Abstract:
An exercise ladder having an adjustable inclination angle is provided. The ladder has rungs which are motor driven, driving the rungs downward at a desired speed as well as providing means for retarding and braking. The inclination tilt of the exercise ladder ranges from a negative to a positive tilt thereby providing a wide range of exercise possibilities.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Applicant claims the priority benefits of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/613,234, filed Mar. 20, 2012. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to machine-assisted exercisers, and more particularly to a ladder exerciser for exercising the upper and lower body. 
     Most prior art exercise machines are designed to provide exercise to the upper body or the lower body. A few machines attempt to provide both, but are limited in the range of exercise provide. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention overcomes the limitations of prior art by providing an exercise ladder having an adjustable inclination angle. The ladder rungs are motor driven, driving the rungs downward at a desired speed as well as providing means for retarding and braking. The inclination tilt of the exercise ladder ranges from a negative to a positive tilt thereby providing a wide range of exercise possibilities. 
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with various features of novelty, which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part of the disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is side view of the invention 
         FIG. 2A  is a side view of the inclination tilt assembly. 
         FIG. 2B  is a front view of the inclination tilt assembly worm gear drive. 
         FIG. 2C  is a rear view of the inclination tilt assembly bracket. 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of the invention without the rungs. 
         FIG. 4  is a view of a side view inner surface. 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of the invention rung assembly. 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of invention the rung assembly. 
         FIG. 7  is a partial upper front view of the invention illustrating the rung drive assembly. 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of an alternate embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a partial rear view illustrating an alternate tilt assembly embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like elements are indicated by like numerals, there is shown a ladder exerciser  1  constructed according to the principles of the present invention. The ladder exerciser  1  is comprised of a nominally upright frame  10  pivotally attached to a base  40 . The frame  10  encompasses a moving ladder assembly. The base  40  includes a frame inclination tilt assembly. 
     The frame  10  has a front  11 , a rear  12 , a top portion  13 , a bottom portion  14 , and two opposite sides  15 . Each side  15  has an inner surface  16  and an outer surface  17 . The sides  15  are interconnected by a plurality of horizontal brace elements  18  attached to the inner surfaces  16  of each side. The brace elements  18  are attached to the side inner surfaces  16  along a central vertical axis. Each side inner surface  16  has two vertical plastic guiding channels  19  attached thereto, one guiding channel adjacent the frame front  11  and one guiding channel adjacent the frame rear  12 . The frame  10  is further comprised of a plurality of rungs  20 . Each rung has two opposite ends  21 . Each rung end  21  is inserted into a guiding channel  19 . 
     The frame  10  is further comprised of two axles, an upper axle  25  and a lower axle  26 . The upper axle  25  extends from one side inner surface to the opposite side inner surface adjacent the frame top portion  13 . The lower axle  26  extends to and through each side  15  adjacent the frame bottom portion  14 . Each axle  25 ,  26  has two sprocket wheels  30 , one near to each side inner surface  16 . The frame  10  is further comprised of two endless, sprocket driving chains  32 , each sprocket driving chain fitted about a bottom and top sprocket wheel on a side. Each rung  20  has two attachment elements  22 , each attachment element near to a rung end  21 . Each rung attachment element  22  is attached to a sprocket driving chain  32 . The sprocket driving chains are driven by an electric drive motor  34  with a gear box  35  turning one of the axle shafts  25 ,  26  and consequently the sprocket wheels. In the embodiments shown, the upper axle  25  is being driven. The electric motor  34  is controlled electronically by a control box  5  to establish speed and to turn the motor on and off. 
     For safety reasons, there is a first brake  28  on the motor itself, opposite the gear box end of the motor. A second brake  29  is on the upper shaft  25  and is a backup in case the motor or gear train fails. The shaft  25  holds the motor  34  and gear box  35  in position, and wind up torque is taken up by a plate bracket  38  mounted to the side of the gear box  35 . On the bottom end of the plate bracket an angle bracket  39  is attached. The angle bracket  39  is attached to the brace element  18  by means of springs  33  (one not shown) on both sides of the angle bracket  39 . The springs  33  control “wind up”. Because there is a spring  33  on both sides of the angle bracket  39 , they counter balance each other to achieve equilibrium. A switch  31  detects the position of the angle bracket  39  and can determine whether or not someone is on the rungs. 
