Combined elliptical cycling and stepping exerciser
A combined cycling and stepping exerciser includes a base frame with an upright post, a drive wheel mounted on the base frame, a pair of elongated lever arms with front end portions pivoted to the upright post, a pair of slide seats, and pair of pedal arms disposed on the lever arms. Each of the lever arms has a longitudinal slide groove. Each of the slide seats is coupled to a respective crank arm of the drive wheel, and engages slidably the slide groove in a respective lever arm so as to be slidable along the slide groove. Each of the pedal members has a front end engaging slidably the slide groove in a respective lever arm. A pair of fasteners are operable for fastening rear ends of the pedal members selectively and respectively to the slide seats and to rear end portions of the lever arms.
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an exerciser, more particularly to an exerciser which provides combined cycling and stepping exercise functions and which is capable of being converted to operate in one of cycling and stepping exercise modes.
2. Description of the Related Art
The prior art exerciser shown in
The same inventor of the '829 patent was granted a related U.S. Pat. No. 5,518,473, issued May 21, 1996, which uses the same language to describe the elliptical movement of the foot links or pedal members of the disclosed elliptical exerciser which has a different mounting arrangement for the second end of the foot links or pedal members. In the '473 patent exerciser, the connection of the second end of each foot link or pedal member directs it along a closed curved path rather than a reciprocating path. It is to be appreciated that the term “cycling” as used herein refers to an “elliptical cycling” or “elliptical” mode of operation as identified in the '829 and '473 patents noted above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe main object of the present invention is to provide a combined cycling and stepping exerciser which provides combined cycling and stepping exercise functions and which is capable of being converted to operate in one of cycling and stepping exercise modes.
Accordingly, the exerciser of the present invention includes a base frame, a drive wheel, a pair of elongated lever arms, a pair of slide seats, a pair of pedal arms and fasteners. The base frame has a front end portion with an upright post, and a rear end portion opposite to the front end portion in a longitudinal direction. The upright post is formed with a pair of horizontal pivot shafts that project in opposite lateral directions transverse to the longitudinal direction. The drive wheel is mounted rotatably on the rear end portion of the base frame. The drive wheel has a horizontal wheel axle transverse to the longitudinal direction, and a pair of crank arms coupled to the wheel axle and disposed on opposite lateral sides of the drive wheel. The elongated lever arms are disposed on opposite lateral sides of the base frame. Each of the lever arms has a front end portion pivoted to a respective one of the pivot shafts on the upright post, a rear end portion, and a longitudinally extending slide groove extending between the front and rear end portions. Each of the slide seats is coupled to a respective one of the crank arms, and engages slidably the slide groove in a respective one of the lever arms so as to be slidable along the slide groove when the drive wheel rotates. The pedal members are disposed respectively on the lever arms. Each of the pedal members has a front end engaging slidably the slide groove in the respective one of the lever arms, and a rear end. The fasteners are operable for fastening the rear ends of the pedal members selectively and respectively to the slide seats and to the rear end portions of the lever arms.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:
Referring to
The base frame 20 has a front end portion formed with an upright front post 21, and a rear end portion opposite to the front end portion in a longitudinal direction and formed with an upright rear post 23. A pair of handle members 22 are secured to an upper end portion of the front post 21. A pair of horizontal pivot shafts 23 (see
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Each of the fasteners 42 includes an operating knob 426 disposed over the mounting plate 423 of a respective one of the pedal members 40, and a threaded shank 427 extending through the mounting hole 425 in the mounting plate 423. In one exercise mode, the threaded shanks 427 of the fasteners 42 are fastened to the first fastener holes 35 for fastening the rear ends of the pedal members 40 to the lever arms 30. In another exercise mode, the threaded shanks 427 engage the second fastener holes 413 for fastening the rear ends of the pedal members 40 to the slide seats 41.
Referring to
As is evident from the drawings, opposite ends of the foot links or pedal members 40 move along closed curved and arcuate paths respectively, and the elliptical movement of the foot links or pedal members 40 in use is the same as described above in the '829 and '473 prior art patents. The closed curved path is one in which the rearward movement of one end portion of each pedal member 40 is along one curved path sector and the forward movement is along a different curved path sector. The arcuate path is one which can be more accurately described as a circular orbital path.
Referring to
As is evident from the drawings, the pedal members 40 move in arcuate paths between uppermost and lowermost arcuate positions. The arcuate paths are equidistant from the fixed pivotal axis provided on the frame 20 by way of the pivot shafts 23, so that when the exerciser is in use in the stepping exercise mode, one foot of the user will move upwardly between the arcuate positions while the other foot moves downwardly between the arcuate positions.
It has thus been shown that the exerciser of the present invention incorporates two different exercise functions in a single apparatus. Conversion from one exercise mode to another can be easily accomplished by operating the fasteners 42 for fastening the pedal members 40 selectively to the lever arms 30 and to the slide seats 41, as desired.
