U.S. patent application number 13/682919 was filed with the patent office on 2014-05-22 for treading exerciser and method for controlling resistance of the treading exerciser.
This patent application is currently assigned to STRENGTH MASTER FITNESS TECH CO., LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is STRENGTH MASTER FITNESS TECH CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to SHU-YAO WU.
Application Number | 20140141939 13/682919 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50728463 |
Filed Date | 2014-05-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140141939 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
WU; SHU-YAO |
May 22, 2014 |
TREADING EXERCISER AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING RESISTANCE OF THE
TREADING EXERCISER
Abstract
A treading exerciser includes a base, and a first rotary unit
and a second rotary unit are respectively connected to the base.
The first rotary unit and the second rotary unit are connected to a
first link unit and a second link unit respectively. The first link
unit and the second link unit are connected to each other by a
first connection portion. A pedal is connected adjacent to the
first connection portion and drives the first and second link
units. The first link unit is pivoted about the first pivot to form
up-and-down action. The second link unit is pivoted about the
second pivot to form back-and-forth action.
Inventors: |
WU; SHU-YAO; (TAICHUNG CITY,
TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
STRENGTH MASTER FITNESS TECH CO., LTD. |
Taichung City |
|
TW |
|
|
Assignee: |
STRENGTH MASTER FITNESS TECH CO.,
LTD.
TAICHUNG CITY
TW
|
Family ID: |
50728463 |
Appl. No.: |
13/682919 |
Filed: |
November 21, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/52 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 22/001 20130101;
A63B 22/0664 20130101; A63B 22/0015 20130101; A63B 22/0017
20151001; A63B 2022/0682 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/52 |
International
Class: |
A63B 22/00 20060101
A63B022/00 |
Claims
1. A treading exerciser characterized in comprising: a base having
a front end and a rear end, a first rotary unit and a second rotary
unit respectively connected to the base, the base having a first
pivot and a second pivot connected thereto, the first rotary unit
and the second rotary unit located on the same end of the base; a
first link unit having a first end connected between the first
rotary unit and a first connection portion formed on a second end
of the first link unit, the first link unit having a first pivotal
portion located at a mediate portion thereof and the first pivotal
portion pivotably connected to the first pivot, and a second link
unit having a first end connected to the second rotary unit and a
second end of the second link unit connected to first connection
portion of the first link unit, the second link unit having a
second pivotal portion located at a mediate portion thereof and the
second pivotal portion pivotably connected to the second pivot.
2. The treading exerciser as claimed in claim 1, wherein a pedal is
connected adjacent to the first connection portion.
3. The treading exerciser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first
rotary unit comprises a first crank and a first axle, the first
crank is connected between the first axle and the first link unit,
the first crank is rotatable about the first axle.
4. The treading exerciser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second
rotary unit comprises a second crank and a second axle, the second
crank is connected between the second axle and the second link
unit, the second crank is rotatable about the second axle.
5. The treading exerciser as claimed in claim 1, wherein a
back-and-forth travel trace of the first link unit is varied by
changing a length of any of links of the first link unit or a
pivotal position between any two links of the first link unit, an
up-and-down travel trace of the second link unit is varied by
changing a length of any of links of the second link unit or a
pivotal position between any two links of the second link unit.
6. A method for controlling resistance of a treading exerciser
which comprises a base and a first link unit having at least one
link is connected to the base, the first link unit having a link
which has a joint end and two distal ends, the joint end is
pivotably connected to the base, one of the two distal ends is
connected to the first rotary unit, the first rotary unit is
connected with a first resistance device, a second link unit is
connected to the base and has at least one link, the second link
unit is connected between a second rotary unit and the first link
unit, the second link unit having a mediate portion pivotably
connected to the base, the second rotary unit has a second
resistance device, wherein the method is to change resistance of
the first resistance device or the second resistance device to
adjust resistance when operating the treading exerciser.
