Terrain-Adaptive Weight Training Sled with Free Steering

The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 18/449,501, filed on Aug. 14, 2023.

The present invention relates to a weight training apparatus and more particularly to an innovative structure of a terrain-adaptive weight training sled with free steering.

The weight training sled referred to in the present invention is an inventive weight training apparatus that has been developed and introduced in recent years, which mainly comprises a skid that can load a weighted object, a specific example of the weighted object includes a weight plate, and when the user pushes or pulls the skid, the skid and the ground form a resistance by relative friction, thereby achieving the purpose of weight training, and changing the number of the weighted object that can change the intensity of the training. However, when the user pushes or pulls the skid, the skid causes wear and damage by friction with the ground, which makes the weight training sled unfavorable for use when it is used indoors.

Given the problems of the previously mentioned weight training sled, the relevant industry has therefore developed a weight training sled with wheels, wherein four wheels are provided on the skid which moves by means of the wheels, thereby eliminating the damaging problem caused by the relative contact between the skid and the ground, and allowing the skid to be used indoors; the above-mentioned weight training sled with wheels can further be provided with a damping structure to the wheels, when the wheels roll on the ground, the damping structure provides a damping effect which serves as a source of resistance for retarding the movement in addition to the weights loaded on the skid, and a handlebar is usually provided on the skid in a vertical direction for the user to hold with both hands to facilitate the application of force for pushing or pulling the weight training sled for maneuvering.

However, the following problems are still found in the practical experience of using this type of weight training sled. For example, the wheels of the weight training sled are usually of the orientation straight type, so when the user desires to make a turn, they must lift one end of the sled using the handlebar and then perform the turn simultaneously. This process leads to the current limitations in conventional weight training sleds, including inconvenient steering and the inability to adapt flexibly to different terrains. Therefore, this is an important technical issue worthy of the relevant industry to pursue breakthroughs in improving the technology.

The main purpose of the present invention is to provide a terrain-adaptive weight training sled with free steering, and the technical problems it is intended to solve are directed toward the development of a new type of weight training sled structure that is more desirable and practical as a breakthrough in the goal of innovation.

In accordance with the foregoing purposes, the present invention provides a terrain-adaptive weight training sled with free steering, comprising: a main frame having a first end and a second end remote from each other; a resistance wheel rotatably disposed on the first end and assembled with a damping structure to provide a damping effect to retard the rolling of the resistance wheel; two omni-wheels, in a rotatable and freely steerable state, disposed on both sides of the second end, allowing the main frame to be displaced by utilizing the rolling of each omni-wheel and the resistance wheel; a pulling connection portion provided at the second end; and a pulling member having a connecting end, a user-operated end, and a flexible extension section between the connecting end and the user-operated end, the connecting end being used to connect the pulling connecting portion, while the user-operated end is used to provide the user to apply a force for pulling; and the height of the first end of the main frame is lower than the height of the second end, relatively causing the second end to have an upward inclination angle θ which is between 6° and 15°.

With this innovative structure and technical features, the present invention, compared to the prior art, when the user pulls the second end to turn by means of the pulling member, the two omni-wheels can be driven to produce a turning motion, thereby achieving flexible steering to adapt to the terrain, improving practical progress in operating convenience and better utilization of industrial advantages. The benefit of the frame tilt is that when the user pulls the second end of the frame, since the user's towing force is usually above the waist, which has a large difference in height from the frame, the tilting angle θ feature of the frame can just make up for this difference, making the towing path smoother and preventing the second end of the frame from tilting, making the towing action more stable and smooth.

Referring to, a preferred embodiment of a terrain-adaptive weight training sled with free steering of the present invention is shown herein, but such embodiment is for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as a limitation of the structure in a patent application.

The weight training sled comprises a main framehaving a first endand a second endremote from each other. A push frameis erected on the first endof the main frame. A resistance wheelis rotatably disposed on the first endand assembled with a damping structureto provide a damping effect to retard the rolling of the resistance wheel. Two omni-wheels, in a rotatable and freely steerable state, are disposed on both sides of the second end, allowing the main frameto be displaced by utilizing the rolling of each omni-wheeland the resistance wheel. A pulling memberhas a connecting end, a user-operated end, and a flexible extension sectionbetween the connecting endand the user-operated end, wherein the connecting endbeing used to connect with the second endof the main frame, and the user-operated endbeing used for a userto apply a force for pulling. When the userguides the second endto turn by means of the pulling member, the two omni-wheelscan be driven to produce a turning motion. The height of the first endof the main frameis lower than the height of the second end, relatively causing the second endto have an upward inclination angle θ which is between 6° and 15° (Referring to).

As shown in, in this embodiment, the main frameis further provided with a weight loading holderthat allows the userto selectively load a weight member(which may be, but is not limited to, the use of a weight plate).

As shown in, in this embodiment, a pulling connection portionis provided at the second endof the main frame, which includes two spaced apart claspsthat allow the connecting endof the pulling memberto be aligned accordingly, resulting in the formation of two separate hooking cables.

Wherein, the user-operated endof the pulling memberis of one of the following types: a hand loop, a chest strap, a shoulder strap, a girdle, or a lasso. For example, the user-operated endshown inis of the shoulder strap type; another user-operated endB shown inis of the hand loop type; another user-operated endC shown inis of the chest strap type; another user-operated endD shown inis of the girdle type; and another user-operated endE shown inis of the lasso type.

As shown in, in this embodiment, the second endof the main frameis erected with two handlebarsin a spaced-apart configuration. In this embodiment, the two handlebarsare provided to allow the userto operate the second endin a pushing mode directly through these two handlebarswhen the second endis not being operated in a pulling mode by the pulling member.

As further shown in, the two handlebarsare provided for coupling the connecting endof the pulling memberto the second endof the main frame.

Based on the above-described structural configuration and technical features, the following is a description of the operation of the preferred embodiment of the terrain-adaptive weight training sled with free steering of the present invention: As shown in, when the userguides the second endof the main frameto make a turn through the pulling member(as shown by arrows Land L), the two omni-wheelsare thus driven to produce a turning motion, thereby achieving a flexible steering that can adapt to the terrain (note: including flat and undulating terrain) which enhances the practical progress of operating convenience; more specifically, in the process of the userpulling the main frameto move forward through the pulling member, with the change of the pulling direction of the user, the second endis automatically steered to cope with the change, thus allowing the userto maneuver the weight training sled more easily and without obstacles over a smaller range of motion due to the flexible steering feature.

The benefit of the frame tilt is that when the user pulls the second endof the main frame, since the user's towing force is usually above the waist, which has a large difference in height from the frame, the tilting angle θ feature of the main framecan just make up for this difference, making the towing path smoother and preventing the second endof the main framefrom floating, making the towing action more stable and smooth.

As shown in, the implementation of the present invention also does not exclude that the connecting endof the pulling membercan be coupled to the weight loading holderof the main frame, thereby achieving an embodiment of connecting the second end. In summary, as can be seen from the above embodiments, there are a variety of specific embodiments in which the pulling memberof the present invention can be connected to the second endof the main frame, provided that the usercan change it according to his needs.