Information
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Patent Grant
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6709367
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Patent Number
6,709,367
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Date Filed
Tuesday, May 27, 200321 years ago
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Date Issued
Tuesday, March 23, 200420 years ago
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Inventors
-
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Examiners
- Lucchesi; Nicholas D.
- Nguyen; Tam M
Agents
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CPC
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US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 482 79
- 482 80
- 482 146
- 482 147
- 482 148
- 482 51
- 482 52
- 482 53
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International Classifications
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Abstract
A leg exercise machine includes a base and a swivel mechanism by which two footrests are mounted on the base. The swivel mechanism has an upright post mounted on the base, a horizontal shaft fastened pivotally at one end to the upright post, a horizontal support tube rotatably fitted over the horizontal shaft and provided at one end with a connection bar, and a link rod connected at one end with the connection bar of the horizontal support tube by a first universal joint, with the other end of the link rod being connected to the base in conjunction with a second universal joint. The two footrests are supported respectively by a tilted arm on the horizontal support tube such that the two footrests are capable of vertical and horizontal motions at the same time.
Description
RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS
Not applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not applicable.
REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX
Not applicable.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a leg exercise machine, and more particularly to a swivel mechanism enabling the footrests of the leg exercise machine to swivel horizontally and vertically at the same time.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The conventional leg exercise machine comprises two footrests capable of moving up and down. In operation, the feet of an exerciser are supported on the footrests. As one of the two footrests is forced to move downwards, other one of the two footrests is caused to move upwards. Such a mechanism of the conventional leg exercise machine is similar in nature to that of a seesaw. However, the footrests of the conventional leg exercise machine are limited in design in that they are incapable of moving vertically and horizontally at the same time.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a leg exercise machine with a mechanism enabling two footrests of the leg exercise machine to swivel vertically and horizontally at the same time.
The leg exercise machine of the present invention comprises a base and a swivel mechanism by which two footrests are mounted on the base. The swivel mechanism comprises a horizontal support tube, a horizontal shaft, a first universal joint, a second universal joint, and a link rod. The two footrests are oppositely mounted on the horizontal support tube which is fitted rotatably over the horizontal shaft. The horizontal support tube is connected at one end with one end of the link rod by the first universal joint. The link rod is connected at other end with the base by the second universal joint. As one of the two footrests is forced to move down, other one of the two footrests moves up. In the meantime, the horizontal support tube is caused to swivel horizontally, thereby causing the footrests to swivel likewise.
The features and the advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood upon a thoughtful deliberation of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
shows a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2
shows an exploded perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3
shows a top plan view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4
shows a side view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5
shows a first side schematic view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention in action.
FIG. 6
shows a first top schematic view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention in action.
FIG. 7
shows a second side schematic view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention in action.
FIG. 8
shows a second top schematic view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention in action.
FIG. 9
shows a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10
shows a perspective view of a third preferred embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
As shown in
FIGS. 1-4
, a leg exercise machine embodied in the present invention comprises a base
10
on which a first footrest
11
and a second footrest
12
are oppositely mounted by two tilted arms
13
in conjunction with a swivel mechanism.
The swivel mechanism comprises a horizontal support tube
14
, an upright post
16
, a horizontal shaft
161
, a first universal joint
21
, a second universal joint
22
, and a link rod
30
. The upright post
16
is rotatably mounted at a bottom end on the base
10
. The horizontal shaft
161
is pivotally fastened at one end with a top end of the upright post
16
such that the horizontal shaft
161
and the upright post
16
form a right angle. The horizontal support tube
14
is rotatably fitted over the horizontal shaft
161
. The two tilted arms
13
are fastened oppositely at a lower end with the horizontal support tube
14
, with the upper ends of the two tilted arms
13
supporting respectively the first footrest
11
and the second footrest
12
. As a result, when the two footrests
11
and
12
are caused to move up and down, the horizontal support tube
14
turns on the horizontal shaft
161
. The horizontal support tube
14
is provided at an outer end
141
with a connection bar
17
extending therefrom such that the connection bar
17
is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the horizontal support tube
14
. The outer end
141
of the horizontal support tube
14
is connected by the connection bar
17
to one end of the link rod
30
in conjunction with the first universal joint
21
. The link rod
30
is fastened at other end with a fastening piece
18
of the base
10
in conjunction with the second universal joint
22
. It must be noted here that the two footrests
11
and
12
are supported by the horizontal support tube
14
in conjunction with the two tilted arms
13
and two damping devices
15
by which the exercise effect of the machine is enhanced.
