Exerciser with gliding pedals

Abstract

An exerciser with gliding pedals includes two link assemblies pivotably connected to two pivots on the base and two rails are connected on the two link assemblies. Two pedals are movably engaged with the two rails and two cylinders are connected between the link assemblies and the base. The pedals are stepped up and down alternatively and the pedals can be slid relative to the rails during operation.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to an exerciser and more particularly, to a stepping exerciser with gliding pedals.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] A conventional stepping exerciser generally includes an I-shaped base and two rods each have one end thereof pivotably connected to the base and two pedals are connected to the other two respective ends of the two rods. Two hydraulic cylinders are connected between the pedals and the base so that when the user alternatively steps downward the pedals, the cylinders provides resistance and the user has to overcome the resistance to move the pedals downward. Nevertheless, the stepping exerciser can only be operated in the unchanged and boring way, the displacement in horizontal direction is less than 5 cm and this is not a comfortable way to work out. Some exercisers combine an elliptical exerciser and the stepping exerciser so that the trace for the user's feet has a wider range of movement. However, such combination makes the exerciser to be bulky and occupies too much space.

[0003] The present invention intends to provide a stepping exerciser which includes two pedals and the pedals can glide along tow respective rails so that the user's foot can move longer distance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention relates to an exerciser that comprises a base having a post extending from a first end thereof and a transverse bar transversely and pivotably extends through the post. A first pivot is fixedly connected to the post and a second pivot is connected to the base. The second pivot is located at a distance from the post.

[0005] Two link assemblies are located on two sides of the base and each link assembly has two first link and two second links. The two first links are located in parallel with each other and have two respective first ends connected to the first pivot. The two second links are located in parallel with each other and have two respective first ends connected to the second pivot. Two cylinders each have one end connected to the base and the other end of each of the two cylinders is pivotably connected to a separation bar connected between the two second links. One of the two first links of each link assembly is in contact with the transverse bar.

[0006] Two gliding assemblies each have a support member and a rail. The two rails each have a groove defined therein and the support members are movably received in the grooves of the two rails. The two rails are connected to second ends of the first and second links of each link assembly. Two pedals are fixedly connected on the support parts.

[0007] The primary object of the present invention is to provide a stepping exerciser whose pedals can be movable along two respective rails so that the user's feet can move in horizontal direction.

[0008] The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] FIG. 1 is an exploded view to show the exerciser of the present invention;

[0010] FIG. 2 is a perspective view to show the exerciser of the present invention;

[0011] FIG. 3 shows a side view of the exerciser of the present invention;

[0012] FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view along line A-A in FIG. 3 to show the rollers in the groove in the rail and the support member is movable by the rollers;

[0013] FIG. 5 is a side view to show that the pedal is located at a high position;

[0014] FIG. 6 is a side view to show that the pedal is located at a low position;

[0015] FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view to show that the pedal is glided toward the rail, and

[0016] FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view to show that the pedal is glided away from the rail.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0017] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the exerciser 1 of the present invention comprises an I-shaped base 10 which has a front transverse leg 101 at a first end of the base 10, a rear transverse leg 102 at a second end of the base 10 and a central column connected between the front and rear legs 101, 102. A post 103 extends from the front transverse leg 101 and a display panel 1031 is connected to a top of the post 103. A transverse bar 1032 transversely and pivotably extends through the post 103. A first pivot 104 is fixedly connected to the post 103. An inclined bar is connected between the front transverse leg 101 and the central column and a second pivot 105 is connected to the inclined bar of the base 10. The second pivot 105 is located at a distance from the post 103.

