Exercise device for rowing motion simulation

Abstract

An exercise device includes a base, a seat assembly mounted on the base, a load mechanism attached to an upright and including a take-up assembly and a flywheel coaxially secured to the take-up assembly, a first rowing unit configured to activate the load mechanism by pulling a spring activated strap, and a second rowing unit configured to activate both the load mechanism and the first rowing unit by pulling the strap and pivotably rotating a handle via a cord which is operatively connected to a pivotal arm on the base.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An exercise device comprising a base, a seat assembly mounted on the base, a load mechanism, a first rowing unit configured to activate the load mechanism, and a second rowing unit configured to activate both the load mechanism and the first rowing unit wherein:
 the base includes a longitudinal tube, a front upright, a support disposed rearward of the front upright, an arm pivotably secured to a lower portion of the support and being perpendicular to the longitudinal tube, a plurality of roller elements mounted on the longitudinal tube, a plurality of roller members mounted in the support, and a plurality of rollers mounted in the arm;   the seat assembly includes a seat tube above the longitudinal tube, the seat tube having a front end mounted on an intermediate portion of the longitudinal tube, two spaced foot plates pivotably secured to two sides of the front end of the seat tube respectively, a leg secured to a rear end of the seat tube, and a seat moveably mounted on the seat tube;   the load mechanism is attached to the front upright and includes a take-up assembly and a flywheel coaxially secured to the take-up assembly, wherein the take-up assembly is configured to rotate the flywheel in one direction;   the first rowing unit includes a strap having a first end disposed external to the support, and a handlebar secured to the first end of the strap, wherein the strap passes through the roller members, the rollers, and one of the roller elements to secure to and roll on the take-up assembly; and   the second rowing unit includes a cord, a tunnel assembly, a handle, and a connection member wherein the cord has a first end attached to the arm and a second end passing through the roller elements to attach to the connection member, a second end of the connection member engaging a portion of the handle adjacent to the tunnel assembly, and the handle includes a pivotal portion pivotably passing through the tunnel assembly, and two opposite grasping members disposed on two sides of the longitudinal tube, respectively.   
     
     
         2 . The exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein the roller elements include first, second, and third roller elements mounted on the longitudinal tube, the roller members are mounted in the support, and the rollers are mounted in the ann. 
     
     
         3 . The exercise device of  claim 2 , wherein the strap passes through the first and second roller members, the first roller, the third roller member, the second roller, the fourth roller member, the third roller, and the first roller element to secure to and roll on the take-up assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The exercise device of  claim 3 , wherein the cord has a first end attached to a top of the arm and a second end passing through the second and third roller elements to attach to a first end of the connection member. 
     
     
         5 . The exercise device of  claim 4 , wherein the flywheel is either an electromagnetic flywheel or a damping flywheel. 
     
     
         6 . The exercise device of  claim 4 , wherein the take-up assembly includes a housing, a hollow projection integrally formed with one side of the housing, a volute spring in the housing, a bearing in the hollow projection and operatively attached to the flywheel, and an axle in the housing and passing into the bearing. 
     
     
         7 . The exercise device of  claim 4 , wherein the seat tube is upwardly inclined from its front end, and wherein the leg is pivotably and downwardly declined from its front end. 
     
     
         8 . The exercise device of  claim 4 , wherein the tunnel assembly includes two spaced tunnel members with the pivotal portion pivotably passing through the tunnel members.