7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first rotary unit
cannot rotate when the first resistance device provides maximum
resistance, and the second link unit pivots about the second pivot
to perform up and down action.
8. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the second rotary unit
cannot rotate when the second resistance device provides maximum
resistance, and the first link unit pivots about the first pivot to
perform back and forth action.
9. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first resistance
device and the second resistance device are adjusted simultaneously
or individually.
10. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein a resistance provided
by the first resistance device is not larger than that by the
second resistance device.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a treading exerciser, and
more particularly, to a treading exerciser with changeable treading
traces and a method for controlling the resistance of the treading
exerciser.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The conventional treading exerciser is disclosed in FIG. 8
and generally comprises an axle 70 and two first link units 7 are
respectively and pivotably connected to the two ends of the axle
70. Each of the first link units 7 has a crank 71, a board 72 and a
pivotal rod 73. A pedal 74 is connected on the top of the board 72
so that the user's foot is positioned in the pedal 74 when
operating the treading exerciser. Each of the pedals 74 is
connected with a second link unit 8 which is pivotably connected to
the base of the treading exerciser. When the user treads the pedals
74, the cranks 71 are pivotable about the axle 70 so that the
boards 72 are moved up and down. The pedals 74 are driven by the
second link units 8 and move the boards 72 back and forth. The
pedals 74 move along two respective oval traces.
[0003] However, the number of the links of the first and second
link units 7, 8 is not plenty enough so that the degrees of freedom
for the pedals 74 are restricted. In other words, the trace
provided by the conventional treading exerciser is fixed and does
not meet the practical needs of different users because different
users have different distances between the two legs.
[0004] The present invention intends to provide a treading
exerciser which provides changeable treading traces.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention relates to a treading exerciser and
comprises a base having a front end and a rear end. A first rotary
unit and a second rotary unit are respectively connected to the
base. The base further has a first pivot and a second pivot
connected thereto. The first rotary unit and the second rotary unit
are located on the front end of the base. A first link unit has the
first end connected between the first rotary unit and a first
connection portion is formed on the second end of the first link
unit. The first link unit has a first pivotal portion located at
the mediate portion thereof and the first pivotal portion is
pivotably connected to the first pivot. A second link unit has the
first end connected to the second rotary unit and the second end of
the second link unit is connected to first connection portion of
the first link unit. The second link unit has a second pivotal
portion located at the mediate portion thereof and the second
pivotal portion is pivotably connected to the second pivot.
[0006] The present invention also provides a method for controlling
the resistance of a treading exerciser which comprises a base, and
a first link unit having at least one link is connected to the
base. The first link unit has a V-shaped link which has a joint end
and two distal ends, wherein the joint end is pivotably connected
to the first pivot, and one of the two distal ends is connected to
the first rotary unit. The first rotary unit is connected with a
first resistance device. A second link unit is connected to the
base and has at least one link. The second link unit is connected
between a second rotary unit and the first link unit. The second
link unit has a V-shaped link which has a joint end and two distal
ends, wherein the joint end of the second link unit is pivotably
connected to the second pivot. The second rotary unit has a second
resistance device. The method is to change resistance of the first
resistance device or the second resistance device to adjust the
resistance when operating the treading exerciser.
[0007] The primary object of the present invention is to provide a
treading exerciser which has two link units and one of the two link
units performs up-and-down action, and the other link unit performs
back-and-forth action. The two link units are pivotably connected
to each other so that the tracks of the pedals of the treading
exerciser are varied when different users operate the treading
exerciser.
