Abstract
Exercise device, having at least one elongate track onto which a seat and a footrest are slidingly movably arranged, such that the seat and the footrest are mutually independently movable along the at least one track, a resistance element connected to a handle via a drive cord through which the resistance element can be driven upon pulling the handle towards the seat, and a cord guiding member arranged between the handle and the resistance element over which the drive cord passes, wherein the cord guiding member is arranged stationary with respect to the footrest, and wherein the resistance element is arranged stationary with respect to the at least one track.
Claims
1. An exercise device, comprising: at least one elongate track onto which a seat and a footrest are slidingly movably arranged, such that the seat and the footrest are independently movable along the at least one track; a resistance element connected to a handle via a drive cord through which the resistance element can be driven upon pulling the handle towards the seat; and a cord guiding member arranged between the handle and the resistance element over which the drive cord passes, wherein the cord guiding member is arranged substantially stationary with respect to the footrest so that the cord guiding member moves with the footrest, and wherein the resistance element is arranged substantially stationary with respect to the at least one track.
2. The exercise device according to claim 1, comprising a cord guiding system that transfers only mutual movement of the handle and the footrest via the drive cord to the resistance element, but not a unitary movement of the handle and the footrest.
3. The exercise device according to claim 1, wherein the resistance element is arranged below the at least one track.
4. The exercise device according to claim 3, wherein the resistance element is suspended from the at least one track such that it is arranged above a floor on which the exercise device is installed.
5. The exercise device according to claim 1, wherein the resistance element comprises a flywheel configured to generate drag upon rotation thereof.
6. The exercise device according to claim 5, wherein the flywheel is arranged horizontally.
7. The exercise device according to claim 5, wherein the flywheel comprises an impeller arranged in a closed container at least partially filled with liquid configured to provide resistance to the impeller upon rotation thereof.
8. The exercise device according to claim 1, further comprising a body which is slidingly movably arranged onto the at least one track, wherein the footrest and the cord guiding member are mounted on the body.
9. The exercise device according to claim 8, wherein the cord guiding member is mounted on the body at a distance from the at least one track, for instance at approximately equal height as the handle when held by a user during use of the exercise device.
10. The exercise device according to claim 1, wherein the drive cord is directly connected to the resistance element, such that a pulling force exerted on the handle and a resistance force provided by the resistance element are coupled directly.
11. The exercise device according to claim 1, wherein the drive cord is indirectly connected to the resistance element via a traveling pulley, such that a pulling force exerted on the handle and a resistance force provided by the resistance element are coupled indirectly.
12. The exercise device according to claim 1, further comprising a bias element configured to urge each of the handle and the footrest towards a starting position, being the position of the handle and the footrest when no external force is applied.
13. The exercise device according to claim 1, further comprising a tensioner configured to apply a force on the drive cord so as to create and maintain tension on the drive cord, wherein preferably the tensioner is integrated with the bias element.
14. The exercise device according to claim 1, wherein the resistance element is connected via the drive cord to the footrest such that the resistance element can be driven through the cord upon pushing the footrest away from the seat.
15. The exercise device according to claim 1, wherein the cord guiding member is a pulley.
16. The exercise device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one track comprises a first track and a second track, wherein the seat is slidingly movably arranged on the first track and the footrest is slidingly movably arranged on the second track, wherein the first and second tracks parallel to each other.
17. The exercise device according to claim 16, wherein the first track is arranged higher than the second track.
18. The exercise device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one track, preferably the first track, comprises a resilient plate-like member onto which the seat is movably arranged, for instance slidingly movable, wherein the resilient plate-like member has a spring constant such that a vertical position of the seat is lowered by the weight of a user seated on the seat.
19. The exercise device according to claim 1, the exercise device being a rowing simulator.
20. The exercise device according to claim 7, comprising a sensor arrangement configured to sense rotational speed of the impeller through the closed container, preferably during both work and rest phases in operation of the exercise device.
