Abstract:
The current invention relates to an exerciser, especially a crawling exerciser, comprising two hand slides each containing a wheel and two leg slides each containing a wheel, characterized in that, characterized in that it also contains components of a linear parallel track, wherein both the hand slides and the leg slides slide in the track and a damping structure is installed on the wheels or between the wheels and the track. The exerciser of the current invention is convenient, flexible, easy to control, and is easy to perform alternate movements of the hands and legs. It does not damage the floor, carpet or ground, and is very appropriate for indoor application.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This is a CIP of International Application No. PCT/CN2011/001678, with an international filing date of Oct. 8, 2011 claiming priority to Chinese Application No. 201110071902.0, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to an exerciser, especially to a crawling exerciser. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Crawling exercises have become a more and more popular modern exercise. Crawling exercises belong to horizontal movement (which mainly means that the human spine is horizontal to the ground during the movement). In comparison with the vertical position movements, the human spine is being protected due to low pressure, because the gravity can be reduced or completely eliminated during the horizontal movement. In addition, since the human brain and human heart are at the same horizontal level during the movement, the blood supply from the heart toward the brain can be dramatically increased. Therefore, it can be concluded that constant crawling exercise is very beneficial to human spine and cardiovascular system. 
         [0004]    Since crawling exercises are very easily limited by the conditions of the location and the weather, it is hence necessary to develop an exerciser which can simulate crawling movements and overcome the limits of the location and the weather. At present, a crawling exerciser has been disclosed in the Chinese utility model application ZL03244692.6. As is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the disclosed exerciser has two hand controlling parts  1  and two leg controlling parts  2 , wherein the hand controlling part is furnished with a grip  13  at the front and a slide wheel with a long axis  14  at the bottom of the back. The bottom part of the leg controlling part  2  is furnished with two slide wheels with long axis. As is shown in  FIG. 3 , the user kneels on the leg controlling part  2 , puts his arm on the hand controlling part  1  and gripes the grip  13  as a pre-exercise condition. As shown in  FIG. 4 , during exercise, the hand controlling part  1  is lifted with the arm force, so that only the slide wheel  14  of the hand controlling part  1  touches the ground in order for the hand to control the back and forth movements. When the wrist is laid down, the front part of the hand controlling part  1  touches the ground to stop the movement. The leg controlling part  2  makes the toes above the ground in order for the legs to control the back and forth movements. When the toes touch the ground, the movement is stopped. The stopping and the starting of the movements alternate and coordinate with the movements of the hands and the legs, so that the human body can make crawling movements like a chameleon. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the exerciser can combine the two hand controlling parts  1  and the two leg controlling parts  2  respectively through self-adhesive zips  17 ,  24  in order to make the movements, so that the body can move back and forward like a bow. 
         [0005]    Although the crawling exerciser in the state of the art can theoretically have the workout effect by crawling movement, it has the following flaws practically: First, it is hard to stop the movements. Since such an exerciser does not have a damping structure, and the body can move toward an arbitrary direction on the ground, therefore, one can only use hands and legs to stop the movements, that is, let the wrist laid down so that the front part of the hand controlling part touches the ground to stop the leg controlling part, and let the toes touch the ground to stop the leg controlling part Secondly, the exerciser can only facilitate smooth movements when the body takes up a bow-like form as shown in  FIG. 5 . But when the alternate crawling movements as demonstrated in  FIG. 4  is desired, the four limbs are hard to be controlled and it is easy to fall down. This is due to the fact that when the two hand controlling parts  1  and the two leg controlling parts  2  are supporting the four limbs, as soon as the limbs have different forces or lean toward a certain direction, it can easily lead to the situation where the controlling bodies can hardly be controlled. Thirdly, since the wheels of the hand controlling parts and the leg controlling parts have direct contact with the ground, the friction can induce damages toward the floor, carpet or grounds, and therefore, it is not appropriate to use the exerciser indoors. Lastly, since the wheels of the hand controlling parts and the leg controlling parts do not have tracks for direction, their direction cannot be easily controlled. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The aim of the current invention is to provide a crawling exerciser which overcomes the shortcomings of the exercisers in the state of the art. The exerciser of the current invention is convenient, easy to control and is easy to perform alternate exercise between hands and legs. It does not damage the floor, carpet or ground and is appropriate to be used indoors. 
         [0007]    In order to achieve the above objectives, the current invention is realized as the follows: 
         [0008]    A crawling exerciser, comprising two hand slides each containing a wheel and two leg slides each containing a wheel, characterized in that, it also contains components of a linear parallel track, wherein both the hand slides and the leg slides slide in the track and a damping structure is installed on the wheels or between the wheels and the track. 
