U.S. patent application number 13/916023 was filed with the patent office on 2014-10-16 for thigh exercise fitness machine.
The applicant listed for this patent is PROTV DEVELOPMENT INC.. Invention is credited to Jack TANG, Xiao-Jin YAO.
Application Number | 20140309091 13/916023 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49479859 |
Filed Date | 2014-10-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140309091 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
TANG; Jack ; et al. |
October 16, 2014 |
THIGH EXERCISE FITNESS MACHINE
Abstract
A thigh exercise fitness machine for training outer thigh
muscles is a disclosed to include a first base member and a second
base member pivotally connected in parallel, a first sliding track
and a second sliding track respectively connected to the first base
member and the second base member and extending in reversed
directions, a first foot plate assembly and a second foot plate
member respectively slidably supported on the first sliding track
and the second sliding track, two elastic loops respectively
coupled between the first foot plate assembly and second foot plate
assembly and the first base member and second base member and
adapted to store elastic potential energy when the first and second
foot plate assemblies are respectively moved along the first and
second sliding tracks, enabling the user's lateral thigh muscles to
be trained.
Inventors: |
TANG; Jack; (New Taipei
City, TW) ; YAO; Xiao-Jin; (Shenzhen, CN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
PROTV DEVELOPMENT INC. |
Taipei City |
|
TW |
|
|
Family ID: |
49479859 |
Appl. No.: |
13/916023 |
Filed: |
June 12, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/130 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 21/4034 20151001;
A63B 21/0428 20130101; A63B 2210/50 20130101; A63B 23/0488
20130101; A63B 23/03541 20130101; A63B 21/4045 20151001; A63B
21/4033 20151001; A63B 2022/0028 20130101; A63B 2022/003 20130101;
A63B 22/203 20130101; A63B 21/0552 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/130 |
International
Class: |
A63B 21/055 20060101
A63B021/055; A63B 23/04 20060101 A63B023/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 16, 2013 |
TW |
102206918 |
Claims
1. A thigh exercise fitness machine, comprising: a first base
member and a second base member arranged in parallel, said first
base member and said second base member each having one end thereof
pivotally connected to each other such that said first base member
and said second base member are horizontally biasable relative to
each other between a close condition and an open condition; a first
sliding track and a second sliding track respectively and fixedly
connected to one side of said first base member and one side of
said second base member and horizontally extending in reversed
directions; a first foot plate assembly and a second foot plate
assembly respectively mounted at and movable along said first
sliding track and said second sliding track; and two elastic loops
respectively coupled between said first foot plate assembly and
said first base member and between said second foot plate assembly
and said second base member and adapted to store an elastic
potential energy when said first foot plate assembly and said
second foot plate assembly are respectively moved along said first
sliding track and said second sliding track in direction away from
said first base member and said second base member.
2. The thigh exercise fitness machine as claimed in claim 1,
further comprising a mounting structure adapted to pivotally
coupled one end of said first base member and one end of said
second base member together in such a manner that said first base
member and said second base member are horizontally biasable
relative to each other between said close condition and said open
condition, said mounting structure comprising a first connection
block located at said first base member, a second connection block
located at said second base member and pivotally connected to said
first connection block and biasable relative to said first
connection block horizontally within the range of
0.about.180-degrees angle, and a locking device adapted for locking
said first connection block and said second connection block in a
selected angular position within said range of 0.about.180-degrees
angle.
3. The thigh exercise fitness machine as claimed in claim 2,
further comprising a positioning device mounted at said first base
member, said positioning device comprising a positioning member and
a rocker button, said positioning member comprising a hook portion
and a linking portion, said rocker button being coupled with said
linking portion and operable to move said hook portion of said
positioning member up and down between a first position where said
hook portion is hooked on said second base member and a second
position where said hook portion is released from said second base
member.
4. The thigh exercise fitness machine as claimed in claim 3,
wherein when said first base member and said second base member are
moved relative to each other to define zero contained angle
therebetween, said hook portion of said positioning member is
hooked on said second base member to secure said first base member
and said second base member firmly together.
5. The thigh exercise fitness machine as claimed in claim 1,
wherein said first foot plate assembly and said second foot plate
assembly each comprise a plurality of rollers arranged at a bottom
side thereof and respectively rotatably supported on said first
sliding track and said second sliding track to guide sliding
movement of said first foot plate assembly and said second foot
plate assembly on said first sliding track and said second sliding
track respectively.
