Exercise machine

Abstract

An exercise machine includes: a flywheel mounted rotatably to a support frame; a crank wheel mounted rotatably to the support frame; a transmission belt trained on the flywheel and the crank wheel; and a pressurizing wheel mechanism including a mounting seat mounted to the support frame, upper and lower pressure wheel units provided pivotally on the mounting seat, and upper and lower limiting members mounted to the mounting seat. The upper and lower pressure wheel units respectively have upper and lower pressure wheels biased to move in first and second directions so as to press and tense upper and lower segments of the transmission belt that extend between the flywheel and the crank wheel. The upper and lower limiting members limit movement of the upper and lower pressure wheel units in directions opposite to the first and second directions, respectively.

1 . An exercise machine comprising:
 a base;   a first support frame mounted to said base;   a flywheel unit mounted rotatably to said first support frame;   a crank wheel unit mounted rotatably to said first support frame;   a transmission belt trained on said flywheel unit and said crank wheel unit; and   a pressurizing wheel mechanism including:
 a mounting seat mounted to said first support frame, and disposed proximate to said transmission belt; 
 an upper pressure wheel unit provided pivotally on said mounting seat, and having an upper pressure wheel biased to move in a first direction so as to press and tense an upper segment of said transmission belt that extends between said flywheel unit and said crank wheel unit; 
 a lower pressure wheel unit provided pivotally on said mounting seat, and having a lower pressure wheel biased to move in a second direction so as to press and tense a lower segment of said transmission belt that extends between said flywheel unit and said crank wheel unit below said upper segment; 
 an upper limiting member mounted to said mounting seat to limit movement of said upper pressure wheel unit in a direction opposite to said first direction; and 
 a lower limiting member mounted to said mounting seat to limit movement of said lower pressure wheel unit in a direction opposite to the second direction. 
   
   
   
       2 . The exercise machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said upper pressure wheel unit further includes an upper plate mounted pivotally to said mounting seat and having a first end holding rotatably said upper pressure wheel, and a first biasing member coupled to a second end of said upper plate opposite to said first end for biasing said upper pressure wheel toward said upper segment of said transmission belt. 
   
   
       3 . The exercise machine as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said lower pressure wheel unit further includes a lower plate having a third end mounted pivotally to said mounting seat, and a second biasing member coupled to a fourth end of said lower plate opposite to said third end for biasing said lower pressure wheel toward said lower segment of said transmission belt, said lower pressure wheel being mounted to said lower plate between said third and fourth ends. 
   
   
       4 . The exercise machine as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said upper and lower plates are pivotable co-axially about an axis on said mounting seat, said mounting seat being formed with an arc-shaped groove that is centered at said axis; and
 each of said upper and lower pressure wheel units includes a guide axle extending slidably through said arc-shaped groove and connected to a respective one of said upper and lower pressure wheels, and a projection extending out of said arc-shaped groove from said guide axle, each of said upper and lower limiting members being capable of a butting against said projection of a respective one of said upper and lower pressure wheel units so as to limit pivoting movement of the respective one of said upper and lower pressure wheels.   
   
   
       5 . The exercise machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said mounting seat is provided with two threaded tubes, each of said upper and lower limiting members including a threaded shaft that extends threadedly through a respective one of said threaded tubes, and that is capable of abutting against a respective one of said upper and lower pressure wheel units, and a positioning nut that engages threadedly said threaded shaft so as to prevent said threaded shaft from moving relative to the respective one of said threaded tubes. 
   
   
       6 . The exercise machine as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second support frame extending upwardly from said base and forwardly of said first support frame;   a rotary shaft mounted rotatably to an upper portion of said second support frame;   a roller unit mounted rotatably to a lower portion of said second support frame;   two swing handle units mounted to said rotary shaft; and   two pedal assemblies disposed on opposite sides of said first support frame, and each including:
 a pedal rod having a forward segment in slidable contact with said roller unit, and a rearward segment connected rotatably to said crank wheel unit, 
 a first link rod unit having opposite first and second end parts that are coupled pivotally to a front end of said pedal rod and a respective one of said swing handle units, respectively, 
 a pedal member mounted slidably to said pedal rod, and 
 a second link rod unit having opposite third and fourth end parts that are coupled pivotally to said pedal member and the respective one of said swing handle units, respectively. 
   
