Leg-training exerciser

Abstract

An exerciser has a bottom base, a handle assembly, two swinging arms, a transmission assembly, and a damping mechanism. The handle assembly is secured on an end of the bottom base. The two swinging arms are pivotally connected with the bottom base. The transmission assembly has two rotating wheels connected respectively with the swinging arms, two transmission wheels mounted rotatably on the bottom base, and two transmission cables, and two ends of each transmission cable connected securely to the two rotating wheels respectively. The damping mechanism is arranged between the two swinging arms and the bottom base to provide a resistant force to the swinging arms.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONField of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to an exerciser, and more particularly to an exerciser for training strength and power of muscles of legs for sprint.Description of Related Art

[0002] Indoor exercisers can solve weather and location issues for exercising and are popular in nowadays. One conventional exerciser for training muscles of legs for sprint, such as US Patent Application Publication 2023 / 0054522. The ‘522 Publication uses a damping mechanism composed of pulleys and belts to provide a resistance to a user for leg-training. Thus, the muscles of legs of the user can be trained and improved.

[0003] The ‘522 Publication has a complicated structure and are complex in manufacturing and repairing. Therefore, to reduce the cost for manufacturing and using, US Patent No. 12,220,606 is provided. The ‘606 Patent has a simplified structure but to reduce the cost for manufacturing.

[0004] However, the linkage assemblies of the ‘522 Publication and the ‘606 Patent are combined by linkage levers, so the big noise will occur during the operation of the ‘522 Publication or the ‘606 Patent. In addition, the operation of the transmission assembly of the ‘522 Publication or the ‘606 Patent is not smooth and is needed to be improved.

[0005] To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention tends to provide an exerciser to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The main objective of the invention is to provide a leg-training exerciser that can prevent big noise from being occurred and is smooth to operate.

[0007] The exerciser has a bottom base, a handle assembly, two swinging arms, a transmission assembly, and a damping mechanism. The handle assembly is secured on an end of the bottom base for a user holding the handle assembly. The two swinging arms are pivotally connected with the bottom base, and each swinging arm has a pedal mounted on an end of the swinging arm opposite the bottom base. The transmission assembly is arranged between the swinging arms to allow the two swinging arms to swing relative to the bottom base in reverse directions respectively. The transmission assembly has two rotating wheels connected respectively with the swinging arms, two transmission wheels mounted rotatably on the bottom base, and two transmission cables, and two ends of each transmission cable connected securely to the two rotating wheels respectively. The damping mechanism is arranged between the two swinging arms and the bottom base to provide a resistant force to the swinging arms.

[0008] Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exerciser in accordance with the present invention;

[0010] FIG. 2 is a partially exploded perspective view of the exerciser in FIG. 1;

[0011] FIG. 3 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of a transmission assembly of the exerciser in FIG. 1;

[0012] FIG. 4 is another enlarged exploded perspective view of the transmission assembly of the exerciser in FIG. 1;

[0013] FIG. 5 is a side view of the exerciser in FIG. 1;

[0014] FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross sectional top view along the line 6-6 in FIG. 5;

[0015] FIG. 7 is an operational side view of the exerciser in FIG. 1;

[0016] FIG. 8 is an operational embodiment side view of the exerciser in FIG. 1;

[0017] FIG. 9 is an another operational embodiment side view of the exerciser in FIG. 1; and

