Folding elliptical exercise machine

Abstract

An elliptical exercise machine having a frame adjustable between an operational position and a folded position. A removable outer shell is hingedly connected to a base upon which the elliptical machine stands. The outer shell is configured to resemble two halves of a coffee table that are pivoted to either cover or expose the machine. Each handlebar on the machine includes a hinged section that is movable between a folded and an operational position. The machine is further provided with a latching assembly to lock the flywheel against rotation and to correctly position the same so that the outer shell can be placed over the folded machine.

1 . An elliptical exercise machine comprising:
 a frame adjustable between an operational position and a folded position, said frame comprising:
 a base; 
 a mast extending upwardly from the base; 
 a rotatable flywheel mounted on the base a spaced distance from the mast; 
   a first and a second swing arm assembly; wherein a first end of each of the first and second swing arm assemblies is pivotally mounted to the mast and a second end of each of the first and second assemblies is operatively connected to the flywheel; and   a pair of handlebars, each handlebar comprising:
 a first section fixedly mounted to one of the first and second swing arm assemblies; 
 a second section; 
 a hinge pivotably securing the first and second sections together; wherein said second section is pivotable between a first orientation when the frame is in the operational position and a second orientation when the frame is in the folded position. 
   
   
   
       2 . The elliptical machine as defined in  claim 1 , wherein each hinge comprises:
 a first hinge plate fixedly secured to the first section of the handlebar;   a second hinge plate fixedly secured to the second section of the handlebar; and   a hinge pin engaging both of the first and second hinge plates, whereby said second hinge plate is pivotable about the hinge pin; and when the hinge is in the first orientation an interior surface of the first hinge plate is in abutting contact with an interior surface of the second hinge plate; and when the hinge is in the second orientation the interior surface of the first hinge plate is coplanar with the interior surface of the second hinge plate.   
   
   
       3 . The elliptical machine as defined in  claim 3 , wherein the hinge further includes a latching mechanism for releasably connecting the first and second hinge plates together when the hinge is in the first orientation. 
   
   
       4 . The elliptical machine as defined in  claim 3 , wherein the latching mechanism comprises:
 a pair of spaced bosses extending outwardly from an end of the first hinge plate remote from the hinge pin;   an aperture defined in each of the bosses, said apertures being aligned with each other;   a latching member extending outwardly from an end of the second hinge plate remote from the hinge pin;   a hole defined in the latching member; said hole being alignable with the aligned apertures in the bosses when the hinge is in the first orientation; and   a pin member releasably received through the aligned hole and apertures when the hinge is in the first orientation.   
   
   
       5 . The elliptical machine as defined in  claim 3 , wherein the second section of each handlebar extends vertically upwardly when the hinge is in the first orientation. 
   
   
       6 . The elliptical machine as defined in  claim 3 , wherein the second section of each handlebar extends substantially downwardly when the hinge is in the second orientation. 
   
   
       7 . The elliptical machine as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the mast comprises a first mast section that is fixedly secured to the base and a second mast section that is pivotally secured to the first mast section; and wherein the first and second swing arm assemblies are secured to the second mast section; and wherein the second sections of the handlebars are disposed substantially parallel to the second mast section when the hinge is in the second orientation and the frame is in the folded position. 
   
   
       8 . The elliptical machine as defined in  claim 7 , further comprising an outer shell that is selectively received over the elliptical machine when the frame is in the folded position. 
   
   
       9 . An elliptical exercise machine comprising:
 a frame adjustable between an operational position and a folded position, said frame comprising:
 a base; 
 a mast extending upwardly from the base; 
 a rotatable flywheel mounted on the base a spaced distance from the mast; 
   a first and a second swing arm assembly; wherein a first end of each of the first and second swing arm assemblies is pivotally mounted to the mast and a second end of each of the first and second assemblies is operatively connected to the flywheel; and
 a latching assembly operationally engageable with the flywheel; said latching assembly being movable between a latched position where rotation of the flywheel is substantially prevented, and a release position where the flywheel is rotatable. 
   
   
   
       10 . The elliptical exercise machine as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the frame further includes a post extending vertically upward from the base a spaced distance from the mast; said post having a first face and a second face;
 and wherein said flywheel comprises:   a first drive member;   a pivot pin extending between an interior surface of said first drive member and the first face of the post; and said first drive member is rotatable about an axis extending through said pivot pin;   a first shaft extending outwardly from an exterior surface of said first drive member; said first shaft being operationally connected to the first swing arm assembly; and wherein said latching assembly operationally engages the first drive member.   
   
   
       11 . The elliptical exercise machine as defined in  claim 10 , further comprising at least one latching pin extending outwardly away from the interior surface of the first drive member and toward the first face of the post. 
   