   
   
       7 . The exercise machine as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said roller unit includes a roller shaft mounted to said second support frame, and two rollers coupled rotatably to said roller shaft, each of said rollers being in slidable contact with said forward segment of said pedal rod of a respective one of said pedal assemblies. 
   
   
       8 . The exercise machine as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein each of said swing handle units includes a swing handle, a slide rod connected telescopically to a bottom end of said swing handle, and a fixer knob provided on said swing handle for locking said slide rod to said bottom end, said swing handle being coupled pivotally to said second end part of said first link rod unit of the respective one of said pedal assemblies, said slide rod being coupled pivotally to said fourth end part of said second link rod unit of the respective one of said pedal assemblies. 
   
   
       9 . The exercise machine as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said second link rod unit includes a primary rod section and a secondary rod section connected telescopically to each other, and a fixing knob for locking said secondary rod section to said primary rod section. 
   
   
       10 . The exercise machine as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising an electric motor mounted to said base, disposed forwardly of said first support frame, and coupled to said flywheel unit for providing a driving force to drive said flywheel unit. 
   
   
       11 . An exercise machine comprising:
 a base;   a first support frame mounted to said base;   a flywheel unit mounted rotatably to said first support frame;   a crank wheel unit mounted rotatably to said first support frame;   a transmission belt trained on said flywheel unit and said crank wheel unit; and   a pressurizing wheel mechanism including:
 a mounting seat mounted to said first support frame, and disposed proximate to said transmission belt; 
 a pressure wheel unit provided pivotally on said mounting seat, and having a pressure wheel biased to move in a first direction so as to press and tense a segment of said transmission belt that extends between said flywheel unit and said crank wheel unit; and 
 a limiting member mounted to said mounting seat to limit movement of said pressure wheel unit in a direction opposite to said first direction. 
   
   
   
       12 . The exercise machine as claimed in  claim 11 , further comprising an electric motor mounted to said base, disposed forwardly of said first support frame, and coupled to said flywheel unit for providing a driving force to drive said flywheel unit. 
   
   
       13 . An exercise machine comprising:
 a base;   a first support frame mounted to said base;   a flywheel unit mounted rotatably to said first support frame;   a crank wheel unit mounted rotatably to said first support frame;   a transmission belt trained on said flywheel unit and said crank wheel unit; and   a pressurizing wheel mechanism including:
 a mounting seat mounted to said first support frame, and disposed proximate to said transmission belt; 
 an upper pressure wheel unit provided pivotally on said mounting seat, and having an upper plate holding an upper pressure wheel biased to move in a first direction so as to press and tense an upper segment of said transmission belt that extends between said flywheel unit and said crank wheel unit; and 
 a lower pressure wheel unit provided pivotally on said mounting seat, and having a lower plate holding a lower pressure wheel biased to move in a second direction so as to press and tense a lower segment of said transmission belt that extends between said flywheel unit and said crank wheel unit below said upper segment. 
   
   
   
       14 . The exercise machine as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said upper and lower plates are mounted coaxially on said mounting seat to rotate about an axis. 
   
   
       15 . The exercise machine as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said mounting seat has an arc-shaped groove centered at said axis. 
   
   
       16 . The exercise machine as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said upper and lower wheels are movable in a direction along said arc-shaped groove. 
   
   
       17 . The exercise machine as claimed in  claim 16 , further comprising an electric motor mounted to said base, disposed forwardly of said first support frame, and coupled to said flywheel unit for providing a driving force to drive said flywheel unit.