GB2130901A - Exercise machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The machine comprises a body (11) standing on front and rear legs (14, 15), a seat (17) and a handlebar (16) mounted on the body, a pair of pedals (18, 19) pivotally connected to the body, and a flat tape 64 having its two ends attached to the two pedals, the tape passing through a guide system which includes a guide element over which the tape slides frictionally when the pedals are moved. The frictional effect of the guide system may be adjustable and a counter arrangement may be provided. The machine may be collapsible. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Exercise machine The present invention relates to exercise machines.

It has long been acknowledged that exercise, taken in moderate amounts can improve health and this is reflected in the current increase in exercising activities such as running, jogging, swimming etc. However, it may be preferable to perform exercises indoors rather than in an outdoor environment perhaps due to weather conditions or unpleasant environmental conditions in the case of city dwellers, particularly those living in high-rise accommodation. Furthermore, it may not be convenient to visit a gymnasium or an exercise centre and so there is a need for devices which enable exercise to be taken in the home. In this way, small amounts of regular exercise may be taken with a minimum of inconvenience and disruption to daily routines, resulting in an improved health, an increased life-expectancy and a general feeling of well-being.

It is believed in certain circles that violent exercise may actually be harmful to one's health in the long term, quite apart from the short term risks of injury, heart failure, etc. Thus, it would be desirable to provide a device which enables the user to perform exercises at his or her own pace without placing any great strain on the body. Such a device could perhaps offer most beneficiently a substantially constant resistance which has to be overcome either continuously or repeatedly by the user performing the exercise.

One known form of such an exercise machine is the exercise bicycle in which the user sits on a seat and operates pedals to exercise his legs.

However, these tend to be rather bulky, generally requiring a substantial flywheel to provide a smooth and even resistance to the user's efforts.

This tends to make them heavy and awkward to move about.

It is an object of the invention to provide a relatively light and simple exercise machine which can nevertheless provide a substantial resistance for the user. It is a further object to provide such a machine which can be folded away.

According to the present invention, an exerciser comprises a body, a seat mounted on the body, a pair of pedals movably mounted with respect to the body, a flexible elongate friction element operatively connected to each of the pedals and a guide system including a guide member over which the flexible elongate frictional element slides frictionally.

Preferably, the machine includes a handlebar arrangement mounted on the body. Preferably the body is mounted on front and rear legs which may each comprise a single stem with a transverse foot. Of the seat, handlebar and legs, any or all may be pivotally mounted with respect to the body.

Preferably the pedals are pivotally mounted with respect to the body, and more preferably are arranged to reciprocate through a limited arc.

Such an arrangement has an advantage over a rotating pedal arrangement as it does not have a "top dead centre" position for the pedals This means that no flywheel is required and there is no position where the user exerts a pressure but cannot do any work as would be the case in a rotating pedal arrangement if the user were to press down on a pedal in the top dead centre position.

Preferably, the flexible elongate friction element is a tape, for example of nylon webbing, and preferably has each end connected to one of the pedals. The height of the seat may be adjustable to accommodate users of varying sizes.

Preferably, the handlebar arrangement is pivotally mounted and provided with means for clamping the handlebar in any of a number of positions.

Preferably, the body comprises two half pressings conveniently with strengthening ribs. In a preferred construction, the seat is mounted on a support having an arcuate portion, and the strengthening ribs in the appropriate position are modified to have a corresponding arcuate section to receive the support.

Preferably, the frictional effect of the guide system is adjustable and there may be a counter device provided to indicate the amount of exercise carried out. The length of the tape may also be adjustable.

The invention may be carried into practice in various way and one embodiment will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an isometric sketch of an exercise machine in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a schematic side view of the exercise machine of Figure 1 shown in the folded position; Figure 3 is a diagrammatic partial section through the handlebar mounting; Figure 4 is a schematic section through the mounting of the legs and seat support; Figure 5 is a detail showing the mounting of the pedal member; and Figure 6 is a schematic elevation showing the arrangement of the friction element and its guide system.

