Information
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Patent Grant
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6830539
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Patent Number
6,830,539
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Date Filed
Tuesday, May 14, 200222 years ago
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Date Issued
Tuesday, December 14, 200419 years ago
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Inventors
-
-
Examiners
Agents
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CPC
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US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 482 79
- 482 80
- 482 111
- 482 112
- 482 146
- 482 147
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International Classifications
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Abstract
A stepping exerciser includes a pair of foot pedals each having a bent segment disposed on one end and bent relative to the foot pedals and pivotally secured to the base with a pivot shaft, for allowing the foot pedals to be moved up and down relative to the base. The foot pedals each includes a longitudinal axis offset from the pivot shaft, or an included angle is formed between the foot pedals and the bent segments, for increasing the lateral movement of the foot pedals when the foot pedals are moved up and down relative to the base.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a stepping exerciser, and more particularly to a stepping exerciser having an increased lateral movement.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Typical stepping exercisers are shown in FIG.
5
and comprise a base
10
, and a pair of foot pedals
12
having a front end pivotally secured to the base
10
with a pivot shaft
11
, for allowing the foot pedals
12
to be moved up and down relative to the base
10
. One or more resilient band or the other hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders
16
may further be provided and attached to the foot pedals
12
for applying a resistive force against the foot pedals
12
. However, when the foot pedals
12
are rotated relative to the base
10
about the pivot shaft
11
, the lateral movement “d” of the foot pedals is relatively small, such that the users are almost moved up and down relative to the base
10
only, and may not move forward and upward and downward and rearward, and such that the stepping exercisers may not be used for simulating the actual ladder climbing action or the real stepping exercises.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional stepping exercisers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a stepping exerciser including an increased lateral movement.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a stepping exerciser comprising a base including a first end having a pivot shaft provided therein, a pair of foot pedals including a first end having a bent segment provided thereon and bent and inclined relative to the foot pedals respectively, the bent segments each including a first end located close to the foot pedals respectively, and each including a second end pivotally secured to the base with the pivot shaft, for allowing the foot pedals to be moved up and down relative to the base. The foot pedals each includes a longitudinal axis offset from the pivot shaft, for increasing a lateral movement of the foot pedals when the foot pedals are moved up and down relative to the base.
A resistive device may further be provided for applying a resistive force against the foot pedals.
The bent segments each includes a longitudinal axis, the longitudinal axes of the foot pedals and the bent segments respectively include an included angle formed therebetween.
Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of a detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a perspective view of a stepping exerciser in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2
is a side view of the stepping exerciser;
FIG. 3
is a side view similar to
FIG. 2
, illustrating the operation of the stepping exerciser;
FIG. 4
is a side view similar to
FIGS. 2 and 3
, illustrating the other embodiment of the stepping exerciser; and
FIG. 5
is a side view illustrating one of the typical stepping exercisers.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to the drawings, and initially to
FIGS. 1 and 2
, a stepping exerciser in accordance with the present invention comprises a base
10
including a front portion having a shaft
11
provided therein, such as laterally provided therein. A pair of foot pedals
12
include a front portion pivotally or rotatably secured to the base
10
with the pivot shaft
11
, for allowing the foot pedals
12
to be moved up and down relative to the base
10
. One or more resilient belts or actuators
16
may further be provided and coupled to either or both of the foot pedals
12
, for applying a resistive force against the foot pedals
12
.
The foot pedals
12
each includes a bent segment
14
bent or inclined relative to the foot pedals
12
respectively, and provided on the front portion thereof. The bent segment
14
includes a first end formed integral to or secured to the foot pedal
12
or located close to the foot pedal
12
, and a second end pivotally secured to the pivot shaft
11
, such that the plane or the longitudinal axis
20
of the foot pedal
12
is offset from the pivot shaft
11
, best shown in FIG.
2
. The bent segment
14
also includes a plane or a longitudinal axis
30
, and an included angle “a” will be formed between the longitudinal axes
20
,
30
of the foot pedal
12
and the bent segment
14
.
