Stationary exercise device

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a stationary exercise device, and more particularly to an elliptical exercise device including an arrangement for allowing the exercise device to have an increased or different moving stroke and/or a changing moving stroke, and for allowing the exercise device to be actuated or worked either as a stepping exerciser or an elliptical exerciser.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] Typical exercise devices, such as stepping exercisers comprise a pair of handles pivotally attached to an upwardly extending frame member of a base support device, and a pair of foot supports pivotally coupled to the handles and arranged for allowing the foot supports to be stepped or moved up and down relative to the base support device.

[0005] For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,290,211 to Stearns discloses one of the typical exercise devices also comprising a pair of handles pivotally attached to an upwardly extending frame member of a base support device, and a pair of foot supports pivotally coupled to the handles, and a pair of force resisting device pivotally coupling the foot supports to the upwardly extending frame member for allowing the foot supports to be stepped or moved up and down relative to the base support device.

[0006] However, normally, the middle portion of the foot supports is pivotally coupled to the upwardly extending frame member such that the middle portion of the foot supports is pivoted relative to the base support device but may not be moved cyclically or in reciprocating relative to the base support device, and such that the moving stroke of the typical exercise devices may not be suitably increased.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,499,956 to Habing et al. discloses a typical articulated lower body exercise device comprising a pair of foot supports pivotally coupled to the upwardly extending frame member of a base support device with a pair of vertical linkage arms, and a device for swinging the vertical linkage arms and the foot supports relative to the upwardly extending frame member of the base support device for allowing the foot supports to be stepped or moved elliptically relative to the base support device.

[0008] However, the middle portion of the foot supports is only pivoted relative to the base support device but may not be moved cyclically or in reciprocating relative to the base support device, and such that the moving stroke of the typical exercise devices may not be suitably increased.

[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,577,985 to Miller discloses a typical stationary exercise device comprising a pair of guide links or handles pivotally attached to an upright support, and a pair of foot supports each pivotally coupled to the handles, and a pair of cranks pivotally coupled to the handles and the foot supports with an intermediate link and a control link, for swinging the handles and the foot supports relative to the base support device and for allowing the foot supports to be stepped or moved elliptically relative to the base support device.

[0010] However, the middle portion of the foot supports is only pivotally coupled to the handles, and may not be moved cyclically or in reciprocating relative to the base support device such that the moving stroke of the typical exercise devices may not be suitably increased or adjusted.

[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 5,595,553 to Rodgers, Jr. discloses another typical stationary exercise device also comprising a pair of handles pivotally attached to an upright support, and a pair of foot supports each pivotally coupled to the handles, and a pair of cranks pivotally coupled to the foot supports with a reciprocating member for swinging the handles and the foot supports relative to the base support device and for allowing the foot supports to be stepped or moved elliptically relative to the base support device.

[0012] However, similarly, the foot supports is only pivotally coupled to the handles, and may not be moved cyclically or in reciprocating relative to the base support device such that the moving stroke of the typical exercise devices may not be suitably increased or adjusted.

[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 5,769,760 to Lin et al. discloses a further typical stationary exercise device comprising a pair of foot supports including a front portion pivotally coupled to an upright support, and a pair of handles also pivotally attached to the upright support, and a pair of cranks pivotally coupled to the handles for swinging the handles and the foot supports relative to the base support device and for allowing the foot supports to be stepped or moved elliptically relative to the base support device.

[0014] However, the handles are located closer to the users, and are pivotally coupled to the upright support and may also be moved cyclically relative to the upright support of the base support device such that the handles will also be moved cyclically relative to the upright support and such that the handles may not be suitably or easily grasped and handled by the users.

[0015] U.S. Pat. No. 6,022,296 to Yu discloses a further typical stepping exercise device comprising a pair of handles pivotally coupled to an upright support with a pair of cranks, and a pair of foot supports including a middle portion pivotally attached to the base support and including a front portion pivotally coupled to the handles.

[0016] However, the foot supports are only coupled to the upright support or the base support such that the foot supports may only be stepped or moved up and down relative to the base support device, but may not be stepped or moved elliptically relative to the upright support of the base support device. The typical stepping exercise devices may not be stepped and actuated or worked either as a stepping exerciser or an elliptical exerciser.

[0017] The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional elliptical exercise devices.

[0018] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an exercise device including an arrangement for allowing the exercise device to have a different or a changing moving stroke.

[0019] The other objective of the present invention is to provide an exercise device including an arrangement for allowing the exercise device to be actuated or worked either as a stepping exerciser or an elliptical exerciser or to be convertible between a stepping exerciser and an elliptical exerciser.