6. The thigh exercise fitness machine as claimed in claim 1,
wherein said first sliding track and said second sliding track each
comprise a plurality of bottom stop members located at a bottom
side thereof and adapted to limit the sliding range of said first
foot plate assembly and said second foot plate assembly on said
first sliding track and said second sliding track.
7. The thigh exercise fitness machine as claimed in claim 6,
wherein said bottom stop members are anti-slip foot pads.
8. The thigh exercise fitness machine as claimed in claim 1,
wherein said first base member comprises a first body, a first
pivoting part and a first axle; said second base member comprises a
second body, a second pivotable part and a second axle; said first
sliding track and said second sliding track are respectively
fixedly connected to said first pivotable part and said second
pivotable part; said first pivotable part and said second pivotable
part are respectively pivotally coupled to said first body and said
second body by said first axle and said second axle such that said
first body and said second body are movable relative to each other
to fold up said first sliding track and said second sliding
track.
9. The thigh exercise fitness machine as claimed in claim 1,
wherein said first base member comprises a first accommodation
chamber, and two stopper grooves disposed in said first
accommodation chamber; said second base member comprises a second
accommodation chamber, and two stopper grooves disposed in said
second accommodation chamber; said first foot plate assembly and
said second foot plate assembly each comprise a pulley pivotally
located at a bottom side thereof; said two elastic loops each have
one end thereof respectively received ins aid first accommodation
chamber and said second accommodation chamber and secured to the
respective said stopper grooves and an opposite end thereof
respectively mounted around the pulley of said first foot plate
assembly and the pulley of said second foot plate assembly so that
said elastic loops are stretched into a triangular shape.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to exercise equipment and more
particularly, to a thigh exercise fitness machine for training
thigh muscles.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Various exercise machines for exercising muscles of
different parts of the body are commercially available. Among these
exercise machines, treadmill, stepper and elliptical machines are
most common for leg exercises. However, these exercise machines are
commonly designed for training the front and back leg muscles.
[0005] Leg exercise fitness machines for training the lateral leg
muscles can be seen in, for example, Taiwan Patent Numbers M363311
and M381424. These leg exercise fitness machines are designed for
enabling the user to step on two foot plates and to move the foot
plates along a sliding rail so as to train the lateral thigh
muscles. However, these leg exercise fitness machines simply allow
users to make a sliding movement along a fixed track, not allow
users to change the sliding track.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention has been accomplished under the
circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present
invention to provide a thigh exercise fitness machine for training
thigh muscles, which allows adjustment of the motion track subject
to user's requirements.
[0007] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
thigh exercise fitness machine, which is practical for training the
lateral thigh muscles.
[0008] It is still another object of the present invention to
provide a thigh exercise fitness machine, which is folding
collapsible and convenient for storage.
[0009] To achieve these and other objects of the present invention,
a thigh exercise fitness machine in accordance with the present
invention comprises a first base member and a second base member
pivotally connected in parallel, a first sliding track and a second
sliding track respectively connected to the first base member and
the second base member and extending in reversed directions, a
first foot plate assembly and a second foot plate member
respectively slidably supported on the first sliding track and the
second sliding track, and two elastic loops respectively coupled
between the first foot plate assembly and second foot plate
assembly and the first base member and second base member and
adapted to store elastic potential energy when the first and second
foot plate assemblies are respectively moved along the first and
second sliding tracks.
[0010] Other advantages and features of the present invention will
be fully understood by reference to the following specification in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference
signs denote like components of structure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is an oblique elevational view of a thigh exercise
fitness machine in accordance with the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the thigh exercise fitness
machine in accordance with the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the thigh exercise fitness
machine in accordance with the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 4A is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1,
illustrating the locking device locked.
[0015] FIG. 4B is similar to FIG. 4A but illustrating the locking
device unlocked.
[0016] FIG. 5A is an applied view of the present invention,
illustrating the two foot plate assemblies moved toward each
other.
[0017] FIG. 5B is another applied view of the present invention,
illustrating the two foot plate assemblies moved in the reversed
directions.
[0018] FIG. 6 is a schematic drawing of the present invention,
illustrating the first base member and the second base member
biased relative to each other.