As shown in Figure 1 the exercise machine comprises a body 11 made up from two half pressings 12 and 13, a front leg 14, a rear leg 1 5, a handlebar arrangement 16, a seat member 1 7 and a pair of pedal members 18 and 19. These components 14 to 1 9 are all mounted pivotally with respect to the body so that they can be folded down from the position shown in Figure 1 to that shown in Figure 2.

The front leg 14 comprises a stem 21 of square section tubing which has welded to its lower end a foot 22 in the form of a horizontal cross-piece. The foot may have rubber feet (not shown) at each end. The stem is pivotally mounted to the body at the position of a screw 23. The pivotal mounting is shown in more detail in Figure 4.

At its upper end, the stem 21 has a bush 24 passing through it and welded to it so that its ends stand proud of the stem. A tapped tube 25 is located loosely within the bush 24, the tapped tube 25 protruding beyond the ends of the bush 24. The screws 23 are screwed into the tapped tube through appropriate holes in the half pressings 12 and 13, thereby clamping the half pressings 12 and 13 to the tapped tube while allowing the bush 24, and so the stem 21, to rotate relative to the body 11.

The rear leg 1 5 is pivotally mounted in precisely the same way by means of screws 26 which are equivalent to the screws 23.

Referring back to Figure 1 , the seat member 1 7 comprises a seat 27 mounted on a square section tube 28 which is located in a lower square section tube of larger dimensions. The height of the seat 27 can be adjusted by sliding the square section tube 28 up and down inside the lower square section tube 29. The position of the seat is locked by means of a locking device 31. The locking device 31 comprises a folded plate 32 one part of which is located between the two square sectioned tubes and the other which is located outside the lower square section tube 29. A tapped handle 33 passes loosely through an aperture in the outer portion of the folded plate, through a tapped bush (not shown) attached to one wall of the lower square section tube 29, through that wall of the tube 29 and then against the inner section of the folded plate.Thus, by operating the handle 33, the inner portion of the folded plate can be forced against the inner square section tube 28.

The bottom end of the lower square section tube 29 is bent at 34 through about 900. The end of the bent portion is pivotally mounted with respect to the body in the same way as the two legs 14, 1 5, by means of screws 35. The two half pressings 12 and 13 are provided at intervals with stiffening ribs (not shown). Where the bent portion 34 of the tube 29 is within the body 11 in the erect position as shown in Figure 1 , the stiffening ribs are formed with a curved shape corresponding to that of the bent portion 34 in order to offer a sound support and to distribute the weight of the seat occupier.

The handlebar arrangement comprises a pair of L-shaped tubes 36, 37 joined together by a welded cross-brace 38. At their upper ends, the tubes 36 and 37 can be provided with hand grips (not shown). The lower part of the tubes 36, 37 is shown in more detail in Figure 3.

The lower end of the tube 36 (and the tube 37 which is identical) has a flattened, angled portion 39. A bush 41 is welded in a suitable aperture in the angled portion 39 and at the extremity of the angled portion 39 the tube is straightened and formed with a hole 42. The handlebar arrangement 1 7 is pivotally mounted to the body 11 by means of a tapped tube 43 which is welded to one of the pressings 1 2. A bolt 44 is inserted into the tapped tube 43 through an appropriate hole in the pressing 12 and through the hole 42 at the bottom of the tube 36. The bolt 44 has a shoulder which contacts the pressing 1 2 so that the bolt 44 can be tightened with respect to the tube 43 without rigidly clamping the tube 36.In order to prevent undue movement between the handlebar tube 36 and the bolt 44, a spring washer 45 is inserted between the tube 36 and the pressing 12.

At the other side, the handlebar tube 37 is mounted in a similar fashion using another shouldered bolt 44.

