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Stepping exerciser having actuatable handle

Stepping exerciser having actuatable handle description/claims

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a stepping exerciser, and more particularly to a stepping exerciser having a weight or flywheel rotatable or drivable or actuatable by both the handles and the foot supports of the stepping exerciser, to provide a resistive force against the stepping exerciser.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Typical stepping exercisers comprise a pair of foot supports or foot pedals pivotally or rotatably attached on a base, and movable up and down, for conducting up and down stepping exercises. Normally, the foot supports or foot pedals may be moved up and down only, and may not be moved laterally and outwardly relative to the users, and in some cases, may be moved or actuated by the handles.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,830,362 to Bull discloses one of the typical stepping exercisers comprising a pair of foot supports or foot pedals pivotally or rotatably attached on a base, and movable or drivable up and down relative to the base and the users, and a pair of handles also pivotally attached or coupled to the base and coupled to the foot supports or foot pedals for conducting one type of exercises, such as mountain climbing exercises, etc.

However, the foot supports or foot pedals of the typical stepping exercisers may not be used to rotate or to drive a weight or a flywheel. The foot supports or foot pedals of the typical stepping exercisers may not be moved or operated laterally and outwardly by the users.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,066,076 to Wang et al. discloses another typical stepping exerciser comprising a pair of foot supports or foot pedals pivotally or rotatably attached on a base, and movable or drivable up and down relative to the base and the users, and a handle device pivotally or rotatably attached or coupled to the base and coupled to the foot supports or foot pedals for conducting the other type of exercises, such as mountain climbing exercises, etc.

However, the foot supports or foot pedals of the typical stepping exercisers also may not be used to rotate or to drive a weight or a flywheel. The foot supports or foot pedals of the typical stepping exercisers may not be moved or operated laterally and outwardly by the users.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,077,202 to Gray discloses a further typical stepping exerciser comprising a pair of foot supports or foot pedals pivotally or rotatably attached on a base, and movable laterally and outwardly relative to the base and the users, for conducting other types of exercises, such as mountain climbing exercises, snow skiing exercises, etc.

However, the handle device of the typical stepping exerciser is solidly supported on top of a front stem and may not be used or moved or operated by the users to train the upper muscle groups of the users

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

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a stepping exerciser including a weight or flywheel rotatable or drivable or actuatable by either or both the handles and the foot supports of the stepping exerciser, to provide a resistive force against the stepping exerciser.

The other objective of the present invention is to provide a stepping exerciser including a handle selectively actuatable or operatable by the users.

The further objective of the present invention is to provide a stepping exerciser including a spindle to be rotated or driven by both the foot pedals and the handles.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a stepping exerciser comprising a base, a spindle rotatably supported on the base, a pair of foot supports pivotally supported on the base, and arranged to be moved up and down and stepped by a user, and pivotally coupled to the spindle to drive and to rotate the spindle respectively, and a pair of handles rotatably supported on the base, and arranged to be rotated and swung by the user, and pivotally coupled to the spindle to drive and to rotate the spindle respectively, and arranged to allow the spindle to be rotated and driven by the handles and the foot supports.

A connecting device may further be provided for connecting the handles to the spindle, to drive and to rotate the spindle. The connecting device includes two rotary members attached onto the spindle, and two actuating members engaged onto the rotary members respectively for rotating the rotary members and the spindle when the actuating members are unwound from the rotary members.

The base includes two levers pivotally supported on the base, and coupled to the actuating members respectively for unwinding the actuating members from the rotary members respectively. The handles are coupled to the levers with links respectively. The base includes two bars each having a first end portion pivotally secured to an upright support of the base with a pivot rod, and each having a second end portion pivotally coupled to the links, and the handles are extended upwardly from the bars respectively.

The base includes an arm having a middle portion pivotally secured to the base with a pivot pole, and having two end portions pivotally coupled to the levers with two links respectively for allowing the levers to be pivotally coupled together with the arm and the links. The foot supports each include an extension extended therefrom and pivotally coupled to the levers with linking members respectively for coupling the foot supports to the levers respectively.

The spindle includes a follower secured thereon and rotated in concert with the spindle to increase a moment of inertia of the spindle. The base includes a wheel rotatably disposed thereon and coupled to the follower, to apply a resistive force against the follower and the spindle. The base includes a retarding device provided thereon and disposed for applying a resistive force against the wheel.

The foot supports each include an upper portion having a tube laterally extended therefrom, for rotatably securing a foot pedal thereto with pivot rods. The foot supports each include a frame attached to bottom thereof, for rotatably securing to the tubes with the pivot rods respectively. The base includes two studs extended upwardly therefrom, the foot supports are rotatably secured to the base and the studs with pivot axles, the pivot axles are parallel to a longitudinal axis of the base, to allow the stems to be moved sidewise and outwardly relative to the base.

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.

• Provisional Patent
• Utility Patent

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