BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to an exercise machine, especially to a passive exercise
machine which allows users to exercise their whole body by vibration and back-and-forth
movement.
Description of Related Art
[0002] The vibration fitness machine available now such as a massager for producing rotary
and/or vibratory massage motion revealed in
US Pat. No. 5797859 uses motors to generate the massage motion. A gear structure couples the motor to
the at least one rotator structure to cause rotary movement thereof, upon actuation
of the motor. The massager includes an eccentric weight and a clutch system for driveably
coupling the eccentric weight to the motor when the motor produces a first direction
rotary output. In such manner, the single motor operates both the rotator structure
and the eccentric weight and enables combines rotary/vibratory motion to be achieved.
[0003] However, the above technique which uses motor to drive the gears and further operate
the eccentric weight for generating vibration only provides the exercise machine one
type of vibration. Moreover, not only unsmooth movement but also a lot of noises are
generated during the gear transmission process.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Therefore it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an exercise
machine which is composed of a motor, two transmission devices and a plurality of
belts used for driving the transmission devices for allowing users to experience both
vibration and back-and-forth movement in a seesaw manner.
[0005] In order to achieve the above object, an exercise machine which provides back-and-forth
movement and vibration according to the present invention includes a base and a loading
platform which is pivotally connected to the base and adapted for users to stand thereon.
Muscle contraction in the users' bodies is affected by vibration and back-and-forth
movement with different amplitudes generated by the exercise machine and such vibration
and movement provided complements or mimics the neuro-muscular response we have during
a walk.
[0006] As the rhythmic vibration and the back-and-forth movement of the loading platform
reach the legs and the top of the body, all pelvic and core muscles of the torso are
activated and this helps user's body get oxygen. The muscles are also passively vibrated.
Thereby a better workout for the muscles is obtained.
[0007] Besides the base and the loading platform, the exercise machine further includes
a motor, a first transmission device, and a second transmission device all mounted
in the base. The motor is connected to the first transmission device by a first belt
and the first transmission device is connected to the second transmission device by
a second belt while the second transmission device is connected to the loading platform.
A first pivot part and a second pivot part arranged at two sides of a middle portion
of the frame body respectively. The first pivot part and the second pivot part are
pivotally connected to two sides of a middle portion of the base respectively. The
second transmission device is connected to the loading platform for driving the loading
platform to move back and forth like a seesaw. The motor is disposed on the first
side portion of the base while the first transmission device is arranged at a middle
portion of the base and a second transmission device is mounted on the second side
portion of the base. The motor drives both the first and the second transmission devices
to rotate simultaneously. The first transmission device is driven to generate vibration
while the second transmission is driven to generate back-and-forth movement. Thereby
the exercise machine allows users to experience both the vibration and the back-and-forth
movement.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The structure and the technical means adopted by the present invention to achieve
the above and other objects can be best understood by referring to the following detailed
description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Fig. 1 is a schematic drawing showing a base and a loading platform separated from
each other of an embodiment according to the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment according to the present invention;
Fig. 3 is a top view of an embodiment according to the present invention;
Fig. 4 is a side view of an embodiment according to the present invention;
Fig. 5 is a schematic drawing showing another embodiment according to the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0009] Referring to Fig. 1-4, an exercise machine according to the present invention includes
a base 1 which is a frame body, a motor 2, a first transmission device 3, a second
transmission device 4, and a loading platform 6. The motor 2, the first transmission
device 3, and the second transmission device 4 are mounted in the frame body of the
base 1. The motor 2 is adapted for driving the first transmission device 3 and the
second transmission device 4. As shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, the frame body of the
base 1 is divided into a first side portion A, a middle portion B and a second side
portion C. The motor 2 is disposed on the first side portion A of the base 1 while
the first transmission device 3 is arranged at about the middle portion B of the base
1. A pair of bearings 1a, 1b are disposed on the second side portion C of the base
1 and used for mounting the second transmission device 4. A first support 11 and a
second support 12 are formed on two sides of the middle portion B of the base 1 respectively.
