U.S. patent application number 10/359573 was filed with the patent office on 2004-08-12 for exercise stepper.
Invention is credited to Yang, Lien-Chuan.
Application Number | 20040157707 10/359573 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33133103 |
Filed Date | 2004-08-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040157707 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yang, Lien-Chuan |
August 12, 2004 |
Exercise stepper
Abstract
An exercise stepper has a bottom rack, two treadle bars, an
inclined bar, a handle, a supporting rod and two oil pressure
cylinders. Wherein the front ends of the two treadle bars are
pivotally connected to two end spots of the front axle shaft. The
treadle bars have on the front sections thereof connecting areas
for connecting the two oil pressure cylinders; the rear ends of the
treadle bars are extended rearwardly to form treadle pedals. The
inclined bar is pivotally connected on the bottom end thereof with
the rear end of the bottom rack, the front end thereof is extended
frontwardly and upwardly, the upper end has a function display
meter, a connecting area for the handle is provided on the upper
end of the inclined bar being slip jointed with the handle. The
supporting rod is horizontally extended through a neck portion of
the inclined bar. The oil pressure cylinders are connected on the
upper ends thereof to the supporting rod, and are connected on the
lower ends thereof to the connecting areas for the oil pressure
cylinders. Thereby, when a treadle pedal is trampled down, the
other treadle pedal is relatively subjected to a force and is
lifted, and vice versa, the exercise stepper thus is formed. The
structure with the connecting areas for the oil pressure cylinders,
for the handle and for the inclined bar etc. can have the
components thereof collapsed onto the bottom rack.
Inventors: |
Yang, Lien-Chuan; (Taipei,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
TROXELL LAW OFFICE PLLC
SUITE 1404
5205 LEESBURG PIKE
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22041
US
|
Family ID: |
33133103 |
Appl. No.: |
10/359573 |
Filed: |
February 7, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/53 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 2210/50 20130101;
A63B 21/0087 20130101; A63B 22/0056 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/053 |
International
Class: |
A63B 022/04 |
Claims
1. An exercise stepper comprises: a bottom rack provided with a
front axle shaft, a rear bar and an intermediate bar connecting to
the middle of said front axle shaft and the middle of said rear
bar; two treadle bars, the front ends of said two treadle bars are
pivotally connected to a right and a left spot respectively aside
of said middle of said front axle shaft, the rear ends of said
treadle bars are extended rearwardly to form treadle pedals; said
treadle bars are adapted to rotating up or down in relation to said
front axle shaft for an angle, and are provided on the front
sections thereof with connecting areas for connecting with two oil
pressure cylinders; an inclined bar, being pivotally connected on
the bottom end thereof with a connecting area in said middle of
said rear bar, the front end thereof is extended frontwardly and
upwardly, the upper end thereof is provided with a function display
meter; a handle slip jointed with a connecting area for said handle
which is connected to the rear side on said upper end of said
inclined bar; a supporting rod horizontally extended through a neck
portion of said inclined bar; and two oil pressure cylinders,
connected on the upper ends thereof to said supporting rod, and
connected on the lower ends thereof to connecting areas for said
two oil pressure cylinders respectively; with the above stated
structure, when one of said treadle pedals is trampled down, the
other of said treadle pedals is relatively subjected to a force and
is lifted, and vice versa, said exercise stepper thus is formed;
said structure, in which the bottoms of said two oil pressure
cylinders are pivotally connected with said connecting areas for
said oil pressure cylinders in front of said two treadle bars, said
handle is slip jointed with said connecting area for said handle,
and said inclined bar is pivotally connected on the bottom end
thereof with a connecting area of said rear bar, allows components
thereof collapsed onto said bottom rack thereof.
2. The exercise stepper as in claim 1, wherein said bottom rack is
in the shape of "H", said rear bar is in the shape of a stable
elliptic bar not subjected to sliding, the two ends of said
elliptic rear bar are provided each with a roller.
3. The exercise stepper as in claim 1, wherein the front axle shaft
of said bottom rack has in the middle thereof a cushion block.
4. The exercise stepper as in claim 1, wherein said front axle
shaft connected with the ends of said treadle bars are provided on
the two ends thereof each with an annular fixing member.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention is related to an exercise stepper, and
especially to such an exercise stepper which can be collapsed into
a small volume not occupying a too large space and suits sports
equipments or the like.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] In pursuance of the kinds of fields, sports can be divided
into indoor and outdoor sports; outdoor sports are limited by
weather situation, while indoor sports is not influenced by
weather. However, the space of a normal family house is limited, it
is limited unless it is an indoor specific field for sports.
