U.S. patent application number 11/657866 was filed with the patent office on 2008-07-31 for pedal assembly with an enlarged oval movement travel for a stepping exerciser.
Invention is credited to Su-Jung Fon.
Application Number | 20080182725 11/657866 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39668658 |
Filed Date | 2008-07-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080182725 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Fon; Su-Jung |
July 31, 2008 |
Pedal assembly with an enlarged oval movement travel for a stepping
exerciser
Abstract
A pedal assembly has a base, a rail, a slider, a pedal and a
transmission assembly. The base has a pivotal bracket mounted on
the top at the front end. The rail is securely attached to the top
of the base. The slider is slidably mounted on the rail. The pedal
is securely mounted on the slider. The transmission assembly is
mounted between the base and the slider to move the slider with the
pedal along an enlarged oval movement travel and has a driven rod,
a connecting rod, a lever and a connecting member. The driven rod
is rotatably mounted on the base. The connecting rod is rotatably
mounted on the base and is connected to the driven rod with a
transmission device. The lever is pivotally connected to the driven
rod. The connecting member is connected pivotally between the lever
and the slider.
Inventors: |
Fon; Su-Jung; (Taichung,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Frenkel & Associates, P.C.
Suite 330, 3975 University Drive
Fairfax
VA
22030
US
|
Family ID: |
39668658 |
Appl. No.: |
11/657866 |
Filed: |
January 25, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/52 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 22/001 20130101;
A63B 22/0664 20130101; A63B 2022/067 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/52 |
International
Class: |
A63B 22/04 20060101
A63B022/04 |
Claims
1. A pedal assembly for a stepping exerciser comprising: a base
having a top; a front end; a rear end; and a pivotal bracket
mounted on the top at the front end; a rail securely attached to
the top of the base; a slider slidably mounted on the rail; a pedal
securely mounted on the slider; and a transmission assembly mounted
between the base and the slider to move the slider with the pedal
along an enlarged oval movement travel and comprising a driven rod
rotatably mounted on the base; a connecting rod rotatably mounted
on the base and connected to the driven rod with a transmission
device; a lever pivotally connected to the driven rod; and a
connecting member connected pivotally between the lever and the
slider.
2. The pedal assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base
comprises a connecting rod hole defined through the base near the
rear end; a driven rod hole defined in the top of the base near the
rear end; and two sleeves mounted respectively in the connecting
rod hole and the driven rod hole; and the connecting rod and the
driven rod are rotatably and respectively mounted in the sleeves on
the base.
3. The pedal assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the
transmission assembly further comprises an idle rod rotatably
mounted on the base; and the transmission device comprises a driven
gear securely mounted on the driven rod; a connecting gear securely
mounted on the connecting rod; an idle gear securely mounted on the
idle rod; and a belt mounted around the driven gear, the connecting
gear and the idle gear in a manner of making a rotation direction
of the driven gear same as that of the idle gear but opposite to
that of the connecting gear.
4. The pedal assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the driven
gear has multiple teeth with an amount; the connecting gear has
multiple teeth with an amount; and the idle gear has multiple teeth
with an amount, wherein the amounts of the teeth on the driven
gear, the connecting gear and the idle gear are the same.
5. The pedal assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein the rail
comprises a top board having a bottom and two sides; two rail
plates extending from the bottom of the top board and defining a
channel between the rail plates to hold the base inside and each
rail plate having a bottom flange extending outward from the rail
plate and opposite to each other; two side walls extending from the
bottom of the top board respectively at two sides of the top board
and corresponding respectively to the rail plates to define two
rail spaces between the side walls and the corresponding rail
plates, and each side wall having a rail flange extending inward
from the side wall, facing to each other and corresponding to the
bottom flange on a corresponding one of the rail plates; and two
securing tabs attached to bottom flanges to keep the base from
escaping from the channel; and the slider comprises a top panel
having a bottom and two sides; two side frames extending from the
top panel respectively at the sides of the top panel and each side
frame having a wheel mount formed on the side frame, corresponding
to one of the side walls on the rail and extending into a
corresponding one of the rail spaces between the corresponding side
wall and a corresponding rail plate of the rail; and multiple
wheels rotatably and respectively attached to the wheel mounts of
the side frames, held respectively inside the rail spaces in the
rail and abutting respectively with the rail flanges on the side
walls of the rail.
6. The pedal assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein each rail
flange on the rail has a curved cross section.
7. The pedal assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
transmission assembly further comprises an idle rod rotatably
mounted on the base; and the transmission device comprises a driven
gear securely mounted on the driven rod; a connecting gear securely
mounted on the connecting rod; an idle gear securely mounted on the
idle rod; and a belt mounted around the driven gear, the connecting
gear and the idle gear in a manner of making a rotation direction
of the driven gear same as that of the idle gear but opposite to
that of the connecting gear.
8. The pedal assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein the driven
gear has multiple teeth with an amount; the connecting gear has
multiple teeth with an amount; and the idle gear has multiple teeth
with an amount, wherein the amounts of the teeth on the driven
gear, the connecting gear and the idle gear are the same.
9. The pedal assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein the rail
comprises a top board having a bottom and two sides; two rail
plates extending from the bottom of the top board and defining a
channel between the rail plates to hold the base inside and each
rail plate having a bottom flange extending outward from the rail
plate and opposite to each other; two side walls extending from the
bottom of the top board respectively at two sides of the top board
and corresponding respectively to the rail plates to define two
rail spaces between the side walls and the corresponding rail
plates, and each side wall having a rail flange extending inward
from the side wall, facing to each other and corresponding to the
bottom flange on a corresponding one of the rail plates; and two
securing tabs attached to bottom flanges to keep the base from
escaping from the channel; and the slider comprises a top panel
having a bottom and two sides; two side frames extending from the
top panel respectively at the sides of the top panel and each side
frame having a wheel mount formed on the side frame, corresponding
to one of the side walls on the rail and extending into a
corresponding one of the rail spaces between the corresponding side
wall and a corresponding rail plate of the rail; and multiple
wheels rotatably and respectively attached to the wheel mounts of
the side frames, held respectively inside the rail spaces in the
rail and abutting respectively with the rail flanges on the side
walls of the rail.
10. The pedal assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein each rail
flange on the rail has a curved cross section.
11. The pedal assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rail
comprises a top board having a bottom and two sides; two rail
plates extending from the bottom of the top board and defining a
channel between the rail plates to hold the base inside and each
rail plate having a bottom flange extending outward from the rail
plate and opposite to each other; two side walls extending from the
bottom of the top board respectively at two sides of the top board
and corresponding respectively to the rail plates to define two
rail spaces between the side walls and the corresponding rail
plates, and each side wall having a rail flange extending inward
from the side wall, facing to each other and corresponding to the
bottom flange on a corresponding one of the rail plates; and two
securing tabs attached to bottom flanges to keep the base from
escaping from the channel; and the slider comprises a top panel
having a bottom and two sides; two side frames extending from the
top panel respectively at the sides of the top panel and each side
frame having a wheel mount formed on the side frame, corresponding
to one of the side walls on the rail and extending into a
corresponding one of the rail spaces between the corresponding side
wall and a corresponding rail plate of the rail; and multiple
wheels rotatably and respectively attached to the wheel mounts of
the side frames, held respectively inside the rail spaces in the
rail and abutting respectively with the rail flanges on the side
walls of the rail.
12. The pedal assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein each rail
flange on the rail has a curved cross section.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a pedal assembly, and more
particularly to a pedal assembly for a stepping exerciser and
having an enlarged oval movement travel.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] With reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, a conventional stepping
exerciser substantially comprises a body (40), two handles (41), a
rotating device (42) and two pedals (44). The handles (41) are
pivotally connected to the body (40) and are respectively connected
to the pedals (44) with pedal holding rods (43). The pedal holding
rods (43) are pivotally connected to the rotating device (42). When
a user stands on the pedals (44) and holds the handles (41) to
pivot the handles (41), the pedals (44) will move with the handles
(41) along an oval movement travel with the transmission of the
rotating device (42). Accordingly, an exercising effect is
provided.
[0005] However, because the conventional pedals (44) of the
stepping exerciser are secured on holding rods (43) that are
directly connected to the rotating device (42), the travels of the
pedals (44) are limited and not long enough and the exercising
effect provided by the conventional stepping exerciser is so
limited.
