The present invention generally relates to construction forms and more specifically to a universal adapter for exercising sticks.
It is well known in the prior art to which this invention appertains that utility or exercising sticks used as an aid in walking or skiing are commercially available in various forms, designs and styles for the satisfaction of the preferences of consumers or users. But there is one thing or feature that is still common to these sticks that is their being elongated or having an elongated body regardless of the variations in form, appearance or style. Oftentimes, such aesthetic aspect or feature of the stick is compromised or sacrificed by functional requirements such as: (1) the provision thereto of a form of resistance to the user's pushing action, (2) making the effective length thereof adjustable, and (3) making it conveniently adaptable as a complement for other related exercising devices such as a stepper or treadmill. Providing or incorporating all these functionalities into the stick is seemingly impractical as it would make it a complex device not anymore suitable for use as a simple personal stick. A form of an adapter that can accommodate all these functionalities while temporarily becoming part of any types of stick would be a perfect solution to the shortcomings of the prior art.
There are disclosures in the prior art for sticks with accessories attached thereon such as holding implements or unit for other gadgets or components thereof not in use at the moment. Patent Nos. EP1547655 and DE10340135 disclose and teach such type of sticks commonly used for Nordic walking, trekking or skiing.
The invention seeks to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a universal adapter for exercising sticks (10) that comprises of a mounting means (11) for stably and detachably securing any types of exercising stick (12) in place. The mounting or placement of the stick (12) in the adapter (10) makes the latter to form part or as an extension of the stick (12) when in use, hence, performing functions for the sticks such as those aforementioned in the preceding discussion on the prior art. The mounting means (11) preferably comprises of an elongated member (14) into which a stick-holding means (13) is slidably, tensionally and adjustably mounted, such that the mounting means (11) is capable of providing a varying resistive force against the pushing action of a user when in use, and an extension for increasing the stick's effective length, especially when used to complement a stationary exercising stepper device.
The primary object therefore of the present invention is to provide a universal adapter for exercising sticks that is capable of accommodating the placement or mounting therein of any type of utility or exercising sticks enabling them to perform such other functions as providing a varying resistance to the pushing action applied thereon, providing an extension thereto as maybe desired by the user, and complementing a stationary exercising stepper and/or twister, treadmill, stationary bicycle, stationary stair climber or any similar devices in the most practical, flexible and convenient way. This invention is useful to a person who is in an actual or simulative action of stepping, climbing, walking, skiing, or similar actions serving as an aid, balancer, stabilizer, or an exerciser especially for the arms and upper body.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a universal adapter for exercising sticks that readily blends with the form, appearance or style of the sticks mounted thereon due to its elegance and ergonomic features.
Still another object thereof is to provide an universal adapter for exercising sticks that has a very simplistic, but practical structural design and construction, thus, most economical to manufacture and highly marketable to commercialize.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent, understood and appreciated upon reading the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
a is perspective view thereof with the stick in place being pushed in use;
a is a perspective view thereof showing the stick in exploded position with respect to a stick-holding means (shown also in
b is a perspective view thereof showing the strap in an open position;
c is a perspective view thereof showing the strap in a close position;
Before describing the preferred embodiments of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the phraseologies and terminologies employed herein are for purposes of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
Referring now to the drawing in which like reference numerals designate the same steps, components or elements all throughout the succeeding description, there is shown in
It is preferred that the mounting means 11 has an adjustable effective length to conveniently meet user's preferences and requirements. To be an effective exercising device when the stick 12 is held therein, the mounting means 11 is preferably provided with a means 17 for providing a varying resistive force to act against the pushing action of a user when in use. The means 17 is preferably in a form of a tension cord member 18 that is mounted on the mounting means 11, such that pushing the combined the stick 12 and the mounting means 11 against a rigid surface stretches the cord member 18 effecting a resistance that varies based on the size and type of the member 18 adopted or preferred. In the illustrative example shown in the drawing, the cord member 18 is connected at the upper end portion thereof to the elongated member 14 via the upper end cap 13d, and to the stick-holding means 13 at the lower end portion thereof as shown in
The mounting means 11 preferably comprises of a stick-holding means 13 and an elongated member 14 into which the stick-holding means 13 is slidably, lockably, tensionally and adjustably mounted. The elongated member 14 is positioned in clips 13e placed in the upper and lower portion of the stick-holding means 13 that help position the elongated member 14 but allow it to slide therein. The stick-holding means 13 has at least a fastening means 15 for stably and detachably holding the stick 12 in place. The means 15 is being complemented by an apertured arm member 16 into which the bottom end portion of the stick 12 is securely mounted and held in place. For storage or safekeeping convenience when the adapter 10 is not in use, the mounting means 11, or specifically the elongated member 14, is preferably made collapsible such that it can be dismantled in a facile way for storage purposes, hence, the elongated member 14 comprises of detachable or collapsible members 14b and 14c that are jointed together when the adapter 10 is in use.
In usage, the assembly of the adapter 10 and stick 12 is conveniently used in combination with an exercising device 19, especially a stepper and/or twister device 19a, wherein the assembly is pivotably mounted-rearwardly of the device 19a. The assembly 10a can also be used in combination with a treadmill, stationary bike, stationary stair climber, and other stationary exercisers.
When in use in combination with and to complement a stationary exercising device 19, especially a stepper and/or twister device 19a, the invention is preferably used in combination with a mat 20 having a means 21 for pivotally mounting the lower end portion 14a of the assembly 10a as shown in
The present invention embodying the universal adapter 10 can accommodate the mounting of the stick 12 that can be any types of utility sticks, especially exercising sticks, such as stick for Nordic, brisk or ordinary walking, skiing stick, jumping pole, mountain climbing stick, or stick used in trekking.
Before defining the scope of the following claims, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its applications to the details of the embodied device set forth in the preceding description or illustrated in the drawings. It is to be noted that the invention is capable of other embodiments and limitless applications not disclosed herein, and of being practiced and carried out in various ways falling within the teaching and scope of the following claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/PH2006/000021 | Sep 2002 | WO | international |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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2253012 | Benner et al. | Aug 1941 | A |
4326708 | Hinds | Apr 1982 | A |
5181894 | Shieng | Jan 1993 | A |
6045487 | Miller | Apr 2000 | A |
7247128 | Oga | Jul 2007 | B2 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20080064574 A1 | Mar 2008 | US |