Weight training machine having a selector device that is operated easily and conveniently

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a weight training machine and, more particularly, to a weight training machine having a selector device.

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0003] A conventional weight training machine in accordance with the prior art shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 comprises a support frame, and a selector 86 mounted on the support frame. The support frame includes two parallel guide rods 81, a plurality of weights 84 movably mounted on the two guide rods 81, a drive shaft 89 movable between the two guide rods 81 and extended through each of the weights 84 to move the weights 84 upward and downward, and a drive belt 83 mounted on the drive shaft 89 to move the drive shaft 89. The drive shaft 89 has a plurality of through holes (not shown), and each of the weights 84 has a through hole 85 aligning with a respective one of the through holes of the drive shaft 89. The selector 86 is attached to the drive shaft 89 by an elastic connecting cord 87.

[0004] In operation, the selector 86 is inserted into the through hole 85 of a respective one of the weights 84 and a respective one of the through holes of the drive shaft 89 to lock a determined number of weights 84 onto the drive shaft 89. In such a manner, when the drive shaft 89 is pulled upward by the drive belt 83 which is pulled by a user, the determined number of weights 84 are pulled upward by the drive shaft 89 to move along the two guide rods 81. Thus, the user can exercise his muscle by counteracting the weights 84 successively, thereby achieving the weight training effect.

[0005] However, the connecting cord 87 is moved with the drive shaft 89, thereby extending the whole length of the connecting cord 87, so that the connecting cord 87 easily produces an elastic fatigue during a long-term utilization. In addition, the connecting cord 87 is easily tangled with the weights 84, thereby interfering with operation of the weights 84, and thereby causing danger to the user's safety.

[0006] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a weight training machine, comprising a support frame, and a selector device mounted on the support frame. The support frame includes two parallel guide rods, a plurality of weights movably mounted on the two guide rods, and a drive shaft movable between the two guide rods and extended through each of the weights to move the weights upward and downward. The selector device includes a selector that is inserted into a gap between any two adjacent weights and connected to the drive shaft to move determined weights, and a reel mounted on the selector and having a retractable pull wire having a distal end secured to the support frame so that the pull wire of the reel is kept at a straight state constantly when the selector is inserted into the gap between any two adjacent weights and connected to the drive shaft.

[0007] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a weight training machine having a selector device that is operated easily and conveniently.

[0008] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a weight training machine, wherein the pull wire of the reel is kept at a straight state constantly during movement of the selector, so that the pull wire of the reel will not interfere with operation of the selector and will not tangle with the weights, thereby facilitating the user operating the selector, and thereby protecting the user's safety.

[0009] A further objective of the present invention is to provide a weight training machine, wherein the two retaining plugs of the selector are retained in the respective retaining groove of the drive shaft, and the clamping opening of the selector is clamped on the drive shaft, so that the selector is combined with the drive shaft rigidly and stably, thereby facilitating the user operating the selector to move the weights smoothly.

[0010] Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a weight training machine in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a selector device of the weight training machine as shown in FIG. 1.

[0013] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the selector device of the weight training machine as shown in FIG. 2.

[0014] FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view of the weight training machine as shown in FIG. 1.

[0015] FIG. 5 is a partially plan cross-sectional view of the weight training machine as shown in FIG. 4.

[0016] FIG. 6 is a schematic operational view of the weight training machine as shown in FIG. 4.

[0017] FIG. 7 is a schematic operational view of the weight training machine as shown in FIG. 6.

[0018] FIG. 8 is a partially perspective view of a conventional weight training machine in accordance with the prior art.

[0019] FIG. 9 is a schematic operational view of the conventional weight training machine as shown in FIG. 8.

[0020] Referring to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 1-5, a weight training machine in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a support frame 9, and a selector device mounted on the support frame 9.

[0021] The support frame 9 includes an arc-shaped post 91, an upright post 92 having an upper end connected with an upper end of the arc-shaped post 91, a transverse post 90 mounted between lower ends of the arc-shaped post 91 and the upright post 92, two parallel guide rods 93 mounted between the arc-shaped post 91 and the transverse post 90, a plurality of weights 4 movably mounted on the two guide rods 93, a drive shaft 53 movable between the two guide rods 93 and extended through each of the weights 4 to move the weights 4 upward and downward, a drive belt 95 mounted on the drive shalt 53 to move the drive shaft 53, a support plate 50 movably mounted on the two guide rods 93 and rested on an uppermost one of the weights 4, an operation plate 5 movably mounted on the two guide rods 93 and located above the support plate 50, two mounting tubes 51 each movably mounted on a respective one of the 15 two guide rods 93 and each located between the operation plate 5 and the support plate 50, and a positioning plate 6 mounted on the support plate 50.