[0006] To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention tends to
provide a pedal assembly to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned
problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The main objective of the invention is to provide a pedal
assembly for a stepping exerciser and having an enlarged oval
movement travel to improve the exercising effect provided by the
stepping exerciser.
[0008] The pedal assembly has a base, a rail, a slider, a pedal and
a transmission assembly. The base has a pivotal bracket mounted on
the top at the front end of the base. The rail is securely attached
to the top of the base. The slider is slidably mounted on the rail.
The pedal is securely mounted on the slider. The transmission
assembly is mounted between the base and the slider to move the
slider with the pedal along an enlarged oval movement travel and
has a driven rod, a connecting rod, a lever and a connecting
member. The driven rod is rotatably mounted on the base. The
connecting rod is rotatably mounted on the base and is connected to
the driven rod with a transmission device. The lever is pivotally
connected to the driven rod. The connecting member is connected
pivotally between the lever and the slider.
[0009] Other objects, advantages and novel features of the
invention will become more apparent from the following detailed
description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a stepping exerciser with
pedal assemblies in accordance with the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the stepping
exerciser with one pedal assembly in FIG. 1;
[0012] FIG. 3 is an end view in partial section of the pedal
assembly in FIG. 2;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a side view of the stepping exerciser with the
pedal assemblies in FIG. 1;
[0014] FIGS. 5 to 7 are side views of the stepping exerciser with
the pedal assemblies in FIG. 1 showing that the stepping exerciser
is in operation;
[0015] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a conventional stepping
exerciser with conventional pedals in accordance with the prior
art; and
[0016] FIG. 9 is a side view of the convention stepping exerciser
in FIG. 8.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0017] With reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, a pedal assembly (10) for a
stepping exerciser (30) that has a body, two handles (31) and a
rotating device (32) comprises a base (11), a rail (15), a slider
(16), a pedal (17) and a transmission assembly (20).
[0018] The base (11) is an enlarged element and has a top, a front
end and a rear end. A pivotal bracket (12) is mounted on the top at
the front end of the base (11) to pivotally connect with one handle
(31) of the stepping exerciser (30).
[0019] The rail (15) is securely attached to the top of the base
(11), and the slider (16) is slidably mounted on the rail (15). In
practice, the rail (15) comprises a top board (151), two rail
plates (152) and two side walls (153). The top board (151) is an
enlarged element and has a bottom and two sides. The rail plates
(152) extend from the bottom of the top board (151) and define a
channel between the rail plates (152) to hold the base (11) inside.
Each rail plate (152) has a bottom flange (1521) extending outward
from the rail plate (152) and opposite to each other. In addition,
two securing tabs (155) are attached to bottom flanges (1521) with
fasteners to keep the base (11) from escaping from the channel.
[0020] The side walls (153) extend from the bottom of the top board
(151) respectively at two sides of the top board (151) and
correspond respectively to the rail plates (152) to define two rail
spaces between the side walls (153) and the corresponding rail
plates (152). Each side wall (153) has a rail flange (154)
extending inward from the side wall (153), facing to each other and
corresponding to the bottom flange (1521) on a corresponding one of
the rail plates (152). In a preferred embodiment, each rail flange
(154) on the rail (15) has a curved cross section.
[0021] The slider (16) comprises a top panel (161), two side frames
(162) and multiple wheels (165). The top panel (161) has a bottom
and two sides.
[0022] The side frames (162) extend from the top panel (161)
respectively at the sides of the top panel (161). Each side frame
(162) has a wheel mount (164) formed on the side frame (162),
corresponds to one of the side walls (153) on the rail (15) and
extends to a corresponding one of the rail spaces between the
corresponding side wall (153) and a corresponding rail plate (152)
of the rail (15).
[0023] The wheels (165) are rotatably and respectively attached to
the wheel mounts (164) of the side frames (162), are held
respectively inside the rail spaces in the rail (15) and abut
respectively with the rail flanges (154) on the side walls (153) of
the rail (15). In practice, two wheels (165) are mounted on each
wheel mount (164) respectively at two ends of the wheel mount
(164). With the arrangement of the wheels (165), the slider (16)
can smoothly move relative to the rail (15).
[0024] The pedal (17) is securely attached to and moves with the
slider (16).