[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 a perspective view to show the treading exerciser
of the present invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a side plan view of the treading exerciser of the
present invention;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a partial enlarged view of the treading exerciser
of the present invention;
[0012] FIGS. 4 and 5 show the traces of the pedals of the treading
exerciser of the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 6 shows another trace of the pedals of the treading
exerciser of the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 7 is a side plan view of another embodiment of the
treading exerciser of the present invention, and
[0015] FIG. 8 shows the conventional treading exerciser.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0016] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the treading exerciser of the
present invention comprises a base 1 which is an H-shaped base and
has a front end 11 and a rear end 12. A frame 13 extends from the
base 1 and is located close to the front end 11. A first rotary
unit 2 and a second rotary unit 3 are respectively connected to the
frame 13. The first rotary unit 2 comprises a first driving wheel
22 and a first axle 21 extends centrally through the first driving
wheel 22. Two first cranks 24 are respectively connected to the two
ends of the first axle 21. A first resistance device 23 is
connected to the frame 13 so as to provide resistance to the first
driving wheel 22.
[0017] The second rotary unit 3 comprises a second driving wheel 32
and a second axle 31 extends centrally through the second driving
wheel 32. Two second cranks 34 are respectively connected to the
two ends of the second axle 31. A second resistance device 33 is
connected to the frame 13 so as to provide resistance to the second
driving wheel 32.
[0018] A first link unit 4 comprises multiple links and a first
transmission link 42, a first pivotal link 43 and a first
connection link 44. The first link unit 4 has a first end thereof
connected to the first rotary unit 2 and a second end of the first
link unit 4 is connected to the first crank 24. The first crank 24
is connected between the first axle 21 and the first transmission
link 42, wherein the first crank 24 is rotatable about the first
axle 21, and the first transmission link 42 is pivotably connected
to the first crank 24. As shown in FIG. 3, the first connection
link 44 has one end fixed to the first connection portion 45 and a
pedal 6 is connected adjacent to the first connection portion 45.
The first pivotal link 43 is an A-shaped link having a joint end
and two distal ends, wherein a first pivotal portion 431 is located
at the joint end which is located at the mediate portion of the
first pivotal link 43. The first pivotal portion 431 is pivotably
connected to the first pivot 131 on the frame 13 of the base 1. The
two distal ends of the first pivotal link 43 are respectively and
pivotably connected to the first transmission link 42 and the first
connection link 44. When the user treads the pedal 6, the first
connection link 44 pivots the first pivotal link 43 which pivots
about the first pivot 131. The first transmission link 42 pushes
the first crank 24 to rotate the first axle 21 so that the first
link unit 4 performs the back-and-forth action.
[0019] A second link unit 5 comprises multiple links and has a
first end thereof connected to the second rotary unit 3 and a
second end of the second link unit 5 is connected to first
connection portion 45 of the first link unit 4. The second link
unit 5 comprises a second transmission link 52, a second pivotal
link 53, and a second connection link 54. The second crank 34 is
connected between the second transmission link 52 and the second
axle 31. The second crank 34 is rotatable about the second axle 31.
The second pivotal link 53 is an S-shaped link and has a second
pivotal portion 531 located at the mediate portion thereof and the
second pivotal portion 531 is pivotably connected to a second pivot
132 which is formed on each one of two ends of a U-shaped part
which is connected to the base 1. One end of the second pivotal
link 53 is pivotably connected to the second transmission link 52
and the other end of the second pivotal link 53 is pivotably
connected to the top end of the second connection link 54. The
bottom end of the second connection link 54 is pivotably connected
to the first connection portion 45 of the first connection link 44
as shown in FIG. 3. When the user treads the pedal 6, the first
connection link 44 moves up and down to drive the second connection
link 54, and the second pivotal link 53 pivots about the second
pivot 132. The second transmission link 52 pushes the second crank
34 to rotate the second axle 31 so that the second link unit 5
performs the up-and-down action.