[0020] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided an exercise device comprising a base including an upright support extended upwardly from the base, and each including a rear portion, a spindle disposed on the upright support, two cranks rotatably coupled to the upright support with a shaft, the cranks each including a pivot rod attached to the crank and spaced away from the shaft, two handles including a middle portion attached to the spindle for allowing the handles to be pivotally coupled to the upright support with the spindle and for allowing the handles to be pivoted and swung relative to the upright support of the base, the handles each including a hand grip provided on an upper portion for being grasped or held by a user and each including a lower portion, and two foot supports each including a front portion pivotally coupled to the pivot rod of the cranks with a link for allowing the front portions of the foot supports to be moved cyclically relative to the upright support of the base by the cranks, and each including a rear portion pivotally coupled to the rear portion of the base, and the lower portions of the handles are pivotally coupled to the foot supports to allow the foot supports to be controlled by the handles to change a moving stroke of the foot supports.

[0021] A resisting device may further be provided for resisting a rotational movement of the shaft and the cranks. The resisting device includes a wheel rotatably attached to the upright support with the shaft. The resisting device includes a rotary member rotatably attached to the upright support with an axle and coupled to the wheel.

[0022] The rear portions of the foot supports are pivotally coupled to on the rear portion of the base with a connecting member and to be swung relative to the rear portion of the base.

[0023] A coupling device may further be provided for coupling the handles together. The coupling device includes two cranks coupled together and coupled to the handles respectively for coupling the handles together. The base includes a pivot pole disposed on the upright support and coupled to the cranks for coupling the cranks together.

[0024] A foot pedal may further be provided and pivotally supported on each of the foot supports with a pivot rod for supporting the user. The lower portions of the handles are each pivotally coupled to the foot pedals of the foot supports with a lever. The lever is pivotally coupled to the foot pedal with a pivot pole.

[0025] Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0032] Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1-5, an exercise device 1 in accordance with the present invention comprises a base 10, an upright support 11 extended upwardly from the base 10 for supporting a spindle 12 thereon, the spindle 12 is disposed or provided on such as the rear portion 13 of the upright support 11, a rotary member or pulley or wheel 20 is rotatably attached to the front or middle portion 14 of the upright support 11 with a shaft 21, another wheel or pulley or rotary member 22 rotatably attached to the middle portion 14 of the upright support 11 with an axle 23, a further wheel or rotary member or pulley or follower 24 attached or secured to the axle 23 and moved in concert with the axle 23, and the follower 24 is coupled to the wheel 20 with a coupling device 25.

[0033] For example, the coupling device 25 may be selected from such as a sprocket-and-chain coupling device or a gearing coupling device (not shown), or a belt 25 for allowing the follower 24 and the rotary member 22 to be rotated or driven by the wheel 20. The follower 24, the rotary member 22, the wheel 20 and the shaft 21 are coupled together to form a resistive means or device for resisting the rotational movement of the wheel 20 and the shaft 21, however, the other resistive device, such as the hydraulic or pneumatic resistive devices (not shown), or the magnetic retarding devices (not shown) may also be used to apply the resistive force against the wheel 20 and the shaft 21.

[0034] A pair of or two cranks 30 are secured to the shaft 21 such that the cranks 30 may be rotatably coupled to the middle portion 14 of the upright support 11 with the shaft 21, the cranks 30 each include a pivot rod 31 provided or attached thereto or extended outwardly therefrom and spaced away from or distal to the shaft 21, a pair of handles 40 include an upper or middle portion 41 attached or secured to the spindle 12 for allowing the handles 40 to be pivotally coupled to the rear portion 13 of the upright support 11 with the spindle 12 and for allowing the handles 40 to be pivoted or swung relative to the upright support 11 of the base 10. The handles 40 each include a hand grip 42 formed or provided on the upper portion thereof for being grasped or held or operated by the users.

[0035] A pair of foot supports 50 each include a front portion 51 pivotally coupled to the pivot rod 31 of the cranks 30 with a link 52 for allowing the front portions 51 of the foot supports 50 to be moved cyclically relative to the upright support 11 of the base 10 by the cranks 30, and each include a rear portion 53 pivotally coupled to or supported on the rear portion 15 of the base 10. For example, the base 10 includes an upright post 16 extended upwardly from the rear portion 15 of the base 10 for supporting an axle 17 thereon, and the rear portions 53 of the foot supports 50 are pivotally coupled to or supported on the rear portion 15 of the base 10 with the post 16 and the axle 17 and a connecting member 19 for allowing the rear portions 53 of the foot supports 50 to be swung relative to the upright post 16 of the base 10.

