Adjustable rowing machine

[0001] 1. Fields of the Invention

[0002] The invention relates to an adjustable rowing machine, and more particularly, to a rowing machine having a lifting device and a guide device for adjusting the angle of a supporting frame relative to a base frame.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] A rowing machine is a fitness device having a mechanism with two oarlike handles (or a movable bar), foot braces, and a sliding seat, allowing the user to go through reciprocating motions of rowing in a racing shell.

oarlike handles or a movable bar and a sliding seat, used to simulate rowing a racing shell.

[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 5,916,069 teaches a rowing exerciser with magnetic resistance having a supporting frame on which a seat moves for supporting the operator's body. This configuration allows the operator to stably sit on the seat to take exercise. However, it lacks the possibility for individual adjustment to weight, height and physical condition of each operator. The reciprocating motion of the rowing machine at a single angle can't meet different requirements of operators any more.

[0006] It is a primary object of the invention is to provide a rowing machine with a function to adjust the sitting angle of the operator during the exercise session.

[0007] It is another object of the invention is to provide a rowing machine with a supporting frame to adjust the angle of the supporting frame for positioning the operator's body in an inclined position.

[0018] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a rowing machine in accordance with the invention includes an arched guide device 20 clamped by rolling elements 50. One end of the arched guide device 20 is connected to a supporting frame 30 that is movably supported by a lifting element 40 in an inclined position.

[0019] When the lifting element 40 is extended to lift the supporting frame 30 in an inclined position, the arched guide device 20 moves along an imaginary full circular track (marked with dashed line) having a circular point (a). To the contrary, when the lifting element 40 is retracted to lower the supporting frame 30, the arched guide device 20 also moved along the imaginary full circular track (marked with dashed line) having a circular point (a). In this way, the operator can easily adjust the supporting frame 30 to a desired angle for taking a comfortable exercise session.

[0020] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the adjustable rowing machine in accordance with the invention includes a main frame 10 having a handgrip 11 at the top thereof. The handgrip 11 is connected with a pull rope 12 that passes through a pulley (marked with dashed line) within the main frame 10 and is secured to a flywheel rewinder 13. When the handgrip 11 pulls the pull rope 12 to extend its length, the flywheel rewinder 13 will be simultaneously turned to accumulate its resilience. When the handgrip 11 is released, the pull rope 12 will be rewound around the flywheel rewinder 13 by its accumulated resilience and the handgrip 11 moving with the pull rope 12 will return to its original position.

[0021] The main frame 10 is connected to a first end of the arched guide device 20 while a second end thereof and the supporting frame 30 are integrally joined. The arched guide device 20 is clamped by the rolling elements 50 of the upright support 52 of the base frame 51. Moreover, the lifting element 40 is pivotably interposed between the base frame 51 and the supporting frame 30.

[0022] Furthermore, the supporting frame 30 includes rails 31 for a seat 32 to perform a reciprocating movement thereon. Meanwhile, the supporting frame 30 is supported by the lifting element 40 and maintained at a certain angle or in a horizontal position. The lifting device 40 can includes an electric motor 41 that drives a socket 43 screwed on a spindle 42 to undergo a reciprocating motion in axial direction.

[0023] When the socket 43 on the spindle 42 is extended by the electric motor 41 to lift the supporting frame 30, the arched guide device 20 clamped by the rolling element 50 is movable with the supporting frame 30 along an imaginary circular track until the lifting element 40 is stopped. At that time, the supporting frame 30 is positioned at a certain angle to allow the operator to take exercise sessions.

[0024] To the contrary, when the socket 43 on the spindle 42 is retracted by the electric motor 41 to lower the supporting frame 30, the arched guide device 20 clamped by the rolling element 50 is movable with the supporting frame 30 along an imaginary circular track until the lifting element 40 is stopped. So, the supporting frame 30 is positioned at a certain angle or returns to its original position for next operators to undergo the angle-adjusting action.

[0025] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, an adjustable rowing machine in accordance with another embodiment of the invention includes a main frame 10 with a control knob 14. A stop rod 15 is provided at the top of the main frame 10 for limiting the motion of a handgrip 11 in connection with a pull rope 12. A supporting frame 30 having a flywheel rewinder 13 mounted on one side thereof is integrally joined to the main frame 10. The pull rope 12 passes through a pulley (marked with dashed line) within the main frame 10 and is wounded around the flywheel rewinder 13. When the pull rope pull rope 12 is pulled by the handgrip 11 and extended over a certain length, the flywheel rewinder 13 accumulates its resilience. Thereafter, the pull rope 12 will be rewound around the flywheel rewinder 13 again by the resilience accumulated by the flywheel rewinder 13 when the handgrip 11 is released to return to the stop rod 15.

[0026] Moreover, the supporting frame 30 includes rails 31 for a seat 32 to perform a reciprocating movement. In addition, the supporting frame 30 is integrally connected with the arched guide device 20. The arched guide device 20 is clamped by the rolling element 50 of the upright support 52 of the base frame 51. Moreover, the lifting element 40 is pivotably interposed between the base frame 51 and the supporting frame 30. Meanwhile, the supporting frame 30 is supported by the lifting element 40 and maintained at a certain angle or in a horizontal position. The lifting device 40 may include an electric motor 41 that drives a socket 43 screwed on a spindle 42 to undergo a reciprocating motion in axial direction.

[0027] In use, the electric motor 41 is activated to drive the socket 43 on the spindle 42 to extend over a certain length, thereby lifting the supporting frame 30 in an inclined position. Meanwhile, the arched guide device 20 clamped by the rolling element 50 is movable with the supporting frame 30 along an imaginary circular track until the lifting element 40 is stopped. At that time, the supporting frame 30 is positioned at a certain angle to allow the operator to take exercise sessions.

[0028] To the contrary, when the socket 43 on the spindle 42 is retracted by the electric motor 41 to lower the supporting frame 30, the arched guide device 20 clamped by the rolling element 50 is movable with the supporting frame 30 along an imaginary circular track until the lifting element 40 is stopped. So, the supporting frame 30 is positioned at a certain angle or returns to its original position for next operators to undergo the angle-adjusting action.

[0029] Based on the aforementioned configuration, when the supporting frame 30 is lifted in such an inclined position that the operator sitting on the seat 32 can overlook the ground. To the contrary, the supporting frame 30 can be pulled back by the lifting device 50 in such an inclined position that the operator sitting on the seat 32 can look up to the sky.

[0030] FIGS. 7 through 9 shows how the guide device is clamped. As shown in FIG. 7, the guide device 20 is constructed as an arched tube and its circumference is clamped by two rolling elements 50 pivotally connected to the upright support 52 of the rolling element 50. When the guide device 20 moves with the supporting frame 30 along the imaginary circular track, it's rollable for displacement between two rolling elements 50. As shown in FIG. 8, the guide device 20 has a cross-section of hourglass whose middle narrow part is clamped by two rolling elements 50 pivotally connected to the upright support 52 of the rolling element 50. When the guide device 20 moves with the supporting frame 30 along the imaginary circular track, it's rollable for displacement between two rolling elements 50. As shown in FIG. 9, the guide device 20 is constructed as an arched tube and its circumference is clamped by a clamping element 55 consisting of a bottom cover 53 fastened on the base frame 51 and a movable top cover 54. When the guide device 20 moves with the supporting frame 30 along the imaginary circular track, it's rollable for displacement between two clamping elements 55.

[0031] 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.