EQUIPEMENT DE CONDITIONNEMENT PHYSIQUE A MOUVEMENTS DE ROTATION ET DE TORSION DE LA TAILLE

SWINGING WAIST-TWISTING FITNESS EQUIPMENT

Abrégé français

La présente invention se rapporte à un équipement de conditionnement physique à mouvements de balancement et de torsion de la taille, qui comprend les éléments qui suivent. Un bâti principal avec un support et un support vertical; un appui-mains, situé à une position préétablie du support vertical du bâti principal; un bâti à balancement vertical, monté sur le support vertical du bâti principal; l'extrémité supérieure du bâti à balancement vertical, reliée au support vertical au moyen d'une partie à pivot, et l'extrémité inférieure est définie pour former une partie à balancement; un patin rotatif, monté sur la partie à balancement, pour le mouvement horizontal ou rotatif. Grâce à cet équipement de conditionnement physique à mouvements de balancement et de torsion de la taille, ces mouvements peuvent être fournis simultanément pour obtenir de meilleurs résultats de conditionnement physique et de distraction, tout en permettant de réduire l'espace de conditionnement du bâti de balancement vertical pour économiser le coût de fabrication, à l'avantage des utilisateurs.

Abrégé anglais

The present invention provides a swinging waist-twisting fitness equipment, which comprising: a main frame with a stand and vertical rack; a hand rest, located at preset position of vertical rack of the main frame; a vertically-swinging frame, assembled on the vertical rack of the main frame; the upper end of the vertically-swinging frame is linked to vertical rack via a pivot portion, and the lower end is defined to form a swinging portion; a rotary support pad, mounted onto swinging portion for horizontal or rotary motion; with this swinging waist- twisting fitness equipment, swinging and waist-twisting movement could be provided simultaneously to achieve better fitness effect and amusement, meanwhile the packaging space of vertically-swinging frame could be further reduced to save the manufacturing cost for the benefit of the users.

Revendications

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CLAIMS
1. A swinging waist-twisting fitness equipment comprising: a main frame
having a stand and a vertical rack on said stand; a hand rest positioned at a
location
on said vertical rack; a vertically swinging frame assembled onto said
vertical rack,
said vertically swinging frame having an upper end linked by a pivot portion
to said
vertical rack, said vertically swinging frame having a lower end that defines
a swinging
portion; and a rotary support pad mounted onto said swinging portion so as to
cause
horizontal or rotary motion thereof, said vertically swinging frame being a U-
shaped
rod, said lower end of said vertically swinging frame having horizontal rods
at a
bottom of said U-shaped rod, said swinging portion having a bearing block
assembled
at a middle thereof, said rotary support pad having a pivot post protruding
from a
bottom thereof and extending into said bearing block, said pivot post having a
threaded portion at a bottom thereof, said threaded portion having a nut
locked
thereonto.
2. The equipment of claim 1, said vertical rack of said main frame
comprising: a pair of vertical hack levers arranged in spaced relationship;
and an
inverted U-shaped rack extending toward a front end of said main frame, said
inverted U-shaped rack assembled on top of said pair of vertical hack levers,
said
inverted U -shaped rack defining a pair of. side levers and a front lever,
said upper
end of said vertically swinging frame assembled at a rear end of said pair of
side
levers, said hand rest having a pair of vertical rods in spaced relation on a
top of said
front lever.
3. The equipment of claim 2, said pair of side levers having elbow
cushions thereon.
4. The equipment of claim 1, said vertically swinging frame having a
retractable portion arranged between said pivot portion and said swinging
portion,
said retractable portion suitable for adjusting a position of said swinging
portion and
said rotary support pad.
5. A swinging waist-twisting fitness equipment comprising: a main frame
having a stand and a vertical rack on said stand; a hand rest positioned at a
location

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on said rack; a vertically swinging frame assembled onto said vertical rack,
said
vertically swinging frame having an upper end linked by a pivot portion to
said vertical
rack, said vertically swinging frame having a lower end that defines a
swinging
portion; and a rotary support pad mounted onto said swinging portion so as to
cause
horizontal or rotary motion thereof, said rotary support pad having a bottom
coupled
by a pin joint to a base plate so as to allow said rotary support pad to be
tiltable; and
a control element positioned between an end of said rotary support pad and
said
base plate so as to control a positioning of said rotary support pad.

