U.S. patent number 3,563,541 [Application Number 04/786,266] was granted by the patent office on 1971-02-16 for foot pedal exercise machine for simulating jogging.
Invention is credited to Herbert G. Sanquist.
United States Patent |
3,563,541 |
Sanquist |
February 16, 1971 |
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.
Inventors: |
Sanquist; Herbert G. (Miami,
FL) |
Family
ID: |
25138103 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/786,266 |
Filed: |
December 23, 1968 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/51; 482/57;
74/594.4; 74/594.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B
22/0605 (20130101); A63B 21/4034 (20151001); A63B
21/4035 (20151001); A63B 21/4049 (20151001); Y10T
74/2168 (20150115); A63B 21/0615 (20130101); A63B
2022/0647 (20130101); Y10T 74/2169 (20150115) |
Current International
Class: |
A63B
22/08 (20060101); A63B 22/06 (20060101); A63B
21/06 (20060101); A63b 023/04 () |
Field of
Search: |
;272/73,82,83 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Pinkham; Richard C.
Assistant Examiner: Diaz, Jr.; Richard W.
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.
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.
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