Stepper exerciser

Abstract

A stepper exerciser comprises a swinging base, a moveable base and a foot-stepping connecting rod, between the matching cases on the swinging base; there is a moveable base, to which a foot-stepping connecting rod is connected. A foot-stepping connecting rod mechanism, comprising an axle between the two side plates of the moveable base, a connecting rod extending out of the axle, a supporting base on each end of the connecting rod, a paddle on each supporting base, and the swinging base to allow simultaneous motion, and between the cases of the swinging base there is a recovery element, which can set the paddle in a non-swinging state when no action is exerted on the paddle and the swinging base returns to its non-swinging state; therefore, a lever mechanism is formed during the up-and-down of the paddles on the moveable base with the curved cases of the swinging base.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is related to an invention of sports equipment. Especially, it means a multi-functional stepper exerciser involving up-and-down stepping action, shifting stepping action and motion as in a balancer.

2. Description of the Related Art

The conventional balanced stepper comprises a base fixed to the stepping platform, a horizontal rod, and a front supporting beam and a rear supporting beam that both touch the ground. Further, the front supporting beam has smaller radius than the rear supporting beam. Both supporting beams contact the ground at respective points, which allow parallel action for both rods simultaneously.

In this equipment the base and stepping paddles are connected. During operation, balance is achieved by different radius of the two supporting beams. Balancing action and swinging action are involved in the use of the equipment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the invention is to provide a multi-functional stepper exerciser, mainly composed of a swinging base, a moveable base and a foot-stepping connecting rod. Between the matching cases on the swinging base, there is a moveable base, to which a foot-stepping connecting rod is connected. Through a bolt, the foot-stepping connecting rod moves along with the cases of the swinging base. Such a stepper exerciser not only achieves the basic balance training function but also involves up-and-down stepping action and shifting action. Compared to traditional stepper exerciser, the invention finds more desired practical use and functionality.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is the three-dimensional illustration for the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of disassembled components for the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of another mode of the connecting rod in the stepper exerciser for the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of the relationship between a pedal and bearing for the present invention.

FIG. 5 is the status of the stepper exerciser when no action is exerted on it.

FIG. 6 is an illustration of another type of assembly configuration for the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a figure for an example for the present invention.

FIG. 8 is another figure for an example for the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Please refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 for the stepper exerciser in the present invention, which mainly includes a swinging base 1, a moveable base 2 and a foot-stepping connecting mechanism 3.

The swinging base 1 has two matching cases 11, which appear in curved shape. The bottom sticks out as a flange 111 to add contact area with the ground. The top has several pairs of locking holes 112 that allow the bolt 113 to penetrate through and be capped by a nut 114, so the two cases 11 are combined to form a swinging base. Inside of the case 11, there is a sticking pillar 115.

The moveable base 2 is in convex shape made through two matching side plates 21 with rollers 22 on both sides. On top of each of the two side plates 11, there is an axle hole 211, which accommodates the bolt 113 that is through the two cases 11 of the swinging base 1. Thus, the moveable base 2 is fixed between the two cases 11.

The foot-stepping connecting rod 3 uses an axle 31 between the two side plates 21 of the moveable base 2. On the axle 31, a connecting rod can be put to extend radially. The connecting rod can be like the unit composed of two rods 32 on the axle 31 as shown in FIG. 2, or the unit composed of a single rod 32 on the axle 31. Hence, when the connecting rod 32 is not engaged in a motion, it remains on the moveable base 2 in a horizontal state. At each end of the connecting rod 32, there is a supporting base 33, which remains on top of the rollers 22 of the moveable base 2.

An axle hole 331 is also put on the above supporting base 33. The hole 331 allows penetration of the bolt 113 on the side of the two cases 11 of the moveable base 1. So the connecting rod 32 moves along with the swinging base 1. On the supporting base 33, there is a vertical axle hole 332 for accommodating a paddle 34. On the top edge of the axle hole 332, there is also an extension plate 333 that has a locking hole 334.

The paddle 34 is fixed to the supporting base 33 through an axle 341 inserted into an axle hole 332 and a stopper column 342 locked into the locking hole 334 on the extension plate 333 at the bottom edge of the paddle 34. The axle 341 of the paddle 34 has a connection hole 343, which allows accommodating a bolt 35 running through the bottom of the axle hole 332 of the supporting base 33. Between the nut 35 and the axle hole 332, there is a compress spring 36 as a cushion device, so the axle 341 of the paddle 34 inserted in the axle hole 332 can be pulled up (as shown in FIG. 4). It allows the stopper column 342 of the paddle 34 to detach from the locking hole 334 and the paddle 34 rotate freely while remaining in the supporting base 33 without jumping off. It is the simplest operational design of adjustable paddle 34 with respect to locking positioning or rotation.

