U.S. patent application number 10/657645 was filed with the patent office on 2005-03-10 for suspension system for glider exercise device.
Invention is credited to Husted, Joel P., Husted, Royce H..
Application Number | 20050054488 10/657645 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34226611 |
Filed Date | 2005-03-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050054488 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Husted, Royce H. ; et
al. |
March 10, 2005 |
Suspension system for glider exercise device
Abstract
A glider device includes a pair of swingably mounted foot
platforms pivotally supported by links at their heel ends. A spring
cage, including a tension spring and a compression spring, is
included in each link to resiliently support the heel end of the
foot platform. The spring cage limits displacement of the tension
spring and includes a compression spring that cushions the
displacement of the tension spring.
Inventors: |
Husted, Royce H.; (Forest,
VA) ; Husted, Joel P.; (Forest, VA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Nicholas A. Camasto Ltd
545 Thatcher
River Forest
IL
60305
US
|
Family ID: |
34226611 |
Appl. No.: |
10/657645 |
Filed: |
September 8, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/51 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 22/001 20130101;
A63B 2022/0051 20130101; A63B 2023/0452 20130101; A63B 22/0664
20130101; A63B 2071/0063 20130101; A63B 2022/067 20130101; A63B
23/03533 20130101; A63B 2210/50 20130101; A63B 22/0056 20130101;
A63B 23/0429 20130101; A63B 2022/0038 20130101; A63B 2022/0041
20130101; A63B 22/0017 20151001; A63B 2071/009 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/051 |
International
Class: |
A63B 022/00 |
Claims
1. A glider exercise machine comprising: a frame; a foot platform;
a link coupled between a pivot on said frame and a pivot on said
foot platform for swingably supporting said foot platform from said
frame; and a spring in said link for absorbing shock.
2. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein said spring is a
tension spring and further including; a spring cage, for limiting
displacement of said tension spring, coupled to one of said pivots;
and said tension spring being coupled to the other of said
pivots.
3. The exercise machine of claim 2, wherein said spring cage
includes a resilient stop for cushioning displacement of said
tension spring.
4. The exercise machine of claim 3, wherein said resilient stop
comprises a compression spring.
5. The exercise machine of claim 4, wherein said link comprises a
cable and wherein said resilient stop includes an orifice through
which said cable freely passes.
6. The exercise machine of claim 5, further including an
intermediate member coupling said tension spring to said cable; and
a washer for cushioning impact between said intermediate member and
said compression spring.
7. The exercise machine of claim 6, wherein said spring cage is
coupled to said pivot on said frame and said tension spring is
coupled to said pivot on said foot platform.
8. The exercise machine of claim 7, further including a cover over
said spring cage, said tension spring and said compression
spring.
9. A glider exercise machine comprising: a frame having rear
pivots; a pair of foot platforms having heel end pivots; a pair of
links coupled between said rear pivots and said heel end pivots for
swingably supporting said pair of foot platforms from said frame;
each of said links including: a tension spring; a spring cage, for
limiting displacement of said tension spring, coupled to said rear
pivot; a resilient stop, including a compression spring, for
cushioning displacement of said tension spring; and said tension
spring being coupled between said spring cage and said heel end
pivot.
10. The exercise machine of claim 9, wherein each said link
comprises a cable and wherein said resilient stop includes an
orifice through which said cable freely passes.
11. The exercise machine of claim 10, further including an
intermediate member coupling said tension spring to said cable; and
a washer for cushioning the impact between said intermediate member
and said compression spring.
12. The exercise machine of claim 11, further including a
protective shield over said spring cage, said tension spring and
said compression spring.
Description
[0001] This invention relates in general to glider type exercise
equipment, such as the equipment described and claimed in the
inventor's U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,795,268, 5,857,940, D390,628 and
D403,033, and in particular to a novel suspension system for such
equipment. The patented exercise gliders feature very low impact in
a device that simulates a full range of natural striding motion,
including aggressive striding, for achieving an upper and lower
body workout.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND PRIOR ART
[0002] With the patented exercise devices, a full range of striding
motion is very closely simulated while impact on the user's body is
practically eliminated. Significantly, the aerobic effect
experienced is readily controllable by merely accelerating the
striding action and lengthening the stride, precisely as can be
done when aggressively striding over a stationary surface. However,
unlike striding, with the inventive device a user can lean backward
and forward to transfer significant weight to his arms without loss
of balance or control. This not only increases the aerobic effort
and enables an upper body workout, but also varies the muscle
groups that are being exercised.
[0003] The spring suspension system of the present invention adds a
slight cushion effect to the rear of each foot platform for
enhancing the gliding action. Essentially, tension springs permit
the heel ends of the foot platforms to move up and down (within
defined limits) to resiliently modify the radial paths traversed by
the foot platforms. The effect is to further reduce the stress on
both the user's body and the exercise machine structure. The novel
suspension system is achieved with a simple, low cost, spring
structure that may be readily added to the fold-away versions of
the patented gliders.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0004] A principal object of the invention is to provide a novel
suspension system for a low impact glider exercise apparatus.
[0005] Another object of the invention is to provide a novel glider
exercise apparatus.