In order to allow the handlebar arrangement to be clamped in any desired position between fully open and folded, a clamping mechanism 46 is provided. The clamping mechanism 46 comprises a bolt 47 which passes through the two bushes 41 and through appropriate slots 48 in the pressings 1 2, 1 3. At one end, the bolt is provided with a bolt head 49, which the other end, which is threaded, co-operates with a nut 50 having a handle 51. Felt pads 52 are located between the bushes 41 and the pressings 12, 13 to avoid a scratching of the body 11 in the region of the slots 48.

In order to prevent the bolt 47 from "freewheeling" as the handle 51 is turned, the bolt 47 is provided with a pin 53 at its head end which is arranged to co-operate with a slot 54 in the corresponding bush 41. In order thatthe half pressings 12 and 13 are not buckled when the handlebar arrangement 1 6 is clamped in position, a nylon spacer 55 is positioned on the bolt 47 within the body 11.

The pedal member 18 (and the pedal member 1 9 which is similar) comprises a lever arm 56 and a foot support 57. A pedal (not shown) can be rotatably mounted on the foot support 57. The level arm 56 has a section of tubing 58 welded at its rear end at right angles. The tubing 58 is lined with a plain phosphor-bronze bearing material.

At its lower rear end, the body 11 is provided with a pedal mounting plate 59. As shown most clearly in Figure 5, a rod 61 passes through two side flanges of the mounting plate 59 and is welded in position so that it protrudes to either side leaving effectively two spigots 62. The pedal member 1 8 is pivotally'mounted with respect to the body 11 by passing the lined tubing 58 over the spigot 62. The spigot 62 is arranged to protrude beyond the tubing 58 and is formed with a tapped aperture 53 so that a bolt can be inserted into its end to retain the pedal member in position while allowing it to pivot.

In order to provide some resistance to movement of the pedal members 1 8, 19 a friction system is provided. This will now be described with reference to Figures 1 and 6. A length of flat nylon webbing tape 64 has one end attached to each of the two pedal members 18, 19. In between its two ends, the tape 64 passes through a friction device 65. The friction device 65 is located within the body 11 and comprises a fixed frame 66 which is rigidly connected to the body 11 and on which are mounted four rotatable rollers 67, 68, 69, 71. A large fixed roller 72 is also mounted on the fixed plate 66 and the tape 64 follows an undulating path around these rollers 67 to 72. A stirrup 73 straddles the fixed frame 66 and its rollers and is relatively vertically slidable. At its lower end, the stirrup 73 has a pair of fixed rollers 74,75.These rollers 74,75 are located beneath the large fixed roller 72 and serve to deflect the tape 64 around the large roller 72.

In an alternative, simpler construction of friction system (not shown), the tape 64 merely passes over a rod or a similar curved surface such as the fixed roller 72. In this case or in the preferred embodiment, the tape 24 may be attached to the pedal member 1 8, 1 9 so that the width of the tape 24 extends from front to back of the machine rather than transversely.

The stirrup 73 is adjustably attached to the body 11 by means of a pair of clamping blocks, the upper clamping blocks 76 being located above the body 11 and the lower clamping block 77 being located within the body 11. A bolt 78 passes through the two blocks 76, 77 and cooperates with a nut 79 which is fixed to the stirrup 73. The bolt 78 is fixed vertically with respect to the block 76, 77 with the result that as it is rotated, it acts on the nut 79 so raising or lowering the stirrup 73. In this way, the fixed rollers 74 and 75 can be brought closer to or moved further away from the large fixed roller 72, thus varying the frictional effect on the tape 64. The clamping blocks 76, 77 are held together and in position by four bolts (not shown) which enter four tapped holes in the lower block 77.

