US2406344A - Exercising machine - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 27, 1946. v G. BERGFORS 2,406,344`

EXERCISING MACHINE Filed April 24, 1942 :s sheetssmet s lq-El' I I v 30 30 c" A lNvEN-roR@ l BY 4 ATTORNEYS away,

Patented Aug. 27, 1946 EXERCISING MACHINE Gordon Bergfors, Yonkers, N. Y., assignor to Exercycle Corporation, New York, N. Y.a corporation of New York Application April 24, 1942, Serial No. 440,294

15 Claims. l

The present invention is concerned with exercising machines Yof the type that impart to the Yuser the combined motion of-a bicycle and a rowvor if desired, actively without the resort to the motor.

Another object is to provide a mechanism'of the above type involving a minimum number of yrugged moving parts, and devoidof any springs,

andthe operative mechanism of whichis enclosed and concealed and not apt to injure theguser.

Another object is to provide a mechanismof the above type by which the handle movement is performed without jolts or sudden changes of direction, but is retarded near the extremity of' 'each stroke thereof for gentle, yet effective exercise.

In the accompanying drawings in which is shown one or more of various possible embodiments of the several features of the invention, Fig. l is a perspective view of the machine,v Fig. '2 is a View thereof in longitudinalwcrosssection and on a larger scale with partsbroken Fig. 3 is a view of the gear box with the cover removed and taken on` line 3-3 of Fig. 4,

Fig. 4 is a View in transverse cross-section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2, f

Fig. 5 is a View in transverse crossfsection taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2, i i

Fig. 6 is a sectional detatil view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 2,

Fig.. '1 is a sectional detail view taken on line I-l of Fig. 2,

Fig. 8 is a perspective view on a larger scale showing one of the cross-braces and motor suD- port, and

Fig.` 9 is a transverse sectional viewtakenon line 9-9 of Fig. 2.

Referring now'to the drawings, the exercising -machine comprisesa' pair of front'legs Il! made up of hollow 'tubing telescoped into foot-pieces' I I connected by'a cross brace bar I2 and a like'pair of rear legs' Ill. The legs'in combination with a` .casing C whichfinterven'es therebetween and is .in parallel aligned pairs through corresponding 2 apertures in the casing. For mounting the casing upon the legs I0, I0', sheet metal cross braces are enclosed within the casing, through which the tube stock leg ends extend and to which they are Welded. kThe cross-brace I5 at the forward end of the casing preferably lforms the frontY wall thereof, to which the side walls I6 of the casing are welded at I 'I. The brace has wings I8'extending along the side walls of the casing and inturned flanges I9, through which theextremities of the tube legs I3 extend and to which they are welded vat 20.

The cross brace 2l `near the rear of the case comprises` a sheetmetal structure havingra bottom plate 22, upstanding wings 23 extending across the casing,y having outturned end anges r241 and downturned bottom flanges 25 welded or `otherwise attached to the inner walls of the-casing-C. 'I'he horizontally extending upper endsy I4 `of therrearlegs I0 extend-through aperturesZB 5in the end wall of'the casing and through` corresponding apertures 21 in the` wings 23 of the Vcross-brace 2| at' which they are welded in place.

, The casing C-is madeof two pieces,including the box member already describedwhich has 1an inturned rim 28 somewhat above the tubular supvport rods I3, I4 and a cover piece C'. AThat cover piece is provided at its forward and rear ends resurfaces which rest upon the upper convexities'of the horizontal support legends I3, I4, the `forward yfoot piecesv 29 vintervening between the front of the casingand the liianges I9 of the frontubra'ce member and the rear footpieces 39 intervening between the rear walland the cross brace 2l.

To secure the-cover C' of the casing in'place, corresponding crosschannel'bars 32 which `have notches 33 for the. corresponding tubular leg members vare lodged thereunder, and bolts 34 through said-channel bar and the respective foot pieces 29, 39 clamp the casing cover piece -C against said tubular supports. The cover is desirably reinforced by corrugations 35 and its `lower rim vis telescoped slightly Within the rimf28 of the box portion of the casing,l so that the casing ,appears to be completely closed.

The casing mounts a, seai-l 36 inthe character of a bicycle seat, theoblique rod support '31 yofwhich extends into a corresponding neck 38,*,unitaryk with the `cover piece C ofthe casing-and isr adjustably and frictionally affixed thereingby `a cross bolt 39. The framealso carriesva handle member 4l! of the typeused ongiiicycles,` the of the casing. n l

Near the front and lower part of the casing standard 4| of which is clamped by a cross bolt 42 into a sleeve carrier 43 pivoted at 44 in the upperland forward end of the cover piece C', for

the back and forth movement about its pivot by action presently to be described.

For convenience of construction and neatness of appearance` .the ,handle support bar. sleeve 4,3

has an outwardly curved front wall 53 unitary with and at the lower end of said sleeve, and connected tothe sleeve `by unitary wings 54 Lof arcuate contour. The curved enlargement 55 thus formed extends with small clearance through a corresponding slot 56 inthe upper wa are a pair of bicycle pedals 45 extending from opposi-te sides of the casingYfand-faixed toA an axle 46 transversely of the casing.

The pedals 45 and the pivoted handle 4I`4`3 are interconnected by *a transmission for movingtlr'e ulatter 'back and forth in the Joperation of "thepe'd'als That `transmission is 'largelyfcon- "tainediin agear'boxV 41 Lwithintheca'sing `"The gearbox is Afirm-ly clarnpe'dj'in vplace between the 'side walls of casi-ng C by ymeans 4`v'of 'screws 48 kfextemng *through -sleeves '49 -@retained -under compression between the respective casing Vand gear 1boxside walls, and threaded into ithe gear box casting. rIphe ftransmissionfincludes algear v50 keyed to L'the pedalaxle -"4B 'and f meshing with A'a "largerspurfgear Ar5"| keyed -'to `counter-'shaft 52;

Countershaft 52 in the gear box has a short crank `arm f51' keyed'to -the outer 'exposed 'lend "'theredf. "Ther crank Iarfnn iisr connected 7with lrevspeci," tothe handle suppots'leevelllvlby .means 'with a ,unitary 'bearing #eye fSD' interposed ibeof the invention fromiits'broaderaspectitlispre ferred toprovideia motor drivenapparatus. To this `end 'a ifractional horse-'power' lelectric motor M :of frcin 5% to 2P. fis 'desirably :mounted '-und'enthe :casing .C fin: a', :corresponding :niche 62 '.Theioperation tproceeds substantially fas-"fly alows: "fllheruser, seated' upon the seat 36 with his -eet -in the 5 medals-45; throws' the rswitch "and places his h'ands onthehazidlebarg The motor `M .throughth worm 65 -andivvorrnWheel l66 idriv'esthe axlert'46 VfandV with it 'rth'e pedals `45. Through lfthek'spur gearsV 50 fand`5`l, power is "transmitted from axle 'T4`S"`to 'operate the'handle meniberlll. `Th`is operation occursl'by rotation cf the crank farm "51 whichby way of linkfy 58 --causes the 'handle bar to loscillate forwardand '.:end tof :the Y*crank zarm.

backward by power operation. Desirably, th'e gear reduction of spur gears 50 and 5l istwo to one, so that the handle bar will perform a complete stroke in one direction, forward or backward, for each complete turn of the pedal cranks.

It will be seen that in the rotary movement of the ,short `,crank 51, the major stroke of handle `movement Whether forward .or backward, will occur rapidly during the `substantially upward or downward movement of the crank arm. The `displacement of the handle member will be rela- Ltively slow at the ends of its stroke, duringthe substantially horizontal movement of the outer It follows that in the .continuous .operation of the pedals, the oscilla-l tory or rocking movement of the handle will occur `Without 'jolt or shock to the user. Each stroke begins and ends gently, but during the main length of the stroke the tension or compression upon the extended arms of the user is "vigorous, with corresponding stress upon -the all of the advantages of :muscularactionderived Y,

'both inthe oper-ations of bi'cycling'andfofrowing.

The simplicity vofthe 4'device willfibe' manifest. 'It Wil-l'beseenfthat .ish'e 'few moving partslarekall enclosedin the casing C,"including everyilink and moving bearing, so that in operation, only the pedals and ther handle `support rbar appear. to 35 move and the movement o'fsaidbar oc'curs about ra x'bearing vconcealed in casi-ng `C. vThe construction yvvhenfonceflubricated,:operateswithout noise or shock. Itiiis rugged andrhas vno= spring-sier other'breakable parts. f

In 'the motor driven embodiment, `action lisimparted i Sto the muscles` :Without Lairmative fefort onfthe part of'the'user, so that fthe full'measure Y of exercise -i-s :obtained 'without strain upont-he heartf Moreover, fthe fixed 'seat lends stability to Ythe lconstruction that rendersiits use safe :and comfortable even to .elderly lor ltimo'rous '.persons.

