Foot Pedal Exercise Machine For Simulating Jogging

Abstract

A stationary exercise machine for simulating standup jogging or running-type exercise wherein a pedal-type mechanism is swivelly supported on a vertical axis and has pedal platforms heavily weighted to impart an oscillatory twisting or side-to-side movement to the crank mechanism upon operation. Adjustable return-to-center spring means controls the amplitude and uniformity of the twisting motion to suit the requirements of the operator. Center of gravity of pedal weight is located well below the pedal platform axis so that the pedal platforms will seek horizontal or level rest positions.

Description

This invention relates to exercise machines and is directed particularly to a stationary exercise machine the operation of which simulates running or jogging type or exercise in the privacy of the home or gymnasium.

It is known that running at moderate speeds, usually referred to as jogging, is one of the best exercises, when done on a regular basis, to insure physical fitness and, especially, a healthy heart. Since it is not always possible to jog outdoors, various stationary machines have heretofore been devised for running type exercises in the privacy of the home or gymnasium. Common among these exercise devices are ordinary bicycle and treadmill machines. In bicycle or pedal crank machines, complicated mechanisms have been devised for applying frictional load to increase exercise effort and to constrain the pedal platforms in level positions at all rotary positions of the associated crank mechanism.

The present invention is directed to an improved form of pedal crank exercise machine that is not only more simple in construction than those heretofore devised, but also has the pedal crank support structure swivelly mounted so as to introduce a side-to-side oscillatory or twisting movement while jogging, thereby at the same time exercising additional leg, abdominal and arm muscles that would not otherwise be exercised. To this end, the pedal platforms of the pedal crank mechanism are heavily weighted to impose oscillatory torsional forces upon the pedal crank support structure when pedaling, the values of which are a function of the jogging speed under which the machine is being operated, and which are adjustable as to maximum amplitude over a wide range to suit the needs of the operator. The weight applied to each platform foot pedal is so centrally located below the rotational axes of the pedals to cause them to seek level or horizontal positions when at rest, no matter what the position of the pedal crank member.

It is, accordingly, the principal object of this invention to provide a jogging type exercise machine of the pedal crank type which will not only be much simpler in structure than those heretofore devised, but which will also introduce side-to-side or twisting motion the amplitude of which will be a function of cranking or jogging speed for the simultaneous exercise of a greater number of muscles than will be exercised in ordinary jogging.

Still other objects of the invention are to provide an exercise machine of the above nature which will be inexpensive to manufacture, light in weight, compact, attractive in appearance, readily adjustable, and long wearing and dependable in operation.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description when read with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote the corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is a preferred form of exercise machine embodying the invention, shown in side elevation;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the machine, partly in section;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the machine taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1 in the direction of the arrows and shown in reduced scale; and

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3 in the direction of the arrows and illustrating mechanical details of the journal mechanism rotatively supporting the pedal assembly.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, 10 designates, generally, a jogging exercise machine embodying the invention, the same being comprised of an elongated base support structure 11 having an elongated central beam 12, preferably in the form of an inverted U-shaped channel member, secured to the ends of which are front and rear transverse, tubular, support leg members 13, 14, respectively, the outer ends of which are turned downwardly and fitted with rubber feet 15 for supporting said beam in slightly spaced relation above the floor, said leg members being secured at central positions therealong to said beam as by bolts 16. The beam 12 supports a vertically extending pedal support mechanism designated, in general, by the numeral 17, said pedal support mechanism comprising an upstanding cylindrical post 18, the lower end of which is affixed, as by welding, to a circular support ring or flange 19 which, in turn, is bolted or otherwise secured to said beam.

Telescopingly received on the cylindrical post 18 is a swivel tube 20, the internal diameter of said tube being somewhat greater than the external diameter of said post, carrying press-fitted therein a pair of upper and lower sleeve bearings 21, 22, respectively, said sleeve bearings being rotatively journaled with respect to said post. The upper end of the swivel tube 20 is integrally formed with a semicylindrical lower bearing housing member 23 adapted to receive a complimentary, semicylindrical upper bearing housing member 24 removably secured thereto as by bolts 25. The bearing housing 23, 24 carries a sleeve bearing 26 journaling the transverse central portion 27 of a pedal crank 28. The pedal crank 28 comprises opposed, outwardly extending pedal journal stud portions 29, 30 rotatably journaled on which are respective platform foot pedals 31, 32. The platform foot pedals 31, 32, may be cast of a heavy metal such as cast iron, or fabricated of any other suitable material or combination of materials providing the desired weight and strength, and are formed with an arcuate, symmetrical, depending weight portion 33 at the underside and a foot-locating recess at the upper side comprising front wall portions 34, inside wall portions 35 and rear wall portions 36 for maintaining the feet of the operator in proper position, as illustrated in FIG. 1.

The pedal support mechanism 17 and its associated pedal mechanism described above is rotatably or swivelly supported on the post 18, the upper end of said post being rounded and in abutment with the lower bearing housing member 23 of the swivel tube 20 to provide a thrust bearing for said pedal support mechanism.