While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.
Claims
1. A combined cycling and stepping exerciser comprising:
- a base frame having a front end portion with an upright post, and a rear end portion opposite to said front end portion in a longitudinal direction, said upright post being formed with a pair of horizontal pivot shafts that project in opposite lateral direction transverse to the longitudinal direction;
- a drive wheel mounted rotatably on said rear end portion of said base frame, said drive wheel having a horizontal wheel axle transverse to said longitudinal direction, and a pair of crank arms coupled to said wheel axle and disposed on opposite lateral sides of said drive wheel;
- a pair of elongated lever arms disposed on opposite lateral sides of said base frame, each of said lever arms having a front end portion pivoted to a respective one of said pivot shafts on said upright post, a rear end portion, and a longitudinally extending slide groove extending between said front and rear end portions;
- a pair of slide seats, each of which is coupled to a respective one of said crank arms and engages slidably said slide groove in a respective one of said lever arms so as to be slidable along said slide groove when said drive wheel rotates;
- a pair of pedal members disposed respectively on said lever arms, each of said pedal members having a front end engaging slidably said slide groove in the respective one of said lever arms, and a rear end; and
- fasteners which are operable for fastening said rear ends of said pedal members selectively and respectively to said slide seats and to said rear end portions of said lever arms.
2. The combined cycling and stepping exerciser as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a resistance wheel mounted rotatably on said base frame and coupled to said drive wheel for providing resistance to rotation of said drive wheel.
3. The combined cycling and stepping exerciser as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said lever arms is formed with two of said slide grooves in opposite lateral sides thereof.
4. The combined cycling and stepping exerciser as claimed in claim 3, wherein said front end of each of said pedal members has a pair of mounting lobes which extend downwardly to said lateral sides of the respective one of said lever arms, each of said mounting lobes being provided with a roller which extends into a respective one of said slide grooves in the respective one of said lever arms.
5. The combined cycling and stepping exerciser as claimed in claim 3, wherein each of said slide seats is sleeved on the respective one of said lever arms and has a pair of side walls disposed respectively on the opposite lateral sides of the respective one of said lever arms, said side walls having confronting inner side surfaces, each of which is provided with at least one roller that extends into a respective one of said slide grooves in the respective one of said lever arms.
6. The combining cycling and stepping exerciser as claimed in claim 5, wherein said rear end of each of said pedal members has a horizontal mounting plate which is formed with a mounting hole for mounting a respective one of said fasteners therein, each of said fasteners having an operating knob disposed over said mounting plate of a respective one of said pedal members, and a threaded shank extending through said mounting hole in said mounting plate, each of said slide seats further having a top wall interconnecting said side walls and disposed over the respective one of said lever arms, said top wall being formed with an internally threaded fastener hole for engaging threadedly said threaded shank of a respective one of said fasteners when said rear ends of said pedal members are fastened to said slide seat, said rear end portion of each of said lever arms being formed with an internally threaded fastener hole on a top side of said lever arm for engaging threadedly said threaded shank of a respective one of said fasteners when said rear ends of said pedal members are fastened to said rear end portions of said lever arms.
7. The combined cycling and stepping exerciser as claimed in claim 6, wherein said top wall of each of said slide seats has a rear edge, said rear end portion of each of said lever arms having a rear edge, said mounting plate of each of said pedal members being formed with a downward flange for engaging said rear edge of said top wall of the respective one of said slide seats when said mounting plate is fastened to the respective one of said slide seats, and for engaging said rear edge of said rear end portion of the respective one of said lever arms when said mounting plate is fastened to said rear end portion of the respective one of said lever arms.
8. The combined cycling and stepping exerciser as claimed in claim 6, wherein each of said slide seats further has a bottom wall disposed below the respective one of said lever arms and interconnecting said side walls, said bottom wall having a bottom side provided with a coupling sleeve that extends in a horizontal direction transverse to said longitudinal direction and that is coupled to a distal end of a respective one of said crank arms.
9. A combined elliptical cycling and stepping exerciser, comprising:
- a frame configured to be supported on a horizontal surface; and
- a dual crank arm mechanism including left and right pedal members,
- each of said left and right pedal members having a foot engaging portion configured to support a foot of a user and opposite end portions,
- said dual crank arm mechanism being constructed and arranged with respect to the pedal members so that the pedal members can be selectively moved in either an elliptical cycling mode or a stepping mode,
- each of said pedal members, when in the elliptical cycling mode, being operatively associated with said dual crank arm mechanism so that one end portion thereof moves along a preselected path while the opposite end portion thereof moves in a circular orbital path about a fixed transverse rotational axis provided on said frame, so that when the exerciser is in use in said elliptical cycling mode, and when a foot of the user which is disposed upon the foot engaging portion thereof travels forwardly from a rearwardmost position, the heel portion of the user's foot associated therewith initially rises at a faster rate than the toe portion, and when the foot travels rearwardly from a forwardmost position, the heel portion of the user's foot initially lowers at a faster rate than the toe portion,
- each of said pedal members, when in the stepping mode, being operatively associated with said dual crank arm mechanism so that the foot engaging portions thereof move in arcuate paths between uppermost and lowermost arcuate positions, which arcuate paths are equidistant from a fixed pivotal axis provided on said frame, so that when the exerciser is in use in said stepping mode, one foot of the user will move upwardly between said arcuate positions while the other foot moves downwardly between said arcuate positions.