21. The exercise device according to claim 1, wherein the drive cord comprises two ends, one of which is fixed to the handle and one of which is stationary with respect to the footrest, wherein the drive cord extends around a or the traveling pulley, which is movably arranged with respect to the resistance element, wherein the resistance element may be coupled to the traveling pulley, so that movement of the traveling pulley requires engagement of the resistance element.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0054] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, wherein:
[0055] FIG. 1 shows a side view of a preferred embodiment of the exercise device according to the invention in a first position;
[0056] FIG. 2 shows a side view of the exercise device of FIG. 1 in a second position;
[0057] FIG. 3 shows a side view of another preferred embodiment of the exercise device according to the invention in the first position;
[0058] FIG. 4 shows a side view of the exercise device of FIG. 3 in the second position; and
[0059] FIG. 5 shows a detailed perspective view of the rear end of the exercise device of FIGS. 3 and 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0060] Directions such as vertical and horizontal are used to provide information on the orientation of parts in a normal use of the exercise device. Front and rear are defined as seen by a user using the exercise device in a normal way.
[0061] FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of an exercise device 1, being a rowing simulator, also known as a rowing machine. The exercise device 1 comprises a single horizontally extending track 2, a seat 3 and a footrest 4. The track 2 has the shape of a beam and is supported at each free end. At the front end the track 2 is supported by a front leg 21 and at the rear end the track 2 is supported by a rear leg 22. The front leg 21 and the rear leg 22 support the track 2 on a floor 10 on which the exercise device 1 is installed at a position above the floor 10. Towards the rear end the track 2 is slightly bent such that the seat 3 moves slightly upward near the rear end of the track 2 when moving toward the rear end. The seat 3 and the footrest 4 are slidably arranged onto the track 2, such that the seat 3 and the footrest 4 are mutually independently movable along the track 2. The seat 3 is provided with guiding wheels 31. The exercise device 1 further comprises a resistance element 5, a handle 6 and a cord 7. The resistance element 5 comprises a fluid filled container with a paddlewheel arranged therein, which provides a resistance force upon rotation of the paddlewheel in the fluid. In preferred embodiments, this fluid is a liquid such as water. Resistance element 5 is arranged stationary with respect to the track 2 and connected to the rear leg 22 to prevent the resistance element 5 from moving relative to the track 2. The resistance element 5 is connected to the handle 6 via the cord 7. The cord 7 is configured around a shaft 51 of the resistance element 5. The shaft 51 is connected to the rear leg 22 to prevent the shaft 51 from tilting under the influence of forces transferred by the cord 7. The resistance element 5 can be driven through the cord 7 upon reciprocal (linear) movement of the handle 6. The exercise device 1 further comprises a pulley 80, seen along the cord 7. The pulley 80 is arranged between the handle 6 and the resistance element 5 such that a direction of movement of the cord 7 on the side of the handle 6 is opposite to that on the side of the resistance element 5. The pulley 80 and the footrest 4 are mounted on a body 40 that is slidably arranged on the track 2, such that the pulley 80 is further arranged stationary with respect to the footrest 4. The pulley 80 being movable with respect to the track 2 improves the simulation of rowing. The pulley 80 is mounted on the body 40 at approximately equal height H as the handle 6 held by a user during use, as shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 1, the exercise device 1 is in an extended position, i.e. in a position in which legs of a user are (almost) straight and a distance between the seat 3 and the footrest 4 is maximal. The exercise device 1 further comprises a bias element 9 for urging the exercise device 1 to the starting position when a user provides no or little force to oppose the bias. The bias element 9 is connected to a traveling pulley 81, around which the cord 7 is configured. The traveling pulley 81 is arranged to guide the cord 7 between, seen along the cord 7, the resistance element 5 and an end of the cord 7 connected to the footrest 4. The cord 7 is further configured around a stationary pulley 82 arranged to guide the cord 7 between, seen along the cord 7, the traveling pulley 81 and the end of the cord 7 connected to the footrest 4. The stationary pulley 82 is provided on a housing of the resistance element 5. A second body-mounted pulley 83 is mounted on the body 40 and arranged to guide the cord 7 between, seen along the cord 7, the pulley 80 and the resistance element 5. Since the pulley 80 is at approximately equal height H with the handle 6, the cord 7 is configured around the second body-mounted pulley 83 to be substantially horizontal, or parallel to the track 2, when driving the resistance element 5. The resistance element 5 is arranged on the floor 10 on which the exercise device 1 is installed, below the track 2, in particular near the rear end of the track 2. The resistance element 5 is arranged horizontally, wherein the shaft 51 is arranged vertically such that a rotational axis of the resistance element 5 is arranged vertically and is aligned with the shaft 51.
