U.S. patent application number 11/891966 was filed with the patent office on 2009-02-19 for stationary exerciser.
Invention is credited to Jin Chen Chuang, Lung Fei Chuang.
Application Number | 20090048077 11/891966 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40363429 |
Filed Date | 2009-02-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090048077 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chuang; Jin Chen ; et
al. |
February 19, 2009 |
Stationary exerciser
Abstract
A stationary exerciser includes two handles pivotally coupled to
an upright support of a base, two foot supports each having a front
portion coupled to the handles and moveable in a reciprocating
action relative to the base and a rear portion coupled to a post of
the base with two cranks, two links pivotally coupled between the
cranks and the rear portions of the foot supports for allowing the
rear portions of the foot supports to be swung relative to the
cranks and the base, and a connecting device may connect the foot
supports to the cranks for determining a movement of the foot
supports relative to the base, and may adjust the moving strokes of
the rear portions of the foot supports.
Inventors: |
Chuang; Jin Chen; (Taichung
Hsien, TW) ; Chuang; Lung Fei; (Taichung Hsien,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CHARLES E. BAXLEY, ESQUIRE
90 JOHN STREET, SUITE 309
NEW YORK
NY
10038
US
|
Family ID: |
40363429 |
Appl. No.: |
11/891966 |
Filed: |
August 14, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/62 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 21/005 20130101;
A63B 21/008 20130101; A63B 2225/09 20130101; A63B 2022/067
20130101; A63B 22/0664 20130101; A63B 22/001 20130101; A63B 22/0015
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/62 |
International
Class: |
A63B 22/12 20060101
A63B022/12 |
Claims
1. A stationary exerciser comprising: a base including an upright
support and an upright post extended upwardly therefrom, two
handles each including an upper portion pivotally coupled to said
upright support with a spindle for allowing said handles to be
pivoted and swung relative to said upright support of said base,
two foot supports each including a front portion and a rear
portion, said front portions of said foot supports being coupled to
said handles and arranged to be moved in a reciprocating action
relative to said base, two cranks rotatably attached to said
upright post of said base with an axle and each having a pivot rod
attached thereto and spaced away from said axle, said cranks each
including two crank segments and a rod secured between said crank
segments, two links pivotally coupled between said pivot rods of
said cranks and said rear portions of said foot supports
respectively for allowing said rear portions of said foot supports
to be swung relative to said cranks and said base, and two levers
including an upper end pivotally coupled to said upright post of
said base with a pivot shaft, and each including a lower end
pivotally coupled to said foot supports with beams, and said levers
each including a middle portion pivotally coupled to said rods of
said cranks with pivot bars respectively for connecting said foot
supports to said cranks and for determining a movement of said foot
supports relative to said base.
2-3. (canceled)
4. The stationary exerciser as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
pivot bars are adjustably secured to said levers respectively.
5. The stationary exerciser as claimed in claim 4, wherein said
levers each include a first orifice and at least one second orifice
formed therein for adjustably securing said pivot bars
respectively.
6. The stationary exerciser as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
base includes a wheel attached to said base with said axle and
moved in concert with said axle for resisting a rotational movement
of said axle and said cranks.
7. The stationary exerciser as claimed in claim 6, wherein a rotary
member is attached to said base and coupled to said wheel.
8. The stationary exerciser as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
handles each include a hand grip extended upwardly therefrom, and
each include an arm extended outwardly therefrom for allowing said
arms to be moved up and down in a reciprocating action relative to
said upright support of said base, and each include a lower
portion, said front portions of said foot supports are each coupled
to said arms of said handles with a stem.
9. The stationary exerciser as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
handles each include a connecting member pivotally coupled between
said lower portion of said handle and said foot support.
10. The stationary exerciser as claimed in claim 9, wherein said
foot supports each include a foot pedal pivotally coupled to said
connecting member.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a stationary exerciser, and
more particularly to a stationary exerciser including an improved
structure for allowing the rear portion of the stationary exerciser
to be moved in different moving strokes.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Typical stationary exercisers comprise a pair of foot
supports or foot engaging links each having a rear end supported
for rotational motion about a pivot axis and a front end guided in
a reciprocal path of travel and for allowing the foot engaging
links to move in an elliptical moving stroke.
[0005] For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,242,343 to Miller discloses one
of the typical stationary exercisers comprising a combination of
foot link motions permitting the users foot to travel in an
inclined, oval path of travel, and two foot engaging links each
having a front end guided in a reciprocal path of travel.