Theimachin'efcouldbe nsedwithout the electric lmotor, `or 'without closing"they switch thereof, to Vvcompel .the vuser 'to ido: afl'rmative-work, and Lthe Y operation of the pedals and handle bars gives-'ef- Ifective exerciselot activesratherrthanepass'ivetype. A s many changes couldribe :made'ini: the yabove embodiments of this invention could rbe made "without.'departingtfrom thevscope aof'the claims,

it is intended that allnnatter -contained .inithe f vabove description, or shown: 'in-the; accompanying drawings, shall be interpreted as illustrativeand not inalimitingsens'e.v

Having thus described my invention, lwhat `I claim` as :new and 'desireftoisecuresby LettersPatventofzthe UnitedStates-is: f' 1. An exercising machine, comprisingfa frame xlnavingea seat mounted thereon, 4a handle #member, a carrying bar therefor pivotedtogsaid-frame, pedals, :anv axle carrying :the-same, andra 'ttransfand yazshort crank forthe Iother.endfof.'said flink operated from said axlef=andfimparting isubstan- "tially`har1non'ic motion to saidhandle member.

2. Anf'exercisingsmachine, comprising ajframe,

including'a casing, agseatrrafxed tosaid-jcasing, v

a rhandle 'member and a Jcarrying `)bar Atherefor vpivotedV nearfthe lower end thereof Aiso-" saidfcasing, a pair of pedals -having an axle through said casing, a gear box from whichV said axleprotrudes,. a crank exposed on said gear box, a gear reduction 'in said box intervening vbetween said axle and said crank, and a transmission linkbetween said crank and said carrying bar` and hav-- including a. casing, a seat axed to said casing.

ja handle member having a carryingbar pivoted near its lower end tosaid casing, pedals laterally fof said casing having an axle transversely through said casing, an electric motor carried by said casing, a gear box enclosing a worm driven from said motor, a worm wheel meshing therewith, a gear reduction in said gear box, a crank arm driven from and. exposed at the outside of said gear box and within said casing, and a link connecting Isaid crank to the base end oi said pivoted carrying bar.

4. An exercising machine comprising a casing having support legs protruding therefrom, an electric motor 4under said casing, a gear box within said casing, an axle transversely of said gear box having pedals exposed a-t the outer ends thereof and exposed laterally of said casing, a transmission shaft between said motor and said axle, a countershaft in said gear box, having a short crank arm exposed at one side thereof, a seat aiixed to said casing, a handle member having a carrying bar pivoted to said casing and a link for imparting 'substantially harmonic movement to said handle member, said link ccnnecting said crank to said support bar at a point thereof near the pivot mount thereof.

5. An exercising machine comprising a casing having front and rear legs, a motor at the lower rear part of the casing, a gear box in front of said motor, a seat rising from the rear end of the upper part 0f said casing, a handle member having a support bar pivoted in said casing, a pair of pedals having an axle through Isaid gear box and said casing, a spur gear reduction within said box operated in unison with saidV axle, a short crank on the output end of said reduction and a link pivotally mounted upon said crank and pivoted to said support bar, near the pivot mount of the latter.

6. An exercising machine comprising a frame, including a casing having a gear box therein, enclosing Speed reducing gearing, a motor upon said frame and driving .said gearing, an axle through said box and said casing and driven by said motor, pedal-S on the ends of said axle, a counter shaft through said box and having a crank exposed on the end thereof and within said casing, a iixed seat upon said frame, a handle member having a support baz` pivoted to said casing and a link connecting said crank to a portion of said support bar contiguous to the pivot support of the latter, said shafts and axle being enclosed within said casing, said support bar having a hollow enlargement at the lower end thereof accommodating the upper pivoted end of said link.

'7. An exercising machine, comprising a support frame including a casing, a motor under said casing, a transmission box in said casing including reduction gearing driven by said motor and driven members actuated therefrom and engaged by parts of the body ofthe user, said driven members including pedals laterally of said casing and operated from said transmission box anda handle bar pivoted tosaid casing and Oscillated from'the reduction gearing.

