Skiing exercise device

A skiing exercise device includes a base frame having a front end portion with a pair of pivot poles disposed on opposite sides of a vertical plane. Each pivot pole has a pole axis inclining at an angle relative to the vertical plane. Each of two stepper members includes a foot support mounted on a supporting rod that extends from a pivot tube, which is sleeved rotatably on a respective pivot pole, in a longitudinal direction parallel to the vertical plane toward a rear end portion of the base frame, and a coupling flange extending from the pivot tube away from the vertical plane. A coupling unit includes a reel-mounting seat mounted on and movable in the longitudinal direction relative to the front end portion of the base frame, a reel mounted rotatably on the reel-mounting seat and disposed between the stepper members, and a cord wound on the reel and having opposite ends connected respectively to the coupling flanges of the stepper members.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to an exercise device, more particularly to a skiing exercise device.

2. Description of the Related Art

Referring toFIG. 1, a conventional stepper exercise device10is shown to include a base member11having a front end portion12, a pair of foot supports14connected pivotally to the front end portion12, and a pair of hydraulic resistance cylinders15, each of which is pivoted to the front end portion12and a respective one of the foot supports14. Although the above-mentioned conventional stepper exercise device10can achieve its intended purpose, the operation of the conventional stepper exercise device10is monotonous such that the functionality and effect thereof are limited.

Referring toFIG. 2, a conventional skiing exercise device20is shown to include a bottom frame21, a Y-shaped support member22disposed uprightly on a rear end of the bottom frame21, a pair of pivot rods23pivoted to the Y-shaped support member22, a pair of foot supports24mounted respectively on the pivot rods23, and a pair of handle rods25, each of which has a lower end pivoted to the bottom frame21. Each of a set of first hydraulic resistance cylinders26is pivoted to the bottom frame21and a respective one of the handle rods25. Each of a set of second hydraulic resistance cylinders27is pivoted to the support member22and a respective one of the pivot rods23. As such, skiing exercise can be achieved through operation of the handle rods25as well as the foot supports24. However, due to the use of several hydraulic resistance cylinders26,27, the conventional skiing exercise device20is relatively expensive. Furthermore, since each foot support24is operated independently, smooth stepper exercise cannot be ensured in view of uneven pressing forces on the foot supports24.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a skiing exercise device that has a simple construction.

According to the present invention, a skiing exercise device comprises:a base frame having front and rear end portions opposite to each other in a longitudinal direction, the front end portion having a pair of pivot poles disposed on opposite sides of a vertical plane that is parallel to the longitudinal direction, each of the pivot poles having a pole axis that inclines at an angle relative to the vertical plane;a pair of stepper members, each of which includes a pivot tube sleeved rotatably on a respective one of the pivot poles, a supporting rod extending from the pivot tube in the longitudinal direction toward the rear end portion of the base frame, a foot support mounted on the supporting rod, and a coupling flange extending from the pivot tube away from the vertical plane; anda coupling unit including a reel-mounting seat mounted on and movable in the longitudinal direction relative to the front end portion of the base frame, a reel mounted rotatably on the reel-mounting seat and disposed between the stepper members, and a cord wound on the reel and having opposite ends that are connected respectively to the coupling flanges of the stepper members.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring toFIGS. 3 and 4, the preferred embodiment of a skiing exercise device according to the present invention is shown to include a base frame30, a pair of stepper members40, a coupling unit50, and a pair of damping members60.

In this embodiment, the base frame30has front and rear end portions32,33opposite to each other in a longitudinal direction (A), an intermediate portion31interconnecting the front and rear end portions32,33, and opposite lateral tubes36coupled respectively to and extending between the front and rear end portions32,33. The front end portion32includes a rod body321, a pole-mounting seat34mounted on the rod body321, and a pair of pivot poles35mounted on the pole-mounting seat34and disposed on opposite sides of a vertical plane (B) (seeFIG. 7) that is parallel to the longitudinal direction (A). Each of the pivot poles35has a pole axis (X1, X2) (seeFIG. 7) that inclines at an angle (θ) relative to the vertical plane (B) (seeFIG. 7). Each of the lateral tubes36has a first end portion361inserted with a respective end of the rod body321therein, and a second end portion362inserted into a respective tubular end of the rear end portion33and fastened there to by a pair of fasteners331, as best shown inFIG. 5.

Each of the stepper members40includes a pivot tube41sleeved rotatably on a respective one of the pivot poles35, a supporting rod43extending from the pivot tube41in the longitudinal direction (A) toward the rear end portion33of the base frame30, a foot support44mounted on the supporting rod43, and a coupling flange42extending from the pivot tube41away from the vertical plane (B) and formed with two fastener holes421,422, as best shown inFIGS. 4 and 7. In this embodiment, each of the stepper members40further includes a washer set412sleeved rotatably on the respective one of the pivot poles35and mounted on a lower open end414of the pivot tube41, and a cap set413mounted on an upper open end411of the pivot tube41, as best shown inFIGS. 4 and 6.

The coupling unit50includes a reel-mounting seat51mounted on and movable in the longitudinal direction (A) relative to the front end portion32of the base frame30, a reel52mounted rotatably on the reel-mounting seat51and disposed between the stepper members40, and a cord53wound on the reel52and having opposite ends531, each of which is connected to the coupling flange42of a respective one of the stepper members40by means of a screw fastener532that extends through the fastener hole421. It is noted that the coupling unit50further includes a threaded fastening device54to fasten movably the reel-mounting seat51to the front end portion32of the base frame30. In this embodiment, as shown inFIG. 8, the reel-mounting seat51has an axial tube portion512extending into a mounting hole341in the pole-mounting seat34and formed with a threaded hole5121, and a U-shaped seat portion511connected to the axial tube portion512. The reel52is mounted rotatably on the seat portion511. The threaded fastening device54includes a threaded rod542extending into the mounting hole341in the pole-mounting seat34and engaging the threaded hole5121in the axial tube portion512of the reel-mounting seat51of the coupling unit50, and an operating head541connected to the threaded rod542and disposed outwardly of the pole-mounting seat34. In view of the above configuration, the tension of the cord53can be adjusted as a result of operation of the operating head541of the threaded fastening device54for moving the U-shaped seat portion511in the longitudinal direction (A) toward and away from the front end portion32of the base frame30.

In this embodiment, each of the damping members60is a length-variable fluid cylinder, and has a cylinder end portion61pivoted to a pivot seat63, which is mounted on the intermediate portion31adjacent to the rear end portion33of the base frame30, and a rod end portion62pivoted to a U-shaped pivot seat64, which is mounted on the coupling flange42of a respective one of the stepper members40at the fastener hole422.

In actual use, due to the presence of the coupling unit50, each of the stepper members40is pivotable about the respective pivot pole35so as to drive the foot support44of one of the stepper members40to move from an initial horizontal position, where the foot support44of said one of the stepper members40is disposed parallel to and is flush with the foot support44of the other one of the stepper members40, as shown inFIGS. 9 and 10, to a first position, where the foot support44of said one of the stepper members40is downwardly and rearwardly inclined and is moved away from the vertical plane (B), or a second position, where the foot support44of said one of the stepper members40is upwardly and rearwardly inclined and is moved toward the vertical plane (B), and at the same time, drive the foot support44of the other one of the stepper members40to move from the initial horizontal position to the second position or the first position, as shown inFIGS. 11 and 12, such that skiing exercise can be achieved.

Moreover, due to the presence of the two damping members60and the coupling unit50, the skiing exercise device of the present invention has a relatively simple construction as compared to the aforesaid conventional skiing exercise device such that the skiing exercise device of the present invention is less expensive to fabricate.