Patent Application
20170072256
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an exercise device, and more particularly relates to an exercise device providing ergonomic paths and variable stride lengths.
2. Description of Related Art
Without limiting the disclosed embodiments, a stair stepper, is an exercise device to elevate the heart rate, burn calories and improve cardiovascular endurance.
On a typical stair stepper, a user stands on two platforms supported by a given level of resistance. The user lifts alternating feet, as if walking up a set of stairs, so as to build muscle in legs and gluteus. The stair stepper is also a lower-impact training machine compared to a treadmill, making it useful for those with leg injuries. However, the stair stepper should be used with caution because inadequately activating will place additional stress on the knees.
US patent US2012/0077645 discloses a stair stepper, in which the crank arm exerts force to the linking units, so that the pedal link coupled with the linking units can be moved forward and backward. Each pedal link has a rollable anti-friction member to pivotally couple with the pedal. When the pedal link is moved forward, the rollable anti-friction member drags the pedal climbing forwardly and upwardly along the ramp rod. However, the climbing force of the pedals is unsufficient, and thus the design is not a good solution to simulate stepping, striding, or stair-climbing.
In addition, conventional steppers cannot adjust stride length for variant users.
Moreover, each pedal of conventional steppers is moved along a track or rod, and thus noise may be produced during the movement of the pedal.
The detail of conventional steppers can also refer to Taiwan patent I458519, entitled “adjustable stepper,” and Taiwan patent I442955, entitled “stepper,” the entire contents of the foregoing applications are incorporated herein for reference.
In one general aspect, the present invention relates to an exercise device having ergonomic paths and variable stride lengths.
In an embodiment of the present invention, an exercise device is provided with a frame, two first swing arms, two second swing arms, two pedals, a resistance device, two cranks, two link rods, two supporting mechanisms, and two adjusting devices. The two first swing arms are respectively arranged at a left side and a right side of the frame. Each first swing arm has a handle at a first end to be held by a user and having a portion pivotally coupling with the frame. The two second swing arms couple with the two first swing arms. Each first swing arm has a second end pivotally coupling with a first end of one corresponded second swing arm. The two pedals couple with the two second swing arms. Each second swing arm has a second end coupling with one corresponded pedal. The resistance device pivots to the frame by an axle for providing a resistance. The two cranks are respectively arranged at a left side and a right side of the resistance device. Each crank has a first end coupling with the axle of the resistance device. The two link rods couple with the two cranks and the two second swing arms. Each link rod has a first end and a second end, in which the first end of each link rod pivotally couples with a second end of one corresponded crank, and the second end of each link rod pivotally couples with a portion of one corresponded second swing arm. The two supporting mechanisms couple with the frame. Each supporting mechanism has a fulcrum. The two rock rods couple with the two supporting mechanisms and the two second swing arms, each rock rod having a first end movably coupling with the fulcrum of one corresponded supporting mechanism and a second end pivotally coupling with one corresponded second swing arm. The two adjusting devices are arranged between the two supporting mechanisms and the two rock rods, each adjusting device adjusting a distance between the second end of one corresponded rock rod and the fulcrum of one corresponded supporting mechanism.
In an embodiment, each rock rod swings back and forth on the fulcrum of the corresponded supporting mechanism, so as to bring the corresponded pedal coupled by the corresponded second swing arm moving along a reciprocal moving path.
In an embodiment, the first end of each rock rod movably couples with the fulcrum of one corresponded supporting mechanism via a linkage assembly.
In an embodiment, the linkage assembly comprises a first linkage and a second linkage, a first end of the first linkage pivotally couples with the fulcrum of the corresponded supporting mechanism, a second end of the first linkage pivotally couples with a first end of the second linkage, and a second end of the second linkage pivotally couples with a first end of the corresponded rock rod.
In an embodiment, each adjusting device comprises a motor, a screw, and a tube, the tube has internally thread to engage with the screw, and the motor is used to drive the screw to rotate, so that the tube is moved along the screw in a direction toward the motor or away from the motor.
In an embodiment, when the motor drives the screw to rotate so as to move the tube along the screw in a direction away from the motor, a stride length between two pedals is decreased and an angle between the reciprocal moving path and a horizontal direction is decreased.
In an embodiment, when the motor drives the screw to rotate so as to move the tube along the screw in a direction toward the motor, a stride length between two pedals is increased and an angle between the reciprocal moving path and a horizontal direction is increased.
