Rowing exercise apparatus

Abstract

A rowing exercise apparatus includes a main frame having front and rear ends, a seat frame mounted on the main frame, two oars connected movably to the main frame and each having an end, an oar-coupling grip releasably interconnecting the ends of the oars, and a resistance unit mounted on the main frame and connected to the oars.

1 . A rowing exercise apparatus comprising: 
 a main frame having front and rear ends;    a seat frame mounted on said main frame;    two oars connected movably to said main frame and each having an end;    an oar-coupling grip releasably interconnecting said ends of said oars; and    a resistance unit mounted on said main frame and connected to said oars.    
     
     
         2 . The rowing exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said oar-coupling grip includes two grip members which have first ends connected detachably to each other, second ends attached respectively to said ends of said oars, and a releasable connecting unit interconnecting detachably said grip members.  
     
     
         3 . The rowing exercise apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said main frame includes a main beam, said seat frame including a seat slider connected slidably to said main beam, and a seat member fixed to said seat slider, said seat slider including two coupling members projecting leftward and rightward, respectively, from said seat slider, said second ends of said grip members being respectively attachable to said coupling members after being detached from said oars.  
     
     
         4 . The rowing exercise apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein each of said grip members has a first tube, said first tube of one of said grip members having a sleeve end, said first tube of the other one of said grip members having an insert end insertable into said sleeve end, each of said sleeve and insert ends having a through hole, said connecting unit including a resilient piece inserted into said insert end and having a first protrusion projecting releasably into said through holes in said sleeve and insert ends.  
     
     
         5 . The rowing exercise apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein each of said grip members has a second tube formed with a sleeve end and a second protrusion projecting inwardly from said sleeve end, said connecting unit including a connector having an insert tube, said insert tube having two opposite insert ends inserted respectively into said sleeve ends of said second tubes of said grip members, each of said insert ends being formed with an axially extending guide hole, and a positioning hole that extends circumferentially from and that is in spatial communication with said guide hole, said second protrusion extending into said positioning hole through said guide hole to thereby engage releasably said positioning hole, said insert tube further having an annular flange projecting outwardly from said insert tube between said positioning holes.  
     
     
         6 . The rowing exercise apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein each of said grip members has a third tube, said third tube of one of said grip members having a sleeve end, said third tube of the other one of said grip members having an insert end, said connecting unit including an internal thread formed in said sleeve end, and an external thread formed on said insert end and engaged releasably to said internal thread.  
     
     
         7 . The rowing exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of said oars includes a first section having a first end connected pivotally to said main frame and a second end opposite to said first end, and a second section having a first end connected pivotally to said second end of said first section, said first section being rotatable toward or away from said main frame for folding, said second section being rotatable toward or away from said first section for folding.  
     
     
         8 . The rowing exercise apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising a first retaining bracket connected to a bottom end of said main frame, said first retaining bracket including a first intermediate plate part fastened to said main frame, and two first curved end parts extending outwardly and respectively from two opposite sides of said first intermediate plate part to retain said first sections of said oars, respectively, when said first sections of said oars are folded.  
     
     
         9 . The rowing exercise apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising a second retaining bracket connected to said bottom end of said main frame, said second retaining bracket including a second intermediate plate part fastened to said main frame, and two second curved end parts extending outwardly from two opposite sides of said second intermediate plate part to retain said second sections of said oars, respectively, when said second sections of said oars are folded.  
     
     
         10 . The rowing exercise apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said resistance unit includes a single hydraulic cylinder having one end connected pivotally to said rear end of said main frame and the other end connected pivotally to both of said first sections of said oars.  
     
     
         11 . The rowing exercise apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said resistance unit includes a pair of hydraulic cylinders each having one end connected pivotally to said rear end of said main frame and the other end connected pivotally to a respective one of said first sections of said oars.  
     
     
         12 . The rowing exercise apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising a pivot unit which includes a first pivot frame connected to a bottom end of said main frame between said front and rear ends, and a second pivot frame connected pivotally to said first pivot frame to rotate about a first pivot axis which is substantially horizontal and which is transverse to said main frame, said second pivot frame being connected pivotally to at least one of said first ends of said first sections of said oars.  
     
     
         13 . The rowing exercise apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said first end of each of said first sections of said oars has a pivot pin which connects pivotally said first end to said second pivot frame, and a locking unit to lock releasably each of said first sections against rotation relative to said second pivot frame.  
     
     
         14 . The rowing exercise apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said locking unit includes a locking notch formed in said second pivot frame, a locking pin which projects from said first end in a direction transverse to said pivot pin and which extends removably through said locking notch, and a knob threadedly attached to said locking pin.