US20020128131A1

US20020128131A1 - Waist/back exerciser

Info

Publication number: US20020128131A1
Application number: US09/737,748
Authority: US
Inventors: Shen Wu
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-12-18
Filing date: 2000-12-18
Publication date: 2002-09-12

Abstract

A waist/back exerciser including a leg frame assembly, a swinging rack and an adjustment unit. The leg frame assembly includes a front frame body, a rear frame body and a transverse beam connected therebetween to form a firm pattern of leg frame assembly. A slide seat of the adjustment unit is slidably fitted on the transverse beam. The adjustment unit is connected to the swinging rack via a link to form a longer force resistant arm, whereby the swinging rack and the adjustment unit are more firmly connected with each other.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to a waist/back exerciser which has better firmness and can be stagelessly adjusted in angle.

FIG. 8 shows a conventional waist/back exerciser including a

triangular leg frame

81 and a swinging rack 82 pivotally disposed on the leg frame 81. The swinging rack 82 has an adjustment seat 83 formed with multiple perforations 84. A pin member 85 is disposed on the leg frame 81. The pin member 85 is fitted into one of the holes 84 of the adjustment seat 83 for changing the inclination angle of the swinging rack 82. A pedal 86 and a stop bar 87 are mounted at bottom end of the swinging rack 82. A backing section 88 and a grip 89 are arranged on the other end of the swinging rack 82 opposite to the pedal 86. A user's feet can step on the pedal 86 with the waist or abdomen leant on the backing section 88 for exercising the waist and abdomen.

When exercising, the weight of the entire body of the user is borne by the swinging

rack

82 which is located on the leg frame 81 only by the pin member 85 fitted in the hole 84 of the adjustment seat 83. In other words, the adjustment seat 83 and the pin member 85 must suffer the total force exerted onto the exerciser by the user. The adjustment seat 83 has a quite short force resistant arm. Therefore, after a period of use, the adjustment seat 83 is subject to deformation or even breakage due to the application force. Also, the pin member 85 is liable to deform due to excessively great force. Therefore, the pin member 85 often can be hardly firmly fixed in the adjustment seat 83. As a result, the user may accidentally get hurt during exercise. Furthermore, although the pin member 85 can be fitted into different holes 84 of the adjustment seat 83 to adjust the angle of the swinging rack 82 by multiple stages, it is impossible to stagelessly adjust the angle of the swinging rack 82. This is still inconvenient for an old man or a user with poor exercising ability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a waist/back exerciser in which a slide seat of the adjustment unit is slidably fitted on the transverse beam. The slide seat is connected to the swinging rack via a link so that the swinging rack has a longer force resistant arm which enhances the firmness of the swinging rack.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide the above waist/back exerciser in which the slide seat and the transverse beam are respectively disposed with safety pin and fixing holes. Therefore, the slide seat is prevented from slipping away from the transverse beam so as to ensure safety in use.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide the above waist/back exerciser in which the slide seat is locked on the transverse beam by a fixing member so that the swinging rack can be stagelessly adjusted in angle.

According to the above objects, the waist/back exerciser of the present invention includes:

a leg frame assembly including a front frame body, one end of the front frame body distal from the floor being pivotally connected with one end of a rear frame body, a transverse beam being connected between the front and rear frame bodies;

a swinging rack pivotally disposed on the leg frame assembly, one end of the swinging rack distal from the end pivotally connected with the leg frame assembly being equipped with a pedal, a stop bar extending from the pedal, whereby when a user's feet step on the pedal, the user's legs can lean on the stop bar, the end of the swinging rack opposite to the pedal being equipped with a backing section for the user's waist and abdomen to lean thereon; and

an adjustment unit having a slide seat slidably fitted on the transverse beam of the leg frame assembly, a fixing member being disposed on the slide seat for fixing the slide seat on the transverse beam, a link being pivotally connected with the slide seat, the other end of the link being pivotally connected with the swinging rack, whereby when the slide seat is moved, the swinging rack is driven to swing via the link.