[0018] Two link assemblies 11 are located on two sides of the base 10 and each link assembly 11 has two first link 111 and two second links 112. The two first links 111 are located in parallel with each other and have two respective first ends connected to the first pivot 104 by a first shaft 113 located between the two first ends of the first links 111. The two second links 112 are located in parallel with each other and have two respective first ends connected to the second pivot 105 by a second shaft 114 located between the two first ends of the second links 112. Two cylinders 12 each have one end connected to the rear transverse bar 102 of the base 10 and the other end of each of the two cylinders 12 is pivotably connected to a separation bar 116 connected between the two second links 112. One of the two first links 111 of each link assembly 11 has a recess 1111 and the transverse bar 1032 is engaged with the recess 111. Each first link 111 that has the recess 1111 has a stop bar 1112 connected thereto, and the transverse bar 1032 is located between the recess 111 and the stop bar 1112. When the first link 112 with the recess 1111 is pivoted toward the first end of the base 10, the transverse bar 1032 is pivoted about a longitudinal axis of the post 103 and the other link assembly 11 is pivoted toward the second end of the base 10.

[0019] Two connection parts 13 each have a first end pivotably connected to the first ends of the two first links 111 of each link assembly 11 by extending a bolt through a hole 115 defined through the first end of the first link 111 and a separation bar between the two first links 111 and the fixedly connected to the connection part 13. A pivotable part 131 is pivotably connected to a second end of each of the connection part 13. Two connection boards 117 each have a first end connected to the first end of the connection part 13 and a second end of each of the two connection boards 117 is pivotably connected to the separation bar 116.

[0020] Two gliding assemblies 14 each have a support member 142 and a rail 141, each of the support members 142 has a first end pivotably connected to the pivotable part 131. The two rails 141 each have a groove defined therein and the support members 142 are movably received in the grooves of the two rails 141. As shown in FIG. 4, two rollers 143 are located in the grooves in the two rails 141 and the support member 142 is smoothly movable in the grooves by the rollers 143. The two rails 141 are connected to second ends of the first and second links 111, 112 of each link assembly 11. Two pedals 15 are fixedly on the support parts 142.

[0021] Referring to FIGS. 5 to 8, the user steps the pedals 15 alternatively and downward and the first links 111 of the two link assemblies 11 pivot the transverse bar 1032 so that the user has to overcome the resistance from the two cylinders 12. In the meanwhile, the pedals 15 can be glided relative to the rails 141 and the feet move in horizontal direction at a sufficient distance such as 30 cm.

[0022] While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An exerciser comprising: a base having a post extending from a first end thereof and a transverse bar transversely and pivotably extending through the post, a first pivot fixedly connected to the post and a second pivot connected to the base, the second pivot located at a distance from the post; two link assemblies located on two sides of the base and each link assembly having two first link and two second links, the two first links located in parallel with each other and having two respective first ends connected to the first pivot by a first shaft located between the two first ends of the first links, the two second links located in parallel with each other and having two respective first ends connected to the second pivot by a second shaft located between the two first ends of the second links, two cylinders each having one end connected to the base and the other end of each of the two cylinders pivotably connected to a separation bar connected between the two second links, one of the two first links of each link assembly being in contact with the transverse bar; two gliding assemblies each having a support member and a rail, the two rails each having a groove defined therein and the support members movably received in the grooves of the two rails, the two rails connected to second ends of the first and second links of each link assembly, and two pedals fixedly on the support parts.

2. The exerciser as claimed in claim 1, wherein two connection parts each have a first end pivotably connected to the first ends of the two first links of each link assembly and a pivotable part is pivotably connected to a second end of each of the connection part, each of the support members has a first end pivotably connected to the pivotable part.

3. The exerciser as claimed in claim 2, wherein two connection boards each have a first end connected to the first end of the connection part and a second end of each of the two connection boards is pivotably connected to the separation bar.

4. The exerciser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first link that is in contact with the transverse bar has a recess and the transverse bar is engaged with the recess.

5. The exerciser as claimed in claim 4, wherein each first link that has the recess has a stop bar connected thereto, the transverse bar is located between the recess an the stop bar.

6. The exerciser as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a display panel connected to a top of the post.

7. The exerciser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base is an I-shaped base and includes a front transverse leg, a rear transverse leg and a central column connected between the front and rear legs.