Climber apparatus

Abstract

An exercise apparatus to simulate climbing is described that includes such features as arm handles that move in synchronism with the motion of foot pedals to provide a total body workout; side handrails; a mounting step; linear foot movement at a simulated climbing angle; a three point support structure using a vertical support column; pedal track covers; a mechanism to provide constant resistance to pedal motion; and pedal impact absorption.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a right perspective side view of a climber mechanism illustrating a first embodiment of certain aspects of a climber mechanism;

FIGS. 2A and 2B provide a right side view of the mechanism of FIG. 1 with pedals, a handrail and arm handles in a first and in a second position respectively;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective side view of a portion of the belt and pulley arrangement of the mechanism of FIG. 2B; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic and block diagram of a control system for the mechanism of FIGS. 1 and 5.

FIG. 5 is a right perspective side view illustrating certain aspects of a second embodiment of a climber mechanism;

FIG. 6 is a right perspective side view of a portion of the climber mechanism of FIG. 5 illustrating certain aspects of the handle bar arrangement and support frame;

FIG. 7 is a sectioned right perspective side view of a portion of the climber mechanism of FIG. 5 illustrating certain aspects of the track and pedal assemblies;

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the pedal assembly of FIG. 8;

FIG. 9 is a right sectioned view of the climber of FIG. 5 illustrating a load and pedal connection assembly that can be used with the climber of FIG. 5;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged sectioned perspective view of the load and pedal connection assembly of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged sectioned bottom perspective view taken along lines 11-11 of FIG. 10 illustrating a portion of the pedal connection assembly and a pedal impact absorption arrangement;

FIG. 12A and FIG. 12B provide enlarged side perspective views of the pedal connection assembly of FIG. 11 in a first and in a second position respectively;

FIG. 13 is a sectioned enlarged top perspective view of a pedal link to rocker connection assembly that can be used with the climber of FIG. 5.

Claims

1. An exercise apparatus adapted for placement on a horizontal surface comprising: a support frame having a substantially vertical support column at the forward end of the apparatus having one end disposed to the horizontal surface, a pair of side handrails secured to an upper portion of said vertical support column and extending rearwardly and downwardly in parallel, and a horizontal support member disposed to the horizontal surface connected to said side handrails such that said support frame forms a three point support structure;a first and a second track secured to said horizontal support member and said support column at an angle with respect to the horizontal surface;a first and a second foot pedal assembly, each including a foot pedal, wherein said foot pedal assemblies are engaged with said first and second tracks respectively for movement along said tracks;a first arm handle assembly including a first arm handle operatively connected to said frame and said first foot pedal assembly such that said first arm handle will move in unison with said first foot pedal assembly; anda second arm handle assembly including a second arm handle operatively connected to said frame and said second foot pedal assembly such that said second arm handle will move in unison with said second foot pedal assembly.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 including a shaft secured to said vertical support column and wherein said first and second arm handle assemblies are rotatably secured to said shaft.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said first and second arm handle assemblies include a first and a second rocker respectively and wherein said first and second rockers are rotatably connected to said shaft and secured to said first and second arm handles respectively for movement therewith.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said first and second arm handle assemblies include a first and a second link member respectively wherein said link members are pivotally connected to said first and second rockers and said first and second foot pedal assemblies.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein a first and a second spring clip pivotally connect said first and second link members to said first and second pedal assemblies respectively.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first and second tracks each include an upper planar surface and a lower planar surface and said pedal assemblies each include a roller carriage and a pair of upper rollers and a lower roller wherein said rollers rotatably secured to said carriage such that said upper rollers abut said upper planar surface and said lower roller abuts said lower planar surface.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said pedal assemblies each include at least one guide roller rotatably secured to said roller support bracket such that said guide roller abuts a lateral side of said track.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein each of said pedal assemblies include a pedal bracket encompassing said tracks and secured to said roller support bracket and wherein a pedal is secured to said pedal bracket.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 additionally including a first and a second track cover secured respectively to said support frame over said first and second planar surfaces of said tracks.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said pedal brackets are secured to said support frame over said track covers.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 additionally including a central cover secured to said support frame between said tracks.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said angle with respect to the horizontal surface is approximately 30 degrees.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 additionally including a step secured to said horizontal support member.

15. An exercise apparatus comprising: a frame adapted for placement on a horizontal surface;a first substantially linear track secured to said frame and a second substantially linear track secured to said frame in parallel with said first track wherein said first and second tracks are secured to said frame at an incline from said horizontal surface and wherein said first and second tracks each include an upper planar surface and a lower planar surface; anda pair of pedal assemblies each one associated with one of said tracks and including a foot pedal, a roller support bracket and a pair of upper rollers and a lower roller wherein said rollers are rotatably secured to said roller support bracket such that said upper rollers abut said upper planar surface and said lower roller abuts said lower planar surface such that said foot pedals can move substantially linearly along said tracks

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein each of said pedal assemblies include a pedal bracket encompassing said tracks and secured to said roller support bracket and wherein said pedal is secured to said pedal bracket.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said angle with respect to the horizontal surface is approximately 30 degrees.

18. An exercise apparatus comprising: a frame adapted for placement on a horizontal surface;a first track secured to said frame and a second track secured to said frame in parallel with said first track wherein said first and second tracks are secured to said frame at an incline from said horizontal surface and;a first and a second track cover secured respectively to said support frame over said first and second said tracks; anda pair of pedal assemblies each one including a pedal mechanism having a foot pedal wherein each pedal mechanism is engaged with one of said tracks such that said foot pedals can move along said tracks and wherein each of said pedal mechanisms encompasses its associated track along with its associated track cover.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 additionally including a central cover secured to said frame between said tracks.

20. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said first and said second tracks are substantially linear and said incline with respect to the horizontal surface is approximately 30 degrees.