This invention relates to a rowing machine, being a machine for exercising the human body in that the user of the machine executes a rowing action involving bending and straightening of the legs in synchronism with pulling on an oar means by the arms.

Rowing machines are now extremely popular as exercise devices and are used not only by sports people as training devices for the sport of rowing, but also as general keep fit devices. Rowing machines are considered to be excellent for general fitness because the machines exercise the legs and arms and other parts of the body simultaneously.

Conventional rowing machines comprise a frame which rests on the floor, and slidingly supports a seat on which the user sits. The frame also has fixed foot pads on which the feet rest and to which the feet may be held by means of straps or the like. The machine also has a pair of oar bars which are hinged to the frame, and resistance devices such as hydraulic dampers or springs are connected between the oar bars and the frame so that the user pulls the oar bars and stretches his legs against the resistance of the resistance devices.

A disadvantage of the known rowing machines, especially as far as lady users are concerned, is that the user when on the machine is essentially at ground level as the seat is barely above the surface on which the frame rests.

The present invention seeks to provide a machine where the seat is at a higher level and generally closer to the normal seating level as dictated by conventional seating.

There is a known rowing machine as described in British

Patent Specification No. 2186498 in which the user sits on a fixed seat and operates an oar means which is pivoted relative to the frame which supports the seat, and there is a resistance means against which the oar means is displaced by the user. The known machine does however have a relatively complicated construction in that foot pedals are provided and which comprise generally rectangular boards having a first end connected to the oar means, and a second end connected to a trolley, the trolley being adapted to travel back and forth on a guide forming part of the frame, and the resistance means being provided by straps which are wrapped round the trolley and are secured to the frame.

Because of the complicated nature of the known machine, it tends to be expensive, and furthermore it occupies a substantial amount of space. This represents a significant disadvantage because rowing machines are increasingly used in domestic circumstances where space is at a premium.

The present invention aims to provide a rowing machine which overcomes these disadvantages, at least in its preferred form.

In accordance with the invention a rowing machine comprises a stand supporting a seat substantially above ground level, the stand furthermore pivotally supporting an oar bar about a horizontal axis so that the oar bar has an upper end and a lower end, the upper end being provided with hand grip means whereby the user can pull the upper end of the bar towards himself, and a lower end carrying foot rests for receiving the user's feet, said foot rests being not otherwise connected to the remainder of the machine, and further including resistance means acting on the oar bar and against which the user can pull the oar bar towards himself whilst pushing on the foot rests to simulate a rowing action.

The resistance means preferably comprises a hydraulic damper pivotally connected between the oar bar and the stand.

The stand may comprise a base, an upright seat pedestal at one end of the base, the seat being mounted on the top of the pedestal, a cross bar which extends from the pedestal in generally a horizontal direction, the oar bar being pivotally mounted at an end of the cross bar, and support struts connected between the cross bar and the base to support the cross bar and rigidify the structure.

The resistance damper preferably is pivotally connected between the pedestal and the lower portion of the oar bar, and where the damper is connected to the oar bar it preferably is provided with a bracket which is adjustably slidable on the oar bar so that the point of connection between the damper and the oar bar may be adjusted to vary the resistance of the damper, and there is a locking means such as a screw for locking the bracket in the adjusted position. Alternatively, the adjustment of the damper may be provided by providing a plate on the lower portion of the oar bar, said plate having a plurality of connection apertures at various distances from the oar pivot point and by any one of which the damper may be connected to the oar.

The oar bar preferably is pivotally connected to the upper end of the cross bar by means of a bracket which provides that the pivot axis between the cross bar and the oar bar is offset relative to the axis of the oar bar.

The oar bar comprises preferably a straight upper portion with the hand grip means in the form of two hand grips to opposite sides of the bar, whilst the lower portion is straight except for an extremity which is curved forwardly, and the foot rests are pivotally mounted on the end of the

curved extremity.

When the damper is connected to the lower end of the oar bar, the user exercises only when pulling on the oar bar and the user "free wheels" in returning the oars to the initial position.

According to a preferred feature of the present invention, however, when the damper is connected to the oar bar by means of a bracket which is slidably adjustable on the oar bar, the said bracket is positionable selectively to opposite sides of the pivot between the oar bar and stand so that the rowing machine can be used, with the same relative pivoting, as a rowing exercise machine or a pushing exercise machine.

There may be two parallel cross bars and the damper may lie between said cross bars and be pivotally connected to them adjacent the pedestal.

The central section of the oar bar may be provided with side plates spaced from the oar bar but connected thereto at their upper and lower ends. The side plates are preferably pivotally connected to the upper ends of the cross bars.