[0062] In FIG. 2, the exercise device 1 of FIG. 1 is in a starting position, i.e. in a position in which a distance between the seat and the footrest is such that the legs of the user seated on the seat and with feet placed on the footrest may be bent. The bias element 9 can be seen biasing the traveling pulley 81, and therewith the exercise device 1, toward the starting position. Positioning of the traveling pulley 81 in a direction along at least the longitudinal axis A of the track 2 may result in a sliding of the footrest 4 in an opposite direction along the longitudinal axis A. In the starting position, the distance D between the seat 3 and the footrest 4 is reduced.
[0063] In FIG. 3, another preferred embodiment of the exercise device 1 is shown. Exercise device 1 is again in an extended position in which the legs of the user are (almost) straight and the distance between the seat and the footrest is maximal. The exercise device 1 comprises a first track 2a and a second track 2b, wherein the seat 3 is connected to the first track 2a and the footrest 4 is connected to the second track 2b. The first track 2a is positioned higher than the second track 2b. The tracks 2a, 2b have the shape of a beam and are each supported at each free end. At the front end the second track 2b is supported by a front leg 21. At the rear end the first track 2a is supported by a first rear leg 22a. The first track 2a is supported at the front end of the first track 2a by a second rear leg 22b connected the second track 2b to the first track 2a. The front leg 21 and the rear legs 22a, 22b support the track 2 on a floor 10 on which the exercise device 1 is installed at a position above the floor 10. The seat 3 and the footrest 4 are slidably arranged onto each respective track 2a, 2b such that the seat 3 and the footrest 4 are mutually independently movable along each respective track 2a, 2b. The seat 3 is provided with guiding wheels 31. The exercise device 1 further comprises a resistance element 5, a handle 6 and a cord 7. The resistance element 5 is arranged stationary with respect to the first track 2a and the second track 2b. The resistance element 5 is connected to the handle 6 via the cord 7. The exercise device 1 further comprises a pulley 80, seen along the cord 7. The pulley 80 and the footrest 4 are mounted on a body 40 that is slidably arranged on the track 2, such that the pulley 80 is arranged stationary with respect to the footrest 4 so that the pulley 80 moves along the track's longitudinal direction with the footrest 4. The exercise device 1 further comprises a traveling pulley 81, around which the cord 7 is configured. The traveling pulley 81 is arranged to guide the cord 7 between, seen along the cord 7, the resistance element 5 and an end of the cord 7 connected to the footrest 4. The resistance element 5 can be driven through the cord 7 via movement of the traveling pulley 81 upon reciprocal (linear) movement of the handle 6. The resistance element 5 is then driven by the movement of the traveling pulley 81 through a second cord 71 connecting the traveling pulley 81 to the resistance element 5. The cord 7 is further configured around a stationary pulley 82 arranged to guide the cord 7 between, seen along the cord 7, the traveling pulley 81 and the pulley 80 mounted on the body 40. The stationary pulley 82 is provided at the front end of the second track 2b. The stationary pulley 82 forms a further cord guiding member as described above, and is arranged at a side of the exercise device 1 away from the seat 3. A second body-mounted pulley 83 is mounted on the body 40 and arranged to guide the cord 7 between, seen along the cord 7, the pulley 80 and the stationary pulley 82 such that the cord 7 is configured around a larger circumference of the pulleys 80, 82 to improve the guiding of the cord 7 by the pulleys 80, 82. The further cord guiding member 82, the cord guiding member 80 and the second body-mounted pulley 83 are part of a cord