10. The exerciser of claim 9, wherein said dual crank arm mechanism includes a horizontal axle rotatably mounted on the frame for rotation about the rotational axis provided thereon, and left and right crank arms fixed on opposite lateral sides of said horizontal axle.
11. The exerciser of claim 10, wherein a drive wheel is fixed with respect to said horizontal axle between said left and right crank arms and a resistance wheel is mounted rotatably on a second rotational axis parallel to said first mentioned rotational axis provided on said frame, said resistance wheel being coupled to said drive wheel for providing resistance to the rotation of said drive wheel.
12. The exerciser of claim 10, wherein said dual crank arm mechanism includes left and right motion transmitting members rotationally connected to free ends of the left and right crank arms respectively, said left and right motion transmitting members being selectively connected with respect to said left and right pedal members respectively so that in the elliptical mode thereof, the left and right motion transmitting members move with the left and right pedal members respectively, and in the stepping mode thereof, the left and right motion transmitting members slide with respect to the left and right pedal members respectively.
13. The exerciser of claim 12, wherein said dual crank arm mechanism includes left and right horizontally extending pivot members on said frame that provide the pivotal axis for the movement of said left and right pedal members when said pedal members are in said stepping mode.
14. The exerciser of claim 13, wherein said pivot members constitute pivot shafts fixed to and extending from a vertically extending post of said frame.
15. The exerciser of claim 13, wherein said dual crank arm mechanism includes left and right elongated lever arms each having a front end portion pivoted to said left and right pivot members respectively, a rear end portion, and a longitudinally extending slide groove extending between said front and rear end portions, said left and right pedal members being disposed on said left and right lever arms respectively, each of said pedal members having a front end portion engaging slidably said slide groove in the respective one of said lever arms, and a rear end, said dual crank arm mechanism further including left and right fasteners which are operable for fastening said rear ends of said left and right pedal members selectively to said left and right motion transmitting members respectively when said left and right pedal members are in said elliptical cycling mode or selectively to said rear end portions of said left and right lever arms when said left and right pedal members are in said stepping mode.
16. The exerciser of claim 15, wherein each said front end portion of each of said pedal members engages slidably said slide groove by rolling on a surface defining the groove.
17. The exerciser of claim 13, wherein said pre-selected path comprises a closed curved shaped path so that the rearward movement of the one end portion of each pedal member is along one curved path sector and the forward movement is along a different curved path sector.
18. The exerciser of claim 9, wherein said pre-selected path comprises a closed curved shaped path so that the rearward movement of the one end portion of each pedal member is along one curved path sector and the forward movement is along a different curved path sector.
19. A dual mode exerciser, comprising:
- a frame configured to be supported on a horizontal surface; and
- a dual crank arm mechanism including left and right pedal members,
- each of said left and right pedal members having a foot engaging portion configured to support a foot of a user,
- said dual crank arm mechanism being selectively operable in a first mode or a second mode, wherein
- when said dual crank arm mechanism is operating in said first mode, the foot engaging portion of each of said pedal members moves in a generally elliptical closed loop path, and
- when said dual crank arm mechanism is operating in said second mode, the foot engaging portion of each of said pedal members moves in a generally up-and-down reciprocal arcuate path.
20. The exerciser of claim 19, wherein when said dual crank arm mechanism is operating in said first mode, one end portion of each pedal member moves along a preselected path while the opposite end portion thereof moves in a circular orbital path about a fixed transverse rotational axis provided on said frame.
21. The exerciser of claim 19, wherein when said dual crank arm mechanism is operating in said second mode, the foot engaging portions of each of said pedal members move in arcuate paths between uppermost and lowermost arcuate positions, which arcuate paths are equidistant from a fixed pivotal axis provided on said frame.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Oct 4, 2004
Date of Patent: Oct 30, 2007
Assignee: Stamina Products, Inc. (Springfield, MO)
Inventor: Sunny Lee (Nan-Tou Hsien)
Primary Examiner: Stephen R. Crow
Attorney: Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, LLP
Application Number: 10/957,519
International Classification: A63B 22/00 (20060101); A63B 22/12 (20060101); A63B 23/04 (20060101); A63B 69/16 (20060101);