[0006] A further object of the invention is to provide an improved
suspension system for a low impact glider exercise apparatus.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] These and other objects and advantages of the invention will
become apparent upon reading the following description in
conjunction with the drawings, in which:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective of a fold-away impact glider
apparatus incorporating the suspension system of the invention;
[0009] FIG. 2 shows the spring cage of the invention;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the spring cage of FIG. 2;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a plan view of the spring retainer 55 of the
spring cage;
[0012] FIG. 5 is a cross section of the spring retainer of FIG. 4,
taken along the line 5-5;
[0013] FIG. 6 is a plan view of the base 45 of the spring cage;
[0014] FIG. 7 is an end view of base 45; and
[0015] FIG. 8 is a partial cross section taken along line 8-8 of
FIG. 1 illustrating the attachment of the spring cage to the rear
leg of the glider apparatus.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0016] The invention comprises a shock absorbing arrangement in the
link that supports the swingable foot platform from the frame of a
glider type exercise machine.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0017] Referring to FIG. 1, a glider type exercise apparatus 10 as
shown in the above-mentioned patents includes a fold-away frame
consisting of front legs 12,13 and rear legs 14,15 that are
arranged for swingably supporting a pair of foot platforms 20,21. A
pair of swing arms, 16,17, pivotally supported on a crossmember 18
of the frame, is pivotally connected to the toe ends of foot
platforms 20,21, respectively. The heel ends of foot platforms
20,21 are coupled by heel end pivots 34,35 to a pair of links
24,26, respectively. The links 24,26 are in turn coupled, via
spring cages 36,38 to a pair of rear pivots 30,31 on legs 12,13,
respectively. While the links 24,26 may be rigid, in the preferred
embodiments of the apparatus, the links comprise steel cables. The
apparatus functions, in a well-known manner to enable a user
standing on the foot platforms and grasping the swing arms to
engage in an aerobic upper and lower body workout with minimal
impact to his body.
[0018] FIGS. 2-7 illustrate various features of spring cage 36 of
the invention, it being understood that spring cage 38 is a mirror
image thereof. A top plate 40, preferably made of steel, is welded
to the upper ends of a pair of steel tie rods 43,44 that are welded
at their lower ends to a steel base plate 45 (FIGS. 6 and 7) to
form a generally cylindrical structure. Top plate 40 includes a
hole 41 for pivotal mounting to rear pivot 30 and a small hole 42
for attaching the upper end of a tension spring 50. The lower end
of tension spring 50 is connected to an intermediate member 52,
preferably made of steel, that serves as a coupler for the upper
end of link 24. In practice, link 24 is a cable having a threaded
stud secured to its upper end for secure engagement with
intermediate member (cable coupler) 52. A compression spring 54,
which encircles link 24, has its lower end seated in a spring
retainer 55 (FIGS. 4 and 5). A polyurethane washer 53 is positioned
atop compression spring 54 and serves to cushion the impact between
intermediate member 52 and compression spring 54 upon elongation of
tension spring 50. A plastic shield 56 covers the major portions of
spring cage 36.
[0019] As more clearly shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, spring retainer 55
includes a pair of edge notches 59,60 that partially encircle the
round circumferences of tie rods 43,44. The spring retainer has a
central orifice 57 through which link 24 freely passes and a
circular recess 58 for receiving the bottom end of compression
spring 54. Spring retainer 55 is preferably made of a plastic
material and is dimensioned such that it is a force fit between tie
rods 43,44.
[0020] FIGS. 6 and 7 show details of base plate 45, in particular
the end notches 47,48 which are welded to the ends of tie rods
43,44, respectively and the central orifice 46, through which link
24 freely passes.
[0021] In FIG. 8, details of the pivotal attachment of the spring
cage to the upper (rear) part of front leg 12 are shown. Pivot 30
comprises a cylindrical pin 62 which passes through leg 12 and is
engaged by a threaded screw 63 which includes a collar 64 and a
head 65. A contoured support 67, through which pin 62 passes,
engages the circular periphery of leg 12 and presents a flat
surface that engages a plastic spacing washer 68. A plastic washer
66, having a stepped diameter for engaging hole 41 in top plate 40
and an inner hole engaging screw collar 64, centers the spring cage
36 on pin 62. A plastic cover 70 has a stepped orifice 71 for
accepting a washer 66, with everything being secured together by
the screw head 65. The arrangement enables free pivotal movement of
spring cage 36 about pin 62, thus defining the rear pivot 30.
[0022] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the
spring cage may be located anywhere in the link, although its
placement as shown at rear pivot 30 is preferred. In the preferred
embodiment of the invention tension spring 50 has an overall length
of 3.375 in. and a spring rate of 76 lbs/in. and compression spring
54 has an overall length of 1.5 in. and a spring rate of 108
lbs/in.
[0023] What has been described is a novel suspension system for a
glider type exercise device that further reduces the stress on the
user's body and the exercise apparatus when performing provides a
low impact simulation of walking and striding, including aggressive
striding, aerobic upper and lower body exercises. It is recognized
that numerous changes to the described embodiment of the invention
will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from
its true spirit and scope. The invention is to be limited only as
defined in the claims.
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