[0025] The transmission assembly (20) is mounted between the base
(11) and the slider (16) to make the slider (16) to move along an
enlarged oval movement travel and comprises a driven rod (22), a
connecting rod (21), an idle rod (23), a transmission device, a
lever (25) and a connecting member (27).
[0026] The driven rod (22), the connecting rod (21) and the idle
rod (23) are rotatably mounted on the base (11) near the rear end
of the base (11). To rotatably mount the rods (21,22,23) onto the
base (11), a connecting rod hole (111), a driven rod hole (112) and
an idle rod hole (113) are defined in the base (11) near the rear
end of the base (11). In practice, the connecting rod hole (111) is
defined through the base (10). The driven rod hole (112) is defined
in the top of the base (11) near the rear end and between the front
end and the connecting rod hole (111). The idle rod hole (113) is
defined in the top of the base (11) near the rear end and between
the rear end and the connecting rod hole (111). Accordingly, the
driven rod hole (112) and the idle rod hole (113) are located at a
position above that of the connecting rod hole (111). Three sleeves
(114,115,116) are securely mounted in the rod holes (111,112,113),
and the driven rod (22), connecting rod (21) and idle rod (23) are
rotatably and respectively in the sleeves (114,115,116). The
connecting rod (21) has a connecting end (212) adapted to be
connected to the rotating device (32) of the stepping exerciser
(30) and a driving end (211).
[0027] The transmission device is mounted between the driven rod
(22), the connecting rod (21) and the idle rod (23) to drive the
driven rod (22) to rotate in a rotation direction same as that of
the idle rod (23) but opposite to that of the connecting rod (21).
In a preferred embodiment, the transmission device comprises a
driven gear (221), a connecting gear (213), an idle gear (231) and
a belt (24). The driven gear (221) is securely mounted on the
driven rod (22). The connecting gear (213) is securely mounted near
the driving end (211) of the connecting rod (21). The idle gear
(231) is securely mounted on the idle rod (23). The belt (24) is
mounted around the driven gear (221), the connecting gear (213) and
the idle gear (231) in a manner of making a rotation direction of
the driven gear (221) same as that of the idle gear (231) but
opposite to that of the connecting gear (213). The gears (213,
221,231) have respectively multiple teeth with a same amount. In
the preferred embodiment, the driven gear (221) and the idle gear
(231) are mounted inside and engage with the belt (24) but the
connecting gear (213) is mounted outside and engages with the belt
(24). Accordingly, when the connecting rod (21) is rotated in a
rotating direction, the driven rod and the idle rod (23) will be
rotated in an opposite direction. In an alternative embodiment, the
driven gear (221) engages directly with the connecting gear (213)
to make the driven rod (22) and the connecting rod (21) rotating in
opposite directions. At this time, the belt (24), the idle rod (23)
and the idle gear (231) can be omitted.
[0028] The lever (25) is pivotally connected to the driven rod
(22).
[0029] The connecting member (27) is connected pivotally between
the lever (25) and the slider (16) with two pivotal joints (26,28)
and may be V-shaped.
[0030] With pedal assemblies (10) in accordance with the present
invention being attached to the stepping exerciser (30), a user
stands on the pedals (17) and holds the handles (31) to operate the
exerciser (30). With reference to FIGS. 4 to 7, when the user
pivots the handles (31) relative to the body of the exerciser (30),
the base (11) of each pedal assembly (10) is moved with the
corresponding handle (31). Consequently, the rotating device (32)
of the stepping exerciser (30) will be rotated with the connecting
rod (21) on the base (11), such that the base (11) will move along
an oval movement travel relative to the body of the stepping
exerciser (30).
[0031] When the connecting rod (21) move along a round travel with
the rotating device (32), the connecting rod (21) will revolve and
drive the driven rod (22) to rotate in an opposite direction with
the transmission of the transmission device. With the rotation of
the driven rod (22), the lever (25) will be pivoted and push or
pull the slider (16) with the transmission of the connecting member
(27) to move along the rail (15) that moves along an oval movement
travel. Accordingly, the slider (16) with the pedal (17) will move
along an enlarged oval movement travel relative to the body of the
stepping exerciser (30), such that the travel of the pedal (17)
will be prolonged, and an improved exercising effect is
provided.
[0032] Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the
present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description,
together with details of the structure and function of the
invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be
made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and
arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the
full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in
which the appended claims are expressed.
* * * * *