drive gear 41 opposite to the longitudinal drive gear 32 such that a reliable engagement is achieved.
Based on the assembly of the above-mentioned components, as shown in FIGS. 4 through 7, a synchronic movement is achieved when the operator steps on the pedal rods 14 to make a to-and-fro movement or uses his both hands to push the swing handles 40 to swing to the right and left sides. Moreover, the load weights 21 provide a proper exercise resistance and an inertia swing force such that a waist-twisting movement of the upper body can be synchronically achieved when the operator holds the swing handles 40 to take exercise at his feet of the lower body.
The handle 42 of the swing handles 40 may be designed in a pivotally coupled state such that a practical adjustment to the twisting movement of the operator's wrist is ensured and an exercise injury is avoided.
FIG. 8 illustrates another embodiment of the invention. The longitudinal drive gear 32 of the drive rods 30 is cooperated with a single lateral drive gear 52 positioned at the bottom of the swing handles 50. In this way, the same exercise features and effects are achieved, too.
In summary the present invention relates to a swing handle arrangement for an exercise equipment having a pair of drive rods driven by the pedal rods such that longitudinal drive gears fixed at the drive rods are cooperated with swing handles having the lateral drive gears for conducting a swing action. In this way, a waist-twisting movement of the upper body can be synchronically achieved when the operator holds the swing handles to take exercise at his feet of the lower body.
Many changes and modifications in the above-described embodiments 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.

Claims

A swing handle arrangement for an exercise equipment, comprising:
a base frame (10) having a front ground-touching rod (11), a rear ground-touching rod (12), a front support (13), and two pedal rods (14), an electronic console (15) and a fixed type handle unit (16) fixed to the top of the front support (13), a first end of each of said pedal rods (14) being pivotally connected to said front ground-touching rod (11) through a respective suspension rod (17) and a respective connection rod (18) provided at both sides of the front ground-touching rod (11);

a resistance load mechanism (20) having two swingable load weights (21) and a synchronic drive gear set (22), the load weights being pivotally connected to second ends of the pedal rods (14) opposite to said first ends, respectively, such that a coupled relationship is created;

two drive rods (30) disposed at both sides of said front support (13), each first end of said drive rods (30) being pivotally coupled to an associated pedal rod (14) through a transmission rod (31) to create a coupled relationship between said pedal rods (14) and said drive rods (30), a second end of each drive rod (30) opposite to said first ends being pivotally connected to a first cross shaft (191) of the front support (13), a longitudinal drive gear (32) being positioned at the top of the drive rods (30), respectively; and

at least one swing handle (40; 50), each swing handle (40; 50) further having a lateral drive gear (41; 52) opposite to the longitudinal drive gear (32) such that a reliable engagement is achieved.
The swing handle arrangement as claimed in claim 1, having two swing handles (40) formed in a bent shape and pivotally coupled to a second cross shaft (192) of the front support (13).
The swing handle arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein each swing handle (40; 50) includes a handle (42; 52) coupled to said swing handle (40; 50).
An exercise equipment for training the legs of an operator, comprising a swing handle arrangement as claimed in any of the preceding claims through which a leg movement of the lower body of the operator and a waist-twisting movement of the upper body of the operator can be synchronically achieved