[0006] However, the rear ends of the foot engaging links are guided
to move in a circular moving path that is determined by the pair of
rotatable cranks.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,759,135 to Chen discloses another typical
stationary exerciser comprising a pair of tubes rotatably secured
to two arms of a crank, and two levers slidably engaged in the
tubes for allowing the tubes to move forward and rearward and
upward and downward in an elliptical moving stroke.
[0008] However, the rear portions of the levers are pivotally
secured to the supporting base with a pivot axle such that the rear
portions of the levers may be pivoted relative to the supporting
base, but may not be moved in different moving strokes relative to
the supporting base.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,759,136 to Chen discloses a further typical
stationary exerciser comprising a pair of beams each having a front
end pivotally coupled to a post with a lever for swinging relative
to the post, and a rear end supported for rotational motion about a
pivot axis and for allowing the beams to move in an elliptical
moving stroke.
[0010] However, the rear portions of the beams are rotatably
secured to the rotary wheels with eccentric cranks and may only be
guided to move in a circular moving path, but may not be moved in
different moving strokes relative to the supporting base.
[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 6,135,926 to Lee discloses a still further
typical stationary exerciser comprising a pair of foot supports
each having a front end pivotally coupled to a rotatable crank and
each having a rear end supported for swinging motion about an upper
pivot rod and for allowing the foot supports to move in an
elliptical moving stroke.
[0012] However, the rear portions of the foot supports may only be
guided to move in a forward and rearward reciprocating action, but
may not be moved in different moving strokes relative to the
supporting base.
[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 7,041,036 to Kuo discloses a still further
typical stationary exerciser comprising a pair of foot supports
each having a front end pivotally coupled to a downwardly dependent
bar with a complicated coupling mechanism and a rear end supported
for rotational motion about a pivot axis and for allowing the beams
to move in an elliptical moving stroke.
[0014] However, similarly, the rear portions of the foot supports
are rotatably secured to the rear stay with eccentric cranks and
may only be guided to move in a circular moving path, but may not
be moved in different moving strokes relative to the supporting
base.
[0015] The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate
the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional stationary
exercisers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0016] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide
a stationary exerciser including an improved structure for allowing
the rear portion of the stationary exerciser to be moved in
different moving strokes.
[0017] The other objective of the present invention is to provide a
stationary exerciser including an improved structure for allowing
the rear portion of the stationary exerciser to be adjusted to
different moving strokes.
[0018] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is
provided a stationary exerciser comprising a base including an
upright support and an upright post extended upwardly therefrom,
two handles each including an upper portion pivotally coupled to
the upright support with a spindle for allowing the handles to be
pivoted and swung relative to the upright support of the base, two
foot supports each including a front portion and a rear portion,
the front portions of the foot supports being coupled to the
handles and arranged to be moved in a reciprocating action relative
to the base, two cranks rotatably attached to the upright post of
the base with an axle and each having a pivot rod attached thereto
and spaced away from the axle, two links pivotally coupled between
the pivot rods of the cranks and the rear portions of the foot
supports respectively for allowing the rear portions of the foot
supports to be swung relative to the cranks and the base, and a
connecting device for connecting the foot supports to the cranks
for determining a movement of the foot supports relative to the
base.
[0019] The connecting device includes two levers having an upper
end pivotally coupled to the upright post of the base with a pivot
shaft, and each having a lower end pivotally coupled to the foot
supports with beams, and each having a middle portion pivotally
coupled to the cranks with pivot bars.
[0020] The cranks each include two crank segments and a rod secured
between the crank segments and pivotally coupled to the middle
portions of the levers with the pivot bars respectively.
[0021] The pivot bars are adjustably secured to the levers
respectively. The levers each include a first orifice and at least
one second orifice formed therein for adjustably securing the pivot
bars respectively.
[0022] The base includes a wheel attached to the base with the axle
and moved in concert with the axle for resisting a rotational
movement of the axle and the cranks. A rotary member may further be
provided and attached to the base and coupled to the wheel.
[0023] The handles each include a hand grip extended upwardly
therefrom, and each include an arm extended outwardly therefrom for
allowing the arms to be moved up and down in a reciprocating action
relative to the upright support of the base, and each include a
lower portion, the front portions of the foot supports are each
coupled to the arms of the handles with a stem.
[0024] The handles each include a connecting member pivotally
coupled between the lower portion of the handle and the foot
support. The foot supports each include a foot pedal pivotally
coupled to the connecting member.