The loading platform 6 is also a frame body composed of a first pivot part 61 and
a second pivot part 62 arranged at two sides of a middle portion of the frame body
respectively and opposite to each other. By the first pivot part 61 and the second
pivot part 62 connected with the first support 11 and the second support 12 correspondingly,
the loading platform 6 is able to be moved back and forth in a seesaw manner. The
loading platform 6 further includes a shaft 63 disposed close to one side thereof.
[0010] The first transmission device 3 consists of a first turning wheel 31, a first axial
rod 32, at least one first eccentric wheel 33, and a third turning wheel 34. Two ends
of the first axial rod 32 are arranged at two sides of the middle portion B of the
base 1 respectively. The first turning wheel 31, the first eccentric wheel 33, and
the third turning wheel 34 are in turn disposed on the first axial rod 32. As to the
second transmission device 4, it includes a second turning wheel 41, a second axial
rod 42, a connecting part 43, and a second eccentric wheel 44, and a bearing 45. The
second axial rod 42 is pivotally connected to the bearings 1a, 1b while the second
turning wheel 41 is mounted on one end thereof and the other end thereof is inserted
through the bearing 1a and provided with the second eccentric wheel 44. The second
eccentric wheel 44 is enclosed in the connecting part 43 while the baring 45 is arranged
at the connecting part 43 and located over the second eccentric wheel 44. The baring
45 is further pivotally connected to the shaft 63 of the loading platform 6. A first
belt 211 is passed around both the first wheel shaft 21 of the motor 2 and the first
turning wheel 31 for connecting the first wheel shaft 21 with the first turning wheel
31. A second belt 311 is passed around not only the third wheel shaft 31a of the first
turning wheel 31 but also the second turning wheel 41 for connecting the first turning
wheel 31 and the second turning wheel 41. The first axial rod 32 is not only axially
connected with the first turning wheel 31 and the at least one first eccentric wheel
33 but also pivotally disposed on the two sides of the middle portion B of the base
1. A distal end of the first axial rod 32 is provided with the third turning wheel
34. The second axial rod 42 is axially connected with the second turning wheel 41
and the second eccentric wheel 44. A second wheel shaft 22 is extending from the other
end of the motor 2, opposite to the end with the wheel shaft 21. A third belt 221
is passed around the second wheel shaft 22 and the third turning wheel 34 for connecting
the second wheel shaft 22 and the third turning wheel 34. Thereby the first wheel
shaft 21 drives the first turning wheel 31 to rotate by the first belt 211 when the
motor 2 starts to rotate. While the first turning wheel 31 is rotating, the third
wheel shaft 31a of the first turning wheel 31 drives the second turning wheel 41 to
rotate by the second belt 311. During rotation of the second turning wheel 41, the
second axial rod 42 thereof drives the second eccentric wheel 44 to move. Owing to
eccentricity of the second eccentric wheel 44, the connecting part 43 is driven to
move up and down so that the bearing 45 on an upper part of the connecting part 43
is moved to abut against one side of the loading platform 6 and drive the loading
platform 6 to move back and forth with reciprocating vertical displacements on the
first support 11 and the second support 12 (used as fulcrums) of the base 1 at one
side of the base 1 like a seesaw. Synchronously the first turning wheel 31 and the
third turning wheel 34 drive the first eccentric wheel 33 to rotate and generate a
deflection force which is transmitted to the base 1 for creating vibration. In a word,
the motor 2 drives both the first transmission device 3 and the second transmission
device 4 at the same time so as to have vibration and back-and forth movement. Thereby
the exercise machine allows users to experience both vibration and back-and-forth
movement.
[0011] One of the first turning wheel 31, the third turning wheel 34, the second wheel shaft
22, and the second turning wheel 41 can be provided with a one-way bearing. Thereby
users can select one of the wheels 22, 31, 34, 41 as the wheel being driven to rotate
when the motor 2 is rotated in a selected direction such as the clockwise direction
or the counterclockwise direction.
[0012] Moreover, the third turning wheel 34 can also be an eccentric wheel for replacement
of the second eccentric wheel 44.
[0013] Referring to Fig. 5, another embodiment is revealed. The motor 2 is arranged at the
first side portion A of the base 1 while the first transmission device 3 is disposed
on the middle portion B of the base 1 and located close to the first side portion
A of the base 1 and the second transmission device 4 is mounted on about the middle
portion B of the base 1. The loading platform 6 further includes at least three leg
portions. In this embodiment, there are four leg portions 64, 65, 66, 67 each of which
is made from elastic material and disposed on one of the four corners of base 1 correspondingly.