Means is provided for yieldingly constraining the pedal support mechanism in the centered or forwardly extended position of the operator, as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3. To this end, the lower end of the swivel tube 20 has welded or otherwise secured thereto a forwardly extending arm 37 provided along its outer end portion with a plurality of vertically extending apertures 38. Attached as by wing nut 39 to any selected one of the apertures 38 are the inner ends of a pair of tension springs 40, 41, the outer ends of which are secured, as by hook bolts 42, 43, respectively, to outer end portions of the front tubular support leg member 13 (see FIGS. 2 and 3).

Handle grip means is provided for steadying the body while using the exercise machine. To this end, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, there is provided a pair of upright, tubular handle members 44, 45, the lower ends of which are affixed with respect to the front end of the base support structure 11 by means of a first pair of bolts 46, 47 extending transversely through the front leg member 13 and a second pair of bolts 48, 49 extending transversely through the vertical side walls of the central beam 12. Upper end portions of the tubular handle members 44, 45 are bent to converge somewhat inwardly towards each other, as illustrated in FIG. 2, whereat they are fixed in spaced relative disposition by a spacer sleeve 51 secured by a transverse through bolt 50. The upper ends of the tubular handle members 44, 45 terminate in opposed, outwardly extending end portions 52, 53 fitted with handle grips 54, 55, respectively, of rubber or similar resilient material.

Considering now the operation of the exercise machine, it is first to be noted that the depending weight portions 33 of the platform foot pedals 31, 32 are so shaped and located as to result in their centers of gravity being directly below their respective axes of rotation, thereby insuring that said platform foot pedals will always seek the horizontal or level position of rest, no matter what the position of the pedal crank 28. In the use of the machine, the operator will take a position on the pedal platforms as illustrated in FIG. 1, gripping the handle grips 54, 55 as shown and pedaling in the clockwise direction to simulate forward running motion. The weighted platform foot pedal pedals 31, 32, during operation of the exercise machine, not only introduce a flywheel effect having a tendency to smooth out the pedaling or simulated jogging motion of the exerciser, but also, because of their laterally offset position or opposed moment arms with respect to the central pivotal axis afforded by the pedal support mechanism 17, will impart a torque or twisting movement to the pedal assembly, first in one direction and then the other as the pedals are moved relatively forwardly and backwardly during pedaling. Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 1, as the right foot pedal 31 is brought forwardly in the clockwise direction there will be a tendency for it to turn inwardly to the center of the machine against the reactive force of the springs 40, 41. When the foot pedal 32 moves forwardly upon the left leg of the exerciser making a forward stride, the pedal assembly will be turned inwardly from the opposite side, and so on, to produce the oscillatory twisting motion along with the jogging. It has been found that platform foot pedal weights of approximately 7 or 8 pounds produce the best results with respect to the flywheel action and twisting motion at ordinary simulated jogging speed. Considerable variation of the effect can be had, of course, by connecting the tension springs 40, 41, in selective ones of the apertures 38 by means of the thumbscrew and connector hook 39. If the twisting motion during simulated jogging is not desired for one reason or another when using the machine, it is a simple matter to provide a through opening extending laterally through the swivel tube 20 and the post 18 into which a locking pin can be inserted to prevent turning of the pedal support mechanism 17.

While I have illustrated and described herein only one form in which my invention can conveniently be embodied in practice, it is to be understood that this form is given by way of example only and not in a limiting sense.

Claims

I claim:

1. An exercise machine comprising, in combination, a base support member, a pedal crank member having a central journal pin portion and a pair of relatively offset, opposed, outwardly extending journal stud portions, a platform foot pedal journaled on each of said journal stud portions, a journal pin bearing member journaling said central journal pin portion about a horizontal axis, pedal support mechanism fixed to said support base member and journaling said bearing member about a vertical axis centrally located between said journal stud portions, and means acting between said base member and said pedal support mechanism for yieldingly constraining said pedal crank member in a predetermined centered position with respect to said base support member.

2. An exercise machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said platform foot pedals are of heavy construction with weight so pendulously distributed as to effect centers of gravity well below their respective journaling axes, thereby to introduce flywheel and torque effects upon pedaling the machine.

3. An exercise machine as defined in claim 2 including handle means extending upwardly of the forward end of said base support member and providing a pair of laterally opposed handle grips for steadying the body during use of the machine by an exerciser.

4. An exercise machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said pedal support member comprises a vertical pivot post fixed with respect to said base support member and extending vertically upwardly thereof, and a sleeve bearing member rotatably journaled on said pivot post, said journal pin bearing member being secured to the upper end of said sleeve bearing member.

5. An exercise machine as defined in claim 4 wherein the upper end of said vertical pivot post is in abutment with said journal pin bearing member to form a thrust bearing therewith.

6. An exercise machine as defined in claim 4 wherein said pedal crank member constraining means comprises a forwardly extending arm fixed at one end with respect to the lower end portion of said sleeve bearing member and a tension spring secured at one end to an outer end portion of said arm and secured at its other end with respect to said base support member.

7. An exercise machine as defined in claim 6 including handle means extending upwardly of the forward end of said base support member and providing a pair of laterally opposed handle grips for steadying the body during use of the machine by an exerciser.