Preferably, the bracket by means of which the damper is connected to the oar bar is slidable on the portion of the oar bar between the side plates and the locking means protrudes between the side plates at the front of the oar bar.

Preferably the foot rests are provided with heel grips and non-slip foot pads which assist the user in maintaining his feet firmly on the foot rest.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of

example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:-

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a rowing machine according to a first embodaiment of the invention;

Fig. la is a side elevation of a machine similar to Fig. 1 with modifications;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a rowing machine according to another embodiment of the invention and in which the top portion of the oar bar is omitted;

Fig. 3 is a side view of the rowing machine of Fig. 2 in push-resistant configuration;

Fig. 4 is a side view of the rowing machine of Fig. 2 in pull-resistance configuration;

Fig. 5 is a side view of the oar bar used in the machine of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a front view of the oar bar of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is an exploded view of the damper connection slider mechanism of the machine of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the damper connection slider mechanism shown in Fig. 7.

Referring to Fig. 1, the rowing machine comprises a stand 10 including a base 12 on which is rigidly mounted a pedestal 14. At the top of the pedestal 14 is provided a seat 16 on which the user sits. It is to be noted that the seat 16 is substantially above ground level or in other words is at a

level which is comfortable for the user. In this regard the seat 16 will be at a level above the ground on which the rowing machine stands which is similar to the normal height of a conventional seat.

The stand furthermore includes a cross bar 18 which is rigidly connected to the pedestal 14 and extends horizontally therefrom for an initial portion, and an outwards portion 20 is upwardly inclined as shown and at its extremity there is provided a horizontal pivot 22. The cross bar 18 is braced by a pair of struts 24, 26 located on opposite sides of the cross bar 18.

An oar bar 28 is pivotally mounted on the pivot 22 as shown so that the axis of the oar bar is offset relative to the pivot (to improve the geometry of the machine) and the bar 28 has an upper portion 30 on the upper end of which is provided a pair of hand grips 32, 34 which can be grasped by the user when seated on seat 16. Bar 28 has a lower portion 36 on which a bracket 38 is slidably mounted. At the lower extremity of the lower portion 36 a portion is curved as shown at 40 and the extremity of the curved portion carries a pair of foot rests 42, 44 to opposite sides of the bar 28 and on which the user can rest his feet during use of the machine. The foot rest 42, 44 may be pedals pivotally mounted on pivots 46 at the extremity of the lower portion of the bar 28.

The bracket 38 is pivotally connected at 48 to one end above a hydraulic damper resistance device 50 (of a known construction) which provides the resistance against which the oar bar 28 can be rocked by the user for performing the rowing exercise as will be explained.

The other end of the damper 50 is pivotally connected at

pivot point 52 to the lower portion of the pedestal 14.

The framework of the stand is constructed of stout and robust metal sections suitably welded or otherwise secured together so that the exercise machine will be capable of handling the weight and efforts of any adult.

The machine is used simply by the user straddling across bar 18, and by sitting on seat 16. He places his feet on the foot rest 42, 44 and grips the handles 32, 34. He then proceeds to execute a rowing action by rocking the bar 28 by pulling the handles 32, 34 towards himself whilst allowing his legs to thrust on the foot rest 42, 44 thereby to rock the bar 28 to the position shown in dotted lines, or to an even further position. The movement of the bar 28 is against the resistance provided by the damper 50. This resistance can be adjusted by loosening the locking screw 54 provided on sliding bracket 38, and by sliding the bracket 38 to any position lengthwise of the lower portion of the bar 28 and by relocking the bracket 38 in the adjusted position. This adjustment of the position of the damper 50 means that the resistance against which the user must pull will be greater or smaller in order to rock the bar 28 to the same position.

A simple and effective rowing machine results.

In the embodiment of Fig. la, the construction is essentially the same, and similar parts have similar reference numerals. One difference however is that instead of bracket 38 the lower portion of bar 28 has a pair of plates 38A having holes 39 any one of which can be used for the connection of the damper 50 to vary the resistance of the machine.

Also, the struts 24, 26 are cranked to allow the bar to swing to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1A when the

machine is in use. The struts 24, 26 form stops for limiting the swinging of the oar bar 28. Otherwise, operation of the machine according to this embodiment is identical to that described in relation to Fig. 1.

The rowing machine may be adapted so that it can be folded to a stowed or transport position, and the oar bar 28 may be in telescopically interfitting parts so that the handles 32, 34 can be adjusted in position relative to the pivot 22.

The embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 2 - 8 is similar in construction to the embodiments of Figs. 1 and 2, in that the rowing machine comprises a stand 60 including a base 61 to which is rigidly connected a pedestal 62. At the top of the pedestal 62 is provided a seat 63 on which the user sits. It is to be noted again that the seat 63 is substantially above ground level or in other words is at a level which is comfortable for the user. In this regard the seat 63 will be at a level above the ground on which the rowing machine stands which is similar to the normal height of a conventional seat.

The stand furthermore includes cross bars 64, 65 which are rigidly connected to the pedestal 62 and extend forwardly therefrom and are upwardly inclined. The cross bars 64, 65 are braced by a pair of struts 66, 67.

.An oar bar 68 is provided in its central portion with side plates 100, 101 which are spaced from the oar bar 68 but which are connected to the oar bar at their upper and lower ends. The oar bar 68 is pivotally mounted between the cross bars 64, 65 by means of pivots 122 which are positioned on the side plates 100, 101 and are connected to the extremities of cross bars 64, 65 so that the axis of the oar bar is offset relative to the pivot. At the upper end of the oar

bar 68 there is provided a pair of hand grips 69, 70, which can be grasped by the user when seated on seat 63. At the lower extremity of the oar bar 68 a portion is curved as shown at 71 and the extremity of the curved portion carries a foot plate 72, on which the user can rest his feet during the use of the machine. The foot plate 72 may comprise two footrests 73, 74, each having a non-slip surface and being provided with flexible heel grips 75, 76. The plate 72 is pivotally mounted on pivot 77 at the extremity of the lower portion of the bar 68. A band 78 of elastic material is connected between the footrests 73, 74 and lies across the curved lower portion 71 of the oar bar so that when the user's feet are pressed on to the footrests 73, 74 the band 78 will be stretched across the oar bar ensuring that the feet maintain firm contact with the foot rests 73, 74.

On the portion of the oar bar 68 within the side plates 100, 101 a bracket 79 is slidably mounted. The bracket 79 is provided with a central section 124 (Fig. 7) which comprises damper connecting flanges 80 mounted on a tubular section 126 and a screw pressure pad 128 which contacts the oar bar 68. The outer section 130 of the bracket 79 has two tubular sections 132, 134 through which the oar bar 68 passes. The two tubular sections 132 and 134 are connected by a bar 136 through which is passed a locking screw 81. The bracket 79 can be moved along the oar bar 68 by releasing the screw 81, sliding the bracket 79 up or down the bar and re-tightening the screw 81 on the oar bar 68 so that the oar bar 68 is pushed against pressure pad 128 and is fixed in the required position. The oar bar 68 may additionally be provided with horizontal notches and the pressure pad 128 may be provided with a ridged tooth which can be locked into one of the notches to ensure that the bracket 79 stays in its correct position.

The bracket 124 is pivotally connected at 82 to one end of a hydraulic damper resistance device 83 (of a known construction) which provides the resistance against which the oar bar 68 can be rocked by the user for performing the rowing exercise as will be explained. The other end of the damper 83 is pivotally connected to a point 152 between the lower ends of the cross bars 64, 65 adjacent the pedestal 62.

As in the previous embodiments, the framework of the stand is constructed of stout and robust metal sections suitably welded or otherwise secured together so that the exercise machine will be capable of handling the weight and efforts of any adult.

The machine is used by the user stradling bars 64, 65 and by sitting on seat 63. He places his feet on the foot rests 73, 74 and grips the handles 69, 70. Assume that the resistance damper 83 is connected to the oar bar in the position shown in Fig. 4, the user proceeds to execute a rowing action by rocking the bar 68 by pulling the handles 69, 70, towards himself whilst allowing his legs to thrust on the foot rests 73, 74. When he has pulled in the bar to its fullest extent, he then pushes outwardly against no resistance on the bar again to return it to its starting position. When he wishes to execute a pushing exercise, the bracket 79 is slid to the position shown in Fig. 3 above the pivot point 122 of the oar bar 68, when the movement of the bar 68 away from the user is against the resistance provided by the damper 83. The resistance in either direction can be adjusted by changing the position of the brackets 79 on the oar bar 68.

The rowing machine of the embodiment of Figs. 2 - 8 therefore have the added advantage that they can be used not only as pulling exercise machines in which the user pulls against a

resistance but also as pushing exercise machines in which the user pushes against a resistance. The pulling and pushing motions exercise different muscles and therefore the machines have a wider function than for example a simple rowing machine.

As with previous embodiments, the rowing machine may be adapted so that it can be folded to a stowed or transport position and the oar bar 68 may be in telescopically interfitting parts so that the handles 69, 70 can be adjusted in position relative to the pivot 122.