[0025] Further objectives and advantages of the present invention
will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed
description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a stationary exerciser
in accordance with the present invention;
[0027] FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the stationary
exerciser;
[0028] FIG. 3 is a side plan schematic view of the stationary
exerciser;
[0029] FIG. 4 is a partial exploded view of the stationary
exerciser as seen from the front portion of the stationary
exerciser;
[0030] FIG. 5 is another partial exploded view of the stationary
exerciser as seen from the rear portion of the stationary
exerciser; and
[0031] FIGS. 6, 7, 8 are side plan schematic views similar to FIG.
3, illustrating the operation of the stationary exerciser.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0032] Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1-5, a
stationary exerciser 1 in accordance with the present invention
comprises a base 10, an upright support 11 extended upwardly from
the base 10 for supporting a spindle 12 thereon, a pair of or two
handles 20 each include an upper or middle portion 21 attached or
secured to the spindle 12 with a barrel 22 for allowing the handles
20 to be pivotally coupled to the upright support 11 with the
spindle 12 and for allowing the handles 20 to be pivoted or swung
relative to the upright support 11 of the base 10, and a hand grip
23 provided or extended upwardly from the upper or middle portion
21 thereof for being grasped or held or operated by the users, and
an arm 24 extended forwardly or outwardly from the upper or middle
portion 21 thereof for allowing the arms 24 to be moved or pivoted
up and down in a reciprocating action relative to the upright
support 11 of the base 10.
[0033] A pair of or two foot supports 30 each include a front
portion 31 pivotally coupled to the forwardly or outwardly extended
arm 24 with a coupling means or device 40 for allowing the front
portions 31 of the foot supports 30 to be moved forwardly and
rearwardly and upwardly and downwardly in a curved moving stroke
relative to the upright support 11 of the base 10 by the coupling
means or device 40. For example, the coupling device 40 include a
stem 41 having an upper end 42 pivotally coupled to the free end or
outer end of each of the arms 24 with a pivot pin 43 and having a
lower end 44 pivotally coupled to the front portion 31 of the foot
support 30 for pivotally coupling the front portion 31 of the foot
support 30 to the arm 24 of the handle 20 and for allowing the
front portion 31 of the foot supports 30 to be moved or swung
forwardly and rearwardly relative to the arm 24 of the handle 20
and/or relative to the upright post 13 of the base 10 in a curved
moving path.
[0034] A connecting member 32 includes one end 33 pivotally coupled
to the foot support 30, such as pivotally coupled to the middle or
lower portion of the foot support 30, and the other end 34
pivotally coupled to the lower portion 25 of the handle 20 with
such as a pivot joint 26 for maintaining the arm 24 and the handle
20 and the coupling device 40 and the foot support 30 in place or
in position. It is to be noted that the pivotal coupling of the
connecting member 32 between the handle 20 and the foot support 30
may maintain the relative coupling of the coupling device 40
between the arm 24 of the handle 20 and the foot support 30 and may
maintain the arm 24 of the handle 20 at the forwardly or outwardly
extended position relative to the base 10, to allow the arm 24 of
the handle 20 and the front portion 31 of the foot support 30 to be
moved forwardly and rearwardly and upwardly and downwardly in the
curved moving stroke relative to the upright support 11 of the base
10, and to prevent the arm 24 of the handle 20 from being dependent
downwardly relative to the upright support 11 of the base 10. It is
preferable that the connecting member 32 is disposed beside and
parallel to the foot support 30. However, it is to be noted that
the foot support 30 may further include an opening (not shown)
formed or provided in the front portion 31 thereof for slidably
receiving the other end 34 of the connecting member 32.
[0035] A pair of or two cranks 50 are rotatably attached or secured
to an upright post 13 that is extended upwardly from the rear
portion 14 of the base 10 with an axle 15, and the cranks 50 each
include a pivot rod 51 provided or attached thereto or extended
outwardly therefrom and spaced away from or distal to the axle 15
for pivotally coupling to the rear portion 36 of the foot support
30 with links 52 and for allowing the rear portions 36 of the foot
supports 30 to be rotated and swung relative to the upright post 13
of the base 10 in a cycling and/or reciprocating action, and thus
for allowing the foot supports 30 to be moved relative to the base
10 in an elliptical moving stroke. The foot supports 30 each
include a foot pedal 37 provided thereon for supporting the feet of
the users and for allowing the foot pedal 37 to be stepped or moved
or operated in the elliptical moving stroke by the users. The one
ends 33 of the connecting members 32 may be pivotally coupled to
the foot pedals 37 which may be pivotally coupled to the foot
supports 30 with pivot poles 38 that are provided on the middle
portions 39 of the foot supports 30.