Further, between the cases 11 of the swinging base 1 and the corresponding moveable base 2, there is a recovery element, which is the spring element 4 as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 5. One end of the elastic element 4 is locked to the axle 31, while the other end is fixed to the pillar 115 of the swinging base 1. Alternatively, the recovery element can be the hydraulic cylinder 5 as shown in FIG. 6. One end of the hydraulic cylinder 5 is on the pillar 115 of the swinging base 1 while the other end is fixed to the side plate 21 of the moveable base 2. Therefore, when no action is exerted on the paddle 34 on the foot-stepping connecting rod mechanism 3, the swinging base 1 is in a non-swinging state as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 when it is subject to the pulling action of the recovery element.

Thus, when the exerciser in the present invention is in use for balancing and stepping exercise, the user has both feet on the paddles 34 of the connecting rod mechanism 3. Due to the simultaneous motion of the supporting base 33 and the swinging base 1, both feet on the paddles 34 can self-adjust to a parallel state and use body weight to maintain balance through the swinging of the curved cases 11 of the swinging base 1 in simulated action for balance training or up-and-down foot-stepping. As shown in FIG. 7, when the left paddle 34 is pressed down, the roller 22 of the moveable base 2 slightly shifts to the left, which results in a lever mechanism with the swinging base 1 to swing back and forth and makes the other paddle 34 move upward. As shown in FIG. 8, when the right paddle 34 is pressed down, the roller 22 of the moveable base 2 slightly shifts to the right, which results in a lever mechanism with the swinging base 1 to swing back and forth and makes the other paddle 34 move upward. Thus, when a user continuously steps on the paddles 34, the exerciser turns out as an up-and-down stepper or a shifting stepper.

Further, the present invention also provides a twist action as shown in FIG. 4, which has the stopper column 342 of the paddle 34 detach from the locking hole 334, so the paddle 34 can rotate freely without jumping off while remaining in the supporting base 33. When a user is stepping on the paddle 34, the free rotation of the paddle 34 is used to achieve twist action on the user's body.

In general, the stepper exerciser in the present invention not only achieves the basic balance training but also involves up-and-down stepping action and shifting action. Compared to traditional stepper exerciser, it has more desired practical use and functionality and poses a great commercial value.

Claims

1. A stepper exerciser, mainly composed of:

a swinging base, including two matching cases in curved shape with bottom sticking out as a flange and several locking holes on top, which allow a blot to pass through and be capped with a nut to combine the two cases into a swinging base;

a moveable base, including two side plates with rollers, with an axle hole on each side plate for the bolt to pass through and combine the two cases of the swinging base, allowing the moveable base positioned between the two cases of the swinging base;

a foot-stepping connecting rod mechanism, comprising an axle between the two side plates of the moveable base, a connecting rod extending out of the axle, a supporting base on each end of the connecting rod, a paddle on each supporting base, with bolts to connect the supporting base and the swinging base to allow simultaneous motion;

through this, a lever mechanism is formed during the up-and-down motion of the paddles on the moveable base with the curved cases of the swinging base, so the user can use body weight on the paddle to conduct balance training, up-and-down stepping exercise and shifting action exercise.

2. The stepper exerciser as claimed in claim 1, the two rods on the axle can form the connecting rod.

3. The stepper exerciser as claimed in claim 1, one rod on the axle can form the connecting rod.

4. The stepper exerciser as claimed in claim 1, an axle hole on the supporting base of the connecting rod mechanism allows the bolt of the cases of the swinging base to pass through and results in simultaneous motion between the connecting rod and the swinging base.

5. The stepper exerciser as claimed in claim 1, there is a vertical through hole on the supporting base of the connecting rod mechanism to allow the placement of a paddle inside.

6. The stepper exerciser as claimed in claim 1, there is an extension plate on the top edge of the supporting base of the connection rod mechanism and the extension plate has a locking hole.

7. The stepper exerciser as claimed in claim 1, the paddle is situated in the connecting rod mechanism through an axle inserted into a hole.

8. The stepper exerciser as claimed in claim 1, on the bottom edge of the paddle corresponding to the locking hole on the extension plate there is a stopper column, which prevents paddles from rotating.

9. The stepper exerciser as claimed in claim 1, the axle of the paddle of the connecting rod mechanism has a locking hole for a bolt to pass from the axle hole bottom for connection and there is a spring between the nut and the axle hole for cushion purpose. Thus, when the axle of the paddle is in the axle hole, it still can be pulled up and quickly engage into a locking action. So the paddle can rotate freely without jumping off. The mechanism has a simple design of paddle positioning and rotation adjustment.

10. The stepper exerciser as claimed in claim 1, between the cases of the swinging base there is a recovery element, which can be an elastic element, hydraulic cylinder... etc., retractable element to set the paddle in a non-swinging state when no action is exerted on the paddle and the swinging base returns to its non-swinging state.