Title:

Foot actuating exerciser for actuating a support

United States Patent Application 20030060342

Kind Code:

A1

Abstract:

An exerciser includes a supporting member rotatably supported on a base with a pivot axle and having an end portion rotatable relative to the base about the pivot axle. A post is coupled between the end portion of the supporting member and the base, a lever is pivotally secured to the supporting member, and a link is coupled between the lever and the post. The feet of the users may engage with the lever to move the post relative to the supporting member or relative to the base, for elevating the supporting member and exercising the lower muscle groups of the users.

Inventors:

Chen, Paul (Richmond, CA)

Application Number:

09/957513

Publication Date:

03/27/2003

Filing Date:

09/21/2001

Export Citation:

Click for automatic bibliography generation

Assignee:

CHEN PAUL

Primary Class:

482/92

International Classes:

A63B21/068; A63B23/04; (IPC1-7): A63B21/00

View Patent Images:

Download PDF 20030060342

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Primary Examiner:

NGUYEN, TAM M

Attorney, Agent or Firm:

CHARLES E. BAXLEY (New York, NY, US)

Claims:

I claim:

1. An exerciser comprising: a base, a supporting member rotatably supported on said base with a pivot axle, and including an end portion rotatable relative to said base about said pivot axle, and foot actuating means for elevating said end portion of said supporting member.

2. The exerciser according to claim 1, wherein said foot actuating means includes a post having a first end rotatably secured to said base with a pivot pin, and a second end slidably engaged with said end portion of said supporting member.

3. The exerciser according to claim 2, wherein said supporting member includes a track provided in said end portion thereof for slidably receiving said second end of said post.

4. The exerciser according to claim 3, wherein said supporting member includes a channel formed in said end portion thereof for forming and defining said track thereof.

5. The exerciser according to claim 2, wherein said post includes a roller provided on said second end thereof for engaging with said end portion of said supporting member.

6. The exerciser according to claim 2, wherein said foot actuating means includes means for moving said second end of said post to rotate said supporting member about said pivot axle and to tilt and elevate said end portion of said supporting member relative to said base.

7. The exerciser according to claim 6, wherein said moving means includes a lever having a first end rotatably secured to said end portion of said supporting member and having a second end, a link pivotally coupled between said lever and said post, and a foot support attached to said lever for engaging with feet of a user, and for allowing said lever to be rotated relative to said supporting member to actuate and to move said second end of said post along said track of said supporting member.

8. The exerciser according to claim 1, wherein said supporting member includes a foot support for supporting feet of a user.

9. The exerciser according to claim 1, wherein said supporting member includes a handle device for being grasped by a user.

10. The exerciser according to claim 1, wherein said base includes an extension, said supporting member is rotatably secured to said extension of said base with said pivot axle.

Description:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to an exerciser, and more particularly to an exerciser having a foot actuating device for moving or elevating or actuating a supporting member.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 4,226,415 to Wright, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,832,336 to Lahman disclose two of the typical exercisers each includes a supporting base for supporting the users, and each includes a foot engaging member for engaging with the feet of the users and for allowing the users to exercise or to train their lower muscle groups. However, the supporting base is stably supported in position and may not be moved or elevated or actuated. The foot engaging members also may not be used to move or to elevate or to actuate the supporting base.

[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 5,169,363 to Campanaro et al. discloses one of the other typical exercisers and also includes a supporting base for supporting the users. The supporting base may be slided along or upward and downward along one or more inclined rails. The users may engage with a foot engaging member for moving the supporting base along the rails. However, the supporting base is also stably supported in position and may not be tilted by the foot engaging members.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,718,660 to Chen discloses the other typical exerciser which includes a supporting base for supporting the users, and a locking device for locking the feet of the users to the supporting base. The supporting base may be rotated relative to a supporting device. However, the users may not use their feet to move or to actuate or to elevate or to tilt the supporting base, and thus may not use the exercisers to exercise or to train their lower muscle groups.

[0007] The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional exercisers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an exerciser includes a foot actuating device for moving or elevating or actuating or tilting a supporting member.

[0009] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided an exerciser comprising a base, a supporting member rotatably supported on the base with a pivot axle, and including an end portion rotatable relative to the base about the pivot axle, and foot actuating means for elevating the end portion of the supporting member. The users may use their feet to elevate the end portion of the supporting member against the weight of the users, so as to exercise and train the lower muscle groups of the users.

[0010] The foot actuating means includes a post having a first end rotatably secured to the base with a pivot pin, and a second end slidably engaged with the end portion of the supporting member.

[0011] The supporting member includes a track provided in the end portion thereof for slidably receiving the second end of the post. For example, the supporting member includes a channel formed in the end portion thereof for forming and defining the track thereof.

[0012] The post includes a roller provided on the second end thereof for engaging with the end portion of the supporting member and for facilitating the movement of the second end of the post along the supporting member.

[0013] The foot actuating means includes means for moving the second end of the post to rotate the supporting member about the pivot axle and to elevate the end portion of the supporting member relative to the base.

[0014] The moving means includes a lever having a first end rotatably secured to the end portion of the supporting member and having a second end, a link pivotally coupled between the lever and the post, and a foot support attached to the lever for engaging with feet of a user, and for allowing the lever to be rotated relative to the supporting member to actuate and to move the second end of the post along the track of the supporting member.