[0036] A rotary member or pulley or wheel 60 is attached or secured
to the axle 15 and moved or rotated in concert with the axle 15 and
the cranks 50, another wheel or pulley or rotary member 61 is
rotatably attached to the upright post 13 or the middle or rear
portion 14 of the base 10 with a shaft 62, and the rotary member 61
or the shaft 62 is coupled to the wheel 60 with a coupling device
63 which may be selected from such as a sprocket-and-chain coupling
device or a gearing coupling device (not shown), or a belt 63 for
allowing the rotary member 61 to be rotated or driven by the wheel
60 and the cranks 50. The rotary member 61, the wheel 60 and the
shaft 62 are coupled together to form a resistive means or device
for applying a resistive force or for resisting the rotational
movement of the wheel 60 and the axle 15 and the cranks 50.
However, the other resistive device, such as the hydraulic or
pneumatic resistive devices (not shown), or the magnetic retarding
devices (not shown) may also be used to apply the resistive force
against the wheel 60 and the axle 15 and the cranks 50.
[0037] The cranks 50 each include two crank segments 53 and a rod
54 secured between the crank segments 53 for allowing the crank
segments 53 to be arranged parallel to each other but offset from
each other. Two connecting means or devices 70 may further be
provided and pivotally coupled between the foot supports 30 and the
cranks 50 for determining the movement of the foot supports 30
and/or for adjusting the foot supports 30 to different moving
strokes. The connecting means or devices 70 each include a lever 71
having an upper end 72 pivotally coupled to the upright post 13 or
the rear portion 14 of the base 10 with a pivot shaft 16, and
having a lower end 73 pivotally coupled to the foot supports 30,
such as the middle portion 39 of the foot supports 30 with beams
74, and having a middle portion 75 pivotally coupled to the cranks
50, such as the rods 54 of the cranks 50 with pivot bars 55.
[0038] For example, the levers 71 each include one or more orifices
76 formed therein, such as formed in the middle portion 75 thereof
and communicating with each other, and a fastener 77 may force the
pivot bars 55 to selectively engage with either of the orifices 76
of the levers 71 and to adjustably secure the pivot bars 55 to the
levers 71 at the selected or different positions, and thus for
adjustably securing the levers 71 to the cranks 50, and thus for
indirectly and adjustably securing the foot support 30 to the
cranks 50. It is to be noted that the pivot bars 55 may adjustably
secure the levers 71 to the cranks 50 such that the movement of the
foot support 30 relative to the upright post 13 of the base 10 may
be suitably adjusted and such that the moving stroke of the foot
support 30 relative to the base 10 may also be suitably
adjusted.
[0039] It is to be noted that the example of the coupling of the
front portions 31 of the foot supports 30 to the base 10 has been
disclosed and filed in a co-pending patent application, however,
the front portions 31 of the foot supports 30 may also be coupled
to the front portion of the base 10 with curved tracks (not shown),
downwardly dependent or swing arms (not shown), or rotary members
or pulleys or wheels or rollers (not shown) or other coupling
devices (not shown) which may pivotally couple and support the
front portions of the foot supports 30 to the front portion of the
base 10 or may allow the front portions 31 of the foot supports 30
to be moved in a cycling or forward and rearward reciprocating
action relative to the front portion of the base 10.
[0040] The present invention is to provide a pivotal coupling of
the connecting means or devices 70 between the foot supports 30 and
the cranks 50 to maintain the relative coupling of the connecting
means or devices 70 and the link 52 between the cranks 50 and the
foot support 30, for determining the movement of the foot supports
30 and/or for allowing the rear portions 36 of the foot supports 30
to be moved relative to the base 10 in an elliptical moving path
(FIGS. 6-8), and/or for adjusting the foot supports 30 to different
moving strokes. The typical stationary exercisers failed to provide
the foot supports that include a rear portion moveable relative to
the base 10 in an elliptical moving path, and also failed to
provide the foot supports that may be adjusted to different moving
strokes relative to the base 10.
[0041] Accordingly, the stationary exerciser in accordance with the
present invention includes an improved structure for allowing the
front portion of the stationary exerciser to be in different moving
strokes, and for allowing the rear portion of the stationary
exerciser to be adjusted to different moving strokes.
[0042] Although this invention has been described with a certain
degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present
disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous
changes in the detailed construction and the combination and
arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
* * * * *