     Initially, at start-up, the first brake  28  is set on the motor. The rungs are connected to the shaft  25  through the sprocket drive chain  32 . Because there is no weight on the rungs, the shaft  25  seeks equilibrium because of the springs  33  on both sides of the angle bracket  39 . The switch  31  senses this equilibrium. 
     When someone mounts the rungs  20 , the torque on the shaft  25  moves the plate bracket  38  and the angle bracket  39 . The switch  31  senses this. The switch  31  permits the control box  5  to activate the drive motor  34  and release the brake. As long as someone is on the rungs  20 , there is torque on the plate bracket  38  and the switch  31  activates the control box  5 . If the user dismounts, then the bracket  38  sees equilibrium, deactivates the switch  31 , which then brakes and shuts off the motor. 
     The exercised ladder  1  is further comprised of a base  40 . The base has a generally rectangular frame, having a front  41 , a rear  42 , two opposite sides  43 , a top  44  and a bottom  45 . Each side  43  has a forwardly extending stabilizer bar  46 . The base top  44  has two annular bearing  50 , one at each side  43 . The ends  27  of the frame lower axle  26  are journaled into each bearing  50 . The base bottom  45  may have wheels  47  attached thereto. Said wheels may be attached to the forward tip of each stabilizer bar and the junction of the base rear and each side. 
     The base rear  42  is further comprised of an inclination tilt assembly comprised of a tilt motor  52  driving a worm gear  53 . The worm gear  53  terminates at a brace  55  attached to the frame sides  15 . The tilt motor  52  is mounted on two struts  56  attached to the base rear  42 . Lateral support bars  57  extend from the base sides  43  terminating in the struts  56  are also provided. The tilt motor  52  is adapted to drive the worm gear forward and backward thereby tilting the frame positively and negatively. The tilt motor  52  is controlled by the control box  5 . 
     In an alternate embodiment, the tilt assembly is comprised of a linear actuator  60  interconnecting the frame  10  with the base rear  42 . The linear actuator  60  is comprised of a rotating lead screw (not shown) within a fixed cover  61  rotatably driven by an electric tilt motor  52 . The rotating lead screw is attached to a non-rotating lead nut (not shown) attached to a sliding tube  62 . As the lead screw rotates the sliding tube  62  moves into and out of the fixed cover depending upon the direction of rotation of the tilt motor  52 . The tilt motor is controlled by the control box  5 . The distal end  63  of the sliding tube  62  terminates in the brace  55  attached to the frame sides  15 . As the sliding tube  62  moves into and out of the fixed cover  61 , the frame  10  is tilted forward and rearward a corresponding amount. 
     The frame  10  preferably has one or more central panels  36  extending from frame top  13  to frame bottom  14 , and extending from side to side. The plane of the panel  36  extends from one side inner surfaces central vertical axis to the opposite side inner surface central vertical axis. The central panel  36  may have one or more cooling fans  37  installed thereto. 
     In operation, the exerciser  1  is initially stopped. The user gets on the exerciser, climbs to a desired height to access the control box  5 , and then sets speed and inclination. A start button on the control box  5  is then activated by the user. The exerciser speed and inclination angle may be adjusted while the exerciser is in use. In use the user steps up on the exerciser&#39;s lower downwardly moving rungs and pulls himself up by hand on the higher downwardly moving rungs. The exerciser positive inclination places increased strain on the user&#39;s lower body and less on the user&#39;s upper body. The exerciser&#39;s negative inclination places additional strain on the user&#39;s arms and upper body and less on the user&#39;s lower body. The user&#39;s entire body receives a workout with the present invention. 
     When the user wishes to stop exercising, he turns the exerciser power off at the control box or simply dismounts from the exerciser. When the power is turned off, the driving motor stops and a brake comes on to hold the rungs in place. The exerciser has a sensor which will automatically activate the brake and place the exerciser in a shut down mode when there is no weight on the rungs. 
     It is understood that the above-described embodiment is merely illustrative of the application. Other embodiments may be readily devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof.