US20070161467A1

US20070161467A1 - Foldable exerciser

Info

Publication number: US20070161467A1
Application number: US11/328,412
Authority: US
Inventors: Lung-Huei Lee
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-01-10
Filing date: 2006-01-10
Publication date: 2007-07-12

Abstract

A foldable exerciser includes a main frame and a prop member disposed to stand on a ground surface, a saddle mounting frame having a pivot end pivotally connected to the main frame and a saddle mounting segment for mounting a saddle, an operating unit having a fulcrum pivotally connected to the main frame, and weight and force ends at two sides of the fulcrum, and a coupler having an end coupled to the saddle mounting frame, and an opposite end detachably coupled to the weight end such that a pivoting movement of the force end results in turning of the saddle forwardly and upwardly for simulating a horse-riding action. The operating unit and the saddle mounting frame can be folded toward the main frame when the coupler is disengaged from the weight end.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a foldable exerciser, more particularly to a foldable exerciser which can simulate a horse-riding action and which can be folded and unfolded conveniently.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/152,159, the applicant disclosed a foldable exerciser that includes an elongated main frame 11, a prop member 12, a pedaling unit 14, an operating unit 15, a saddle unit 16, and a saddle supporting unit 17.
The main frame 11 has a bottom end 111 disposed to sit on a ground surface, a top end 112 opposite to the bottom end 111, and a middle portion 113 interposed therebetween. The prop member 12 has an end pivotally connected to the middle portion 113, and an intermediate portion coupled to the main frame 11 by virtue of an elbow joint member 13 so as to be displaceable between straddle and folded positions relative to the main frame 11. The pedaling unit 14 is mounted on the intermediate portion of the prop member 12, and includes a pair of cranked pedals 141 for performing a pedaling exercise. The operating unit 15 includes an upper segment 151, a lower segment 152, an interconnecting segment 153 pivotally connected to the top end 112 to interconnect the upper and lower segment 151,152, and two handlebars 154 mounted on the upper segment 151. The saddle unit 16 includes a saddle mounting frame 161 having an end pivotally connected to the main frame 11, and a saddle 162 mounted on the saddle mounting frame 161. The saddle support unit 17 includes a supporting bar 171 having an end pivotally connected to the main frame 11 adjacent to the bottom end 111, and an opposite end provided with a roller 172 rollable on a bottom surface of the saddle mounting frame 161, a pulley 174 mounted on the supporting bar 171, and a rope 175 extending around the pulley 174 and secured to the lower segment 152.
In use, the foldable exerciser can be operated as a stationary exercise bicycle or a horse-riding exerciser. When the exerciser is to be folded, a plurality of pins 18 have to be detached therefrom, thereby causing inconvenience to the user. In addition, as the rope 175 is subjected to a relatively large force during the horse-riding exercise, wearing of the rope 175 may result after prolonged use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a foldable exerciser which has a simple and robust coupling structure and which can be folded and unfolded conveniently.
According to this invention, the foldable exerciser includes an elongated main frame having top and bottom ends opposite to each other, and a middle portion interposed therebetween, and a prop member having a rest end and a propping end opposite to each other, and an intermediate portion interposed therebetween. The propping end is pivotally connected to the middle portion about a first axis such that the rest end is pivotable between straddle and folded positions, where the rest end is remote from and closer to the bottom end, respectively, and such that in the straddle position, the bottom and rest ends are disposed to sit on a ground surface while the top end is disposed upwardly and forwardly of the bottom end. A saddle mounting frame includes a front pivot end which is pivotally connected to the middle portion about a second axis parallel to the first axis and between the top and propping ends, an arm segment which extends from the front pivot end in a radial direction relative to the second axis to terminate at a juncture, and a saddle mounting segment which extends rearwardly from the juncture such that the juncture is turnable about the second axis between proximate and distal positions relative to the top end. A saddle is mounted on the saddle mounting segment. An operating unit includes a fulcrum which is pivotally connected to the top end about a third axis parallel to the first axis, and a force end and a weight end at two sides of the fulcrum. An upper coupler has a first coupled end which is coupled to the juncture, and a second coupled end which is detachably coupled to the weight end such that in the straddle position, a rearward pivoting movement of the force end about the third axis toward the saddle mounting segment results in turning of the juncture from the distal position to the proximate position so as to move the saddle mounting segment forward for simulating a horse-riding action, and such that the second coupled end is disposed to be turnable relative to the juncture between an engaging position, where the second coupled end is retained with the weight end to thereby result in the rearward pivoting movement, and a disengaging position, where the second coupled end is disengaged from the weight end.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a foldable exerciser of the aforesaid co-pending U.S. patent application;
FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the foldable exerciser of FIG. 1 in a straddle position;
FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of the foldable exerciser of FIG. 1 in a folded position;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a foldable exerciser according to this invention;
FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of the preferred embodiment in a straddle state;
FIG. 6 is a schematic side view of the preferred embodiment in a horse-riding simulating state; and
FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of the preferred embodiment in a folded state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the preferred embodiment of a foldable exerciser according to the present invention is shown to comprise an elongated main frame 20, a prop member 30, a saddle unit 60, an operating unit 50, an upper coupler 63, a pedaling unit 40, and a reinforcing unit 70.
