Hand support controlling device for an elliptical exercise apparatus

Abstract

A hand support controlling device includes two hand support rod members and two controlling units. Each of the rod members has upper and lower rod sections, which are disposed rotatably on a base. Each controlling unit is rotatable between a first position, wherein the respective upper rod section is connected fixedly to the respective lower rod section so that the respective upper rod section can swing back and forth about a pivot axis, and a second position, wherein the respective upper rod section is fixed relative to the base and wherein the respective lower rod section is rotatable about the pivot axis.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A hand support controlling device for an elliptical exercise apparatus, which includes a base positioned on a ground surface and having a front end, an upright post connected fixedly to the front end of the base, and a pair of shafts capable of movement on the base in elliptical motions, said controlling device comprising: 
 a pair of hand support rod members, each of which has an upper rod section with a lower end, and a lower rod section with an upper end, said lower ends and said upper ends being adapted to be connected pivotally to the post so that said upper rod sections and said lower rod sections are rotatable about a horizontal pivot axis, rotation of said lower rod sections about said pivot axis resulting in the elliptical motions of the shafts; and    a pair of controlling units disposed respectively and rotatably on said rod members, each of said controlling units being rotatable between a first position, wherein said upper rod section of a respective one of said rod members is connected fixedly to a respective one of said lower rod sections so that a respective one of said upper rod sections can swing back and forth about said pivot axis, and a second position, wherein said upper rod section of the respective one of said rod members is fixed relative to the base and wherein said lower rod section of the respective one of said rod members is rotatable about said pivot axis.    
     
     
         2 . The controlling device of  claim 1 , wherein each of said controlling units includes: 
 a limiting piece mounted rotatably on the respective one of said upper rod sections; and    an L-shaped rotary lever connected non-rotatably to said limiting piece and operable to rotate a respective one of said controlling units to said first and second positions.    
     
     
         3 . The controlling device of  claim 2 , wherein said rotary levers have a semicircular cross-section, said limiting pieces being formed with semicircular holes for receiving said rotary levers respectively and fittingly so that each of said limiting pieces can rotate synchronously with a respective one of said rotary levers.  
     
     
         4 . The controlling device of  claim 3 , further comprising a pair of positioning units, each of which includes: 
 an outer positioning member connected fixedly to said upper end of said lower rod section of the respective one of said rod members and disposed at one side of said upper rod section of the respective one of said rod members; and    an inner positioning member disposed at the other side of said upper rod section and adapted to be fixed relative to the post so that said limiting piece of the respective one of said controlling units can engage a selected one of said inner and outer positioning members by rotating a respective one of said rotary levers, thereby locating the respective one of said controlling units at a selected one of said first and second positions.    
     
     
         5 . The controlling device of  claim 4 , wherein each of said positioning units further includes an intermediate positioning member which is connected fixedly to said lower end of said upper rod section of the respective one of said rod members, and which includes an axial slot that extends horizontally through said intermediate positioning member and that is parallel to said pivot axis, and an annular outer surface formed with a lever hole that is in communication with said axial slot and that is transverse to said pivot axis, each of said axial slots being provided for receiving said limiting piece of the respective one of said controlling units therein so as to permit 180° rotation of said limiting pieces within said axial slots, said lever hole in each of said positioning units being provided for extension of said rotary lever of the respective one of said controlling units therethrough so as to engage said hole in a respective one of said limiting pieces, each of said inner and outer positioning members having a limiting slot, said limiting piece of each of said controlling units having a free end, which is engaged within said limiting slot in a respective one of said outer positioning members when the respective one of said controlling units is disposed at said first position, and within said limiting slot in a respective one of said inner positioning members when the respective one of said controlling units is disposed at said second position.  
     
     
         6 . The controlling device of  claim 5 , wherein said limiting slot in each of said inner and outer positioning members has an enlarged upper portion to facilitate engagement of said free end of said limiting piece of the respective one of said controlling units therein, and a lower portion that is narrower than said upper portion and that is shaped so as to receive fittingly said free end of said limiting piece of the respective one of said controlling units.