8. An exercising machine comprising a support frame, including a casing having a base portion and a cover piece ailxedthereto, aimotor under said easing, pedals extending through the'base portion of said casingy a seat aliixed to said cover piece, a handle bar pivotedtosaid cover piece, a transmission in said casing including reduction/gearing driven by said motor, Vsaid reduction gearing driving said pedals and including'means for causing said handle bar t'o oscillate about its pivot.

9. An exercising machine comprising a support frame including a leg structure of tube stock, extending horizontally at the upper part thereof, a support casing for the operative parts of the mechanism, said casing being mounted upon the horizontal portions of said legs and rigidlyisecured thereto, pedals extending laterally ofisaid casing, a worm wheel moving with said pedals, a worm meshing therewith, a spur gear transmission operated from said worm Wheel, a handle member having a support bar pivoted to said casing, a crank upon the output end of said spur gear transmission and a link connecting said crank to said support bar for pivotal backward and forward movement of said handle member, while the pedals are being operated.'

10. An exercising machine of the type comprising support legs of tube stock, operating structure carried thereby, including a pair of pedals extending from the sides thereof, a xed seat and a handle member having a pivoted support bar, a closed casing structure supporting said pedal members, said seat and said handle support bar, the ends of said tube stock legs extending into said casing and the latter being clamped with respect thereto, said casing having enclosed therein transmission gearing interlinking the pedal cranks with the pivoted handle support bar.

11. The combination recited in claim 10 in which an electric motor is mounted under the casing and drives the transmission to both said pedal cranks and said handle bar.

12. In an exercising machine, front legs and rear legs, -a combined transmission and support casing comprising a lower box, metal cross-pieces near the ends thereof, said legs having horizontal upper portions extending across and through said metal cross-pieces and aixed thereto, said casing having a cover-piece resting upon said horizontal portions and bolted with respect to said legs, a seat mounted upon said cover piece, a handle support bar extending into and pivoted near its lower end to the upper part of said cover piece, pedal cranks extending from the sides of said box and a transmission within said box interlinking said pedals and said pivoted handle support bar.

13. In an exercising machine, front legs and rear legs, a combined transmission and support casing comprising a lower box, metal cross-pieces near the ends thereof, said legs having horizontal upper portions extending across and through said metal cross-pieces and affixed thereto, a complementary cover-piece resting upon said horizontal portions and bolted with respect thereto, a seat mounted upon said cover piece, a handle support bar extending into and pivoted near its 4, lower end to the upper part of said cover piece,

pedal cranks protruding from then sides of said box and a transmission within said box interlinking said pedals and said pivoted handle support bar, one of said cross-pieces having an f1.7 -electricmotor lfaixed :thereunder and rlodged in a corresponding -n-iche -in'ethe -lower part .of said box rand a ,LWorm-drvefinsaid boxconnectinggsaid :motor to thettransmissicn.

14. in lan exercising machine, -a casing, legs supporting the isame, aseat supported upon said casing rand a handle member `having asupport ibarjpivoted .near the lower VVend lthereof to `the rupper part `o'f said casing,I agear box within said :casingspaoed fromthe side walls thereoffspacer ysl'eeJ/es vin'i'erveningbetweenithe sidesof said cas ing and said box, Jscrews through `vsaid ,fspacer sleeves afxing said box in said easing, saidgear viloxliaving za worm wheel therein, said V worm u.wheelehem/Ting anfaxle'zextendingthrough the side walls ofsaid f casing, Y pedals :u pon -the #ends -of said -ing-With said Worm Wheel, 'said gear :box ink',cludinga 'pairnf spur gears driven .from :said

worm WheeL-a crankarm on-the output end of .ax1.e,.saidigearboxhaving a Worm therein Ameshvlsaidgear `box,.anc1 a ,link connecting said. crank armfto said handle barsu-pport :at @peint near the pivot mount thereof. f A

15. An exercising machine comprising apair -of front legs and a pair ofrearlegsof tubestok,

ypiece in place, .said .means V`comprising channel bar cross .members under the respective leg spor tions andscrews through thefQot pieces clamping the latter againstthe legvportions. Y GORDON BERGFORS.l

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