[0036] The foot supports 50 each include a pivot rod 54 disposed or provided on the middle portion 55 thereof for pivotally coupling or supporting a foot pedal 56 thereon and for supporting the feet of the users and for allowing the foot pedal 56 to be rotated or pivoted relative to the foot supports 50. The lower portions 44 of the handles 40 are pivotally coupled to the foot supports 50 respectively for allowing the foot supports 50 and the handles 40 to be pivotally coupled together. For example, the lower portions 44 of the handles 40 are pivotally coupled to the foot supports 50 or the foot pedals 56 with a lever 57 respectively, and the lever 57 may be pivotally coupled to the pivot rod 54 or pivotally coupled to the foot pedal 56 with a pivot pole 58 for allowing the foot pedal 56 to be rotated or pivoted relative to the foot supports 50 to different angular positions by the handles 40.

[0037] In operation, the handles 40 may be pivoted or swung relative to the upright support 11 of the base 10 with the spindle 12 of the upright support 11, and the rear portions 53 of the foot supports 50 may be pivoted or swung relative to the upright post 16 of the base 10 with the axle 17, and the front portions 51 of the foot supports 50 may be moved cyclically relative to the upright support 11 of the base 10 by the cranks 30, such that the foot pedals 56 of the foot supports 50 may be moved elliptically relative to the base 10. It is to be noted that the swinging movement or the moving stroke of the handles 40 may be controlled by the users in order to control and to determine the moving stroke of the foot supports 50, as shown in FIGS. 6-8.

[0038] It is preferable, but not necessarily that a coupling means or device 60 is further provided for coupling the handles 40 together, and the coupling device 60 includes a pivot pole 61 rotatably attached to the upright support 11, such as rotatably attached to the front portion 18 of the upright support 11, and a pair of or two cranks 62 are secured to the pivot pole 61 such that the cranks 62 may be rotatably coupled to the upright support 11 with the pivot pole 61, the cranks 62 each include a pivot rod 63 provided or attached thereto or extended outwardly therefrom and spaced away from or distal to the pivot pole 61, and a pair of or two arms or levers 64 may further be provided and coupled between the pivot rods 63 of the cranks 62 and the middle portions 41 of the handles 40 respectively.

[0039] For example, the levers 64 each include one end or first end or front portion 65 pivotally coupled to the pivot rod 63 of the cranks 62, and each include the other end or second end or rear portion 66 pivotally coupled to the middle portions 41 of the handles 40 with a fastener or securing device or pivot pin 67 which is spaced away from the spindle 12, for allowing the handles 40 to be coupled together. In operation, the middle portions 41 of the handles 40 may be pivoted or swung relative to the upright support 11 of the base 10 with the spindle 12, and the levers 64 and the pivot rod 63 of the cranks 62 may be moved forwardly and rearwardly in reciprocating action and in a curved moving path only, i.e., the cranks 62 will not be rotated relative to the pivot rod 63, but may only be moved forwardly and rearwardly relative to the upright support 11 of the base 10, such that the rotational movement of the wheel 20 and the shaft 21 and the cranks 30 will not be interfered by the levers 64 and the pivot rod 63 of the cranks 62.

[0040] The provision and the coupling of the wheel 20, and the rotary member 22, and the follower 24 may be formed or acted as a resisting means or device for applying a resistive force or a retarding force against the wheel 20 and the shaft 21 and thus the cranks 30 and the link 52 and the foot supports 50 and the levers 32 and the handles 40, and thus for resisting the rotational movement of the wheel 20 and the shaft 21 and the cranks 30 and also for resisting the swinging movement of the link 52 and the handles 40. A magnetic retarding device (not shown) may further be provided and coupled to the wheel 20 and/or the rotary member 22 and/or the follower 24 for further applying a resistive force against the wheel 20 and/or the rotary member 22 and/or the follower 24 and for further resisting the swinging movement of the link 52 and the handles 40.

[0041] It is to be noted that the handles 40 each include a lower portion 43 pivotally coupled to the foot pedals 56 and/or the foot supports 50 with the levers 57 for allowing the movement of the foot supports 50 and/or the moving stroke of the foot supports 50 to be controlled by the users with the handles 40 and for allowing the users to freely and selectively adjust the moving stroke of the foot supports 50, and the moving strokes of the foot supports 50 may thus be determined or changed or controlled with the handles 40. As shown in FIG. 9, when the handles 40 are held stationarily by the users, the front portions 51 of the foot supports 50 and the link 52 may still be moved cyclically relative to the upright support 11 of the base 10 by the cranks 30 by such as the momentum of the foot supports 50 and the link 52 and the cranks 30 or with the foot pedals 56 for allowing the users to selectively conduct the stepping exercises freely while actuating or operating the foot supports 50 of the exercise device 1 without stopping the exercise device 1, and the moving strokes of the foot supports 50 may also be determined or changed or controlled with the handles 40.

[0042] Accordingly, the exercise device in accordance with the present invention includes an arrangement for allowing the exercise device to have an increased or different moving stroke and/or a changing moving stroke, and for allowing the exercise device to be actuated or worked either as a stepping exerciser or an elliptical exerciser.

[0043] 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.