   
       12 . The elliptical machine as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the latching assembly engages the latching pin when in the latched position and does not engage the latching pin when in the released position. 
   
   
       13 . The elliptical machine as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the latching assembly comprises:
 a substantially S-shaped lever arm having a mid-section and a first and a second free end extending outwardly from the mid-section and in opposite directions to each other;   a pivot member securing said mid-section of the lever arm to the first face of the post a spaced distance from the pivot pin; whereby said first free end extends rearwardly toward a rear end of the elliptical machine and the second free end extends forwardly toward a front end of the elliptical machine; and   a spring extending between the first free end of the lever arm and a portion of the post.   
   
   
       14 . The elliptical machine as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the second free end of the lever arm defines a slot therein, said slot being oriented to receive said latching pin therein when the latching assembly is in a latched position 
   
   
       15 . The elliptical machine as defined in  claim 14 , wherein the spring biases the second free end of the lever arm laterally toward the first drive member when the latching assembly is in the latched position, and does not bias the second free end of the lever arm laterally toward the first drive member when the latching assembly is in the release position. 
   
   
       16 . The elliptical machine as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the elliptical machine further includes a housing that houses the flywheel therein, and said housing has a rear face that defines a substantially L-shaped slot therein; and said first free end of the lever arm extends outwardly from the housing through said L-shaped slot. 
   
   
       17 . The elliptical machine as defined in  claim 16 , wherein said L-shaped slot includes:
 a latch region;   a release region; and   a septum dividing a portion of the latch region from the release region; and wherein a length of the first free end of the lever arm extends through the L-shaped slot and is selectively movable between the latch region and the release region thereof.   
   
   
       18 . The elliptical machine as defined in  claim 17 , wherein the latch region is horizontally adjacent the release region; and the first free end of the lever arm is in the latch region when the latching assembly is in the latched position, and the first free end of the lever arm is in the release region when the latching assembly is in the latched position 
   
   
       19 . The elliptical machine as defined in  claim 18 , wherein the elliptical machine further comprises an outer shell that resembles a piece of furniture, said outer shell being selectively positioned over the elliptical machine when in the folded position, and wherein the outer shell is only positionable over the folded elliptical machine when the latching assembly is in the latched position. 
   
   
       20 . The elliptical machine as defined in  claim 18 , wherein the latching assembly must be in the release position in order for the elliptical machine to be operational for exercising. 
   
   
       21 . The elliptical exercise machine as defined in  claim 10 , wherein said flywheel further comprises:
 a second drive member pivotally mounted by the pivot pin to the second face of the post, said second drive member being rotatable about the axis extending through the pivot pin;   a second shaft extending outwardly from an exterior surface of said second drive member; said second shaft being operationally connected to the second swing arm assembly; and wherein the first shaft and second shaft are substantially parallel to the pivot pin and extend outwardly from the post in opposite directions to each other; and wherein the first shaft is radially disposed substantially one hundred and eighty degrees away from the second shaft.   
   
   
       22 . In combination;
 an elliptical exercise machine that is movable between an operational position where the machine is useable for exercise purposes and a folded position where the machine is reduced in overall outer dimensions and is not useable for exercise purposes;   a cover selectively positionable to hide the exercise machine when in the folded position and removable therefrom prior to the machine being placed into an operational position; wherein said cover comprises:
 a base upon which the elliptical exercise machine is received; 
 a first cover portion hingedly connected to the base and being movable between a first position where it covers a part of the elliptical machine and a second position where it does not cover a part of the elliptical machine; and 
 a second cover portion hingedly connected to the base and being movable between a first position where it covers a second part of the elliptical machine and a second position where does not cover the second part of the elliptical machine. 
   
   
   
       23 . The elliptical machine as defined in  claim 22 , wherein each of the first and second cover portions comprises:
 a substantially U-shaped perimeter wall having a U-shaped first edge and an opposed U-shaped second edge;   a planar wall mounted across said first edge and extending perpendicularly to said perimeter wall, whereby said planar wall and perimeter wall define a U-shaped cavity region therebetween; and when the first and second covers are moved into the first position the part of the folded elliptical machine is received with the cavity.   
   
   
       24 . The elliptical machine as defined in  claim 23 , further comprising:
 a first hinge operationally securing a portion of the second edge of the first cover section to the base; and wherein the first cover section pivots about the first hinge between the first and second positions; and   a second hinge operationally securing a portion of the second edge of the second cover section to the base, and wherein the second cover section pivots about the second hinge between the first and second positions.   
   
   
       25 . The elliptical machine as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the first cover portion comprises substantially half of the cover and the second cover portion comprises substantially half of the cover; and wherein an end of the first cover portion abuts an end of the second cover portion when both of the first and second cover portions are in the first position over the folded elliptical machine.