As illustrated in
FIGS. 5 and 6
, the first footrest
11
is exerted on by an external force to move downward, the horizontal support tube
14
is thus actuated to turn on the horizontal shaft
161
, thereby causing the second footrest
12
to move upward. In the meantime, the reaction force of the link rod
30
causes the horizontal support tube
14
and the horizontal shaft
161
to swivel clockwise. Similarly, when the second footrest
12
is exerted on by an external force to move downward, as shown in
FIG. 7
, the horizontal support tube
14
is actuated to turn on the horizontal shaft
161
, thereby causing the first footrest
11
to move upward. In the meantime, the horizontal support tube
14
and the horizontal shaft
161
are caused to swivel counterclockwise, as shown in FIG.
8
. In light of the horizontal support tube
14
being fitted over the horizontal shaft
161
which is pivotally fastened at one end thereof with a top end of the upright post
16
, the horizontal support tube
14
and the horizontal shaft
161
can swivel together.
It must be noted here that the link rod
30
and the horizontal support tube
14
are preferably arranged in such a manner that the longitudinal axes of the link rod
30
and the horizontal support tube
14
form an angle of 90 degrees.
As shown in
FIG. 2
, the upright post
16
is provided at the bottom end with a threaded hole
163
. The base
10
is provided in an upper side with a mounting seat
101
in which a bearing
102
is located. The upright post
16
is mounted uprightly on the base
10
such that a lower segment
162
of the upright post
16
is inserted into the bearing
102
, and that a bolt
103
is engaged with the threaded hole
163
of the bottom end of the upright post
16
. The bolt
103
is fastened into the bottom end of the upright post
16
from the underside of the mounting seat
101
in conjunction with a washer
104
.
As shown in
FIG. 2
, the horizontal shaft
161
is provided with a support structure comprising a support frame
60
and a reinforcing member
70
. The horizontal shaft
161
is disposed between the support frame
60
and the reinforcing member
70
. In addition, the support frame
60
is provided with a through hole
61
, while the reinforcing member
70
is provided with a through hole
71
corresponding in location to the through hole
61
of the support frame
60
. The support frame
60
and the reinforcing member
70
are fastened with one end of one of the two damping devices
15
by a fastening bolt
62
which is put through the through holes
61
and
71
.
The machine of the present invention further comprises a handle
50
which is mounted on the swivel mechanism, as shown in
FIG. 9
, or a handle
501
which is mounted on the base
10
, as shown in FIG.
10
.
The embodiments of the present invention described above are to be regarded in all respects as being illustrative and nonrestrictive. Accordingly, the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without deviating from the spirit thereof. The present invention is therefore to be limited only by the scope of the following claims.
Claims
- 1. A leg exercise machine comprising:a base; a swivel mechanism mounted on said base; and two footrests mounted respectively on said swivel mechanism in conjunction with a tilted arm and a damping device; wherein said swivel mechanism comprises: an upright post mounted uprightly on said base: a horizontal shaft fastened pivotally at one end of said shaft to a top end of said upright post; a horizontal support tube rotatably fitted over said horizontal shaft and fastened to one end of said tilted arm wherein the horizontal support tube is provided at one end with a connection bar extending therefrom; and a link rod fastened at one end to said connection bar by a first universal joint, said link rod is further fastened at an opposite end to said base by a second universal joint.
- 2. The leg exercise machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said horizontal support tube and said link rod are arranged in such a manner that a longitudinal axis of said horizontal support tube and a longitudinal axis of said link rod form an angle of 90 degrees.
- 3. The leg exercise machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said upright post is mounted at a bottom end thereof in a mounting seat of said base in conjunction with a bearing and a fastening bolt.
- 4. The leg exercise machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said horizontal shaft is comprised of a support structure.
US Referenced Citations (10)