Exercise devices – Involving user translation or physical simulation thereof – Stair climbing
Reexamination Certificate
2001-05-31
2002-05-21
Crow, Stephen R. (Department: 3764)
Exercise devices
Involving user translation or physical simulation thereof
Stair climbing
C482S051000, C482S057000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06390954
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an exercising machine and, more particularly, to a step exerciser, which uses a coupling device with a horizontal axle bearing block and a vertical axle bearing block to couple each pedal rod to the crank at each end of the wheel axle of a flywheel, so that less noise is produced during the operation of the step exerciser.
FIGS. 1 and 2
show a step exerciser constructed according to the prior art. According to this structure of step exerciser, two cranks
821
are respectively coupled between the ends of the wheel axle of a flywheel
82
and two pedal rods
81
, and the pedal rods
81
each have an axle sleeve
812
coupled to a round rod
8211
at one crank
821
and a rear end provided with a roller
811
, which is moved with the respective pedal rod
81
in a longitudinal sliding groove
831
of a respective rail
83
. This structure of step exerciser has drawbacks. During the operation of the step exerciser, the pedal rods
81
tend to vibrate when moved back and forth along the longitudinal sliding groove
831
of the respective rail
83
, resulting in high noise level. Further, a friction resistance is produced in the connection area between each crank
821
and the corresponding pedal rod
81
, hindering the movement of the respective pedal rod
81
.
FIG. 3
illustrates another prior art design, in which the pedal rod
81
has a barrel
912
transversely disposed at its one end and coupled to the round rod
9211
of one crank
921
, and a bushing
94
is sleeved onto the round rod
9211
and secured to the inside of the barrel
912
by holding down screws
95
. When assembled, a gap
910
is left between the outside wall of the bushing
94
and the inside wall of the barrel
912
to accommodate relative movement between the pedal rod
91
and the crank
921
. This design is still not satisfactory in function. Because the holding down screws
95
are directly stopped against the periphery of the bushing
94
, the holding down screws
95
. wear quickly with use and, much noise is produced during reciprocating motion of the pedal rod
91
. Further, because the round rod
912
is coupled to the pedal rod
91
in horizontal direction, driving force is not efficiently transmitted from the pedal rod
91
to the crank
921
, and the user must employ much effort to move the pedal rod
91
during the stroke where the crank
921
is moved to vertical position.
The present invention has been accomplished to provide a step exerciser, which eliminates the drawbacks of the aforesaid prior art designs. According to one aspect of the present invention, the step exerciser comprises two pedal rods coupled to two cranks at two sides of the wheel axle of a flywheel for enabling the flywheel to be rotated when the user steps the pedal rods alternatively up and down, and a coupling device is coupled a round rod at one end of each of the cranks and a U-lug at one end of each of the pedal rods, the coupling device having a vertical axle bearing block connected to the U-lug by a screw bolt and a locknut, and a horizontal axle bearing block fixedly connected to the horizontal axle bearing block at right angles and adapted to support the round rod of one of the cranks in the U-lug at one end of one of the pedal rods to reduce friction and noise during operation of the step exerciser. When assembled, a gap is left between the periphery of the horizontal axle bearing block of the coupling device and the inner surface of the U-lug to accommodate the reciprocating motion of the respective pedal rod in the longitudinal sliding groove of the respective rail. According to another aspect of the present invention, the cranks each have a first crank half and a second crank half connected at right angels for transmission of driving force efficiently.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5997445 (1999-12-01), Maresh et al.
patent: 6171217 (2001-01-01), Cutler
patent: 6238321 (2001-05-01), Arnold et al.
patent: 6277054 (2001-08-01), Kuo
Crow Stephen R.
Vardnell & Vardnell, PLLC
LandOfFree
Step exerciser does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Step exerciser, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Step exerciser will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2896806