It will be appreciated, if a user sits on the seat 97 and operates the pedal members 18, 19 the tape 64 will be caused to move about the rollers with a reciprocating motion. In order to give an indication of the amount of exercise carried out, a counter arrangement 81 is provided. This counter arrangement 81 is operated by a first belt 82 which passes around the rotating roller 71 and also around a relatively large wheel 83. A second belt 84 passes around the spindle of the wheel 83 and also around a gear wheel 85 connected to a counter 86. The wheel 83 and counter 86 are mounted on a plate 87 which is in turn rigidly connected to the fixed frame 66. The counter 86 is operated in conjunction with a ratchet mechanism in order to record movements in one direction only and is also provided with a zero-set.Naturally, a suitable aperture (not shown) is provided in the body 11 so that the counter 86 may be seen and so that the zero-set may be operated.

As will be seen, in the erected position shown in Figure 1, the legs 14, 1 5 are somewhat splayed in order to provide a stable base. It has been found that no rigid locking mechanism is required for stability but in order to prevent the legs moving relative to the body 11 when the machine is moved, the body 11 is provided with a square C-section nylon clip at each end, in which the legs 14, 1 5 pass when they are in the fully splayed condition.

When the machine is in the fully folded position shown in Figure 2, it will be noted that the handlebar cross-brace 38 rests on the body 11 in order to avoid placing undue strain on the end of the slots 48. Again, no positive locking mechanism is provided for the various folding elements (other than the handlebar arrangement).

In a modification, however, a strap (not shown) can be attached to the front leg 14, perhaps by means of a press-stud, and this may be looped vertically around all the components. It can then be locked either by means of a buckle or by means of a fastening device such as that known by the Trade Mark "VELCRO".

Where foot pedals are provided, these may have toe straps.

Claims (13)

1. An exercise machine comprising a body, a seat mounted on the body, a pair of pedals movably mounted with respect to the body, a flexible elongate friction element connected to each of the pedals and a guide system including a guide member over which the flexible elongate friction element slides frictionally when the pedals are moved.

2. A machine as claimed in Claim 1 further including a handlebar arrangement mounted on the body.

3. A machine as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the body is mounted on front and rear legs.

4. A machine as claimed in Claim 3 in which any or all of the seat, handlebar arrangement and legs are pivotally mounted with respect to the body.

5. A machine as claimed in any preceding claim in which the pedals are pivotally mounted with respect to the body.

6. A machine as claimed in Claim 5 in which the pedals are arranged to reciprocate through a limited arc.

7. A machine as claimed in any preceding claim in which the friction element is a nylon webbing tape, each end of which is attached to one of the pedals.

8. A machine as claimed in any preceding claim in which the body is provided with internal strengthening ribs and the seat is mounted on a support having an arcuate portion, those of the strengthening ribs which are in the appropriate position having an arcuate section to receive the support.

9. A machine as claimed in any preceding claim in which the frictional effect of the guide system is adjustable.

10. An exercise machine constructed and arranged substantially as herein specifically described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

11. An exercise machine adapted to receive a user in a seated position, including a pair of pedal members constrained to move reciprocally through a limited arc and resisting means arranged to oppose movements of said pedal members through said limited arc.

12. An exercise machine comprising a body, saddle means, handlebar means, front and rear leg means and a pair of pedal members, said saddle means handlebar means, leg means and pedal members all being pivotally mounted with respect to said body between an erect position and a folded position.

13. An exercise machine comprising: - a body member having a front end and a rear end; front support means collapsibly connected to said body member for supporting said body at said front end, and rear support means collapsibly connected to said body member for supporting said body at said rear end; - handlebar means collapsibly connected to said body at said front end; user support means collapsibly connected to said body at said rear end; first and second foot engagement members pivotally mounted with respect to said body; ; - resistance means operatively coupled to said first and second foot engagement members and comprising a flexible elongate friction element connected to and extending between said first and second foot engagement members, and a guide system including a guide member which is fixed with respect to said body and over which said friction element passes, whereby said foot engage,ment members are constrained to move reciprocally through a limited arc and such reciprocal movements result in said friction element sliding frictionally over said guide member.