         [0009]    The crawling exerciser as stated above, characterized in that the components of the track are soft rollable carpet track, and when the carpet is unfolded, the track is parallel and the cross section of the track is groove-shaped corresponding to the shape of the wheel. 
         [0010]    The crawling exerciser as stated above, characterized in that the components of the track are soft rollable carpet track, and when the carpet is unfolded, the track is a straight, long fin height structure and is also designed to be parallel, wherein the outer part of the wheel is furnished with a curved groove in order to adapt to the fin-height-shaped track. 
         [0011]    The crawling exerciser as stated above, characterized in that the components of the track are hard track components, wherein the wheels of the hand slides and the leg slides can make linear movements along the track, and the hand slides and the leg slides on the same side are connected with at least one elastic string. 
         [0012]    The crawling exerciser as stated above, characterized in that the track components are designed to be foldable. 
         [0013]    The crawling exerciser as stated above, characterized in that the track components are hard components, wherein the wheels of the hand slides and the leg slides can make linear movements along the track, and the wheels of the hand slides and the leg slides are further furnished with a volute spiral spring. 
         [0014]    The crawling exerciser as stated above, characterized in that the track components are hard components, wherein the wheels of the hand slides and the leg slides can make linear movements along the track, and the wheels of the hand slides and the leg slides on the same side are furnished with an elastic string. 
         [0015]    The crawling exerciser as stated above, characterized in that the track components are hard components, wherein the wheels of the hand slides and the leg slides can make linear movements along the track, the outer side of the track is changed to be a trapezoidal shape, and the inner side of the wheels of the hand slides and the leg slides, which contacts the track, is furnished with elastic buffering material in order to increase friction between the track and the wheels. 
         [0016]    The crawling exerciser as stated above, characterized in that the track components have foldable structures. 
         [0017]    The crawling exerciser as stated above, characterized in that there is a groove in the middle of the track, wherein the hand slides and the leg slides have a C shaped component which is encased within the groove. 
         [0018]    The crawling exerciser as stated above, characterized in that the track takes up a           form, wherein the wheels of the hand slides and the leg slides have an inverted U shaped structure which encases the           shaped track. 
         [0019]    The crawling exerciser as stated above, characterized in that the track takes up a T form, wherein the wheels of the hand slides and the leg slides have a shape with encases the T-shape structured track. 
         [0020]    The crawling exerciser as stated above, characterized in that track is a round track which is parallel to each other, wherein the wheels of the hand slides and the leg slides have a shape with encases the round shape structured track. 
         [0021]    The crawling exerciser as stated above, characterized in that the hand slides and/or the leg slides are further furnished with a straight catch pin structure in order to stabilize the slides onto the track. 
         [0022]    The crawling exerciser as stated above, characterized in that the hand slides and/or the leg slides are further furnished with a cam controlling catch pin structure in order to stabilize the slides onto the track. 
         [0023]    The crawling exerciser comprising hand slides and leg sides, characterized in that it also contains components of a linear parallel track, wherein both the hand slides and the leg slides slide in the track and a damping structure is installed between the hand slides, the leg slides or between the slides and the track. 
         [0024]    The crawling exerciser as stated above, characterized in that the hand slides and the leg slides have a slide block or a linear bearing. 
         [0025]    The crawling exerciser as stated above, characterized in that the track takes up a T form, wherein the slide block has a shape which encases the T-shape structured track. 
         [0026]    The crawling exerciser as stated above, characterized in that track is a round track which is parallel to each other, wherein the slide block has a shape which encases the round shape structured track. 
         [0027]    In comparison with the exerciser in the state of the art, the exerciser of the current invention has the following advantages and beneficial effects: 
         [0028]    a. A damping structure is provided on the slides, so that the user can effectively control the slides. 
         [0029]    b. The slides are furnished with track components so that the slides will not move astray, the ground (floor or carpet) can be protected and the wheels will not be damaged. 
         [0030]    c. The tracks can be folded or rolled, which leads to a reduced volume of the exerciser. The exerciser is easy to be stored. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0031]      FIG. 1  shows structure of the hand controlling part of the crawling exerciser of the state of the art. 
           [0032]      FIG. 2  shows the structure of the leg controlling part of the crawling exerciser of the state of the art. 
           [0033]      FIG. 3  shows the use of the crawling exerciser of the state of the art (preparation movement). 
           [0034]      FIG. 4  shows the use of the crawling exerciser of the state of the art (alternate movements). 
           [0035]      FIG. 5  shows the use of the crawling exerciser of the state of the art (crawling movements with a bow body shape). 
           [0036]      FIG. 6  shows the structure of a crawling exerciser of the current invention. 
           [0037]      FIG. 7  shows the connection between the wheels and the track of example 1 of the current invention. 
