GB2348150A

GB2348150A - An exerciser with combined stepping and twisting functions

Info

Publication number: GB2348150A
Application number: GB9906975A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Shu-Chiung Lai
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-03-25
Filing date: 1999-03-25
Publication date: 2000-09-27
Also published as: FR2791899A3; DE29906852U1; GB9906975D0

Abstract

An exercise device allows the user to combine upper and lower body exercises by stepping and twisting simultaneously. It comprises a base frame 21 with a front end portion and a pedal 24 attached at either side, cylinders 25 attached to the underside of each pedal 24 at one end and to part of the base 22 at the other end, and an elongate, upright handle 33 attached at the front end portion of the device. A rotating bracket 30 receives the upright handle 33 and is attached to the pedals 24 via linkage mechanisms (see figure 3). Links (371, fig 3) are attached at one end to the rotating bracket 30 and at the other to a connection plate (38, fig.3), and further links (372, fig. 3) are attached at one end to the connection plate (38, fig. 3) and at the other to the pedals 24. This arrangement means that when one pedal is pressed down link (372, fig.3) pulls the connection plate into a skewed position, thus turning the rotating bracket 30 and the handle 33. When the other pedal is pressed the handle rotates in the other direction. The handle 30 may be folded down to make the device more compact (see figure 6).

Description

EXERCISER WITH COMBINED STEPPING AND TWISTING FUNCTIONS This invention relates to an exerciser, more particularly to an exerciser with combined stepping and twisting functions.

A conventional exerciser with combined stepping and twisting functions comprises a base frame having front and rear stationary supports provided at front and rear end portions thereof for supporting the exerciser on the ground. A mounting seat is fixed to the front end portion of the base frame. An upright handle is fixed to the mounting seat at a lower end of the handle, and has a grip portion connected to an upper end of the handle. A pivot seat is connected rotatably to a rear portion of the mounting seat. Two spaced pedal members are connected pivotally to two opposite sides of the pivot seat. The front end of each of the pedal members has a gear that engages a gear below the mounting seat.

Therefore, the pedal members are rotatable about a vertical axis of the handle and are movable up and down alternately. The bottom of each of the pedal members has a resistance cylinder that is connected to the mounting seat. In use, the user can grasp the grip portion and pedal and/or swing the pedal members for exercising his/her lower body part.

However, since the handle is stationary relative to the base frame, the user does not exercise his/her upper body part when the user exercises his/her lower body part in the aforementioned manner. In addition, when the user pedals and swings simultaneously the pedal members, he/she is liable to lose balance on the conventional exerciser. Therefore, the conventional exerciser is unsafe for performing simultaneously the stepping and twisting functions thereof.

The object of the present invention is to provide an exerciser with combined stepping and twisting functions that can permit the user to exercise his/her upper body part while exercising his/her lower body part.

Particularly, the object of the present invention is to provide an exerciser with combined stepping and twisting functions that is safe for performing simultaneously the stepping and twisting functions.

According to the present invention, the exerciser with combined stepping and twisting functions comprises a base frame with a front end portion, a pair of elongated pedal members, a rotary seat, an upright handle and two linkages. The pedal members are supported on two sides of the base frame. Each of the pedal members has a front end connected pivotally to the front end portion of the base frame. The rotary seat is connected pivotally to the front end portion of the base frame about a vertical axis extending through the front end portion of the base frame. The upright handle extends along the vertical axis and is connected to the rotary seat for simultaneous rotation therewith. The linkages are disposed on the two sides of the base frame. Each of the linkages interconnects the rotary seat and the front end of a corresponding one of the pedal members in order to permit rotation of the rotary seat and the upright handle when the pedal members are pivoted alternately on either side of the base frame.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of an exerciser with combined stepping and twisting functions according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the preferred embodiment; Figure 3 is a bottom view of the preferred embodiment; Figure 4 is a side view illustrating how the preferred embodiment operates in a stepping mode; Figure 5 is a bottom view illustrating how the preferred embodiment operates in a twisting mode; and Figure 6 is a side view illustrating how the preferred embodiment is folded.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a preferred embodiment of an exerciser according to the present invention is shown to comprise a base frame 20 having a main support rod 21 and a front support leg 22 extending downwardly from a front end portion of the main support rod 21.

The front support leg 22 has a transverse bar 23 connected thereto. Two first lugs 231 are provided adjacent to the ends of the transverse bar 23. Two pedal members 24 are supported on two sides of the main support rod 21. Each of the pedal members 24 has a front end connected pivotally to the front end portion of the main support rod 21, a second lug 241 formed at the bottom face thereof, and a resistance cylinder 25 interconnecting pivotally the second lug 241 and a corresponding one of the lugs 231. Therefore, the pedal members 24 can move up and down alternately in a conventional manner.