The present invention can be best understood through the following description and accompanying drawings wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective assembled view of the present invention; [0012]
FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. 1; [0013]
FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG. 1; [0014]
FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 1; [0015]
FIG. 5 shows the use of the present invention in one state; [0016]
FIG. 6 shows the use of the present invention in another state; [0017]
FIG. 7 shows the use of the present invention in still another state; [0018]
and [0019]
FIG. 8 shows a conventional waist/back exerciser.[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Please refer to FIGS. [0021] 1 to 4. The waist/back exerciser of the present invention includes:
a [0022] leg frame assembly 1 including a front frame body 11, one end 111 of the front frame body 11 distal from the floor being pivotally connected with a top end 121 of a rear frame body 12, a transverse beam 13 being connected between the front and rear frame bodies 11, 12 to form a firm pattern of leg frame assembly 1;
a swinging [0023] rack 2 pivotally disposed on the top end 121 of the rear frame body 12, the swinging rack 2 being a hollow frame body, an inner tube 21 being fitted in the swinging rack 2, the inner tube 21 being formed with multiple locating holes 211, a locating pin 22 being disposed on the swinging rack 2 corresponding to the locating holes 211, the locating pin 22 being passed through a seat body 221 screwed in the swinging rack 2, one end of the locating pin 22 extending out of the swinging rack 2 being coupled with a knob 222, the other end of the locating pin 22 extending into the swinging rack 2 being a large diameter section 223, a first spring 224 being fitted between the large diameter section 223 and the seat body 221 for resiliently pushing the locating pin 22, whereby in normal state, the locating pin 22 is fitted in one of the locating holes 211 so as to locate the inner tube 21 in the swinging rack 2. By means of fitting the locating pin 22 into different locating holes 211, the length of the inner tube 21 extending out of the swinging rack 2 can be adjusted for users with different heights.
The end of the swinging [0024] rack 2 distal from the end pivotally connected with the leg frame assembly 1 is equipped with a pedal 23. A stop bar 24 extends from the pedal 23 for a user's feet to lean thereon. The end of the swinging rack 2 opposite to the pedal 23 is equipped with a backing section 25 for the user's waist and abdomen to lean thereon. A split 251 is formed at the middle of the backing section 25. Two handles 26 laterally extend from the end of the swinging rack 2 with the backing section 25 for the user's hands to grip.
The exerciser of the present invention further includes an [0025] adjustment unit 3 having a slide seat 31 slidably fitted on the transverse beam 13 of the leg frame assembly 1. A bolt 311 is screwed on the slide seat 31 for fixing the slide seat 31 on the transverse beam 13. A washer 312 is positioned between the bolt 311 and the transverse beam 13 for increasing the contacting area therebetween. A link 32 is pivotally connected with the slide seat 31. The other end of the link 32 is pivotally connected with a section of the swinging rack 2 near the pedal 23. When the slide seat 31 is moved, the swinging rack 2 is driven to swing via the link 32. A safety pin 33 is additionally disposed on the slide seat 31. The transverse beam 13 of the leg frame assembly 1 is formed with multiple fixing holes 131 corresponding to the safety pin 33. The safety pin 33 is passed through a seat body 331 screwed in the slide seat 31. One end of the safety pin 33 extending out of the slide seat 31 is coupled with a knob 332. The other end of the safety pin 33 extending into the slide seat 31 is a large diameter section 333. A second spring 334 is fitted between the large diameter section 333 and the seat body 331 for resiliently pushing the safety pin 33, whereby in normal state, the safety pin 33 is always pushed toward the fixing holes 131.
Prior to use, by means of the locating [0026] pin 22, a user can adjust the length of the inner tube 21 extending out of the swinging rack 2 according to personal height, whereby the waist or abdomen of the user can lean on the backing section 25. Referring to FIG. 5, for a person with poorer exercising ability ( such as a patient during rehabilitation ) or an old man, the slide seat 31 of the adjustment unit 3 can be adjusted to the end of the transverse beam 13 near the front frame body 11 with the safety pin 33 fitted in the fixing hole 13 of the transverse beam 13. Then the bolt 311 is tightened to lock the slide seat 31 on the transverse beam 13. Under such circumstance, the swinging rack 2 is positioned by an angle in a relatively upright state. When the user faces the front frame body 11 with his/her feet stepping on the pedal 23, the legs of the user will lean on the stop bar 24 and be stopped thereby. At this time, the abdomen of the user will lean on the backing section 25. The split 251 of the middle of the backing section :25 prevents the reproduction organs of a male user from being compressed. The user can hold the grips 26 with both hands and bow his/her upper half body downward and then lift the upper half body. Such operation can be repeated to exercise or rehabilitate the abdomen and waist. After a period of use, the user can lift his/her upper half body totally by the muscle of the waist and abdomen without holding the grips 26. This achieves greater exercising effect.
Please refer to FIG. 6. For a user with better strength, the [0027] slide seat 31 of the adjustment unit 3 is stagelessly adjusted to a section of the transverse beam 13 near the rear frame body 11. Under such circumstance, the angle of the swinging rack 2 is adjusted to a certain angle as necessary. Then the bolt 311 is tightened to fix the slide seat 31 on the transverse beam 13. At this time, the safety pin 33 is disaligned from any fixing hole 131 and the slide seat 31 is locked on the transverse beam 13 by means of the tightening force of the bolt 311. When the swinging rack 2 is positioned in a relatively straight and horizontal state, the user can exercise according to the aforesaid procedure. With the swinging rack 2 positioned in a relatively straight and horizontal state, when lifting the upper half body, the user must consume greater muscle strength. Therefore, the exercising effect provided for the abdomen and waist of the user is greater. During the exercise, in case the bolt 311 unexpectedly loosens due to force continuously exerted onto the slide seat 31, the slide seat 31 will slide along the transverse beam 13. However, in normal state, the safety pin 33 is pushed toward the fixing hole 131. Therefore, when the slide seat 31 is slided to a position where the safety pin 33 is aimed at one of the fixing holes 131, the safety pin 33 will fit into the fixing hole 131 to lock the slide seat 31 on the transverse beam 13 without further sliding. Accordingly, accident can be avoided.
Please now refer to FIG. 7. In use, the back of the user can alternatively face the [0028] front frame body 11 with the hip leaning on the backing section 25. At this time, the feet of the user can hook the stop bar 24. During exercise, the user can bend his/her upper half body downward and then lift the upper half body. Such operation can be repeated to stretch and exercise the muscle of abdomen.
In all the above exercising states, the swinging [0029] rack 2 must bear a considerably great application force. The swinging rack 2 is connected to the adjustment unit 3 by a link 32 which is pivotally connected with a section of the swinging rack 2 near the pedal 23. Therefore, the swinging rack 2 has longer force resistant arm which enhances the stability of the swinging rack 2 in use. Furthermore, the slide seat 31 and the transverse beam 13 are respectively disposed with safety pin 33 and fixing holes 131. Therefore, the slide seat 31 is prevented from slipping away from the transverse beam 13 so as to ensure safety in use. In addition, the slide seat 31 is locked on the transverse beam 13 by a bolt 311 so that the swinging rack 2 can be stagelessly adjusted in angle to meet the requirements of different users.
The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the present invention, not intended to limit the scope thereof. Many modifications of the above embodiments can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. [0030]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A waist/back exerciser comprising:

an adjustment unit having a slide seat slidably fitted on the transverse beam of the leg frame assembly, a fixing member being disposed on the slide seat for fixing the slide seat on the transverse beam, a link being pivotally connected with the slide seat, the other end of the link being pivotally connected with the swinging rack, whereby when the slide seat is moved, the swinging rack is driven to swing via the link so as to change the angle contained by the swinging rack and the leg frame assembly.

2. A waist/back exerciser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the swinging rack is a hollow frame body, an inner tube being fitted in the swinging rack, the backing section being disposed at one end of the inner tube extending out of the swinging rack, the inner tube being formed with multiple locating holes, a locating pin being disposed on the swinging rack corresponding to the locating holes, whereby by means of fitting the locating pin into different locating holes, the length of the inner tube extending out of the swinging rack can be adjusted.

3. A waist/back exerciser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fixing member disposed on the slide seat of the adjustment unit is a bolt screwed in the slide seat, whereby by means of tightening the bolt, the slide seat is fixed on the transverse beam.

4. A waist/back exerciser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the adjustment unit further includes a safety pin disposed on the slide seat, the transverse beam of the leg frame assembly being formed with multiple fixing holes corresponding to the safety pin, a resilient member being disposed in the safety pin, whereby in normal state, the safety pin is always resiliently pushed by the resilient member toward the fixing holes of the transverse beam.

5. A waist/back exerciser as claimed in claim 1, wherein two handles laterally extend from the end of the swinging rack with the backing section for the user's hands to grip.

6. A waist/back exerciser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the link of the adjustment unit is pivotally connected with a section of the swinging rack near the pedal.

7. A waist/back exerciser as claimed in claim 1, wherein a middle section of the back section is formed with a split.