Description

CA 02620304 2008-05-14
SWINGING WAIST TWISTING FITNESS EQUIPMENT
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
100011 The present invention relates generally to fitness equipment, and more
particularly to
innovative equipment which enables swinging and rotary motion for physical
fitness.
2. Description of Related Art
100021 Given the fact that many people are very busy with their business and
without sufficient time
for outdoor activities, an indoor fitness equipment is developed for indoor
sports and physical
exercise.
100031 With continuous technological innovation and breakthroughs in this
industry, a variety of
fitness equipment has already taken shape depending upon their targeted
fitness function, such as
exercise bikes, steppers, paddling fitness equipments, lifting jacks,
treadmills and waist twisting
fitness equipment.
I

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[0004] Waist-twisting fitness equipment is typically designed in a manner to
provide a rotating
disk for standing or riding, and a hand rest for support, enabling the users
to conduct waist-
twisting movement on the rotating disk. However, since this waist-twisting
fitness equipment
generates only reciprocating rotary motion, the users may get bored quickly,
leading to a
poorer effect on sports and amusement.
[0005] Subsequently, an improved waist-twisting fitness equipment combining
the rotating
disk with a curved track seat is developed to generate a curved reciprocating
shift during a
waist-twisting movement. However, the curved track seat of sufficient length
or dimension
shall be required since it is mounted onto the base of the fitness equipment.
So, the space
required for the waist-twisting fitness equipment will increase considerably,
leading to more
cost of materials, shipping and warehousing as well as inconvenient placement
or retraction.
[0006] Thus, to overcome the aforementioned problems of the prior art, it
would be an
advancement in the art to provide an improved structure that can significantly
improve
efficacy.
[0007] Therefore, the inventor has provided the present invention of
practicability after
deliberate design and evaluation based on years of experience in the
production,
development and design of related products.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] There is enhanced efficacy of the present invention.
[0009] With this swinging waist-twisting fitness equipment, swinging and waist-
twisting
movement could be provided simultaneously to achieve better physical exercise
and
amusement, thus enhancing the desire of the users and fitness effect with
better applicability.
[0010] Owing to the simple structure of the vertically-swinging frame (e.g. a
U-shaped frame),
no

CA 02620304 2011-05-03
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bigger space is required during the swinging process, making it possible to
minimize the
space in an idle state. As compared to the typical prior art structure with a
curved track seat,
the swinging waist-twisting fitness equipment of the present invention reduces
the
manufacturing cost and achieves better economic efficiency for the benefit of
the users.
[0011] There are improvements brought about by this invention.
[0012] Based on the structure of the two side levers with the inverted U-
shaped rack and
elbow cushion, the user operates the equipment with more stability and comfort
when the
hand rest is gripped.
[0013] Based on the structure of the retractable portion arranged between
pivot portion and
swinging portion of the vertically-swinging frame, the vertical length of the
vertically-swinging
frame can change. Then the position of the swinging portion and rotary support
pad could be
adjusted to fit the stature of different users with better applicability,
[0014] Based on the structure of the rotary support pad being tilted, the
packaging space of
vertically-swinging frame could be further reduced to save shipping and
warehousing costs
for the benefit of the users.
According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a swinging waist-
twisting
fitness equipment comprising: a main frame having a stand and a vertical rack
on said stand;
a hand rest positioned at a location on said vertical rack; a vertically
swinging frame
assembled onto said vertical rack, said vertically swinging frame having an
upper end linked
by a pivot portion to said vertical rack, said vertically swinging frame
having a lower end that
defines a swinging portion; and a rotary support pad mounted onto said
swinging portion so
as to cause horizontal or rotary motion thereof, said vertically swinging
frame being a U-
shaped rod, said lower end of said vertically swinging frame having horizontal
rods at a
bottom of said U-shaped rod, said swinging portion having a bearing block
assembled at a
middle thereof, said rotary support pad having a pivot post protruding from a
bottom thereof
and extending into said bearing block, said pivot post having a threaded
portion at a bottom
thereof, said threaded portion having a nut locked thereonto.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a swinging
waist-
twisting fitness equipment comprising: a main frame having a stand and a
vertical rack on
said stand; a hand rest positioned at a location on said rack; a vertically
swinging frame
assembled onto said vertical rack, said vertically swinging frame having an
upper end linked
by a pivot portion to said vertical rack, said vertically swinging frame
having a lower end that
defines a swinging portion; and a rotary support pad mounted onto said
swinging portion so