Referring to Figures 1,2 and 3, a rotary seat 30 is connected pivotally to the front end portion of the main support rod 21 about a vertical axis extending through the same. The rotary seat 30 is generally C-shaped, and has a top portion that is formed with a socket 31 with a receiving hole 32. An upright handle 33 is inserted into the receiving hole 32. A pin member 311 passes through opposite walls of the socket 31 and the lower end of the upright handle 33 so that the upright handle 33 is pivotable between a vertical position, as shown in Figure 2, and a horizontal position, as shown in Figure 6. The rear side of the socket 31 has a rectangular notch 312 that is configured to engage fittingly an arcuate plate 34.

The front side of the socket 33 and the arcuate plate 34 have respective threaded holes 313,341. A fastening bolt 35 engages the threaded hole 313 in the socket 31, passes through a through hole 331 formed in the lower end of the upright handle 33, and engages the threaded hole 341 in the arcuate plate 34 to secure the arcuate plate 34 to the lower end of the upright handle 33, thereby holding the upright handle 22 in the socket 33 in the vertical position. The upright handle 33 has a transverse grip portion 36 connected to an upper end thereof.

The rotary seat 30 has two linkages 37 that are connected to a lower portion thereof and that are disposed on two sides of the main support rod 21. In this embodiment, each of the linkages 37 has front and rear linkage rods 371,372 and an elongated connection plate 38. The front linkage rod 371 of each of the linkages 37 is connected pivotally to the lower portion of the rotary seat 30 at one end thereof, and is connected to an intermediate portion of the connection plate 38 at the other end thereof. The rear linkage rod 372 of each of the linkages 37 is connected pivotally to a respective one of the opposed ends of the connection plate 38 at one end thereof, and is connected pivotally to a projection 242 extending from the lower face of a respective one of the pedal members 24 at the other end thereof.

In use, with reference to Figures 4 and 5, the user stands on the pedal members 24 and pedals the same to move up and down alternately. The user's hands grasp the grip portion 36 of the upright handle 33. At this time, one of the pedal members 24 that moves downwardly will push forward the rear linkage rod 372 of a corresponding one of the linkages 37, while the other one of the pedal members 24 that moves upwardly will pull backward the rear linkage rod 372 of the other one of the linkages 37. Therefore, the connection plate 38 will rotate, resulting in respective backward and forward movement of the front linkage rods 371 which in turn drives the rotary seat 30 to rotate. As such, the upright handle 33 will rotate with the rotary seat 30 about the vertical axis extending through the front end portion of the main support rod 21. Rotation of the grip portion 36 of the upright handle 33 forces the user to twist his/her waist and to exercise the upper body part. As a result, the user's upper and lower body parts can be exercised at the same time.

In addition, the user will not lose his/her balance because the user's lower body part need not exert a force on the pedal members 24 to drive the same to rotate when pedaling the pedal members 24.

Referring to Figure 6, the fastening bolt 35 is' disengaged from the rotary seat 30 and the arcuate plate 34 is removed from the same. As such, the handle 33 can be pivoted relative to the rotary seat 30 about an axis perpendicular to the vertical axis extending through the main support rod 21 and can be foldable on the main support rod 21. In this way, the space required for storing and transporting the exerciser can be reduced dramatically.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. An exerciser comprising: a base frame with a front end portion ; a pair of elongated pedal members supported on two sides of said base frame, each of said pedal members having a front end connected pivotally to said front end portion of said base frame; a rotary seat connected pivotally to said front end portion of said base frame about a vertical axis extending through said front end portion of said base frame ; an upright handle extending along said vertical axis and connected to said rotary seat for simultaneous rotation therewith; and two linkages disposed on said two sides of said base frame, each of said linkages interconnecting said rotary seat and said front end of a corresponding one of said pedal members in order to permit rotation of said rotary seat and said upright handle when said pedal members are pivoted alternately on either side of said base frame.
2. The exerciser as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said upright handle is pivotable relative to said rotary seat about an axis perpendicular to said vertical axis so that the upright handle is foldable on said base frame.
3. The exerciser as claimed in Claim 1, wherein each of said linkages has a connection plate, a first linkage rod interconnecting pivotally said rotary seat and said connection plate, and a second linkage rod interconnecting pivotally said connection plate and said front end of the corresponding one of said pedal members.
4. An exerciser substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.