[0018] FIG. 10 is a further operational embodiment side view of the exerciser in FIG. 1.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0019] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a leg-training exerciser in accordance with the present invention comprises a bottom base 10, a handle assembly 20, two swinging arms 30, a transmission assembly 40, and a damping mechanism 50. The bottom base 10 is applied to put on a ground and comprises a bottom rod 12 and two lateral rods 13. The two lateral rods 13 are mounted respectively on two ends of the bottom rod 12 to make the bottom base 10 form as an I-shaped structure. Accordingly, the bottom base 10 can be stably put on a flat ground. The handle assembly 20 is mounted securely on and end of the bottom base 10 for hands of a user to hold the handle assembly 20. The handle assembly 20 comprises a bottom bar 22, a handle bar 24, and a handle 26. The bottom bar 22 has a bottom end inclinedly attached securely on the bottom rod 12 of the bottom base 10. The handle bar 24 is mounted retractably on and selectively fixed relative to a top of the bottom bar 22. The handle 26 is U-shaped and is mounted securely on a top of the handle bar 24. In addition, the bottom base 10 further comprises a handle connection rod 16 substantially extending along the bottom rod 12. An end of the handle connection rod 16 facing the handle assembly 20 is attached securely onto the bottom bar 22. Additionally, the bottom base 10 further has a supporting rod 14 mounted on the bottom base 10 at a position away from the handle assembly 20 and protruding inclinedly toward the handle assembly 20. An end of the handle connection rod 16 opposite the handle assembly 20 is attached securely onto the supporting rod 14. A seat 142 is mounted on a top of the supporting rod 14.

[0020] The two swinging arms 30 are pivotally connected with the bottom base 10, and each swinging arm 30 has a pedal 32 mounted on an end of the swinging arm 30 opposite the bottom base 10. An end of each swinging arm 30 is pivotally connected to the supporting rod 14.

[0021] The transmission assembly 40 is arranged between the two swinging arms 30 to allow the two swinging arms 30 to swing relative to the bottom base 10 in reverse directions respectively. Preferably, with further reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the transmission assembly 40 comprises two rotating wheels 42, two transmission wheels 44, and two transmission cables 46. The two rotating wheels 42 are respectively connected to and rotated with the swinging arms 30. The transmission wheels 44 are mounted rotatably on the bottom base 10. Two ends of each transmission cable 46 are connected securely to the two rotating wheels 42 respectively. The two transmission cables 46 extends respectively over the two transmission wheels 44. Preferably, the two rotating wheels 42 are respectively mounted rotatably on two sides of the supporting rod 14 and is co-axially connected with the swinging arms 30 respectively. With such an arrangement, when a user steps one of the swinging arms 30 that is pivoted relative to the supporting rod 14, a corresponding one of the rotating wheels 42 is rotated with the stepped swinging arm 30. In addition, the two transmission wheels 44 are mounted on two sides of the supporting rod 14 free from being mounted with the rotating wheels 42. Preferably, the two transmission wheels 44 can be mounted directly on the two sides of the supporting rod 14. Alternatively, as shown in the drawings, two securing frames 442 each having a U-shaped cross section are respectively attached securely to the two sides of the supporting rod 14. A threaded wheel bolt 444 is screwed on each securing frame 442. A wheel frame 446 having a U-shaped cross section is attached securely on the top of the wheel bolt 444, and one of the transmission wheels 44 is mounted rotatably on the wheel frame 446. An adjusting nut 448 is screwed with the wheel bolt 444 at a position below the bottom of the securing frame 442 and abuts with the bottom of the securing frame 442.

[0022] The two ends of each transmission cable 46 has two cylindrical fixing members 462 attached respectively to the two ends of the transmission cable 46. Each rotating wheel 42 has a fixing recess 422 defined in a periphery of the rotating wheel 42. Two fixing notches 424 are defined respectively in two ends of an inner surface of the fixing recess 422. The fixing members 462 on each transmission cable 46 are respectively engaged with the fixing notches 424 in the fixing recesses 422 of the two rotating wheels 42 at the same side. For example, the fixing notches 424 in the two rotating wheels 42 at the right side or the left side of FIG. 3. In addition, the transmission cable 46 extends over the transmission wheel 44 at the same side.

