GB2133298A - Rowing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The machine comprises a base 10 and a seat structure 11 comprising two elongate parallel guide rails 16 pivotally mounted at one end, a slidable seat 21, and foot rests 19 mounted at each side of the pivot point. A lever 24 is pivotally mounted on the base and passes between the rails 16 and has a handlebar 26 at its upper end. Rollers 29 on the lever 24 engage the undersides of the guide rails 16 respectively, the arrangement being such that when the handlebar is pulled by a person sitting on the sliding seat the whole seat structure is pivoted upwardly. The force required to pull the handlebar is thus dependent on the weight of the person using the machine. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to rowing machines The invention relates to rowing machines.

Existing rowing machines normally comprise a base, a seat (which may be a sliding seat) mounted on the base, and a handlebar or pair of levers pivotally mounted on the base in such manner that they may be grasped by the person sitting on the seat and moved back and forth with a rowing action, springs or weights providing the resistance to operation of the handlebar or levers.

Such machines tend to be fairly costly due, to a certain extent, to the necessity of providing an adequate spring or weight device to provide the resisting force to the rowing action. Furthermore, again due to the provision of a spring or weight device, such machines are liable to failure due to breakage of a spring or weight support or of parts to which they may be connected. In addition, if means are provided for adjusting the loading applied by the spring or weight, so that the machine may be adjusted according to the strength of the user, this also adds to the cost and complexity of the machine.

The present invention sets out to provide a rowing machine where no springs or weights are necessary to provide the resisting force but where such force is provided by the weight of the user's own body. Not only does this permit considerable simplification of the structure, and hence reduction of the cost of the machine, it means that, to a certain extent, the machine automatically compensates for the strength of the user since it is to be expected that the user's strength will be largely proportional to body weight.

According to the invention, there is provided a rowing machine comprising a base structure, a seat structure mounted on the base structure for up and down movement relatively thereto, an operating handle movably mounted on the base structure so that it may be pulled by a person sitting on the seat structure, and means interconnecting the handle and seat structure so that movement of the handle towards the seat structure effects lifting movement of the seat structure.

Preferably the handle is formed on a lever pivotally mounted on the base structure. For example, the lever may be mounted on the base structure adjacent one end thereof for pivotal movement relatively thereto about a substantially horizontal axis, the handle extending substantially parallel to the pivot axis and being mounted on the opposite, free end of the lever.

The means interconnecting the handle and seat structure may comprise a member mounted on the lever intermediate the ends thereof so as to be raised and lowered by pivotal movement of the lever, and a part of the seat structure engaged by said member. For example, the member may comprise one or more rollers rotatably mounted on the lever and engageable with an underside part of the seat structure.

The seat structure may comprise an elongate frame pivotally mounted on the base structure, adjacent one end thereof, for movement about a substantially horizontal pivot axis.

The elongate frame may comprise one or more guide rails and the seat structure may also comprise a seat slideable longitudinally of the guide rails.

Foot rests for the user may be provided on the base structure or on the seat structure. For example, in the case where the seat structure is pivotally mounted on the base structure, said foot rests may be located adjacent the pivotal connection between said structures.

The following is a detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which; Figure 1 is a side elevation of a rowing machine according to the invention, and Figure 2 is a plan view of the machine.

Referring to the drawings, the rowing machine comprises a base structure 10 to which is pivotally mounted a seat structure 11.

The base structure 10 is formed from welded square-section steel tube and comprises a central backbone 1 2 to which are welded front and rear cross-pieces 13 and 14 respectively. A portion 1 5 of the backbone extends rearwardly of the rear cross-piece 1 4. The seat structure 11 comprises two circular cross-section steel tubes 1 6 which are parallel and straddle at their forward ends the upper end of a post 17, the lower end of which is welded to the backbone 12. A shaft 1 8 pivotally connects the guide rails 1 6 to the post 1 7 and also carries foot pads 1 9 on opposite sides of the guide rails.

The opposite ends of the guide raii are connected together by a downwardly projecting stop post 20 which, in the rest position of the seat structure shown in Figure 1, bears on the rearwardly extending portion 1 5 of the base structure.

A sliding seat 21 is mounted on the guide rails 1 6 having rollers 22 which engage the upper side of the guide rail and rollers 23 which engage the underside. The peripheries of the rollers are concavely sectioned so that they mate with the circular cross sectioned tubes and thus locate the sliding seat 21 laterally on the tubes.

A cranked operating lever 24 passes between the guide rails 1 6 at their forward ends and is pivotally connected, by means of a pivot pin 25, to the backbone 12 of the base structure. The lever arm 24 is formed in two telescoping parts from square-section steel so that its length may be adjusted. The upper free end of the lever arm 24 has welded to it a handle-bar 26 having hand grips 27.

A shaft 28 passes through the lever arm 24 below the guide rails 1 6 and carries, on opposite sides of the lever arm 24, plastics rollers 29 which bear on the undersides of the guide rails 1 6 respectively.

In use, the user sits on the seat 21 with his feet on the foot pads 18 and grasps the hand grips 27 of the handlebar 26. The user than pulls back on the handlebar 26, at the same time straightening his legs so as to slide the seat 21 rearwardly on the guide rails 1 6. As the handlebar 26 is pulled the lever arm 24 swings clockwise, as viewed in Figure 1, and the engagement of the rollers 29 on the underside of the guide rails 1 6 tilts the whole seat structure 11 anticlockwise, thus raising the seat 21, and the user with it.Upon reaching the rearward limit of movement, which may if desired be determined by stops on the guide bars 1 6 limiting the swinging movement of the lever arm 24 and/or the sliding movement of the seat 21, the user reduces the force applied to the handlebar 26 and allows it to return to the position shown in Figure 1, under the action of the weight of his body on the seat structure 11. The action is repeated continuously to simulate a rhythmic rowing action, with the difference that with each stroke the user's seat is raised and lowered.

It will be appreciated that the load which the user has to apply to the handlebar 26 to operate the machine will be proportional to his body weight, since the load is acting to raise his body a specified vertical distance. The machine therefore to a certain extend automatically compensates for the strength of the user since it may be assumed that such strength is proportional to body weight.

It is found that the unusual lifting action of the rowing machine, which accompanies the rowing action, makes the machine more enjoyable to use than a conventional rowing machine where the only action which takes place is the pulling on the rowing lever or levers. Furthermore, since, on the return stroke the seat 21 is returning downwardly along the sloping guide rails 16, there is no necessity for the user's feet to be secured to the foot pads and no need for him to pull his body forwards by means of his feet as is often the case with conventional rowing machines.

It will be appreciated that the dimensions of the machine between the various pivot points are fairly critical to ensure a satisfactory action.

Although any suitable range of dimensions is within the scope of the invention, it is found that the following dimensions are particularly satisfactory: Horizontal distance (a) between pivot point 1 8 and pivot point 25: 40.5 cm.

Vertical distance (b) between pivot point 1 8 and pivot point 25: 9.5 cm.

Distance (c) between pivot point 25 and pivot point 28:24 cm.

Length (d) of lever arm 24 from pivot point 25 to handle bar 26: 82 cm.

Although these are preferred dimensions they may be varied, preferably by not more than 10% but in some cases a variation of up to 20% may be acceptable.

If required, any of the pivot points may be so arranged that they are adjustable to enable these dimensions to be varied. For example, any or all of the pivot points may comprise a pivot pin which may be selectively located through any of a number of spaced holes along the member to which the pin is connected.

Claims (9)

1. A rowing machine comprising a base structure, a seat structure mounted on the base structure for up and down movement relatively thereto, an operating handle movably mounted on the base structure so that it may be pulled by a person sitting on the seat structure, and means interconnecting the handle and seat structure so that movement of the handle towards the seat structure effects lifting movement of the seat structure.

2. A rowing machine according to claim 1, wherein the handle is formed on a lever pivotally mounted on the base structure.

3. A rowing machine according to claim 2, wherein the lever is mounted on the base structure adjacent one end thereof for pivotal movement relatively thereto about a substantially horizontal axis, the handle extending substantially parallel to the pivot axis and being mounted on the opposite, free end of the lever.

4. A rowing machine according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the means interconnecting the handle and seat structure comprise a member mounted on the lever intermediate the ends thereof so as to be raised and lowered by pivotal movement of the lever, and a part of the seat structure engaged by said member.

5. A rowing machine according to claim 4, wherein the member comprises one or more rollers rotatably mounted on the lever and engageable with an underside part of the seat structure.

6. A rowing machine according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the seat structure comprises an elongate frame pivotally mounted on the base structure, adjacent one end thereof, for movement about a substantially horizontal pivot axis.

7. A rowing machine according to claim 6, wherein the elongate frame comprises one or more guide rails and the seat structure also includes a seat slideable longitudinally of the guide rails.

8. A rowing machine according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein foot rests for the user are provided on the base structure or on the seat structure.

9. A rowing machine according to claim 8, and in which the seat structure is pivotally mounted on the base structure, wherein said foot rests are located adjacent the pivotal connection between said structures.

1 0. A rowing machine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.