[0005] Taking the usually seen indoor sports equipments--exercise
steppers as an example, a base thereof is provided with an active
wheel and a damping device, the base is provided in front thereof
with a handle, and a belt is provided between the two. By a crank
action of the active wheel, the damping device is rotated; the
crank is provided on the rear end thereof with a slide wheel
extended therethrough with a supporting rod, the base is provided
on the two sides of a front transverse rod thereof with a "U"
shaped connector, the "U" shaped connector can be pivotally
connected with the front end of the supporting rod for fixing; the
supporting rod is provided above the rear section thereof with
treadle pedals, the supporting rod can exactly be slip jointed with
the slide wheel; thereby, when the treadle pedals are trampled and
pressed down to render the crank to rotate the active wheel through
the slide wheel, the crank will make a circular motion following
the active wheel, meantime, the slide wheel will slide to and fro
along the supporting rod to change the rotating motion to a
reciprocal rectilinear motion, so that the treadle pedals can
simply do the up and down treading movement.
[0006] Although the exercise stepper can get the effect of
sporting, when it is not in use, it has a large volume and is
unable to be collapsed, thereby it occupies a larger space; if it
is required to make it occupy a smaller space, it shall be
dismantled and stacked for storage, and can be recombined for use;
however, the components dismantled are subjected to inability of
recombining into a complete exercise stepper again by virtue that
the components are not well stored or discarded by someone not
knowing the requirement, this is undesired conclusively.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] In view of the above defects to be solved resided in the
conventional exercise steppers, it is expected to provide an
exercise stepper that can be simply collapsed after combination for
storage with a smaller volume and without occupying a too large
space, such an exercise stepper is suitable for use by users; and
this is the motive of studying and development of the present
invention.
[0008] The primary object of the present invention is to provide an
exercise stepper, by designing the pivotal connections and slip
joints of the main components, the components can be combined into
a complete machine and can be collapsed into a smaller volume
without occupying a too large space; the exercise stepper is
suitable for use and storage within an indoor field having a
limited space.
[0009] To get the above stated object, the exercise stepper of the
present invention is comprised of a bottom rack, two treadle bars,
an inclined bar, a handle, a supporting rod and two oil pressure
cylinders, wherein: the bottom rack is provided with a front axle
shaft, a rear bar and an intermediate bar connecting to the middles
of the front axle shaft and the rear bar. The front ends of the two
treadle bars are pivotally connected to a right and a left spot
respectively aside of the middle of the front axle shaft, the rear
ends of the treadle bars are extended rearwardly to form treadle
pedals. The treadle bars can be rotated up or down in relation to
the front axle shaft for an angle, and are provided on the front
sections thereof with connecting areas for connecting with the two
oil pressure cylinders. The inclined bar is pivotally connected on
the bottom end thereof with a connecting area in the middle on the
rear bar, the front end thereof is extended frontwardly and
upwardly, the upper end is provided with a function display meter,
a connecting area for the handle is provided on the rear side on
the upper end of the inclined bar. The handle is slip jointed with
the connecting area for the handle. The supporting rod is
horizontally extended through a neck portion of the inclined bar.
The two oil pressure cylinders are connected on the upper ends
thereof to the supporting rod, and are connected on the lower ends
thereof to the connecting areas for the two oil pressure cylinders.
With the above stated structure, when a treadle pedal is trampled
down, the other treadle pedal is relatively subjected to a force
and is lifted, and vice versa, the exercise stepper thus is formed.
The structure, in which the bottoms of the two oil pressure
cylinders are pivotally connected with the connecting areas for the
oil pressure cylinders in front of the two treadle bars, the handle
is slip jointed with the connecting area for the handle, and the
inclined bar is pivotally connected on the bottom end thereof with
the connecting area of the rear bar, can have the components
thereof collapsed onto the bottom rack thereof.
[0010] The present invention will be apparent in its features after
reading the detailed description of the preferred embodiment
thereof in reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0012] FIGS. 2-4 are schematic side views showing the operation of
collapsing of the embodiment of the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of the embodiment of the
present invention when in completion of the operation of
collapsing;
[0014] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the
present invention when in completion of the operation of
collapsing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0015] Referring firstly to FIG. 1, the exercise stepper of the
present invention is comprised of a bottom rack 10, two treadle
bars 11, an inclined bar 12, a handle 14, a supporting rod 15 and
two oil pressure cylinders 16, wherein: the bottom rack 10 is
provided with a front axle shaft 101, a rear bar 102 and an
intermediate bar 103 connecting to the middle of the front axle
shaft 101 and the rear bar 102. The bottom rack 10 is in the shape
of "H". The connecting area of the front axle shaft 101 with the
intermediate bar 103 has a protruding cushion block 104. The rear
bar 102 is provided on each end thereof with a roller 105; and a
connecting spot of the rear bar 102 with the intermediate bar 103
forms a connecting area 106 for connecting the inclined bar 12; the
inclined bar 12 extends frontwardly and upwardly. A neck portion of
the inclined bar 12 allows the supporting rod 15 to horizontally
extend therethrough. The upper end of the inclined bar 12 is
provided with a function display meter 13, a connecting area 121
for connecting the handle 14 is provided on the rear side on the
upper end of the inclined bar 12.