[0023] The damping mechanism 50 is arranged between the two swinging arms 30 and the bottom base 10 to provide a resistant force to the two swinging arms 30. The damping mechanism 50 may comprises two cylinders. Each cylinder has two end pivotally connected to the bottom base 10 and a corresponding one of the swinging arms 30 respectively. Preferably, each cylinder is a hydraulic / pneumatic cylinder and comprises a housing 52 and an extension rod 54. An end of the housing 52 is connected pivotally to the supporting rod 14. One of two ends of the extension rod 54 extends movably into an end of the housing 52 opposite the bottom base 10, and the other end of the extension rod 54 is connected pivotally to a corresponding one of the swinging arms 30.

[0024] Accordingly, with reference to FIGS. 3, 4 and 7, when in use, two feet of a user can step on the pedals 32 on the swinging arms 30 and two hands of the user can hold two ends of the handle 26 of the handle assembly 20. The body of the user leans slightly forward and lies down. The feet of the user steps the pedals 32 respectively, such that the swinging arms 30 will be pivoted relative to the supporting rod 14 with the stepping of the user. When one of the swinging arms 30 is stepped and is pivoted downward, the rotating wheel 42 connected co-axially with the stepped swinging arm 30 is rotated. For example, the rotating wheel 42 on the left side of FIG. 3 is rotated in counterclockwise. At this time, the fixing member 462 in the fixing notch 424 opposite the rotating direction of the rotating wheel 42 is pulled by the rotating wheel 42, i.e. the fixing member 462 on the transmission cable 46 on the right side of FIG. 3. Accordingly, the transmission cable 46 connected with the pulled fixing member 462 is also pulled. With the transmission cable 46 extends over one of the transmission wheels 44, i.e. the transmission wheel 44 on the right side of FIG. 3. Thus, the transmission wheel 44 will be rotated, and the another rotating wheel 42, i.e. the rotating wheel 42 on the right side of FIG. 3 will be pulled to rotate in a reverse direction, i.e. the clockwise direction of FIG. 3. Accordingly, the swinging arm 30 connected co-axially with the rotating wheel 42 rotating in the reverse direction will be swung in a reverse direction. Therefore, the two swinging arms 30 are swung relative to the bottom base 10 in reverse directions respectively with the transmission of the transmission assembly 40.

[0025] Furthermore, two limiting blocks 60 are mounted on the two sides of the supporting rod 14 mounted with the rotating wheels 42 and extend toward the handle assembly 20. The two swinging arms 30 selectively abut respectively with the two limiting blocks 60, such that the maximum of swinging angles of the two swinging arms 30 can be limited.

[0026] Accordingly, while the two swinging arms 30 are stepped to swing in reverse directions, the cylinders of the damping mechanism 50 can also be pivoted relative to the swinging arms 30 and the bottom base 10. Thus, the extension rod 54 of each cylinder can be moved into or out of the housing 52, such that a damping effect against the stepping force of the user can be provided. Accordingly, a training effect can be provided to muscles of legs of the user. Furthermore, each cylinder may be an adjustable damping and has an adjusting knob 522 mounted on an end of the damping mechanism 50 adjacent to the bottom base 10. Accordingly, different damping effects can be adjusted to provide different training effect to the user.

[0027] Because the two swinging arms 30 are swung in reverse directions with the transmission of the transmission assembly 40 having the rotating wheels 42, the transmission cables 46, and the transmission wheels 44. Therefore, the structure of the transmission assembly 40 can be simplified, and big noise can be prevented from being occurring during the operation of the exerciser. With the rotation transmission of the rotating wheels 42 and the transmission wheels 44, the reverse synchronous transmission of the two swinging arms 30 is smooth. The use of the exerciser in accordance with the present invention is comfortable.

[0028] In addition, when the transmission cables 46 extend over the peripheries of the transmission wheels 44 at an angle that is substantially vertical to the ground, i.e. substantially vertical to the bottom rod 12. The operation of the transmission assembly 40 will be smoother to prevent interference from occurring.