The first transmission device 3 makes the base 1 vibrate while the second transmission
device 4 drives the loading platform 6 to move back and forth with reciprocating vertical
displacement.
[0014] Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the
art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific
details, and representative devices shown and described herein. Accordingly, various
modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general
inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalent.
1. An exercise machine which provides back-and-forth movement and vibration comprising:
a base 1 which is a frame body divided into divided into a first side portion A, a
middle portion B and a second side portion C; two sides of the middle portion B of
the base 1 provided with a first support 11 and a second support 12 respectively;
a loading platform 6 adapted for users to stand thereon and provided with a shaft
63 disposed close to one side thereof;
a motor 2 disposed on the first side portion A of the base 1;
a first transmission device 3 which is arranged at about the middle portion B of the
base 1 and composed of a first axial rod 32, a first turning wheel 31 disposed on
one end of the first axial rod 32, and at least one first eccentric wheel 33 arranged
at the other end or a middle portion of the first axial rod 32; the motor 2 being
connected to the first turning wheel 31 by a first belt 211; and
a second transmission device 4 which is disposed on the second side portion C of the
base 1 and having a second axial rod 42, a second turning wheel 41 mounted on one
end of the second axial rod 42, a second eccentric wheel 44 arranged close to a middle
portion of the second axial rod 42 and enclosed in the connecting part 43, and a baring
45 mounted on the connecting part 43 and pivotally connected to the shaft 63 of the
loading platform 6; the first turning wheel 31 being connected to the second turning
wheel 41 by a second belt 311;
wherein a first pivot part 61 and a second pivot part 62 arranged at two sides of
a middle portion of the frame body respectively, located opposite to each other, and
pivotally connected to two sides of the middle portion B of the base 1 respectively;
thereby while the second eccentric wheel 44 is rotated, the loading platform 6 is
synchronously driven to move back and forth with reciprocating vertical displacement
on the first support 11 and the second support 12 of the base 1 at one side of the
base 1 like a seesaw owing to the baring 45 connected to the shaft 63;
wherein the motor 2 drives the first transmission device 3 to generate vibration;
the motor 2 simultaneously drives the second transmission device 4 to make the loading
platform 6 to have back-and-forth movement; the first transmission device 3 makes
the base 1 generate vibration which are delivered to users; the back-and-forth movement
of the loading platform 6 driven by the second transmission device 4 are transmitted
to users' feet and further torsos.
2. The exercise machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein a second wheel shaft 22 is extending
from the other end of the motor 2, opposite to the end with the wheel shaft 21; a
third turning wheel 34 is disposed on a distal end of the first axial rod 32; a third
belt 221 is passed around the second wheel shaft 22 and the third turning wheel 34
for connecting the second wheel shaft 22 and the third turning wheel 34.
3. The exercise machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of the first turning wheel
31, the second wheel shaft 22, and the second turning wheel 41 is provided with a
one-way bearing; thereby one of the first turning wheel 31, the second wheel shaft
22, and the second turning wheel 41 is able to be selected for being driven to rotate
when the motor 2 is rotated in a selected direction.
4. The exercise machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the motor 2 is disposed on the
first side portion A of the base 1 while the first transmission device 3 is arranged
at the middle portion B of the base 1 and close to the first side portion A of the
base 1 and the second transmission device 4 is mounted on about the middle portion
B of the base 1; the loading platform 6 further includes at least three leg portions
64, 65, 66, 67 each of which is made from elastic material and disposed on one of
the four corners of base 1 correspondingly; the first transmission device 3 makes
the base 1 generate vibration while the second transmission device 4 makes the loading
platform 6 to have back-and-forth movement with vertical displacements.
5. The exercise machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the third turning wheel 34 is
able to be an eccentric wheel for replacement of the second eccentric wheel 44.
6. The exercise machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein the third turning wheel 34 is
provided with a one-way bearing so that whether the third turning wheel 34 is driven
to rotate or not is able to be selected when the motor 2 is rotated in a selected
direction.