[0020] It is noted that the first connection link 44 of the first
link unit 4 is pivotably connected to the second connection link 54
of the second link unit 5 by the first connection portion 45, so
that the first link unit 4 and the second link unit 5 affect to
each other. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, when the user treads the
pedals 6, the pedals 6 each are moved along the trace T1 as shown
in the drawing by the cooperation of the first and second link
units 4, 5, and the trace T1 is similar to the trace of the user's
feet when jogging. The shown trace T1 is the maximum travel of the
pedal 6. Nevertheless, the different users have different paces so
that the trace of the pedal 6 changes according to the different
paces. As shown in FIG. 6, the trace T2 shows that the pedal 6 is
moved down before the maximum distance of the tract T1 is reached,
the first connection link 44 is pivoted about the first pivotal
link 43, so that the trace T2 differs from the trace T1. In other
words, the present invention allows different users to have their
own operation modes according to different paces, and the users
perform as they are jogging without restriction of the fixed trace
of the pedals as described in the conventional treading
exerciser.
[0021] FIG. 7 shows the second embodiment of the present invention,
wherein the travel distance of the first link unit 4 is changed by
changing the length of any of the links of the first link unit 4.
In this embodiment, taken the first transmission link 42 as an
example, the first transmission link 42 is composed of an outer
tube 42 and an inner tube 42B which is movably inserted into the
outer tube 42. A positioning member 42C is connected to the outer
tube 42A so as to position the inner tube 42B relative to the outer
tube 42A, such that the length of the first transmission link 42 is
adjusted and the travel of the first link unit 4 is therefore
adjusted as well. Alternatively, by changing any of the pivotal
positions of two links of the first link unit 4 can also adjust the
travel of the first link unit 4. Taken the first pivotal link 43 as
an example, by changing the pivotal positions 43A, 43B between the
first transmission link 42 and the first pivotal link 43, the
travel of the first link unit 4 is adjusted.
[0022] Similarly, by changing any of the links of the second link
unit 5, the travel distance of the second link unit 5 is changed.
In this embodiment, taken the second transmission link 52 as an
example, the second transmission link 52 is composed of an outer
tube 52 and an inner tube 52B which is movably inserted into the
outer tube 52. A positioning member 52C is connected to the outer
tube 52A so as to position the inner tube 52B relative to the outer
tube 52A, such that the length of the second transmission link 52
is adjusted and the travel of the second link unit 5 is therefore
adjusted as well. Alternatively, by changing any of the pivotal
positions of two links of the second link unit 5 can also adjust
the travel of the second link unit 5. Taken the second pivotal link
53 as an example, by changing the pivotal positions 53A, 53B
between the second transmission link 52 and the second pivotal link
53, the travel of the second link unit 5 is adjusted.
[0023] The present invention further provides a method for
controlling resistance of the treading exerciser, wherein the first
driving wheel 22 of the first rotary unit 2 is connected to the
first transmission wheel 25 by a belt, and the first transmission
wheel 25 is connected to the first resistance device 23 by another
belt. Similarly, the second driving wheel 32 of the second rotary
unit 3 is connected to the second transmission wheel 35 by a belt,
and the second transmission wheel 35 is connected to the second
resistance device 33 by another belt. By this arrangement, the
first resistance device 23 and the second resistance device 33 can
be simultaneously or individually adjusted so as to provide
different level of resistance to the users. The first resistance
device 23 and the second resistance device 33 can be
electro-magnetic resistance devices which use electro-magnetic
members to generate magnetic force which is transformed into
resistance. When the first resistance unit 23 provides the maximum
resistance, the first rotary unit 2 cannot rotate due to the
maximum resistance, only the second link unit 5 is pivoted about
the second pivot 132 to perform up-and-down action, this mode
simulates climbing action. On the contrary, when the second
resistance unit 33 provides the maximum resistance, the second
rotary unit 3 cannot rotate due to the maximum resistance, only the
first link unit 4 is pivoted about the first pivot 131 to perform
back-and-forth action, this mode simulates skiing or elliptical
action. The resistance provided by the first resistance device 23
can be adjusted not to be larger than that by the second resistance
device 33, so as to perform different actions to meet different
requirements of the users.
[0024] 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.
* * * * *