[0029] Furthermore, when the adjusting nuts 448 are rotated, the threaded wheel bolts 444 will be moved upward or downward relative to the securing frames 442, such that the positions of the wheel frames 446 and the transmission wheels 44 can be adjusted. Accordingly, the tightness of the transmission cables 46 can also be adjusted. After a period of use and any one of the transmission cables 46 is loosened, the loosened transmission cable 46 can be tighten again by rotating the corresponding adjusting nut 448 to keep the transmission effect of the transmission cable 46.

[0030] With reference to FIG. 8, when the exercise in accordance with the present invention is in use, the angle and posture of the body of the user can be changed to train different muscles of legs of the user. FIG. 7 shows a posture for simulating the starting position of a race for the user to train the athlete or the muscle strength and explosive power of the user for sprint.

[0031] In addition, with reference to FIG. 9, the user can step the swinging arms 30 in a stand posture, such that the exerciser in accordance with this invention can be used as a general stepping exerciser. Therefore, the exerciser in accordance with the present invention is versatile in use.

[0032] With reference to FIG. 10, the user can sit on the seat 142 on the top of the supporting rod 14, so that the user can step the swinging arms 30 at small angle range. Accordingly, the users with muscle atrophy can rehabilitate their feet with the exerciser in accordance with the present invention. The exerciser in accordance with the present invention is versatile in use.

[0033] Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

Claims

1. An exerciser comprising:a bottom base;a handle assembly secured on an end of the bottom base for a user holding the handle assembly;two swinging arms pivotally connected with the bottom base, and each swinging arm having a pedal mounted on an end of the swinging arm opposite the bottom base;a transmission assembly arranged between the swinging arms to allow the two swinging arms to swings relative to the bottom base in reverse directions respectively and comprising two rotating wheels connected respectively with the swinging arms, two transmission wheels mounted rotatably on the bottom base, and two transmission cables, and two ends of each transmission cable connected securely to the two rotating wheels respectively; anda damping mechanism arranged between the two swinging arms and the bottom base to provide a resistant force to the swinging arms.

2. The exerciser as claimed to claim 1, wherein a supporting rod is mounted on the bottom base at a position away from the handle assembly and protruding inclinedly toward the handle assembly, and the two swinging arms are pivotally connected to the supporting rod.

3. The exerciser as claimed in claim 2, wherein the two rotating wheels are mounted rotatably on two sides of the supporting rod, and the two transmission wheels are mounted rotatably on two sides of the supporting rod free from being mounted with the rotating wheels.

4. The exerciser as claimed in claim 3, wherein the two rotating wheels are respectively connected co-axially with the swinging arms.

5. The exerciser as claimed in claim 4, wherein two securing frame each having a U-shaped cross section are respectively attached securely to the two sides of the supporting rod free from being mounted with the rotating wheels, two threaded wheel bolts are respectively screwed on the securing frames, two wheel frames each having a U-shaped cross section are respectively attached securely on tops of the wheel bolts, and two adjusting nut are respectively screwed with the wheel bolts at positions below bottoms of the securing frames and abut respectively with the bottoms of the securing frames.

6. The exerciser as claimed in claim 5, wherein each transmission cable has two cylindrical fixing members attached respectively to two ends of the transmission cable, each rotating wheel has a fixing recess defined in a periphery of the rotating wheel, two fixing notches are defined respectively in two ends of an inner surface of the fixing recess of each rotating wheel, and the fixing members on each transmission cable are respectively engaged with the fixing notches in the fixing recesses of the two rotating wheels at a same side.

7. The exerciser as claimed in claim 6, wherein two limiting blocks are mounted on the two sides of the supporting rod mounted with the rotating wheels and extend toward the handle assembly, and the two swinging arms selectively abut respectively with the two limiting blocks.

8. The exerciser as claimed in claim 7, wherein the damping mechanism comprises two hydraulic / pneumatic cylinders.

9. The exerciser as claimed in claim 8, wherein the hydraulic / pneumatic cylinders are adjustable, and each hydraulic / pneumatic cylinder has an adjusting knob mounted on the cylinder.

10. The exerciser as claimed in claim 9, wherein a seat is mounted on a top of the supporting rod.

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