The entire contents of Taiwan Patent Application No. 104125117, filed on Aug. 3, 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 and variable strides.
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 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 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 variable strides 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 a stride-adjusting device. The two first swing arms are respectively arranged at a left side and a right side of the frame, each first swing arm having a first end pivotally coupling with the frame. The two second swing arms couple with the two first swing arms, each first swing arm having 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 having a second end coupling with one corresponded pedal. The resistance device is pivoted 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 having 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 having a first end and a second end, the first end of each link rod coupling with a second end of one corresponded crank, the second end of each link rod coupling with a portion of one corresponded second swing arm. The two pedals slidably couple with two limiting rods, each limiting rod having a first end pivotally coupling with the frame. The stride-adjusting device has a first end coupling with the frame and a second end movably coupling with a second end of each of the two limiting rods.
In an embodiment, the stride-adjusting device comprises a motor, a screw, and a tube, the tube has internally thread to engage with the screw, and the motor can 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, the frame comprises a base and a supporting structure, the base is arranged on a supporting plane or ground, and the supporting structure is arranged on the base.
In an embodiment, an end of the motor pivotally couples with the supporting structure of the frame, an end of the tube couples with a horizontal linkage, and an end of each of the two limiting rods couples with the horizontal linkage.
In an embodiment, the exercise device further comprises a first linkage, two second linkages, and a horizontal linkage, wherein an end of the motor pivotally couples with the base of the frame, a first end of the first linkage pivotally couples with the supporting structure of the frame, a second end of the first linkage pivotally couples with the tube, the two second linkages are respectively arranged at a left side and a right side of the first linkage, a first end of each of the two second linkages couples with a portion of the first linkage, a second end of each of the two second linkages couples with the horizontal linkage, a first end of each of the two limiting rods couples with the horizontal linkage, and a second end of each of the two limiting rods pivotally couples with the base of the frame.
In an embodiment, the exercise device of claim further comprises a plate, a track, and two rings, wherein an end of the motor pivotally couples with the base, the tube pivotally couples with the plate, the track is mounted on the base, and the plate is arranged on the track and can slide on the track, the two rings respectively couple to a left end and a right end of the plate, a first end of each of the two limiting rods pivotally couples with the supporting structure, and a second end of each of the two limiting rods passes through one of the two rings.
In an embodiment, the exercise device further comprises a plate and two rings, wherein an end of the motor pivotally couples with the base, the tube pivotally couples with the plate, the plate is arranged on the base and can slide on the base, the two rings respectively couple to a left end and a right end of the plate, a first end of each of the two limiting rods pivotally couples with the supporting structure, and a second end of each of the two limiting rods passes through one of the two rings.
In an embodiment, each limiting rod is arc-shaped with a center toward a portion of a user of the exercise device.
In an embodiment, the greater is an angle between the two limiting rods and a vertical direction, the shorter is a stride between the two pedals.
In an embodiment, the smaller is an angle between the two limiting rods and a vertical direction, the shorter is a stride between the two pedals.
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.
In an embodiment, the exercise device further comprises two roller assembly, and each roller assembly couples with one of the two second swing arms and silably couples with one of the two limiting rods, wherein each roller assembly comprises a front roller, a board structure, and a rear roller, the front roller and the rear roller are pivotally coupled with the board structure and are respectively arranged at a front and a rear of one corresponded limiting rod.
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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Furthermore, the inclination of the roller assembly 19 is variable and therefore the inclination of the pedal 17 is also variable 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 variable inclination 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 19 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, variants, and equivalents may be made to the above embodiment by a person skilled in the art, and those modifications, variants, and equivalents are within the scope of the present invention. In another embodiment, the angle between the limiting rods 16 and the vertical direction may be controlled between 10° and 60° instead of between θ1 and θ2. In another embodiment, the stride-adjusting device 18 may be pivotally coupled with the supporting structure 102 of the frame 10 instead of the base 101 of the frame 10. In another embodiment, the stride-adjusting device 18 may directly couples with the horizontal linkage 1023 without using the link assembly (e.g., the first linkage 1021 and the two second linkages 1022). In another embodiment, the stride-adjusting device 18 movably couples with the lower end of the limiting rods 16 instead of the upper end of the limiting rods 16.
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Notice that in another embodiment of the present invention, the track 1026 is omitted, and the plate 1027 is placed on the base 101 and can slide forward and backward on the base 101. The other details of this embodiment are the same as the third embodiment and thus are omitted.
Accordingly, the stride-adjusting device 18 of the exercise devices 1/2/3 of the present invention can adjust the position of an end of the two limiting rods, so as to obtain a suitable stride.
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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104125117 A | Aug 2015 | TW | national |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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20010036886 | Eschenbach | Nov 2001 | A1 |
20150087481 | Liu | Mar 2015 | A1 |
20150202490 | Long | Jul 2015 | A1 |
20150335942 | Murray | Nov 2015 | A1 |
20160375300 | Chang | Dec 2016 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
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I272955 | Feb 2007 | TW |
M505319 | Jul 2015 | TW |
Entry |
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Office Action Dated Jun. 28, 2016 in corresponding Taiwan Patent Application No. 104125117. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20170036062 A1 | Feb 2017 | US |