[0019] FIG. 7 is a schematic drawing of the present invention,
illustrating a collapsed condition of the thigh exercise fitness
machine.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0020] Referring to FIGS. 1-4, a thigh exercise fitness machine in
accordance with the present invention is shown. The thigh exercise
fitness machine 1 comprises a first base member 10, a second base
member 20, a first sliding track 30 and a second sliding track 40,
a first foot plate assembly 50, a second foot plate assembly 60,
two elastic loops 70, a locking device 80, and a positioning device
90.
[0021] The first base member 10 comprises a first body 11, a first
pivotable part 12 and a first axle 13. The first body 11 comprises
a first accommodation chamber 14, a receiving chamber 15, and a
first connection block 16. The first pivotable part 12 is pivotally
connected to two opposite sides in the first accommodation chamber
14 of the first body 11 by the first axle 13, enabling the first
pivotable part 12 to be biased relative to the first body 11. The
first connection block 16 comprises a first mounting hole 161, and
a through hole 162 formed at the center of the first mounting hole
161. The first mounting hole 161 has an inner thread formed on the
inside wall thereof (not shown). A locating notch 17 is formed on
the lateral wall of the receiving chamber 15. Further, a top hole
18 is located at the top side of the first body 11 in communication
with the receiving chamber 15. Further, the first accommodation
chamber 14 has two stopper grooves 141 defined therein.
[0022] The second base member 20 is arranged in a parallel manner
relative to the first base member 10, comprising a second body 21,
second pivotable part 22 and a second axle 23. The second body 21
comprises a second accommodation chamber 24, and a second
connection block 25 stacked on the first connection block 16 of the
first base member 10. The second pivotable part 22 is pivotally
connected to two opposite sides in the second accommodation chamber
24 by the second axle 23, enabling the second pivotable part 22 to
be biased relative to the second body 21. The second connection
block 25 comprises a second mounting hole 251, and a through hole
252 formed at the center of the second mounting hole 251. The
second body 21 has locating hole 26 located at one lateral side of
the second body 21 opposite to the second connection block 25. The
second accommodation chamber 24 defines two stopper grooves 241
therein.
[0023] The first sliding track 30 and the second sliding track 40
are respectively fixedly connected to one lateral side of the first
pivotable part 12 and one lateral side of the second pivotable part
22 and extending outward in horizontal. The first sliding track 30
and the second sliding track 40 each comprise a plurality of stop
members 31 located at the bottom side thereof. The stop members 31
are anti-slip foot pads having a certain thickness (height). The
first sliding track 30 and the second sliding track 40 each have
two locating blocks 32 mounted at one end thereof and adapted to
support the first sliding track 30 and the second sliding track
40.
[0024] The first foot plate assembly 50 or second foot plate
assembly 60 comprises a first foot plate holder 51 or second foot
plate holder 61, a first foot plate 52 or second foot plate 21
mounted at the top side of the first foot plate holder 51 or second
foot plate holder 61, a pulley 53 or 62 pivotally mounted at the
bottom side of the first foot plate holder 51 or second foot plate
holder 61 on the middle, two coupling members 54 or 64, and a
plurality of rollers 55 or 65. The coupling members 54 or 64 are
respectively pivotally coupled to the first sliding track 30 or
second sliding track 40, allowing sliding movement of the rollers
55 or 65 on the first sliding track 30 or second sliding track 40
to carry the first foot plate assembly 50 or second foot plate
assembly 60 back and forth along the first sliding track 30 or
second sliding track 40. The stop members 31 of the first sliding
track 30 or second sliding track 40 are adapted to limit the
sliding range of the first foot plate assembly 50 or second foot
plate assembly 60.
[0025] The two elastic loops 70 each have one end thereof
accommodated in the first accommodation chamber 14 or second
accommodation chamber 24 and secured to the stopper groove 141 or
241 in the first accommodation chamber 14 or second accommodation
chamber 24 and the other end thereof supported on the pulley 53 or
63 at the first foot plate holder 51 or second foot plate holder 61
so that the two elastic loops 70 are stretched in triangular shape
and, when the first and second foot plate assemblies 50 and 60 are
respectively received to the respective inner ends of the first and
second sliding track 30 and 40, the two elastic loops 70 do not
fall to the ground; when the first and second foot plate assemblies
50 and 60 are respectively moved along the first and second sliding
track 30 and 40, the two elastic loops 70 impart a resisting force
to the outward movement of the first and second foot plate
assemblies 50 and 60 and store an elastic potential energy for auto
return.