           [0038]      FIG. 8  shows the structure of example 2 of the current invention. 
           [0039]      FIG. 9  shows the connection between the wheels and the track of example 2 of the current invention. 
           [0040]      FIG. 10  shows the structure of the exerciser of example 3. 
           [0041]      FIG. 11  shows the structure of the track components of example 3 of the current invention are they are folded. 
           [0042]      FIG. 12  is an alternative structure of the damping structure of example 3 of the current invention. 
           [0043]      FIG. 13  is an alternative structure of the damping structure of example 3 of the current invention. 
           [0044]      FIG. 14  is another alternative structure of the damping structure of example 3 of the current invention. 
           [0045]      FIG. 15  is the cross section of the cooperation between the track and the wheels of the crawling exerciser in example 4 of the current invention. 
           [0046]      FIG. 16  is the structure of the crawling exerciser of example 4 of the current invention. 
           [0047]      FIG. 17  is the cross section of the cooperation between the track and the wheels of the crawling exerciser in example 5 of the current invention. 
           [0048]      FIG. 18  is the structure of the crawling exerciser of example 5 of the current invention. 
           [0049]      FIG. 19  is the cross section of the cooperation between the track and the slide block in example 6 of the current invention. 
           [0050]      FIG. 20  is the crawling exerciser of example 6 of the current invention. 
           [0051]      FIG. 21  is the cooperation between the track and the slide block of example 7 of the current invention. 
           [0052]      FIG. 22  is the structure of the crawling exerciser of example 7 of the current invention. 
           [0053]      FIG. 23  show the cross section of the cooperation between the straight catch pin and the wheel with a pin hole in example 8 of the current invention. 
           [0054]      FIG. 24  is the 3D structure of the hand slide with the straight pin catch structure in example 8 of the current invention. 
           [0055]      FIG. 25  is the structure of the crawling exerciser of example 8 of the current invention. 
           [0056]      FIG. 26  shows the cross section of the cooperation between the pin catch with a fin height structure and the wheel with a hole in example 9 of the current invention. 
           [0057]      FIG. 27  shows the 3D structure of the hand slide with a catch pin with a fin height structure in example 9 of the current invention. 
           [0058]      FIG. 28  shows the structure of the crawling exerciser with a catch pin with a fin height structure in example 9 of the current invention. 
           [0059]      FIG. 29  shows the structure of the track components of example 5 of the current invention are they are folded. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Example 1 
       [0060]    A crawling exerciser, as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , comprises two hand slides  101  each containing a wheel and two leg slides  102  each containing a wheel  103 . It contains a soft rollable carpet track  100 , the material of which can be plastics, etc. When the carpet is unfolded, the track is parallel and the cross section of the track is groove-shaped, which corresponds with the shape of the wheel  103 . Both the hand slides  101  and the leg slides  102  slide in the track and make linear movements so that the wheels will not move astray. In addition, the friction between the wheel and the groove of the track is used to provide damping in order to control the hand wheels  101  and the leg wheels  102 . It is very easy to perform hand and leg alternate movements with this exerciser. 
       Example 2 
       [0061]    A crawling exerciser, as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , comprises two hand slides  201  each containing a wheel and two leg slides  202  each containing a wheel  203 . It contains a soft rollable carpet track  200 , the material of which can be plastics, etc. When the carpet is unfolded, the track is parallel and is a straight, long fin height structure. The outer part of the wheel  203  is furnished with a curved groove in order to adapt to the fin-height-shaped track. When it is used, the outer part of the wheel of the hand slide  201  and the leg slide  202  is furnished with a groove in order to adapt to the fin-height-shaped track. The slides can make linear movements so that the wheels will not move astray. In addition, the friction between the wheel and the groove of the track is used to provide damping in order to control the hand wheels  201  and the leg wheels  202 . It is very easy to perform hand and leg alternate movements with this exerciser. 
       Example 3 
       [0062]    A crawling exerciser, as shown in  FIG. 10 , comprises two hand slides  301  each containing a wheel and two leg slides  302  each containing a wheel. It contains parallel track components  300 . The hard track components  300  can be made of non-metallic material (such as plastics) or metals (aluminum or iron or etc); The shape of the track can be groove-shaped, fin height shaped, or trapezoidal, etc. It can also be two parallel round tubes. The hand slides  301  and the leg slides  302  can make linear movements so that the wheels will not move astray. In order to increase the damping of the hand slide  301  and leg slide  302  to increase their controllability, an elastic string  303  (or more than one string) is provided between the hand slide  301  and the leg slide  302  on the same side in this example. In this way, it is easier to perform alternate movements with the hands and the legs. 