guiding system which transfers only mutual movement of the handle 6 and the footrest 4 via the cord 7 to the resistance element 5. For this purpose, the cord guiding system includes a traveling pulley 81, movement of which engages the resistance element 5. The resistance element 5 is arranged at a height above the floor 10 on which the exercise device 1 is installed, below the track 2, in particular below the first track 2a between the rear legs 22a, 22b. By arranging the resistance element 5 above the floor 10, noise produced by the resistance element 5 during use of the exercise device 1 can be reduced. The resistance element 5 is arranged horizontally, wherein the shaft 51 is arranged vertically such that a rotational axis of the resistance element 5 is arranged vertically and is aligned with the shaft 51. Onto shaft 51 a first gear wheel 53 is arranged, which is part of a transmission 50 together with a second gear wheel 54 and a transmission belt 55. Transmission 50 allows adjusting the resistance force acting on the handle 6 when pulling the handle 6 towards the seat 3. It is noted that transmission 50 is only optional. Embodiments not including the transmission 50, i.e. wherein the drive cord is connected to shaft 51 directly, also fall within the scope of the present disclosure.
[0064] In FIG. 4, the exercise device 1 of FIG. 3 is shown in a starting position in which a distance between the seat 3 and the footrest 4 is such that the legs of the user seated on the seat 3 and with feet placed on the footrest 4 may be bent. In the starting position, the distance D between the seat 3 and the footrest 4 is reduced. The traveling pulley 81 is positioned toward the resistance element 5 and the handle 6 and the pulley 80 are positioned toward each other.
[0065] The cord guiding system of the exercise device 1 of FIGS. 3 and 4 operates as follows.
[0066] First, it is noted that from e.g. the starting position shown in FIG. 4, the body 40 and footrest 4 can move freely to the right, without activation of the flywheel, as long as the handle 6 is moved equally, i.e. when there is no mutual movement between the handle 6 and footrest 4. This can be seen as follows. With no mutual movement of the handle 6 and footrest 4, the section of the cord 7 between the handle and the pulley 80 on the body remains equal. Any movement of the body 40 to the right in FIG. 4, would result in a shorter distance between the pulleys 83 and 82. Since the cord 7 remains of equal length, there is a slack in the cord 7 between the pulleys 82 and 83 equal to the movement of the body 40 (and of the handle 6). At the same time, a distance between the body 40, specifically the point 500 at which the cord 7 is connected thereto, and traveling pulley 81 increases. The increase in distance of the body 40 with respect to the traveling pulley 81 is equal to the decrease in distance between the pulleys 82 and 83. Accordingly, the slack between pulleys 82 and 83 is taken up by the increased distance between the connection point 500 on the body 40 and the traveling pulley 81. Accordingly, the movement of the body 40 together with equal movement of the handle 6 can take place without having to move the traveling pulley 81. The total distance spanned by the cord 7 between its point of connection 500 on the body, and the pulley 80 on the body 40 nearest to the handle 6 remains equal. As such, the movement of the body 40 with the handle 6 only requires the cord 7 to move through the pulleys 80, 83, 82, 81, but does not require displacement of the traveling pulley 81 with respect to the elongate member 2 of the exercise device 1. As the traveling pulley 81 remains in place, there is no additional force on or movement of second cord 71, so that the resistance element 5 is not actuated. Accordingly, the movement of the body 40 together with the handle 6 does not drive the resistance element 5, and thus encounters no resistance from it. This behaviour simulates rowing relatively accurately.