In an embodiment, the frame comprises a base and a supporting structure, the base is arranged on a supporting plane or ground, the supporting structure is arranged on the base, and the two supporting mechanisms couple with the base.
In an embodiment, each pedal has an inclination, and the inclination of the pedal at the lowest position is smaller the inclination of the pedal at the highest position.
Embodiments of the invention are now described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, instances of which are to be interpreted to be to scale in some implementations while in other implementations, for each instance, not. In certain aspects, use of like or the same reference designators in the drawings and description refers to the same, similar or analogous components and/or elements, while according to other implementations the same use should not. According to certain implementations, use of directional terms, such as, top, bottom, left, right, up, down, over, above, below, beneath, rear, front, clockwise, and counterclockwise, are to be construed literally, while in other implementations the same use should not. While the invention will be described in conjunction with these specific embodiments, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to these embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. The present invention may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, well-known process operations and components are not described in detail in order not to unnecessarily obscure the present invention. While drawings are illustrated in detail, it is appreciated that the quantity of the disclosed components may be greater or less than that disclosed, except where expressly restricting the amount of the components.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
The user may adjust the stride length between the stride length L1 and L2 via the two adjusting devices 19, which are controlled by the operating interface 23. And a suitable stride length may be obtained by adjusting the distance between the pivot 181 at the second end of each rock rod 18 and the fulcrum 171 of the corresponded supporting mechanism 17.
Accordingly, the present invention provides an exercise device having the following advantages. Compared with the conventional non-ergonomic moving path, the moving path Pb of the present invention is an arc with a center pointing at the legs or feet of the user and therefore is ergonomic. In addition, because the cranks 14 directly exert force to the second swing arms 12, the climbing force given to the pedals 16 will be sufficient and strong. With the strong climbing force and ergonomic moving path Pb, the stepping, striding, or stair-climbing exercises can be realistically simulated. Furthermore, the moving path Pb is smooth and the user will feel unhindered when operating the exercise device 1. In addition, each pedal 16 is not moved along a limiting rod or track, and therefore the pedals 16 will not produce noise during the movement.
The intent accompanying this disclosure is to have each/all embodiments construed in conjunction with the knowledge of one skilled in the art to cover all modifications, variations, combinations, permutations, omissions, substitutions, alternatives, and equivalents of the embodiments, to the extent not mutually exclusive, as may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention. Corresponding or related structure and methods disclosed or referenced herein, and/or in any and all co-pending, abandoned or patented application(s) by any of the named inventor(s) or assignee(s) of this application and invention, are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties, wherein such incorporation includes corresponding or related structure (and modifications thereof) which may be, in whole or in part, (i) operable and/or constructed with, (ii) modified by one skilled in the art to be operable and/or constructed with, and/or (iii) implemented/made/used with or in combination with, any part(s) of the present invention according to this disclosure, that of the application and references cited therein, and the knowledge and judgment of one skilled in the art.
Conditional language, such as, among others, “can,” “could,” “might,” or “may,” unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that embodiments include, and in other interpretations do not include, certain features, elements and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements and/or steps are in any way required for one or more embodiments, or interpretations thereof, or that one or more embodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without user input or prompting, whether these features, elements and/or steps are included or are to be performed in any particular embodiment.
All of the contents of the preceding documents are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Although the disclosure herein refers to certain illustrated embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments have been presented by way of example rather than limitation. For example, any of the particulars or features set out or referenced herein, or other features, including method steps and techniques, may be used with any other structure(s) and process described or referenced herein, in whole or in part, in any combination or permutation as a non-equivalent, separate, non-interchangeable aspect of this invention. Corresponding or related structure and methods specifically contemplated and disclosed herein as part of this invention, to the extent not mutually inconsistent as will be apparent from the context, this specification, and the knowledge of one skilled in the art, including, modifications thereto, which may be, in whole or in part, (i) operable and/or constructed with, (ii) modified by one skilled in the art to be operable and/or constructed with, and/or (iii) implemented/made/used with or in combination with, any parts of the present invention according to this disclosure, include: (I) any one or more parts of the above disclosed or referenced structure and methods and/or (II) subject matter of any one or more of the inventive concepts set forth herein and parts thereof, in any permutation and/or combination, include the subject matter of any one or more of the mentioned features and aspects, in any permutation and/or combination.
Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention, which is intended to be limited solely by the appended claims.
