Exercising device that produces elliptical foot movement

Details Exercising device that produces elliptical foot movement Exercising device that produces elliptical foot movement

2003-03-05

2004-04-13

Crow, Stephen R. (Department: 3764)

Exercise devices

Involving user translation or physical simulation thereof

Stair climbing

C482S057000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06719666

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an exercising device which produces an elliptical foot movement, more particularly to an exercising device in which the elliptical foot movement may be varied.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional exercising device with an elliptical foot movement generally includes a pair of treading members which can be brought to proceed with a reciprocating movement along an elliptical path. However, the size of the elliptical path in the conventional exercising device is unchangeable, and cannot suit the requirement of different users.
To overcome this drawback, an improved conventional exercising device which can generate a variable elliptical foot path has been developed. One problem of the improved exercising device resides in that distal ends of coupler members for treading by the user will project outwardly of a support frame during exercising, thereby making the exercising device unsafe to use and thereby adversely affecting the outer appearance of the exercising device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to provide an exercising device which can overcome the aforesaid drawbacks of the prior art.
According to this invention, the exercising device includes a base support which is adapted to be placed on a ground, and which has front and rear portions opposite to each other in a longitudinal direction. A front mounting post is disposed on and extends upwardly from the front portion, and includes lower and upper segments opposite to each other in an upright direction and respectively proximate to and distal from the front portion, and an intermediate segment interposed between the lower and upper segments. A rear mounting post is disposed on and extends upwardly from the rear portion.
A hand operated member is mounted on and is pivotable relative to the upper segment of the front mounting post about a first fulcrum axis, and includes handle and lever portions which are disposed respectively at opposite sides of the first fulcrum axis. The lever portion is swung by the handle portion, extends downwardly, and terminates at a distal end.
A first coupler member includes a first front coupling end which is connected to the distal end, and a first intermediate portion which extends rearwardly from the first front coupling end and which terminates at a first rear coupling end. The first intermediate portion proceeds with a first reciprocating movement when the lever portion is swung.
A crank member includes a crankpin which is pivoted to the first rear coupling end about a first pivot axis parallel to the first fulcrum axis, a crank arm which has a proximate arm end that is connected to the crankpin, and a distal arm end that extends from the proximate arm end radially relative to the first pivot axis, and a crankshaft which is pivoted to the distal arm end about a second pivot axis parallel to the first pivot axis and which is mounted on and which is rotatable relative to the rear mounting post about the second pivot axis.
A lever member includes a proximate lever end which is pivotally mounted relative to the intermediate segment of the front mounting post about a second fulcrum axis parallel to the first fulcrum axis, and a middle lever segment which extends from the proximate lever end and which terminates at a distal lever end.
A second coupler member includes a second front coupling end which is connected to the distal lever end of the lever member, and a second intermediate portion which extends rearwardly from the second front coupling end and which terminates at a second rear coupling end. The second intermediate portion is adapted to be treaded to proceed with a second reciprocating movement in the longitudinal direction, thereby swinging the middle lever segment of the lever member about the second fulcrum axis.
A motion guiding member is connected to the second rear coupling end of the second coupler member, and is in slidable contact with the first intermediate portion of the first coupler member in the longitudinal direction so as to move relative to the first rear coupling end when the second intermediate portion of the second coupler member proceeds with the second reciprocating movement.
A synchronizing member is disposed to couple the distal end of the lever portion with the middle lever segment of the lever member, such that the first and second reciprocating movements are synchronized in the direction of movement, thereby rendering the second coupler member to run along an elliptical path when the crank arm of the crank member rotates about the second pivot axis.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5921894 (1999-07-01), Eschenbach
patent: 6152859 (2000-11-01), Stearns
patent: 6254514 (2001-07-01), Maresh et al.

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