The main frame 20 has top and bottom ends 21,22 opposite to each other, and a middle portion 23 interposed therebetween. In this embodiment, the main frame 20 includes two elongated side bars 24 spaced apart from each other, and a crossbar 25 disposed between the side bars 24 at the middle portion 23.
The prop member 30 has a rest end 33 and a propping end 31 opposite to each other, and an intermediate portion 35 interposed therebetween. The propping end 31 is pivotally connected to the middle portion 23 about a first axis between the side bars 24 such that the rest end 33 is pivotable about the first axis between a straddle position, where the rest end 33 is remote from the bottom end 21, and a folded position, where the rest end 33 is closer to the bottom end 21, and such that in the straddle position, as shown in FIG. 5, the bottom and rest ends 21,33 are disposed to sit on a ground surface while the top end 22 is disposed upwardly and forwardly of the bottom end 21.
A restricting unit includes a mounting plate 27 which is secured between the side bars 24 adjacent to the propping end 31 of the prop member 30, and a lock pin 26 in the form of a screw bolt which is mounted on the mounting plate 27 and which is extendable relative to the mounting plate 27 in a radial direction relative to the first axis. The propping end 31 has a locking hole 311 which extends towards the first axis, and which is configured to receive the lock pin 26 when the lock pin 26 is extended so as to arrest the prop member 30 in one of the straddle and folded positions.
The saddle unit 60 includes a saddle mounting frame 61 and a saddle 62. The saddle mounting frame 61 includes a front pivot end 611 which is disposed between and which extends transverse to the side bars 24 and which is pivotally connected to the middle portion 23 about a second axis parallel to the first axis and between the top and propping ends 22,31, an arm segment 612 which extends upwardly and rearwardly from the front pivot end 611 in a radial direction relative to the second axis to terminate at a juncture 613, and a saddle mounting segment 614 which extends rearwardly from the juncture 613. Thus, the juncture 613 is turnable about the second axis between proximate and distal positions relative to the top end 22. The saddle 62 is mounted on the saddle mounting segment 614, and is adjustable relative thereto by means of a fastening bolt 621.
The operating unit 50 includes a fulcrum 53 which is disposed between and which extends transverse to the side bars 24 and which is pivotally connected to the top end 22 about a third axis parallel to the first axis, a force end 51 and a weight end 52 at two sides of the fulcrum 53, and two handlebars 54 which are mounted on two opposite sides of the force end 51. The force end 51 is adjustable relative to the weight end 52 along a length thereof by means of a fastening bolt 55.
The upper coupler 63 has a first coupled end 633 which is coupled to the juncture 613, and a second coupled end 631 which anchors the weight end 52 such that when the prop member 40 is in the straddle position, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a rearward pivoting movement of the force end 51 about the third axis toward the saddle mounting segment 614 results in turning of the juncture 613 from the distal position to the proximate position so as to move the saddle mounting segment 614 forward for simulating a horse-riding action.
Moreover, the second coupled end 631 of the upper coupler 63 is disposed to be turnable relative to the juncture 633 between an engaging position, as shown in FIG. 6, where the second coupled end 631 is retained with the weight end 52 to thereby result in the rearward pivoting movement, and a disengaging position, as shown in FIG. 7, where the second coupled end 631 is disengaged from the weight end 52 so as to permit collapsing of the saddle unit 60 and the operating unit 50.
The pedaling unit 40 is mounted on the intermediate portion 35 of the prop member 30, and includes a pair of cranks 42 which are journalled on the intermediate portion 35 about a fourth axis parallel to the first axis, a pair of pedals 41 which are connected to opposite ends of the cranks 42, respectively, for treading by a user, and a resistance mechanism 43 which surrounds the fourth axis to deliver a resistance force to the cranks 42.
The reinforcing unit 70 includes a reinforcing shank 71 and a lower coupler 72. The reinforcing shank 71 has lower and upper shank ends 711,712 opposite to each other, and a middle shank portion 713 interposed therebetween. The lower shank end 711 is pivotally connected to the main frame 20 proximate to the bottom end 21 about a fifth axis parallel to the first axis such that the upper shank end 712 is pivotable about the fifth axis between a holding position, as shown in FIG. 5, where the upper shank end 712 braces the saddle mounting segment 614, and a collapsed position, as shown in FIG. 7, where the upper shank end 712 is placed closer to the front pivot end 611. The lower coupler 72 has a first connecting end 721 which is pivotally coupled to the middle portion 713 of the reinforcing shank 71, and a second connecting end 722 which is detachably coupled to the crossbar 25 of the main frame 20 between the lower shank end 711 and the propping end 31 so as to retain the upper shank end 712 in the holding position.
In use, referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the user can sit on the saddle 62 and grip the handlebars 54 while treading the pedals 41 for performing a stationary bicycle exercise. The user may also pull the handlebars 54 rearwardly so that the saddle 62 is raised and turned toward the handlebars 54 to simulate a horse-riding action.
Referring to FIGS. 5 and 7, to fold the foldable exerciser, the second coupled end 631 of the upper coupler 63 and the second connecting end 722 of the lower coupler 72 are disengaged from the weight end 52 and the crossbar 25, respectively, such that the operating unit 50, the saddle unit 60, and the reinforcing unit 70 can turn and collapse toward the main frame 20. Subsequently, the lock pin 26 is screwed-out to permit turning of the prop member 30 to the folded position. Thus, the folding and unfolding operations are convenient to conduct. Moreover, by virtue of the upper and lower couplers 63,72, the structure of the saddle unit 60 is strengthened.
While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretations and equivalent arrangements.

