Exercise devices – Involving user translation or physical simulation thereof – Stair climbing
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-17
2001-07-10
Crow, Stephen R. (Department: 3764)
Exercise devices
Involving user translation or physical simulation thereof
Stair climbing
Reexamination Certificate
active
06258012
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fitness machine and particularly to a fitness machine which primarily offers a stepping exercise.
2. Prior Art
As an example of the conventional fitness machine which primarily offers a stepping exercise, there is a type as shown in
FIG. 9
in which the user obtains a stepping exercise by stepping on the right and left foot platforms S alternately. Another example is a type as shown in
FIG. 10
, in which a hand support H is secured to the base thereof such that the user rests his or her hands thereon to support his or her weight, or there are provided a pair of such hand supports adapted to be respectively swung back and forth such that the user swings the hand supports back and forth in coordination with his or her stepping actions, thus simultaneously giving a workout effect also to the upper part of his or her body.
As shown in FIG.
11
A and
FIG. 11B
, on the other hand, there is a conventionally proposed type, in which hydraulic cylinders C by which right and left foot platforms are supported to offer a load resistance thereto. Forwardly of said right and left platforms S, there is arranged a swinging plate R, which is adapted to rotate about a pivot Q. When one of said foot platforms S is stepped on downward, the other one of the foot platforms S is adapted to be raised in coordination therewith. Further, the adjusting knob T is adjusted to cause said pivot Q to be shifted in the arrow-marked directions such that the downward stroke Y of said stepping is adjusted.
Further, as shown in
FIG. 12A
, the fitness machine of this type has a problem that even the same weight (of the stepping force) can magnify a force F in pressing the cylinders C by way of the foot platforms S if the angle &agr; which the hydraulic cylinders C defines is small with the result that the cylinders C give the feel of less load resistance against the stepping force P.
In this way, the mere provision of said foot platforms S as shown in
FIG. 9
only causes a simple motion such as elevating and lowering of the user's body in its entirety as a result of alternately stepping on his or her right and left heels, thus giving workout effects to lower part of the body in a limited range alone. Further, the effect brought about by the machine with the hand support H is limited to the motion of the upper part of the body while the lower part thereof is left unattended to.
On the other hand, the type shown in
FIG. 11
which performs adjustment of the downward stepping stroke Y of the foot platform S not only has a complicated structure but also creates a problem that if the angle &agr; of the cylinder C is extended as shown in
FIG. 12B
, the force pressing the cylinder is reduced even if the same weight P (or the stepping force) is applied thereto, thus giving the feel of heavier resistance to the stepping. The load resistance caused in stepping onto the foot platforms S is offered by the cylinders C. If an attempt is made to make the feel of such load resistance less by manipulating the adjusting knob T, the stepping stroke Y is made less while if the feel of the load resistance is attempted to be less, a larger stepping stroke Y is needed. In this way, the adjustment of the load adjustment is difficult problem.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is made to solve the above mentioned conventional problems and its aim is to provide a fitness machine which offers an all round motion of not only the upper part of the body but also the lower part thereof to provide synergistic effects while maintaining ease of use.
In order to accomplish the above objects, the present invention essentially provides, in one aspect thereof, a fitness machine which primarily offers a stepping exercise comprising a base; and a pair of foot platforms adapted to alternately make vertically reciprocating motions; and a support mounted to said base, said support being adapted to reverse an orientation with respect to said foot platforms between positions forwardly and rearwardly of said foot platforms.
In another aspect, the present invention essentially provides a fitness machine which primarily offers a stepping exercise comprising a base; a pair of foot platforms adapted to alternately make vertically reciprocating motions; and fulcrums provided on the base side of said cylinders to support said cylinders, said fulcrum being adapted to shift positions such that said foot platforms is capable of changing a stepping stroke thereof with a constant load resistance.
In a further aspect, the present invention essentially provides a fitness machine which primarily offers a stepping exercise comprising a base; a pair of foot platforms adapted to alternately make vertically reciprocating motions; and cylinders pivotally secured to said base to provide said pair of foot platforms with a load resistance; a fluid circuit filled with an actuating fluid to provide communication between said cylinders; a control chamber provided amid said fluid circuit to regulate a capacity of said control chamber to regulate inflows of said actuating fluid into said cylinders such that said cylinders provides each foot platform with a variable stepping stroke while maintaining a constant load resistance.
In a still further aspect, the present invention essentially provides a fitness machine which primarily offers a stepping exercise comprising a base; a pair of foot platforms adapted to alternately make vertically reciprocating motions, said foot platforms being adapted to be set at laterally mutually inclined positions.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4798379 (1989-01-01), Jenkins
patent: 5284461 (1994-02-01), Wilkinson et al.
patent: 5308301 (1994-05-01), Chiarello
patent: 5330402 (1994-07-01), Johnson
patent: 5435801 (1995-07-01), Hung
Browdy and Neimark
Crow Stephen R.
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