[0015] The supporting member includes a foot support for supporting feet of a user. The supporting member may include a handle device for being grasped by a user. The base includes an extension, the supporting member is preferably rotatably secured to the extension of the base with the pivot axle.

[0016] 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.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exerciser in accordance with the present invention;

[0018] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the exerciser;

[0019] FIG. 3 is a plan view similar to FIG. 2, illustrating the operation of the exerciser;

[0020] FIG. 4 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1, illustrating the operation of the exerciser;

[0021] FIG. 5 is a plan view illustrating the folding or the storing structure of the exerciser;

[0022] FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating a further embodiment of the exerciser;

[0023] FIGS. 7 and 8 are plan views illustrating the other embodiment of the exerciser; and

[0024] FIG. 9 is a plan view illustrating a still further embodiment of the exerciser.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0025] Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1-4, an exerciser in accordance with the present invention comprises a base 10 including an extension 11 extended upward therefrom, such as extended upward from the rear end portion thereof (FIGS. 1-5), or extended upward from the middle portion thereof (FIG. 6). A frame or a supporting member 12 has one end, such as the rear end, or a middle portion pivotally or rotatably secured to the base 10 with a pivot axle 13, such as pivotally or rotatably secured to the extensions 11 with the pivot axle 13. Alternatively, the rear end or the middle portion of the supporting member 12 may be directly and pivotally or rotatably secured to the base 10 with the pivot axle 13, without the extension 11 of the base 10.

[0026] The supporting member 12 includes the other end, such as the front end, having a track 14 formed therein, and formed or defined by such as a channel (14) therein. A pad or a cushion 15 is disposed on the supporting member 12 for supporting the users. One or more handle devices 16 may be attached to the supporting member 12 for being grasped by the users. The supporting member 12 includes one or more foot supports 17 disposed or provided on the front portion thereof for supporting the legs of the users, for example. A post 18 includes one end, such as the lower end rotatably or pivotally secured to the base 10 with a pivot pin 30, and the other end, such as the upper end slidably engaged with the track 14 and movable along the track 14 of the supporting member 12.

[0027] In operation, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, when the upper end of the post 18 is moved along, such as moved forward (FIG. 3) and rearward (FIG. 2) along the track 14 of the supporting member 12, the front end or the front portion of the supporting member 12 may be elevated or lowered. It is preferable that a wheel or a roller 19 is disposed or provided on the upper end of the post 18 and movably or slidably engaged with the track 14 for allowing the upper end of the post 18 to be smoothly moved along the track 14 of the supporting member 12. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the track 14 may also be directly formed in the bottom of the front end or the front portion of the supporting member 12 without forming the channel (14) in the supporting member 12.

[0028] A lever 20 includes one end, such as the upper end pivotally or rotatably secured to the front end portion of the supporting member 12 with a pivot shaft 23, for allowing the lever 20 to be rotated relative to the supporting member 12 about the pivot shaft 23. One or more foot supports 21 are further provided and disposed on the other end portion, such as the lower portion of the lever 20 for supporting the feet of the users, for example, and for allowing the users to rotate the lever 20 relative to the supporting member 12 about the pivot shaft 23 with their feet. A rope, or a cable-and-pulley coupling assembly or a link 22 or the like is pivotally coupled between the lever 20 and the post 18, such as between the middle portion of the lever 20 and the post 18, for allowing the upper end of the post 18 to be actuated or moved along the track 14 of the supporting member 12 by the lever 20 and by the feet of the users.

[0029] In operation, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, the users may use their feet to rotate the lever 20 relative to the supporting member 12 about the pivot shaft 23, and thus to actuate or to move the upper end of the post 18 forward and rearward along the track 14 of the supporting member 12, in order to elevate or to tilt the front end or the front portion of the supporting member 12 relative to the base 10, and in order to overcome the weight of the users applied onto the supporting member 12. The front end or the front portion of the supporting member 12 may be forced to move downward relative to the base 10 by the weight of the users applied onto the supporting member 12, such that the upper end of the post 18 may be caused or forced to move rearward along the track 14 of the supporting member 12 automatically by the weight of the users applied onto the supporting member 12 when the lever 20 is released. The users may thus exercise their feet to elevate the supporting member 12 and to exercise or train their lower muscle groups.

[0030] It is to be noted that, alternatively, the lever 20 and/or the post 18 may each include one or more ears 24 extended or provided thereon, for selectively coupled to the link 22, and for allowing the link 22 to be moved or adjusted along the lever 20 and/or the post 18, in order to adjust the force applied to the lever 20 and the force that the users are to overcome, such that the link 22 may be adjustably secured between the lever 20 and the post 18 according to the strengths of various kinds of users.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 5, when the link 22 is disengaged from the lever 20, the exerciser may be folded to a compact configuration that is excellent for storing or transportation purposes.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 9, further alternatively, the post 18 may include the upper end rotatably or pivotally secured to the front portion of the supporting member 12, and the lower end slidably engaged on a track 33 that is formed or provided on the front portion of the base 10. The post 18 may also be coupled to the lever 20 with the link 20, for allowing the lower end of the post 18 to be moved along the track 33 of the base 10, in order to elevate the front portion of the supporting member 12.

[0033] Accordingly, the exerciser in accordance with the present invention includes a foot actuating device for moving or elevating or actuating or tilting a supporting member.

[0034] 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.

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