«2 United States Patent Chen US 8,840,529 B2 Sep. 23, 2014 (10) Patent No.t (4s) Date of Patent: (58) ADJUSTABLE ELLIPTICAL TRAINER (76) Inventor: YieTa Chen, Bade (TW) () Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term ofthis patent is extended or adjusted under 35, USC. 154(6) by 317 days (21) Appl. Nos 13420,005 (22) Filed: Mar 14,2012 (65) Prior Publication Data US2019024837A1 Sep. 19,2013 (51) Incl. A63B 2204 (2006.01) ‘46388 2200 (2006.01) (2) US.C. usec 482/52, 482/62 (58) Field of Classitication Search CPC soon A63B 22001; AGB 2210664; AGB. 21/225: A6aB 2200605; AGB 2210015 usec 482/51-52, $7, 62, 9-80 See application file for complete search history. (56) References Cited USS. PATENT DOCUMENTS, 31969 Deeks 48251 i885 A + 11/1998 Bschenbock 8257 6361.76 BL 735.201 7611346 B2 7340564 82" 7780'380 B2* 7903247 BI [32002 Eschenbach 102008 Wat a 112009 Ching ea 62010 Shea 82010. Eschenbach S2011Eschenbsch 465398 B2* 62013 Levers. aoos 161165 AL® 72008 Wang MOR O6I77S ALS 102008 Chung ea. SMI 0035212 AL® 22015 Chuang eal * cit by examiner Primary Examiner —Stephen Crow (74) Atorney, Agent, or Firm — Abraham Hershkovite Hershkovity & Associates, PLL( 7) ABSTRACT An adjustable elliptical trainer has a base, wo driving brack= fs, 180 handles, two pedal assemblies and an adjustment ‘assembly. The base asa transmission Whee! mounted rotat- ably thereon, The driving brackets are connected respectively to the transmission wheel, The handles are connected pivot- ally audrespecivelyothedrvingbrackets. The pedal ssen- blies are mounted at opposite sides of the transmission wheels, The adjustment assembly s mounted onthe frontend ofthe base and has two guiding ads and a guiding bracket, The guiding mods are mounted on the bese. The guiding bracket is connected tothe transmission wheel and mounted slidably onthe guiding ods, The adjustment assembly allows the pedal assemblies to move along two diflereat elliptical ‘motion paths. 6 Claims, 9 Drawing SheetsUS. Patent Sep. 23, 2014 Sheet 1 of 9 US 8,840,529 B2 MS is re SERS BAW a ee st BU, FIG.1US 8,840,529 B2 US. Patent Sep. 23, 2014 Sheet 2 of 9US. Patent Sep. 23, 2014 Sheet 3 of 9 US 8,840,529 B2 —s & EGSUS. Patent Sep. 23, 2014 Sheet 4 of 9 US 8,840,529 B2US. Patent Sep. 23, 2014 Sheet 5 of 9 US 8,840,529 B2 . g \ 12 30: 41 42, a 43 13 FIG.5US 8,840,529 B2 Sep. 23,2014 Sheet 6 of 9 US. PatentUS 8,840,529 B2 US. Patent Sep. 23, 2014 Sheet 7 of 9US 8,840,529 B2 US. Patent Sep. 23, 2014 Sheet 8 of 9US 8,840,529 B2 US. Patent Sep. 23, 2014 Sheet 9 of 9US 8,840,529 B2 1 ADJUSTABLE ELLIPTICAL TRAINER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field ofthe Invention “The present invention relatesto a taine,and more particu. larly tan adjustable elliptical tain that employs an adjust- ment assembly tallow pedals to move according to different ‘motion paths. 2. Description of Related An AA matketable conventional eliptical trainer comprises a base, a fame, a transmission wheel two handles and two pedals. The frame is mounted on the hase. ‘The transmission Wheel is mounted rotatably on the frame. The handles are mounted respectively on two opposite sis ofthe frame and ‘each handles a handlebar The pedals are mounted respec- lively onthe sides ofthe rame and each pedal has shafl.One ‘end of the handlebar or shaft on one side of the frame is ‘connected to the transmission whee! through link assembly ‘and the other ead of the handlebar ot shalt is grabbed or stepped on by a user's hand ot oot, When the user exercises ‘onthe elliptical rane, hse amis move backand forth and feetmove up and down. The motion path of arms or foot san clipe, However, because a pivot between the link assembly and the handle and a pivot between the Tink assembly and the pedal of the conventional elliptical tainer are stationary instead of being changeable, the motion paths ofthe handle and pedals are constant without any variations. Therefor, after repeatedly using the elliptical trainer, the user feels bored and becomes seldom using the elliptical trainer “Tocveroome the shortcomings, the present inveation pro Vides an adjustable elliptical trainer to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems, ‘SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION ‘The main objective ofthe inventions to provide an adjust able elliptical wane that employs an adjustment assembly 10 allow pedals to mave aogording to different motion pas. An adjustable elliptical tainer in accordance with the present invention has a base, two ceiving brackets, to handles, two pedal assemblies and an adjustment assembly. ‘The base has a transmission wheel mounted rotatably thereon. The dking brackets are connected respectively to the transmission wheel. The handles are connected pivotally and respectively tothe driving brackets, The pedal assemblies aremounted a oppositesies ofthe transmission wheels. The ‘adjustment assembly is mounted on the front en of the base ‘and has two guiding rods and a guiding bracket, The giding rods are mounted on the base, The guiding bracket i con nected tothe transmission wheel and mounted slidably on the suiding rods. The adjustment assembly allows the pedal assemblies © move along two different elliptical motion paths. Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following ‘dessled description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an adjustable elliptical trainer in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 2 isa side view ofthe adjustable elliptical trainer in FIG. 1 showing that guiding bracket is located ata lower position; s 2 FIG. 3 is top view ofthe adjustable elliptical tine in FIG: FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of an adjustment assembly ofthe adjustable elliptical tainer in FIG. 1; FIG. Sis an operational side view ofthe adjustable ellipti- cal trainer in FIG. 2; FIG. 6 i another operational side view ofthe adjustable elliptical ane in FIG. 2 indicating an elliptical motion path of pedals, FIG. Tis sce view of the adjustable elliptical tne in FIG. 1 showing that a guiding bracket i located at an upper position; FIG. 8 isan operational side view ofthe adjustable ellipti- cal trainer in FIG. 7; and FIG. 9 is another operational side view ofthe adjustable elliptical une ia FIG. Tinicting nother elliptical motion path of pedals DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, an adjustable elliptical trainer in aecordance with the preset invention comprises base 10, two driving brackets 20, wo handles 30, two pedal assemblies 40 and an adjutmeat assembly 50, The base 10 has two supporting bars 1, a transmission whee! 12, tvo ral bars 13, front bar 14 an upper bracket 1S. and a lower bracket 16 “The supporting bars 11 protrude up feom the hase 10 The transmission wheel 12 is mounted rotatably between the supporting bars 11 and hasashalt and two cranks 121. The shaft is mounted through the transmission wheels 12. The craaks 121 are mouated respectively and securely on wo ends of the shaft and extend along opposite directions. ‘The rail bars 13 are mounted obliquely on area end ofthe base 10 “The driving brackets 20 are connected respectively to the cranks 121 ofthe transmission wheel 12, Each diving bracket 20may bea triangular bracket formed rom multiple bars and has a adjusting bar 21, “The front bar 14s mounted uprightly ona front endo the base 10 “The upper bracket 1S is mouated on a tp end ofthe oat bar 14 and has evo though holes 181 defied through the upper bracket 18. ‘The lower bracket 16 is mounted on the base 10 behind the font bar 14 aad bas two mounting holes 161 defined through the lower bracket 16, ‘The handles 30 ar located respectively at opposite sides of the transmission wheel 12, are mouated pivotally on one of the supporting bars 11 and are coanected pivotally and respectively tothe driving brackets 20. Fsch handle 30 has handlebar 31, The handlebar 31 is longitinal and has an Jtermediation section, a top end and a bottom end. The ‘intermediation section is mouated pivotally on one of the supporting bats 11. The op end maybe held by auser'shand, The bottom ends coancctd pivotally toa inking bar 32 that {s connected pivotally t one of the driving brackets 2 ‘The peal assemblies 4 are located atthe opposite sides oF the transmission wheels 12 ancl each pedal assembly 40 has lever 41, pedal 42 and a roller side 43, “The lever 41 is curve and is connected pivotally to one of the driving brackets 20, The pedal 42 is mounted on a rer end of the lever 41 “The roller slide 43 is mounted secuzly on the lever 4, is. ‘mounted slidably around one of the al bars 13 ofthe base 10US 8,840,529 B2 3 ‘and has multiple rollers mounted rotatably on the roller slide 43 and rolling on thee bar 13. With father reference o FIG. 4, the adjustment assembly 50 is mounted on the font end of the bse 10 and has to hiding ods $8, a guiding bracket 81, motor 53.4 bolt 4s and a movable nat 82 ‘The guiding ods 58 are mounted on the base 10, may be ‘mounted respectively though the through holes 181 ofthe Uuppee bracket 15 and mounted respectively through the mounting holes 161 ofthe lower bracket 16 “The guiding bracket $1 is connected to the transmission ‘wheel 12, may be mounted between the eranks 121, is ‘mounted slidably onthe guiding rods 8S and has two ends and two sloves $11. The ends are mounted rotatably and respec tively on the cranks 121. The sleeves S11 are formed on the guiding bracket $1 and are mouated slidably and respectively around the guiding rods 85. Bach sleeve $11 hasa sleeve hole defined therethrough. ‘The motor §3 may be a deceleration motor and is mounted securely on the upper bracket 18 ofthe base 10 ‘The bolt $4 is mounted on and rotate by the motor $3 and has an outer thread formed on the bolt $4. Furthermore, positioning sleeve $41 is mounted on the hase 10 and rotat- ably receives a bottom end of the bolt $4 ‘The movable mut $2 is mounted securely on the guiding bracket $1 and is mounted movably around the bolt $4. When themotorS3isdriven to rotate the bolt 4, the movable