US20050101455A1

US20050101455A1 - Exerciser capable of doing multidirection actions

Info

Publication number: US20050101455A1
Application number: US10/704,817
Authority: US
Inventors: James Chen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-11-12
Filing date: 2003-11-12
Publication date: 2005-05-12

Abstract

An exerciser includes a main body having two sets of locating holes symmetrically disposed at left and right sides along a respective smoothly arched track, two swivel connectors each having a fixed end pivoted to a center of figure of one smoothly arched track at the main body, and a retaining member engaged in one of the locating holes for locking the respective swivel connector to the main body, two handlebars having one ends respectively pivoted to the swivel connectors and the other ends provided with a grip respectively, and two elastomeric members respectively coupled between the swivel connectors and the handlebars.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to apparatus for physical exercises and, more particularly, to an exerciser capable of doing multi-direction actions, e.g. an operation angle-adjustable scissors-action exerciser.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 11 shows a scissors-action exerciser constructed according to the prior art. According to this design, the scissors-action exerciser 100 comprises a main body 110 covered with a soft front pad 111, two coupling devices 120 provided at the left and right sides of the back wall of the main body 110, two handlebars 130 respectively pivoted to the coupling devices 120, and two elastomeric members 131 respectively connected between the main body 110 and the handlebars 130. Each coupling device 120 comprises a hollow mounting block 121, a hollow rotary block 122, a lock screw 123 inserted through the hollow mounting block 121 and the hollow rotary block 122, and a spring member (not shown) set between the hollow mounting block 121 and the hollow rotary block 122. When loosened the lock screw 123, the hollow rotary block 122 can be rotated relative to the hollow mounting block 121 to adjust the angular position of the corresponding handlebar 130 relative to the main body 110.
When in use, the user's back is supported on the soft front pad 111, and the user holds the handlebars 130 with the hands and moves the handlebars 130 inwards and outwards to perform a scissors action. When wishing to change the operation angle, the user must dismount the elastomeric members 131 and then loosen the lock screw 123 of each coupling device 120, for enabling the respective handlebar 130 to be turned to the desired angle. This design of scissors-action exerciser has a complicated structure formed of a big number of parts, leading to high manufacturing cost. Further, when wishing to change the operation angle of the handlebars, the adjustment procedure is complicated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is one object of the present invention to provide an operation angle-adjustable scissors-action exerciser, which has the advantages of simple structure, less number of parts, and low manufacturing cost.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an operation angle-adjustable scissors-action exerciser, which is easy to operate.
To achieve these objects of the present invention, the exerciser comprises a main body for the rest of the user's back, two swivel connectors, two handlebars, and elastomeric members. The main body has two sets of locating holes symmetrically disposed at left and right sides thereof along a respective smoothly arched track at the main body. The two swivel connectors each have a fixed end pivoted to a center of figure of one smoothly arched track at the main body, and a retaining member engaged in one of the locating holes for locking the respective swivel connector to the main body. The two handlebars each have a first end pivoted to the swivel connector and a second end provided with a grip. The elastomeric members are respectively symmetrically coupled between the swivel connectors and the handlebars.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partial exploded view of an operation angle-adjustable scissors-action exerciser according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a front plain view of the operation angle-adjustable scissors-action exerciser according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2 but showing the handlebars adjusted to another angle relative to the main body.
FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 2 but showing the handlebars adjusted to still another angle relative to the main body.
FIG. 5 is a sectional view in an enlarged scale taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 2.
FIG. 6 shows one application example of the operation angle-adjustable scissors-action exerciser according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 shows another application example of the operation angle-adjustable scissors-action exerciser according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 shows still anther application example of the operation angle-adjustable scissors-action exerciser according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a partial exploded view of an operation angle-adjustable scissors-action exerciser according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a sectional view in an enlarged scale of a part of the operation angle-adjustable scissors-action exerciser according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a partial exploded view of a scissors-action exerciser according to the prior art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, an operation angle-adjustable scissors-action exerciser 10 in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention is shown comprising a main body 20, a back pad 25, two swivel connectors 30, two handlebars 40, and two elastomeric members 50.
The main body 20 comprises a substantially flat rectangular open frame 21, and two semicircular coupling plates 22 symmetrically bilaterally disposed at the back side. The semicircular coupling plates 22 each have a serrated arc defining a plurality of positioning notches 23, and a smoothly arched sliding slot 24 extended corresponding to the serrated arc.