CA 02620304 2011-05-03
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as to cause horizontal or rotary motion thereof, said rotary support pad
having a bottom
coupled by a pin joint to a base plate so as to allow said rotary support pad
to be tiltable; and
a control element positioned between an end of said rotary support pad and
said base plate
so as to control a positioning of said rotary support pad.
[0015] Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred
embodiment, it is
to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be
made without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 shows an assembled perspective view of the waist-twisting
fitness equipment
of the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 2 shows a perspective of the rotary support pad of the present
invention which is
in a tilting state.

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[0018] FIG. 3 shows an exploded perspective view of the rotary support pad of
the present
invention.
[0019] FIG. 4 shows an assembled sectional view of the rotary support pad of
the present
invention.
[0020] FIG. 5 shows an isolated perspective view of the rotary support pad of
the present
invention in a rotary state.
[0021] FIG. 6 shows an exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment
of the
retractable portion of the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 7 shows a first series of elevation views of the operation of the
waist-twisting
fitness equipment of the present invention.
[0023] FIG. 8 shows a second series of elevation views of the operation of the
waist twisting
fitness equipment of the present invention.
[0024] FIG. 9 shows a third series of elevation view of the operation of the
waist-twisting
fitness equipment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0025] The features and the advantages of the present invention will be more
readily
understood upon a thoughtful deliberation of the following detailed
description of a preferred
embodiment of the present invention with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
[0026] FIG. 1 depicts a preferred embodiment of waist-twisting fitness
equipment of the
present invention. The embodiments are provided only for explanatory purposes
with respect
to the patent claims.
[0027] The swinging waist-twisting fitness equipment A comprises a train frame
10, which is
connected to a stand 11 and a vertical rack 12 mounted on the stand 11. The
stand 11 of this
preferred embodiment is composed of a horizontal inverted U-shaped bar and
several
connecting rods.