         [0063]    In addition, in order to solve the storage space problem of the exerciser, the track components of the exerciser of the current example are all foldable. There are the hinge  304  and hinge heads  305 ,  306 ,  307  furnished in the middle and on both sides of the track components in order to realize the double way folding of the track components. Due to the presence of the folding structure, the track is composed of the left and right hand track and the left and the right leg track. The left hand track and the left leg track are connected with the hinge, whereas the right hand track and the right leg track are connected with hinge. The two left (hand and leg) track and the two right (hand and leg) track are connected with three rods which are positioned in the front, middle and back part of the tracks in order to keep the left and right tracks parallel. There are three hinge heads  305 ,  306  and  307  are furnished in the middle of the three rods, in which the hinge head  307  at the back part of the tracks can be made of two axes, in order to prevent inconvenient folding when the axes of the three hinge heads are not aligned together. The track components when they are folded are shown in  FIG. 11 . The volume of the track is reduced dramatically and can be easily stored. 
         [0064]    On the basis of example 3, the following structure and methods are used to replace the elastic string  303  in order to increase the damping of the hand slides and the leg sides. 
         [0065]    As shown in  FIG. 12 , the wheels  308  of the hand slide and the leg slide are further furnished with a volute spiral spring  309 . 
         [0066]    As shown in  FIG. 13 , an additional elastic string  310  is furnished on the wheel  308  of the hand slide and the leg slide. 
         [0067]    As shown in  FIG. 14 , the cross section shape of the track  300  is changed to be trapezoidal. The elastic buffering material  311  is furnished on the inner side (which contacts the track) of wheel  308  of the hand slide and the leg slide in order to increase the friction between the wheel  308  and the track  300 . 
       Example 4 
       [0068]    As shown in  FIG. 15 , the track  401  has a groove which encases the wheel  402  having a C-shaped shape. Even when the wheel  402  slides very fast, it will not roll out of the track  401 , so that the safety of the user is secured.  FIG. 16  shows the structure of the exerciser with this kind of track and wheel structure. 
       Example 5 
       [0069]    As shown in  FIG. 17 , the track  501  has           shape. The wheel  502  has an inverted U shape. The wheel  502  slides within the track  501  so that it will not fall out of the track  501  and the safety of the user is secured.  FIG. 18  shows the structure of the exerciser of such kind of track and wheel. 
         [0070]    In addition, in order to solve the storage space problem of the exerciser, the track components of the exerciser of the current example are all foldable. There are the hinges furnished in the middle of the track components in order to realize the folding of the track components. Due to the presence of the folding structure, the track is composed of the left and right hand track and the left and the right leg track. The left hand track and the left leg track are connected with the hinge, whereas the right hand track and the right leg track are connected with hinge. The track components when they are folded are shown in  FIG. 29 . The volume of the track is reduced dramatically and can be easily stored. 
       Example 6 
       [0071]    As shown in  FIG. 19 , the track  601  has a T shape. The slide block  602  contains the shape of the track  601 . After the user exerts forces, the slide block  602  slides within the track  601 . Even when the speed of the slide block  602  is very high, it will not fall off the track, so that the safety of the exerciser is secured.  FIG. 20  shows the structure of the exerciser of such kind of track and wheel. 
       Example 7 
       [0072]    As shown in  FIG. 21 , the track  701  is parallel round shaped track. The slide block  702  has a round shape, which wraps the track  701  and is positioned outside the track  701 . After the user exerts forces, the slide block  702  slides within the track  701 . Even when the speed of the slide block  702  is very high, it will not fall off the track, so that the safety of the exerciser is secured.  FIG. 22  shows the structure of the exerciser of such kind of track and wheel. 
       Example 8 
       [0073]    As shown in  FIG. 23 , there is a pin hole on the wheel. When the wheel needs to be stabilized, the catch pin  801  is inserted into the pin hole.  FIG. 24  shows the 3D structure of the hand slide which is stabilized by the catch pin  801 .  FIG. 25  shows the structure of the exerciser with this catch pin structure. 
       Example 9 
       [0074]    In comparison with example 8, the catch pin of the exerciser of this example has a fin height shaped catch pin. Take the hand slide for example, the fin height shaped catch pin  901  in  FIG. 26  is rotatable. When it is inserted into the pin hole of the wheel of the hand slide, the fin height shaped catch pin  901  is rotated to a certain degree and the wheel is then locked.  FIG. 27  shows the 3D structure of the fin height shaped catch pin  901  of the hand slide.  FIG. 28  shows the structure of the exerciser with this type of catch pin structure. 
         [0075]    The above are only relatively good examples of the current invention, and are by no means used to limit the scope of the current invention. Any modification and changes within the scope of the application all belong to the current scope of protection of the current invention.