Claims

1. A foldable exerciser comprising:

an elongated main frame having top and bottom ends opposite to each other, and a middle portion interposed therebetween;

a prop member having a rest end and a propping end opposite to each other, and an intermediate portion interposed therebetween, said propping end being pivotally connected to said middle portion about a first axis such that said rest end is pivotable about the first axis between a straddle position, where said rest end is remote from said bottom end, and a folded position, where said rest end is closer to said bottom end, and such that in the straddle position, said bottom and rest ends are disposed to sit on a ground surface while said top end is disposed upwardly and forwardly of said bottom end;

a saddle mounting frame including a front pivot end which is pivotally connected to said middle portion about a second axis parallel to the first axis and between said top and propping ends, an arm segment which extends from said front pivot end in a radial direction relative to the second axis to terminate at a juncture, and a saddle mounting segment which extends rearwardly from said juncture such that said juncture is turnable about the second axis between proximate and distal positions relative to said top end;

a saddle mounted on said saddle mounting segment;

an operating unit including a fulcrum which is pivotally connected to said top end about a third axis parallel to the first axis, and a force end and a weight end at two sides of said fulcrum; and

an upper coupler having a first coupled end which is coupled to said juncture, and a second coupled end which is detachably coupled to said weight end such that in the straddle position, a rearward pivoting movement of said force end about the third axis toward said saddle mounting segment results in turning of said juncture from the distal position to the proximate position so as to move said saddle mounting segment forward for simulating a horse-riding action, and such that said second coupled end is disposed to be turnable relative to said juncture between an engaging position, where said second coupled end is retained with said weight end to thereby result in the rearward pivoting movement, and a disengaging position, where said second coupled end is disengaged from said weight end.

2. The foldable exerciser of claim 1, wherein said arm segment is disposed to extend upwardly and rearwardly from said front pivot end when said second coupled end of said upper coupler is in the engaging position.

3. The foldable exerciser of claim 1, wherein said main frame includes two elongated side bars spaced apart from each other, each of said propping end of said prop member, said front pivot end of said saddle mounting frame, and said fulcrum of said operating unit being disposed between and extending transverse to said side bars.

4. The foldable exerciser of claim 3, further comprising a restricting unit which is disposed to releasably restrict pivoting movement of said rest end of said prop member to the folded position.

5. The foldable exerciser of claim 4, wherein said restricting unit includes a mounting plate which is secured between said side bars adjacent to said propping end of said prop member, and a lock pin which is mounted on said mounting plate and which is extendable relative to said mounting plate in a radial direction relative to the first axis, said propping end having a locking hole which extends towards the first axis, and which is configured to receive said lock pin when said lock pin is extended so as to arrest said prop member in one of the straddle and folded positions.

6. The foldable exerciser of claim 1, further comprising a pedaling unit which is mounted on said intermediate portion of said prop member, and which includes a pair of cranks journalled on said intermediate portion about a fourth axis parallel to the first axis, a pair of pedals connected to opposite ends of said cranks, respectively, for treading by a user, and a resistance mechanism surrounding the fourth axis to deliver a resistance force to said cranks.

7. The foldable exerciser of claim 1, further comprising

a reinforcing shank which has lower and upper shank ends opposite to each other, and a middle shank portion interposed therebetween, said lower shank end being pivotally connected to said main frame proximate to said bottom end about a fifth axis parallel to the first axis such that said upper shank end is pivotable about the fifth axis between a holding position where said upper shank end braces said saddle mounting segment, and a collapsed position where said upper shank end is placed closer to said front pivot end; and

a lower coupler disposed to releasably retain said upper shank end in the holding position.

8. The foldable exerciser of claim 7, wherein said lower coupler has a first connecting end which is pivotally coupled to said middle portion, and a second connecting end which is detachably coupled to said middle portion of said main frame between said lower shank end and said propping end.