In operation, as shown in
FIG. 3
, when the foot pedals
12
are moved or rotated up and down relative to the base
10
about the pivot shaft
11
, the foot pedals
12
may include a lateral movement “D” greater than the lateral movement “d” of that of the typical stepping exercisers (FIG.
5
). When stepping or exercising on the stepping exerciser as shown in
FIGS. 1-3
, the feet of the users may move relatively upward and forward when the foot pedal
12
is moved or rotated upward, and may move relatively downward and rearward when the foot pedal
12
is moved or rotated downward.
It is to be noted that the offset of the plane or the longitudinal axis
20
of the foot pedal
12
from the pivot shaft
11
may increase the lateral movement of the foot pedals
12
relative to the base
10
, when the foot pedals
12
move up and down relative to the base
10
. Or, the bent segments
14
of the foot pedals
12
may be rotated or moved forward and rearward relative to the pivot shaft
11
, best shown in
FIGS. 2-3
, for increasing the lateral movement of the foot pedals
12
relative to the base
10
, when the foot pedals
12
move up and down relative to the base
10
.
Referring next to
FIG. 4
, the included angle “a” between the longitudinal axes
20
,
30
of the foot pedal
12
and the bent segment
14
may be arranged or formed smaller or greater. The requirement or the limitation of the included angle “a” is provided or arranged for allowing the foot pedals
12
to be moved up and down in order to conduct the stepping exercises. For example, the included angle “a” between the longitudinal axes
20
,
30
of the foot pedal
12
and the bent segment
14
may be arranged or formed less than 30 degrees or greater than 150 degrees, provided that the foot pedals
12
may be moved up and down relative to the base
10
in order to conduct the stepping exercises by the users.
The base
10
may further include a post
15
extended upward therefrom, such as extended upward from the front and middle portion thereof, and preferably located between the foot pedals
12
. A rod
17
may further be provided and rotatably secured to the base
10
, or secured to the post
15
. A lever
18
is secured to the rod
17
, and includes two ends located below and engaged with the bottom of the foot pedals
12
, for supporting the foot pedals
12
, and for coupling or connecting the foot pedals
12
together. Two cushions or pads
19
are further provided and attached onto the ends of the lever
18
, for resiliently or safely engaging with the bottom of the foot pedals
12
.
In operation, when one of the foot pedals
12
is depressed downward by the users, the other foot pedal
12
will be forced and actuated to move upward by the lever
18
. On the contrary, when the other foot pedal
12
is depressed downward by the users, the one foot pedal
12
will be forced and actuated to move upward by the lever
18
.
Accordingly, the stepping exerciser in accordance with the present invention includes an increased lateral movement.
Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
Claims
- 1. A stepping exerciser comprising:a base including a first end having a pivot shaft provided therein, a pair of foot pedals including a first end having a bent segment provided thereon and bent and inclined relative to said foot pedals respectively, said bent segments each including a first end located close to said foot pedals respectively, and each including a second end pivotally secured to said base with said pivot shaft, for allowing said foot pedals to be moved up and down relative to said base, a rod rotatably secured to said base, a lever secured to said rod at said lever's midpoint and including two ends, each engaged with one of said foot pedals respectively, for supporting said foot pedals, said bent segments of said foot pedals each including a longitudinal axis, said longitudinal axes of said foot pedals and said bent segments respectively including an included angle formed therebetween, and said bent segments of said foot pedals being rotatable and movable forward and rearward of said pivot shaft, for increasing a lateral movement of said foot pedals when said foot pedals are moved up and down relative to said base.
- 2. The stepping exerciser according to claim 1 further comprising means for applying a resistive force against said foot pedals.
- 3. The stepping exerciser according to claim 1 further comprising two pads attached to said ends of said lever, to engage with said foot pedals respectively.
- 4. The stepping exerciser according to claim 1, wherein said ends of said lever are engaged with bottom of said foot pedals respectively.
- 5. The stepping exerciser according to claim 1, wherein said base includes a post extended therefrom, said rod is rotatably secured to said post of said base.
US Referenced Citations (15)