Arm exercising device

[0001] This application claims priority of Chinese Utility Model Application No. 201020189341.5, filed on Apr. 30, 2010, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference.

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] This invention relates to an exercising device, more particularly to an arm exercising device.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional arm exercising device is shown to include a plurality of elastic straps 91, two swing arms 92 connected to the elastic straps 91, two steel cords 93 disposed for respectively driving movement of the swing arms 92, and two handgrips 94 respectively connected to the steel cords 93. When the handgrips 94 are pulled by a user, a resistance force is generated by the elastic straps 91 to train the user's arm muscles.

[0006] Referring to FIG. 2, another conventional arm exercising device is shown to be similar to the above arm exercising device, and has two fluid pressure cylinders 95 to generate a resistance force to impede swing movement of the swing arms 92.

[0007] However, in both of these arm exercising devices, the swing arms are moved independently and the impeding units (e.g., the elastic straps 91 and the fluid pressure cylinders 95) are disposed to generate separate resistance forces to each of the respective swing arms 92, thereby resulting in uneven loading of the handgrips 94 and having an adverse effect upon the exercising user.

[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide an arm exercising device which is capable of providing an even and uniform resistance force to train the muscles of a user's arms.

[0009] According to this invention, the arm exercising device includes a frame that has an upright support with a fixed guide rod, and a linkage mechanism. The linkage mechanism includes a pair of swing arms pivotally mounted on the upright support for swinging upward and downward, a runner sleeve disposed slidably around the guide rod for moving upward or downward, a pair of linking rods, each connected between the runner sleeve and one of the swing arms, a pair of handgrips, and a force transmitting cord connected to the handgrips and the swing arms.

[0021] Before the present invention is described in greater detail, it should be noted that the same reference numerals have been used to denote like elements throughout the specification.

[0022] Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5, the first preferred embodiment of an arm exercising device according to the present invention is shown to comprise a frame 10, an impeding unit 55, and a linkage mechanism. The linkage mechanism includes a pair of swing arms 51, a runner sleeve 53, a pair of linking rods 54, a pair of handgrips 4, and a force transmitting cord 7.

[0023] The frame 10 includes a base 1, an upright support 2 fixed to the base 1 at a bottom end thereof and extending upward, and a transverse bar 3 mounted transversely on the upright support 2. The upright support 2 has a fixed guide rod 21 extending in a vertical direction. In particular, the guide rod 21 has top and bottom ends fixed to the upright support 2. Two lower pulleys 61 are mounted on the base 1 at two sides of the upright support 2. A middle pulley 63 is mounted on the bottom end of the upright support 2 and is interposed between the lower pulleys 61. The transverse bar 3 has a plurality of lugs 31 disposed at two ends thereof. Two upper pulleys 62 are each hung on a selected one of two of the lugs 31 so that the distance between the upper pulleys 62 can be adjusted.

[0024] Each of the swing arms 51 has a first end 512 connected pivotally to the upright support 2 in proximity to the bottom end of the guide rod 21 for swinging upward and downward, a second end 513 extending away from the upright support 2, and a swing arm pulley 511 attached to the second end 513.

[0025] The runner sleeve 53 is disposed slidably over the guide rod 21 for moving upward or downward, and has a pair of connectors 531 that are respectively disposed on opposite sides of the runner sleeve 53.

[0026] Each of the linking rods 54 has one end 541 connected pivotally to one of the connectors 531 and the other end 542 connected pivotally to one of the swing arms 51 between the first and second ends 512,513.

[0027] In this embodiment, the impeding unit 55 is in the form of a helical spring 55, preferably a compression spring, that is sleeved on the guide rod 21. The helical spring 55 has one end abutting against the runner sleeve 53 to apply a resistance force to the runner sleeve 53.

[0028] The force transmitting cord 7 is made of a steel material, and has two cord ends 71 which are respectively connected to the handgrips 4. The force transmitting cord 7 is disposed to consecutively pass over one of the upper pulleys 62, one of the lower pulleys 61, one of the swing arm pulleys 511, the middle pulley 63, the other one of the swing arm pulleys 511, the other one of the lower pulleys 61, and the other one of the upper pulleys 62.

[0029] By pulling the handgrips 4, the swing arms 51 are moved by the force transmitting cord 7. At this stage, the linking rods 54 connected to the swing arms 51 drive the runner sleeve 53 to move downward along the guide rod 21 to press the compression spring 55 such that a resistance force is generated and applied to the runner sleeve 53. The swing arms 51 and the runner sleeve 53 are interconnected through the linking rods 54 and the runner sleeve 53 is impeded by the compression spring 55. Accordingly, when the user operates the handgrips 4 to perform a stretching exercise, he/she will be subjected to substantially the same resistance force on each arm. Moreover, by virtue of the interconnection between the swing arms 51, it is convenient to adjust the resistance forces to be applied to two arms of the user.

[0030] It is noted that due to the adjustable distance between the upper pulleys 62, the positions of the handgrips 4 can be varied to suit different users.

[0031] Referring to FIG. 6, alternatively, the swing arms 51 may be connected to the upright support 2 above the guide rod 21.

[0032] Referring to FIG. 7, the second preferred embodiment of the arm exercising device according to this invention is shown to be similar to that of the first embodiment in construction, except that the impeding unit 55 is in the form of a fluid or gas pressure actuated telescopic mechanism 55 that includes a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder 551 connected to the runner sleeve 53, and a plunger 552 fixed to the upright support 2.

[0033] Referring to FIG. 8, the third preferred embodiment of the arm exercising device according to this invention is shown to be similar to that of the first embodiment in construction. In this embodiment, the arm exercising device further comprises a leg exercising unit 81 and a downward-pulling exercising unit 82. The leg exercising unit 81 includes a seat 811 and a weight-lifting member 812 rotatable relative to the seat 811. The downward-pulling exercising unit 82 includes a downward-pulling rod 821, two fixed pulleys 822 mounted on the upright support 2, a pulling cord 823 connected to the downward-pulling rod 821 and passing through the fixed pulleys 822 and the guide rod 21, and a movable pulley 824 connected to the pulling cord 823. In addition, two middle pulleys 63 are mounted on the bottom end of the upright support 2, and the force transmitting cord 7 is disposed to pass through the middle pulleys 63 and the movable pulley 824. Hence, the user can also perform a leg exercise and a downward-pulling exercise.

[0034] Referring to FIG. 9, the fourth preferred embodiment of the arm exercising device according to this invention is shown to be similar to that of the first embodiment in construction, except that the impeding unit 55 includes a plurality of elastic straps 551, each connected between one of the linking rods 54 and one of the swing arms 51. The quantity of elastic straps 551 connected to each of the swing arms 51 may be identical. Alternatively, each elastic strap 551 may be a tension spring.

[0035] Referring to FIG. 10, in the fifth preferred embodiment, the impeding unit 55 includes a plurality of elastic straps 551, each connected between the upright support 2 and one of the swing arms 51. As illustrated, by virtue of arrangement of the handgrips 4, a single force transmitting cord 7, the single sleeve runner 53, the swing arms 51 and the linking rods 54, uniform resistance forces can be applied to each of the user's arms when the user grips the handgrips 4 and pulls downward, thereby enabling smooth and even arm exercises to occur. In addition, the resistance force provided by the impeding unit 55 may be conveniently adjusted.

[0036] While the present invention has been described in connection with what are considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretations and equivalent arrangements.