The back pad 25 is fixedly provided at the front side of the open frame 21 of the main body 20 for supporting the user's back.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the two swivel connectors 30 each comprise an elongated connector body 31, the elongated connector body 31 having an angled fixed end pivoted to the center of figure of one semicircular coupling plate 22 and a free end protruding over the serrated arc of the corresponding semicircular coupling plate 22, a guide rod 32 formed of a screw bolt and extended from the back side of the elongated connector body 31 and inserted into the smoothly arched sliding slot 24 of the corresponding semicircular coupling plate 22, a nut 33 fastened to the guide rod 32 to secure the guide rod 32 to the corresponding semicircular coupling plate 22 and to let the guide rod 32 be moved with the respective elongated connector body 31 along the smoothly arched sliding slot 24 of the corresponding semicircular coupling plate 22 (see FIGS. 2˜4), a receptacle 34 fixedly disposed at the back side of the free end, a spring member 36 mounted inside the receptacle 34, a retaining member 35 supported on the spring member 36 and forced by the spring member 36 into engagement with one locating notch 23 at the corresponding semicircular coupling plate 22 of the main body 20 to hold the respective swivel connector 30 in a particular angular position relative to the main body 20, a lug 37 fixedly disposed at the front side of the fixed end opposite to the receptacle 34, and a hook rod 38 perpendicularly outwardly extended from the front side of the free end opposite to the receptacle 34. When biasing the elongated connector body 31 with the hand, the retaining member 35 is forced inwards by the peripheral edge of the corresponding locating notch 23 to compress the spring member 36 and then moved with the elongated connector body 31 from one locating notch 23 to another. When the user released the hand from the elongated connector body 31, the spring member 36 automatically pushes the retaining member 35 outwards into engagement with one locating notch 23. Therefore, the angular position of each swivel connector 30 can easily be adjusted relative to the main body 20 as desired.
The two handlebars 40 (see FIG. 5) each have a fixed end pivoted to the lug 37 at one swivel connector 30 by a respective pivot pin 41, a free end fixedly provided with a grip 43, and a substantially L-shaped hook rod 42 disposed relatively closer to the free end corresponding to the hook rod 38 at the corresponding swivel connector 30. The pivot pin 41 extends in direction perpendicular to the major axis of the elongated connector body 31 of the corresponding swivel connector 30 such that the handlebar 40 can be alternatively turned back and forth relative to the corresponding swivel connector 30 along the major axis of the corresponding swivel connector 30 (see FIGS. 2˜4) and adjusted with the corresponding swivel connector 30 to the desired angular position relative to the main body 20.
The two elastomeric members 50 are respectively molded from rubber, each having two end holes 51 and 52 disposed at two distal ends and respectively coupled to the hook rod 38 at one swivel connector 30 and the hook rod 42 at one handlebar 40.
The operation angle-adjustable scissors-action exerciser can be used in a universal gym. Alternatively, the operation angle-adjustable scissors-action exerciser can be provided with shoulder straps for fastening to the user's back. The operation of the operation angle-adjustable scissors-action exerciser is outlined hereinafter with reference to FIGS. 6˜8.
As illustrated in FIG. 6, the handlebars 40 are horizontally arranged in parallel to floor, and then the user rests the back on the back pad 25 and holds the grips 43 of the handlebars 40 with the hands, and then the user turns the handlebars 40 inwards toward the chest and outwards to their former positions to perform a scissors action. Because the elastomeric members 50 are coupled between the hook rods 38 at the swivel connectors 30 and the hook rods 42 at the handlebars 40, they impart a damping resistance to the user's hands when the user moving the handlebars 40 to perform a scissors action. When wishing to change the exercising direction, adjust the angular positions of the handlebars 40 with the swivel connectors 30 relative to the main body 20. FIGS. 7 and 8 show the handlebars 40 set in different angular positions for different exercising purposes.
As indicated above, the operation angle-adjustable scissors-action exerciser has the advantages of simple structure, less number of parts, and low manufacturing cost. Further, the user needs not to change the position of the two elastomeric members when adjusting the angular positions of the swivel connectors and the handlebars relative to the main body. Additional elastomeric members may be added to increase the damping resistance, enhancing the exercising strength.
FIG. 9 shows an operation angle-adjustable scissors-action exerciser constructed according to the second embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the operation angle-adjustable scissors-action exerciser 60 is comprised of a main body 70, two swivel connectors 80 bilaterally pivoted to the main body 70, two handlebars 90 respectively pivoted to the swivel connectors 80, and two elastomeric members 91 coupled between the handlebars 90 and the swivel connectors 80. The main differences of this embodiment are outlined hereinafter.
The main body 70 comprises a substantially rectangular flat base 71. The rectangular flat base 71 has two sets of locating holes, for example, screw holes 72 symmetrically disposed near two opposite lateral sides and respectively arranged along a smoothly arched track.
The two swivel connectors 80 each comprise an elongated connector body 81, the elongated connector body 81 having an angled fixed end pivoted to the center of figure of the smoothly arched track along which one set of screw holes 72 is arranged and a free end provided with a through hole 82, and a retaining member, for example, a screw bolt 83 inserted through the through hole 82 and selectively threaded into one screw hole 72 (see FIG. 10) to lock the free end of the respective swivel connector 80 to rectangular flat base 71 of the main body 70. When loosened the screw bolt 83 from the corresponding screw hole 72, the user can than adjust the angular position of the respective swivel connector 80 relative to the rectangular flat base 71 of the main body 70.
Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An exerciser comprising:

a main body for the rest of a user's back, said main body having two sets of locating holes symmetrically disposed at left and right sides thereof along a respective smoothly arched track at said main body;

two swivel connectors each having a fixed end pivoted to a center of figure of one smoothly arched track at said main body, and a retaining member engaged in one of said locating holes for locking the respective swivel connector to said main body;

two handlebars each having a first end pivoted to one said swivel connector and a second end provided with a grip; and

a plurality of elastomeric members respectively coupled between said swivel connectors and said handlebars.

2. The exerciser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fixed end of each said swivel connector is angled and perpendicularly pivoted to said main body for enabling said handlebars to be turned about an axis perpendicular to the axis about which the corresponding swivel connector is turned.

3. The exerciser as claimed in claim 1, wherein said main body comprises two semicircular coupling plates symmetrically disposed at two opposite lateral sides, said semicircular coupling plates each having a serrated arc and a smoothly arched sliding slot extended corresponding to said serrated arc; said two sets of locating holes are respectively formed in and arranged along the arc of each said semicircular coupling plate; said swivel connectors each comprise a guide rod inserted into the smoothly arched sliding slot at one said semicircular coupling plate, a receptacle, a spring member mounted inside said receptacle, and said retaining member supported on said spring member and forced by said spring member into engagement with one said locating hole.

4. The exerciser as claimed in claim 1, wherein said locating holes are screw holes; said swivel connectors each have a through hole movable with the respective swivel connector to selectively aim at one of the locating holes at one of the left and right sides of said main body; the retaining member of each said swivel connector is a screw bolt mounted in the through hole of the respective swivel connector and selectively threaded into one said screw hole.

5. The exerciser as claimed in claim 1, wherein said swivel connectors and said handlebars each have a hook rod; said elastomeric members each have two mounting holes respectively coupled to the hook rods at said swivel connectors and the hook rods at said handlebars.