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[0028] A hand rest 20 is located at a preset position of vertical rack 12 of
the main frame 10.
[0029] A vertically-swinging frame 30 is assembled onto the vertical rack 12
of main frame
10. The upper end of the vertically-swinging frame 30 is linked to vertical
rack 12 via a pivot
portion 31, and the lower end is defined to form a swinging portion 32.
[0030] A rotary support pad 40 is mounted onto swinging portion 32 of
vertically-swinging
frame 30 for horizontal or rotary motion (or 360 rotation or rotation within
preset angle).
Referring also to FIG. 2, the bottom of the rotary support pad 40 is coupled
to a baseplate 51
via pin joint 50, such that the rotary support pad 40 can be tilted. A control
element 52 is
arranged between the tilting end of rotary support pad 40 and the baseplate 51
to switch the
positioning or tilting state of the rotary support pad 40. It is possible to
reduce space when the
rotary support pad 40 is tilted, thereby saving the packing materials or
accommodating space
of vertically-swinging frame 30.
[0031] The vertical rack 12 of the main frame 10 comprises two vertical hack
levers 121
arranged at intervals. An inverted U-shaped rack 13 extending towards the
front end of the
main frame 10 is assembled on the top of two vertical hack levers 121. The
inverted U-
shaped rack 13 is used to define two side levers 131 and a front lever 132, so
that the top
end of the vertically-swinging frame 30 is assembled at the rear end of two
side levers 131.
The hand rest 20 is composed of two vertical rods 21, which are arranged at
intervals on the
top of the front lever 132. Moreover, the two side levers 131 of inverted U-
shaped rack 13 are
provided with elbow cushion 133. The elbow cushion 133 is made of soft or
flexible materials
(e.g. rubber, foam), so the elbows of user have stability and comfortable
support by the elbow
cushion 133 when the user grips said hand rest 20.
[0032] The vertically-swinging frame 30 is of a U-shaped rod, so that the
lower swinging
portion 32 of the vertically-swinging frame 30 is made of horizontal rods at
bottom of the U-
shaped rod.

CA 02620304 2008-01-30
Referring also to FIGS. 3 and 4, a bearing block 321 is assembled at a middle
section of the swinging
portion 32. A pivot post 41 protrudes from the bottom of the rotary support
pad 40 and penetrates said
bearing block 321. A threading portion 42 is located at a bottom of the pivot
post 41 for locking a nut
43 (a butterfly nut in this preferred embodiment), so that the assembly state
of pivot post 41 and
bearing block 321 can be positioned.
10033] A retractable portion 33 is arranged between pivot portion 31 and
swinging portion 32 of
vertically-swinging frame 30, so that the position ofthe swinging portion 32
along with rotary support
pad 40 could be adjusted. The retractable portion 33 is depicted in FIG. 6,
wherein the vertical hack
lever between pivot portion 31 and swinging portion 32 of vertically-swinging
frame 30 is divided
into coupled external tube section 34 and interior rod section 35. The
interior rod section 35 is
provided with through-holes 36 arranged at intervals, and the external tube
section 34 is provided
with locating holes 37. A locating button 38 is additionally provided, and a
screw portion 39 on the
locating button 38 penetrates the corresponding through-hole 36 and locating
hole 37. Thus, the
vertical length of vertically-swinging frame 30 could be changed, and the
position of the swinging
portion 32 along with rotary support pad 40 could be adjusted depending upon
the stature of the user.
[00341 Based upon above-specified structures, the present invention is
operated as follows:
100351 FIG. 7 depicts an operating mode of swinging waist-twisting fitness
equipment A of the
present invention, whereby the user could kneel down on the rotary support pad
40 and grip the hand
rest 20 on the vertical rack 12 with elbows lying on the elbow cushion 133.
Next, since the lower
swinging portion 32 of the vertically-swinging frame 30 generates pendular
movement, the user
drives the swinging portion 32 to swing forward and backward. In the process
of the swinging
movement, the rotary support pad 40 generates horizontal or rotary shift, so
the waist of the user
6

CA 02620304 2008-01-30
twists and drives the swinging of knees in a coordinated way (also shown in
FIG. 8, which depicts
the waist-twisting motion when the swinging frame 30 is at a perpendicular
state). During swinging
and waist-twisting movement, a balanced state could be obtained by gripping
manually the hand rest
20. It is thus learnt that, the swinging waist-twisting fitness equipment A of
the present invention
could achieve swinging and waist-twisting effect.
10036] Referring to FIG. 9, when the user operates the swinging waist-twisting
fitness equipment A,
it is possible to drive the swinging portion 32 to swing forward and backward.
When said swinging
portion 32 swings forward, the knees and waist of user will be bent to
compress the abdomen muscle.
When the swinging portion 32 swings backward, the abdomen muscle will be
extended, thus leading
to a repetitive tensioning and loosening state of the muscle for physical
exercise.
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Dessin représentatif