nut 82 and the guiding bracket $1 are driven to move up and down ‘along the guiding rods 88. The movable nut 82 hasan inner threaded hole $21 defined through the movable nut $2 and ‘engaging the outer thread of the bolt $4 With reference o FIGS. 2 8, Sand 6, when te adjustable litical tine is used, the guiding bracket 81 and the mov able nut $2 are moved dowa toa lower position dough the ‘contol ofthe motor 53. The adjusting bars 21 are moved 10 Jowerends ofthe guidingrods 85.A user grabs the handlebars 31 by hands, steps onthe pedals 42 by feet and exercises on ihe adjustable elliptical tsiner aeconling to an elliptical motion path as shown in FIG. 6. When the user swings the handlebars 31 forth and back, the pedals 42 move along the litical motion path With reference i FIGS. 79, the guiding bracket SU and the movable nut $2are moved upto an upper postion through the contol ofthe motor $8, The adjusting bars 21 are moved ‘oupperendso the guiding rds 88, The user exercises on the adjustable elliptical trainer according to another elliptical motion path as shown in FIG. 8. When the user swings the handlebars M forth and back, the pedals 42 move along the litical motion path Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of 50 the preseat invention have been set forth inthe foregoing ‘description, together with details of thestrutureand function ‘of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made inthe details, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of pars within the principles of the invention tothe fll extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed, s Fa » What is claimed is: 1. An adjustable elliptical trainer comprising base having ‘wo supporting bars protruding up from the base: and transmission wheel mounted rotatably betwcen the supporting bars: two driving brackets connected respectively tothe trans- ‘mission whee! s 4 ‘0 handles located respectively at opposite sides ofthe transmission wheel, mounted pivotally on one of the supporting bars and connected pivotally and respec tively tothe driving brackets; two pedal assemblies located atthe opposite sides of the transmission wheels and each pedal assembly having a Tever being curved and connected pivotally to one of the ceiving beackets; and ‘2 pedal mounted on 2 rear end ofthe lever, and anadjstment assembly mounted ona font endot te base ‘and having two guiding rods mounted oa the base. 2 guiding bracket connected tothe transmission wheel and miounted slidably on the guiding rods; ‘wherein the transmission wheel bas a shaft mounted through the transmission whee and wa cranks mounted respectively and securely on two ends ofthe shaft and ‘extending along opposite directions; ‘wherein the driving brackets are connected respectively to the oranks; and ‘whereby the adjustment assembly allows the pedal assem= bles to move along two different litical motion paths bby moving the guiding bracket along the guiding rods to 2 Tower position or an upper positon. 2. The adjustable elliptical trainer as claimed in claim 1, ‘wherein the adjustment assembly’ further has ‘a motor mounted securely on the hase; ‘bolt mounted on and rotated by the motor and having an ‘outer thread formes! onthe bolt and ‘a movable nut mounted securely on the guiding bracket, ‘mounted! movably stound the bolt and having an inner threaded hole defined through the movable nut and ‘engaging the outer thread ofthe bol, 13. The adjustable elliptical tine a claimed in claim 2 wherein the base further has ‘front bar mousted uprighily oa the foat end of the base: ‘an upper bracket mounted ona top en ofthe font bar and having two through holes defined through the “upper bracket slowerbrecket mounted on the hase behind the font bar and having two mounting holes defined through the lower bracket the guiding rods are mounted respectively through the through hoes of the upper bracket, are mounted respoc= tively through the mounting holes of the lower bracket ‘and the guiding bracket has ovo ends and two sleeves formedon the guiding brocket and mounted slidably and respectively around the guiding rods, and each sleeve tas a sleeve hole defined theretrough: and ‘the motor is mounted securely on the upper bracket. 4. The adjustable eliptcal trainer as claimed in claim 3, whercin| the base further has two rll bars mounted obliquely on a rear ed of the base; and ‘each pedal assembly father has a roller slide mounted securely on the lever and mounted slidably around one ‘of the rail bars of the base. '. The adjustable elliptical trainer as claimed in claim 4 wherein each roller slide has multiple ollers mounted rtat- ably on the roller stide and rolling on the rail ba 6, The adjustable elliptical trainer as claimed in claim S, ‘wherein each handle has a handlebar being longitudinal and having ‘an intermediation section mounted pivotally on one ofthe supporting barsUS 8,840,529 B2 5 ‘atop end: and ‘2 bottom ead consectd pivotally toa linking bar that is ‘connected pivotally to one ofthe driving brackels