The entire contents of Taiwan Patent Application No. 104107447, filed on Mar. 9, 2015, from which this application claims priority, are expressly incorporated herein by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an exercise device, and more particularly relates to an exercise device providing ergonomic paths.
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 US20120077645 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.
The mechanism 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 addition, conventional steppers typically suffer from a “dead point” problem. The dead point is a point that when a crank and a link of a linking mechanism are operated to be overlapped, it is difficult to further move the crank.
In one general aspect, the present invention relates to an exercise device having ergonomic paths and being designed to overcome the “dead point” problem.
In an embodiment of the present invention, an exercise device is provided with a frame, two pedals, two first swing arms, two second swing arms, a resistance device, two link rods, two cranks, two limiting rods, and two roller assemblies. The two pedals enable force to be applied. The two first swing arms are respectively arranged at a side of the frame. The two second swing arms are respectively arranged at a side of the frame, and both first swing arms and both second swing arms have two ends, a first end and a second end, in which the first end of the first swing arm pivotally couples to the frame, and the second end of the first swing arm couples to the first end of a corresponded second swing arm of the two second swing arms, and the second end of the corresponded second swing arm couples to a corresponded pedal of the two pedals. The resistance device comprises an axle and provides a resistance. The two cranks are respectively arranged at a side of the resistance device, and both cranks and both link rods have two ends, a first end and a second end, in which the first end of each crank couples to the axle, and the second end of each crank couples to a first end of a corresponded link rod of the two link rods, and the second end of the corresponded link rod couples to a portion of a corresponded second swing arm of the two second swing arms. Each limiting rod has two ends coupling to the frame. Each roller assembly couples to a corresponded second swing arm of the two second swing arm and slidably couples to a corresponded limiting rod of the two limiting rods.
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.
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In addition, each roller assembly 19 may comprise a board structure 194 to fix the front roller 190 and the second roller 192. In particular, the front roller 190 pivotally couples with the board structure 194, the rear roller 192 pivotally couples with the second swing arm 12 and the board structure 194, and the size of the rear roller 192 may be smaller than the size of the front roller 190. By doing so, the front roller 190 and the rear roller 192 can be tightly against the limiting rod 16, and each pedal 17 can be moved along a path defined by the corresponded limiting rod 16.
Furthermore, the inclination of the roller assembly 19 is adjustable and therefore the inclination of the pedal 17 is also adjustable due to connection with the roller assembly 19. In detail, when the pedal 17 is moved to the lowest position, the rear portion of the pedal 17 will be lifted a bit or the whole pedal 17 is near horizontal. When the pedal 17 is moved to the highest position, the rear portion of the pedal 17 will be lifted considerably. That is, the inclination of the pedal 17 at the lowest position is smaller the inclination of the pedal 17 at the highest position. This moving path is quite ergonomic for simulating stepping, striding, or stair-climbing, and therefore the user can operate the exercise devise easily and safely. When the roller assembly 19 is moved to the highest position, the degree of the inclination of the roller assembly is small; when the roller assembly 19 is moved to the lowest position, the degree of the inclination of the roller assembly is large. That is, the inclination of the roller assembly 19 at the lowest position is greater the inclination of the roller assembly 19 at the highest position. Accordingly, the roller assembly 19 can stabilize the motion of the pedal 17. The pedals 17 will not deviate from the limiting rods 16 when they are operated fast.
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Modifications, equivalents, and variations may be made to the above embodiment by a person having ordinary skill in the art, and those modifications, equivalents, and variations are within the scope of the present invention. For example, each link rod 16 may couple with the front or rear portion instead of the middle portion of the second swing arm 12. In another embodiment, each first swing arm 11 couples with an end of a second swing arm 12, the other end of the second swing arm couples to an end of a third swing arm (not shown), and the other end of the third swing arm couples to a pedal 17. In another embodiment, the exercise device comprises two swing-arm sets, and each swing-arm set comprises two or more swing arms, e.g., the above-mentioned first swing arm 11 and second swing arm 12, or the above-mentioned first swing arm, second swing arm, and third swing arm. They are coupled one by one, with a front end couples with the frame 10 and a rear end couples with a pedal 17.
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.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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104107447 | Mar 2015 | TW | national |