[0016] The front ends of the two treadle bars 11 are pivotally
connected to a right and a left spot respectively aside of the
middle of the front axle shaft 101 which is provided on the two
ends thereof each with an annular fixing member 107. The treadle
bars 11 are provided on the front sections thereof with connecting
areas 111 for connecting with two oil pressure cylinders 16. The
rear ends of the treadle bars 11 are extended rearwardly to form
treadle pedals 112. The connecting areas 111 for connecting with
the two oil pressure cylinders 16 are each pivotally connected to
the corresponding bottom end of an oil pressure cylinder 16, the
upper ends of the treadle bars 11 are connected with the supporting
rod 15 to thereby complete assembling of the present invention.
[0017] When a treadle pedal 112 is trampled down by a user, the
other treadle pedal 112 is relatively subjected to a force and is
lifted, and vice versa, an effect of sporting thus is formed. The
rear bar 102 of the bottom rack 10 of the "H" shape is in the shape
of an elliptic bar making the bottom rack 10 stable, the handle 14
can be held by the user; by viewing the function display meter 13,
the related sporting information can be known (such as the time of
exercising, the amount of calories consumed etc.). The inclined bar
12 is a bar with irregular curvatures, the connecting area 106 for
connecting the inclined bar 12 has an inclining angle to thereby be
connected with the inclined bar 12 in this inclining angular
position, so that the modeling of the entire exercise stepper can
be more beautiful, and can meet the requirement of the human body
engineering in design. And when in moving, the two ends of the rear
bar 102 of the bottom rack 10 are provided each with a roller 105,
thereby, it needs only to raise the front axle shaft 101 of the
bottom rack 10 to render the rollers 105 to contact the ground, the
exercise stepper can be moved to any desired spot at will taking
advantage of rolling of the rollers 105.
[0018] When not in use, referring to FIG. 2, the connecting area
106 for connecting the inclined bar 12 is released in the first
place, then the inclined bar 12 is directly pressed down to make
rotation of the upper and the lower ends of the two oil pressure
cylinders 16 (as well as the supporting rod 15 and the connecting
areas 111 for connecting with the oil pressure cylinders 16
protruded from the treadle bars 11) therewith. The inclined bar 12
is continuously pressed down till the bottommost. As shown in FIG.
3, by virtue that the inclined bar 12 is a bar with irregular
curvatures, it is generally concave on the upper portion and convex
on the lower portion thereof, and the front axle shaft 101 of the
bottom rack 10 is protrusively provided with the soft protruding
cushion block 104, thereby, the inclined bar 12 is not subjected to
having the concave upper portion damaged or having the lacquer on
the concave upper portion peeled off by collision. The oil pressure
cylinders 16 and the two treadle bars 11 are located between the
inclined bar 12 and the intermediate bar 103 of the bottom rack 10
to largely reduce the volume of the entire exercise stepper such as
is shown in FIG. 4. And more, a connecting area 121 of the handle
14 on the upper end of the inclined bar 12 is further released to
allow the handle 14 to rotate reversely and lapped over the oil
pressure cylinders 16, as shown in FIGS. 5, 6, in order that when
the present invention is not in use, the connecting area 106 for
connecting the inclined bar 12, the connecting areas 111 for
connecting with the oil pressure cylinders 16 and the connecting
area 121 of the handle 14 can be collapsed for storage of the
exercise stepper conveniently.
[0019] Accordingly, the structure of the present invention has the
following practical advantages:
[0020] 1. The rear bar of the bottom rack is in the shape of an
elliptic bar, so that when in use of the present invention, it is
not subjected to sliding and provides an effect of stability for
the bottom rack; the rear bar further is provided with rollers, no
matter the exercise stepper is stretched out or collapsed, it needs
only to raise the front axle shaft of the bottom rack to render the
rollers to contact the ground, the exercise stepper can be moved
conveniently.
[0021] 2. The inclined bar has irregular curvatures, this makes the
modeling of the entire exercise stepper more beautiful, and tidy in
collapsing without oddity.
[0022] 3. The front axle shaft of the bottom rack is protrusively
provided in the middle thereof with the protruding cushion block,
thereby, the inclined bar is not subjected to damaging or having
the lacquer thereon peeled off by collision due to an overly large
pressing-down force.
[0023] 4. By collapsing of the connecting areas, the volume of the
exercise stepper can be effectively reduced to not occupy a too
large space, thereby the exercise stepper is convenient for storage
for a small field.
[0024] In conclusion, according to the content disclosed above, the
present invention can get the expected object thereof to provide a
practicable exercise stepper.
[0025] The above stated is only for illustrating a preferred
embodiment of the present invention and not for giving any
limitation to the scope of the present invention. It will be
apparent to those skilled in this art that various modifications or
changes without departing from the spirit and scope of this
invention shall also fall within the scope of the appended claims
of this invention.
* * * * *