[0067] Conversely, when starting a proper stroke, beginning at the situation in FIG. 4, a user pushes on footrest 4 (to the right in the figures) and pulls on the handle 6 (to the left in the figures). Accordingly, the cord 7 between the handle 6 and the pulley 80 on the body 40 is forced to extend to the left. As a result, the handle 6 and footrest 4 move apart from each other, i.e. there is a mutual movement between the handle 6 and the footrest 4. The increased distance requires an extension of the section of the cord 7 between the handle 6 and the pulley 80 on the body 40, as can be seen in FIG. 3 as compared to FIG. 4. The total distance spanned by the cord 7 between its point of connection 500 to the pulley 80 closest to the handle 6 is shorter, since the total length of the cord 7 remains unchanged. Accordingly, the traveling pulley 81 must also move with respect to the elongate member 2 and the resistance element 5. As such, the traveling pulley 81 moves to the right in the figures, i.e. away from the resistance element 5, thereby providing slack in the cord 7. Said slack is taken up (or rather, caused) by the increased length of the section of the cord 7 between the handle 6 and the closest pulley 80 on the body 40.
[0068] Accordingly, movement of the footrest 4 on the body 40 with respect to the handle 6 requires movement of the traveling pulley 81. The movement of the traveling pulley 81 in turn actuates the resistance element 5, and thus encounters resistance from it. The resistance is therefore also encountered by the user, who moves the handle 6 with respect to the footrest 4. This behaviour simulates rowing relatively accurately.
[0069] In FIG. 5, a close up view of a first track 2a and part of a second track 2b of an exercise device 1 is shown. A seat 3 is slidably arranged onto the first track 2a, as a result of which it can slide in a longitudinal horizontal direction of the first track 2a. The first track 2a comprises a resilient plate-like member such that the vertical position of the seat 3 is lowered by the weight of a user seated on the seat 3. Under the influence of the weight, the resilient member bends and the seat 3 lowers, such that the first track 2a is arc-shaped, the radius of which decreases with an increasing weight thereon. The first track 2a being arc-shaped results in a counterforce that counteracts a movement of the seat 3 along the first track 2a away from the lowest point on the resilient plate-like member. This resistance is intended to keep the user in place when the footrest 4 is pushed away from the seat 3 and pulled towards the seat 3 by the user. This improves the rowing simulation accuracy. Logically, the heavier the user the more the resilient plate-like member bends downwardly. Consequently, the resistance is increased, which is convenient as heavier users tend to be more powerful and therefore need more resistance to stay in place.
[0070] FIG. 5 further shows that the resistance element 5 comprises a paddlewheel 52 inside a housing of the resistance element 5. The housing is filled with a liquid, preferably water, such that upon rotation of the paddlewheel 52 a greater resistance to the rotation of the paddlewheel 52 is encountered in comparison with for example an air-based resistance element 5. The liquid decreases the amount of noise produced by the resistance element 5 to improve the experience of the user when using the exercise device 1, especially since the resistance element 5 is arranged at a height above the floor 10. The liquid further improves the simulation of rowing during use of the exercise device 1.
[0071] Finally, the exercise device 1 includes a display 96 mounted on a support 97 on the body. The display 96 may also be mounted on another part of the exercise device 1, such as a stationary part, in particular the track. The display 96 is configured to show exercise data obtained by a sensor arrangement 98, 99. The sensor arrangement 98, 99 (shown only in FIG. 5 for the sake of clarity), comprises a magnet 98 arranged on the paddlewheel 52 and a magnetic sensor 99 outside of the container in which the paddlewheel 52 is arranged. When the paddlewheel 52 rotates in the container, the magnet 98 passes the magnetic sensor 99, which can register the rotation accordingly. The sensed rotation is then processed to provide exercise data to the user via the display 96.
[0072] The exercise device according to the present invention allows using a relatively heavy resistance element, by arranging it stationary with respect to the at least one track, whilst achieving an accurate rowing simulation by running the drive cord through a guiding member which is arranged stationary with respect to the movable footrest. As a result, a dynamic rowing machine can be provided with a relatively heavy resistance element and a relatively quiet resistance element that uses liquid while still retaining the beneficial features of dynamic rowing simulation machines.
[0073] The drawings are illustrative of selected aspects of the present disclosure, and together with the description serve to explain principles and operation of methods, products, and systems embraced by the present disclosure.
[0074] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Since modifications combinations, sub-combinations and variations of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
