Climber mechanism

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. 12 A 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 comprising: a frame adapted for placement on a horizontal surface;a first substantially linear track secured to said frame;

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first and second arm handle assemblies include a first and a second rocker pivotally connected to said frame and to said first and second arm handles respectively and a first link member pivotally connected to said first rocker and said first foot pedal assembly effective to implement said movement of said first arm handle with said first pedal assembly and a second link member pivotally connected to said second rocker and said second foot pedal assembly effective to implement said movement of said second arm handle with said second pedal assembly.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 including a first connection mechanism including a first flexible member connecting said first pedal assembly to said second pedal assembly and engaged with said frame effective to cause said first pedal assembly to move upwardly along said first track when said second pedal assembly is moved downwardly along said second track.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 including a second connection mechanism including a second flexible member connecting said first pedal assembly to said second pedal assembly with said flexible member engaged with said frame effective to cause said first pedal assembly to move downwardly along said first track when said second pedal assembly is moved upwardly along said second track.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said second connection mechanism includes said second flexible member engaged with an idler pulley secured for rotation on said frame adjacent to a lower portion of said tracks.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 including a resistance mechanism including a transmission and a resistance device operatively connected to said first flexible member for providing resistance to the downward movement of said first and second pedals.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said transmission includes a first and a second oneway clutch each rotatably secured to said frame and engaged with said first flexible member and a speed increasing transmission operatively connected to said first and second oneway clutches and said resistance device.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said first connection mechanism includes an idler pulley secured for rotation on said frame and said first flexible member is engaged with said idler pulley intermediate its engagement with said first oneway clutch and said second oneway clutch.

9. The apparatus of claim 2 including: a first connection mechanism including a first flexible member connecting said first pedal assembly to said second pedal assembly via a first idler pulley secured for rotation on said frame effective to cause said first pedal assembly to move upwardly along said first track when said second pedal assembly is moved downwardly along said second track;a resistance mechanism including a transmission, having a first and a second oneway clutch each rotatably secured to said frame and engaged with said first flexible member wherein said first flexible member is engaged with said first idler pulley intermediate said first and said second oneway clutches and a speed increasing transmission operatively connected to said first and second oneway clutches and to a resistance device; anda second connection mechanism including a second flexible member engaged with an idler pulley secured for rotation on said frame adjacent to a lower portion of said tracks connecting said first pedal assembly to said second pedal assembly with said flexible member engaged with said frame effective to cause said first pedal assembly to move downwardly along said first track when said second pedal assembly is moving upwardly along said second track.

10. An exercise apparatus comprising: a frame adapted for placement on a horizontal surface;a first substantially linear track secured to said frame;a second substantially linear track secured to said frame in parallel with said first track wherein said first and second tracks are fixedly secured to said frame at an incline of approximately thirty degrees from said 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 such that said foot pedals move substantially linearly along and in parallel with said tracks;a resistance mechanism including a transmission having at least one one-way clutch and a resistance device operatively connected said transmission; andat least one flexible member connected to said first and second foot pedal assemblies and to said oneway clutch effective to provide resistance to the downward movement of said first and second pedals.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 additionally including: 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.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 including a first and a second rocker pivotally connected to said frame and to said first and second arm handles respectively and a first link member pivotally connected to said first rocker and said first foot pedal assembly effective to implement said movement of said first arm handle with said first pedal assembly and a second link member pivotally connected to said second rocker and said second foot pedal assembly effective to implement said movement of said second arm handle with said second pedal assembly.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said first track is configured with an upper substantially planer surface and a lower substantially linear surface and said first foot pedal assembly includes a first and a second roller for supporting on said foot assembly on said upper surface and permitting said movement along said first foot assembly on said first track and a third roller disposed to said lower surface effective to engage in combination with said first and second rollers said first foot assembly with said first track.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said frame includes a substantially vertical frame member having a control console attached thereto and wherein the upper ends of said first and second tracks are fixedly secured to said vertical frame member so as to produce said incline of approximately thirty degrees from said horizontal surface.

15. An exercise apparatus comprising: a frame having a front portion and a back portion adapted for placement on a horizontal surface;a first and a second foot pedal assembly, each including a foot pedal, wherein said foot pedal assemblies are operatively connected to said frame in order to permit said first and second foot pedal assemblies reciprocate at an angle with respect to said horizontal surface;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;a 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; anda side handrail secured to said frame extending upwardly from said back portion to said front portion of said frame along a first side of the apparatus effective to provide support for a user standing on said foot pedals.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said front portion of said frame includes a vertical frame member and said side handrail is secured to said vertical frame member.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said side handrail additionally extends from said vertical frame member downwardly to said back portion of said frame along a second side of the apparatus.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 additionally including at least one fixed arm handle secured to said frame.

19. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said fixed arm handle is secured to said vertical frame member.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said first and said second arm handle assemblies are pivotally secured to said vertical member.