[0022] The drive shaft 53 of the support frame 9 has an outer wall formed with a plurality of annular retaining grooves 54 as shown in FIG. 5. The positioning plate 6 of the support frame 9 is substantially U-shaped and has two distal ends each secured to the support plate 50 by a locking screw 62. The positioning plate 6 has a mediate portion formed with an elongated stop slit 61.

[0023] The selector device includes a selector 2 that is inserted into a gap 40 between any two adjacent weights 4 and connected to the drive shaft 53 to move determined weights 4, and a reel 1 mounted on the selector 2 and having a retractable pull wire 13 having a distal end secured to the support frame 9 so that the pull wire 13 of the reel 1 is kept at a straight state constantly when the selector 2 is connected to the drive shaft 53.

[0024] The selector 2 is substantially Z-shaped. The selector 2 has a first portion formed with an operation plate 22 that is inserted into the gap 40 between any two adjacent weights 4 and connected to the drive shaft 53, a mediate portion formed with an upright section 26 and a second portion formed with a flat plate 20. The operation plate 22 of the selector 2 has a forked distal end formed with two opposite retaining plugs 23 inserted into and retained in either one of the retaining grooves 54 of the drive shaft 53 to secure the operation plate 22 to the drive shaft 53, and a clamping opening 25 located between the two retaining plugs 23 to clamp the drive shaft 53. Thus, the two retaining plugs 23 of the selector 2 are retained in the respective retaining groove 54 of the drive shaft 53, and the clamping opening 25 of the selector 2 is clamped on the drive shaft 53, so that the selector 2 is combined with the drive shaft 53 rigidly and stably, thereby facilitating the user operating the selector 2 to move the weights 4 smoothly. The upright section 26 of the selector 2 is formed with two threaded locking holes 27. The flat plate 20 of the selector 2 is formed with a through hole 200 and has a distal end provided with a handle 21 parallel with the upright section 26 to facilitate a user operating the selector 2.

[0025] The reel 1 is mounted on the upright section 26 of the selector 2 and has a periphery provided with two ears 10 each formed with a fixing hole 11, and the selector device further includes two locking bolts 7 each extended through the fixing hole 11 of the reel 1 and each screwed into the respective locking hole 27 of the selector 2 to secure the reel 1 to the selector 2. The pull wire 13 is retractably mounted on the reel 1 and is extended through and protruded outward from an outlet hole 14 of the reel 1. The pull wire 13 of the reel 1 is extended through and protruded outward from the through hole 200 of the selector 2. The distal end of the pull wire 13 of the reel 1 is provided with a spherical stop head 12 locked on the positioning plate 6 of the support frame 9. The distal end of the pull wire 13 is extended through the stop slit 61 of the positioning plate 6, and the stop head 12 of the pull wire 13 is locked in the stop slit 61 of the positioning plate 6.

[0026] In operation, referring to FIGS. 1-7, the selector 2 is inserted into the gap 40 between any two adjacent weights 4 and connected to the drive shaft 53 to lock a determined number of weights 4 onto the drive shaft 53. In such a manner, when the drive shaft 53 is pulled upward by the drive belt 95 which is pulled by a user, the determined number of weights 4 are pulled upward by the drive shaft 53 to move along the two guide rods 93. Thus, the user can exercise his muscle by counteracting the weights 4 successively, thereby achieving the weight training effect.

[0027] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the reel 1 is mounted on the selector 2, and the stop head 12 of the pull wire 13 of the reel 1 is locked in the stop slit 61 of the positioning plate 6, so that the selector 2 is limited to the positioning plate 6 of the support frame 9 by the pull wire 13 of the reel 1.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 6, the pull wire 13 of the reel 1 is kept at a straight state constantly when the selector 2 is detached from the weights 4 and the. drive shaft 53.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 7, the pull wire 13 of the reel 1 is also kept at a straight state constantly when the selector 2 is inserted into the gap 40 between any two adjacent weights 4 and connected to the drive shaft 53.

[0030] Accordingly, the pull wire 13 of the reel 1 is kept at a straight state constantly during movement of the selector 2, so that the pull wire 13 of the reel 1 will not interfere with operation of the selector 2 and will not tangle with the weights 4, thereby facilitating the user operating the selector 2, and thereby protecting the user's safety. In addition, the two retaining plugs 23 of the selector 2 are retained in the respective retaining groove 54 of the drive shaft 53, and the clamping opening 25 of the selector 2 is clamped on the drive shaft 53, so that the selector 2 is combined with the drive shaft 53 rigidly and stably, thereby facilitating the user operating the selector 2 to move the weights 4 smoothly.

[0031] Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment(s) as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claim or claims will cover such modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the invention.