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Exercise apparatus

Exercise apparatus description/claims

This invention relates to exercise apparatus and, more particularly, to exercise apparatus of the stepper type which can be operated by either the user's legs or arms while the user is seated and in which the level of resistance and range of motion are easily adjusted.

Exercise apparatus of the stepper type is generally well known. Such apparatus usually requires the user to stand on the apparatus and alternately shift his/her weight between two treadles. There are many instances where a potential user of such apparatus cannot stand while exercising. For example, the user may be disabled but may still wish to exercise. Another instance is where the user has been sitting at a desk all day and wishes to exercise while still sitting. It would therefore be desirable to have exercise apparatus of the stepper type which can be operated while the user is seated.

It would also be desirable to have such apparatus which can also be operated by the arms of the user so that the arms can be exercised.

It would also be desirable to have such apparatus wherein the level of resistance and range of motion are easily adjusted.

It would also be desirable to have such apparatus which is compact, lightweight and inexpensive to produce.

The foregoing desirable traits are attained in accordance with the principles of this invention by providing exercise apparatus which comprises a base and a pair of treadles mounted to the base for pivoting movement about a first pivot axis. A post is mounted to the base between the pair of treadles and extends upwardly from the base. A pair of co-linear first holder rods are each secured to the post and extend parallel to the first pivot axis each toward a respective one of the treadles. A pair of second holder rods are each secured to a respective one of the treadles and extend parallel to the first pivot axis toward the post. A pair of resilient resistance members each extends from a respective one of the first holder rods to a respective one of the second holder rods each on a respective side of the post.

In accordance with an aspect of this invention, the post is mounted to the base for angular pivoting about a second pivot axis parallel to the first pivot axis. The apparatus further comprises means for securing the post in a selected angular position about the second pivot axis.

The foregoing will be more readily apparent upon reading the following description in conjunction with the drawings in which like elements in different figures thereof are identified by the same reference numeral and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partially exploded perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention; and

FIGS. 6-9 are schematic views showing how the inventive exercise apparatus can be operated to perform various exercises for the user's legs and arms.

• Provisional Patent
• Utility Patent

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