[0026] The locking device 80 comprises a locking bolt 81 and a
spring member 82. The locking bolt 81 comprises a head 811, a
finger plate 812 located at the top side of the head 811, a
shoulder 813 located at the opposing bottom side of the head 811,
and a shank 814 axially downwardly extended from the bottom side of
the shoulder 813 opposite to the head 811. The diameter of the
shoulder 813 is larger than the diameter of the shank 814. Further,
the shank 814 is externally threaded, i.e., the shank 814 is made
in the form of a screw rod. The spring member 82 is mounted around
the shoulder 813 and shank 814 of the locking bolt 81. The head 811
of the locking bolt 81 is received in the second mounting hole 251
of the second connection block 25. The shoulder 813 and the shank
814 are inserted through the internally threaded through hole 252
of the second connection block 25 and the through hole 162 of the
first connection block 16, and the shank 814 is received in the
internally threaded through hole 252 of the second connection block
25. The spring member 82 has a part thereof received in the
internally threaded through hole 252 of the second connection block
25 and the other part thereof received in and stopped at the first
mounting hole 161. The shank 814 is partially threaded into the
internally threaded through hole 252 of the second connection block
25. When the locking bolt 81 is rotated downwardly to the extent
where the bottom side of the head 811 of the locking bolt 81 is
stopped against the second mounting hole 251 of the second
connection block 25, the first connection block 16 and the second
connection block 25 are locked together. On the contrary, rotating
the locking bolt 81 upward to unlock the first base member 10 and
the second base member 20 allows the first connection block 16 and
the second connection block 25 to be biased relative to each
other.
[0027] The positioning device 90 comprises a positioning member 91
and a rocker button 92. The positioning member 91 comprises a hook
portion 911 and a linking portion 912. The positioning member 91 is
positioned in the receiving chamber 15 of the first body 11,
allowing the hook portion 911 to be extended out of the locating
notch 17 and the locating hole 26 of the second body 21 and hooked
on the bottom side of the second body 21. The rocker button 92 is
disposed above the top hole 18 of the first body 11 and coupled
with the linking portion 912 of the positioning member 91. By means
of pressing the front or rear side of the rocker button 92 to move
the hook portion 911 of the positioning member 91 upward or
downward, the hook portion 911 will be forced into engagement with
or disengaged from the second body 21.
[0028] After understanding of the structural details of the thigh
exercise fitness machine, the operation of the thigh exercise
fitness machine is outlined hereinafter.
[0029] Referring to FIGS. 5A and 5B, when the user steps on the
first foot plate 52 and the second foot plate 62 and moves the
first foot plate assembly 50 and the second foot plate assemble 60
outwardly along the first sliding track 30 and the second sliding
track 40, the two elastic loops 70 impart a pressure against the
outward sliding movement of the first foot plate assembly 50 and
the second foot plate assemble 60; when the user releases the
pressure from the first foot plate assembly 50 and the second foot
plate assemble 60, the elastic potential energy stored by the
elastic loops 70 automatically pull the first foot plate assembly
50 and the second foot plate assemble 60 backwardly toward each
other. Repeating the aforesaid steps, the user's lateral thigh
muscles are trained.
[0030] Referring to FIG. 7 and FIGS. 4A and 4B again, the user can
press the rocker button 92 to disengage the hook portion 911 of the
positioning member 91 from the second body 21, and then loosen the
locking bolt 81 of the locking device 80 to unlock the first base
member 10 and the second base member 20, and then bias the first
base member 10 relative to the first connection block 16 and the
second base member 20 relative to the second connection block 25
horizontally to any desired angular position within the range of
0.about.180-degrees angle. After adjustment, fasten tight the
locking bolt 81 to lock the first base member 10 and the second
base member 20 in the adjusted position. Thus, the first base
member 10 and the second base member 20 can be adjusted to a
suitable angular position subject to requirements of different
users for different motion tracks.
[0031] Referring to FIG. 7 again, when the thigh exercise fitness
machine is not in use, the first pivotable part 12 and the second
pivotable part 22 can be respectively turned about the first axle
13 and the second axle 23, enabling the first sliding track 30 and
the second sliding track 40 to be folded up and collapsed.
[0032] In conclusion, the thigh exercise fitness machine allows
adjustment of the contained angle between the first base member and
the second base member to change the sliding direction of each foot
plate assembly, and therefore the user can adjust the motion track
subject to personal needs, achieving optimal training of the
lateral thigh muscles. Further, after each application, the thigh
exercise fitness machine can be folded up and collapsed,
facilitating storage.
* * * * *