Stepping exerciser having simplified support

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a stepping exerciser, and more particularly to a stepping exerciser including a simplified support for supporting the stepping exerciser.

[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0005] Various kinds of typical stepping exercisers have been developed and used today, and include a pair of pivotal foot pedals attached to a base for allowing the foot pedals to be actuated or stepped and exercised by the users. One or more actuators or pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders are provided for coupling to the foot pedals and for applying the resistive force against the foot pedals. However, a complicated coupling device is required for coupling the actuators or the cylinders together, or for coupling the foot pedals for allowing the stepping operations of the exercisers to be connected together.

[0006] The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional stepping exercisers.

[0007] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a stepping exerciser including a simplified support for supporting and coupling the stepping operations of the foot pedals.

[0008] The other objective of the present invention is to provide a stepping exerciser including a simplified counter device for counting the stepping operations of the users.

[0009] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a stepping exerciser comprising a base including a post extended therefrom, a pair of foot pedals pivotally secured to the post with a pivot axle, and movable upward and downward relative to the base about the pivot axle, the foot pedals each including a bottom surface, a shaft rotatably secured to the post and including an inner end disposed in the post, and an outer end located outside the post, a lever secured to the outer end of the shaft and including two ends disposed below and engaged with the bottom surfaces of the foot pedals respectively.

[0010] A device may further be provided for counting rotations of the shaft relative to the post. The lever and the shaft includes a simplified structure and may be rotatable relative to the post when the foot pedals are moved up and down relative to the base.

[0011] The counting means includes a first actuator member disposed in the post, and a second actuator member attached to the inner end of the shaft, and located close to the first actuator member, and movable across the first actuator member when the shaft is rotated relative to the post.

[0012] The counting means includes a processor device coupled to the first actuator member for detecting a relative movement between the first actuator member and the second actuator member, and thus for counting the movement between the actuator members.

[0013] The second actuator member is a magnetic member and attached to the inner end of the shaft. The shaft includes a stud provided on the inner end thereof for supporting the magnetic member.

[0014] The counting means includes a casing secured on the post, the first actuator member is secured to the casing. The casing includes a conduit extended therefrom the first actuator member is engaged in the conduit.

[0015] 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.

[0016] FIG. 1 is a partial exploded view of a stepping exerciser in accordance with the present invention;

[0017] FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view showing a counter device for the stepping exerciser;

[0018] FIG. 3 is a side view of the stepping exerciser;

[0019] FIG. 4 is a front view of the stepping exerciser, in which a portion of the exerciser is cut off for showing the inner structure of the stepping exerciser; and

[0020] FIGS. 5 and 6 are front views similar to FIG. 4, illustrating the operation of the stepping exerciser.

[0021] Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1-4, a stepping exerciser in accordance with the present invention comprises a base 10 including a post 11 extended upward from such as the front portion thereof, and a pair of foot pedals 12 including a front portion pivotally or rotatably secured to the post 11 with a pivot axle 14, for allowing the foot pedals 12 to be moved or stepped upward and downward relative to the base 10, about the pivot axle 14 as that of the typical stepping exercisers.

[0022] A shaft 16 is rotatably secured to the post 11, and preferably parallel to the foot pedals 12 when the foot pedals 12 are not being actuated and are located side by side, best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The shaft 16 includes one end engaged into the post. 11, and is preferably perpendicular to the post 11, but may be slightly inclined relative to the post 11 and the base 10, as also shown in FIG. 3. A lever 17 is secured to the other end or the outer end of the shaft 16 and preferably perpendicular to the shaft 16, and includes two ends each having a cushion or a pad 18 secured thereon for engaging with the bottom surfaces of the foot pedals 12 respectively, and for allowing the foot pedals 12 to be coupled together.

[0023] For example, as shown in FIGS. 3-6, when one of the foot pedals 12 is forced or stepped downward, the other foot pedal 12 may be caused to move upward by the lever 17; and vice versa, such that the foot pedals 12 may be actuated or operated or used to conduct the stepping exercises. One or more actuators 19 (FIGS. 1, 3) may further be provided and coupled to the foot pedals 12 respectively, for applying a resistive force against the foot pedals 12. As shown in FIGS. 4-6, the shaft 16 includes a stud 20 secured thereto, and located within the post 11, and preferably extended upward from the shaft 16. An actuator member, such as a magnetic member 21 is disposed in the stud 20 or directly secured to the shaft 16.

[0024] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a counting device may further be provided and includes a casing 30 for securing on top of the post 11 with fasteners or the like. A circuit board 31 is disposed or secured in the casing 30 with such as the fasteners, and includes a number of electric elements 32 secured thereon, such as the resistors, the capacitors (not shown), the integrated circuits, and/or the processor devices 32, and the like and one or more batteries 33 attached thereon and coupled to the electric elements 32 for energizing the electric elements 32.

[0025] The casing 30 further includes a conduit 34 extended therefrom, and preferably extended downward beyond the casing 30, and may include a screen or a displayer device 36 (FIG. 1) provided thereon for displaying purposes. It is to be noted that the casing 30 as shown in FIG. 2 is disposed up-side-down, for showing the inner structure thereof. A probe or a conductor or a detector or a sensor or an actuator member 37 may further be provided and engaged in the conduit 34 and electrically coupled to the circuit board 31. As best shown in FIGS. 4-6, the actuator member 37 is arranged above the magnetic member 21 for being actuated by the magnetic member 21.

[0026] In operation, as shown in FIGS. 3-6, when one of the foot pedals 12 is depressed downward and the other foot pedal 12 is moved upward, the magnetic member 21 may be disengaged or offset from the actuator member 37. When the other foot pedals 12 is depressed downward, the magnetic member 21 may be rotated and caused to be moved across or bypass the actuator member 37, in order to actuate the actuator member 37 to generate a signal or to actuate the integrated circuits, and/or the processor devices, and so as to count the stepping exercises of the users.

[0027] It is to be noted that the stepping exercisers includes a simplified support having the lever 17 secured to the shaft 16 for engaging and supporting the foot pedals 12, and for coupling the foot pedals 12 together. The shaft 16 and the lever 17 that are stably and rotatably secured to the post 11 may also be used to form the counting structure having the magnetic member 21 disposed on the shaft 16 and movable relative to the actuator member 37 in order to count the stepping exercises of the users. The counted signals or information may be displayed on the displayer device 36 of the casing 30. The actuator member 37 may also be directly secured to the post 11 without the casing 30, and may be disposed beside or below the shaft 16 and/or the magnetic member 21, or disposed close to the magnetic member 21.

[0028] Accordingly, the stepping exerciser in accordance with the present invention includes a simplified support for supporting and coupling the stepping operations of the foot pedals and includes a simplified counter device for counting the stepping operations of the users.

[0029] 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.