Patent Publication Number: US-6712739-B1

Title: Stair climbing exerciser

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to stair climbing exerciser that has an adjusting member connected between two links so as to easily adjust the height of the two links simultaneously. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A conventional stair climbing exerciser is disclosed in FIG.  11  and generally an H-shaped frame  11  and a protrusion  14  extends from one of tow transverse bars  12  of the frame  11 . Two pedals  15  each have one end pivotably connected to the protrusion  14  by a shaft  13  and each pedal  15  is connected to a cylinder  16  which is pivotably connected between the pedal  15  and the bar  12 . The user steps on the two pedals  15  and exerts a downward force to overcome the resistance of the cylinder  16 . Another conventional stair climbing exerciser is disclosed in FIG.  12  and includes a frame with two triangular lugs and a swing member  351  is pivotably connected between the two lugs. Two pedals  34  are pivotably connected to two respective link assemblies  35 , each of which includes two links which are pivotably connected between the swing member  351 , the lugs and the pedals  34 . An adjusting member  37  is threadedly extended through the swing member  351  and a link  36  of one of the link assemblies  35 . A knob  39  is located at a top of the adjusting member  37 . The user may rotate the knob  39  together with the adjusting member  37  to adjust the height that the link assembly  35  on the left side can be moved. This can only adjust the height of one of the two link assemblies  35  and the hole defined through the link  36  makes the link  36  to be weak in structural strength. 
     The present invention intends to provide a stair climbing exerciser that has an adjusting member connected between two pedals so as to adjust the two pedals within one action. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a stair climbing exerciser which comprises a frame including two bars and two rails connected between the two bars. Two links each have a first end pivotably connected between two lugs on the two rails and two damping members each have a first end pivotably connected between the two rails and a second end of each of the damping members is pivotably connected to a second end of the link corresponding thereto. Each link has a bolt connected thereto and an adjusting member is rotatably connected to the two bolts so that the two links are pivoted by rotating the adjusting member. Two pedals are pivotably connected to the two respective second ends of the two links. 
     The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded view to show the stair climbing exerciser of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded view to show the link covers, the pedals and the assembled part of the stair climbing exerciser of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 shows the two pedals are to be connected to the links of the stair climbing exerciser of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view to show the stair climbing exerciser of the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 shows the two links are pivoted to close to each other by rotating the adjusting member; 
     FIGS. 6 and 7 show the two pedals are stepped downward alternatively; 
     FIG. 8 shows the two links are pivoted to be away from each other by rotating the adjusting member; 
     FIGS. 9 and 10 show the two pedals are stepped downward alternatively; 
     FIG. 11 is a perspective view to show a first conventional stair climbing exerciser, and 
     FIG. 12 is a side view to show a second conventional stair climbing exerciser. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 to  4 , the stair climbing exerciser of the present invention comprises a frame including two bars  21  and two rails  211  connected between the two bars  21 . Each rail  211  has a lug  212  extending therefrom and each bar  21  has a pad  217  for preventing impact by the cylinders  22  which will be described hereinafter. 
     Two links  25  each have a first end pivotably connected between the two lugs  212  by extending a bolt  253  extending through holes  216  in the two lugs  212  and holes  252  in the first end of each of the links  25 . Two connection plates  251  extend from a mediate portion of each of the two links  25  and two extensions  254  extending from a second end of each of the links  25 . Two damping members such as cylinders  22  each having a first end pivotably connected between the two rails  211  by extending a bolt  221 / 223  through holes  213 / 214  in the two rails  211  and the first end of each of the two cylinders  22 . A second end of each of the cylinders  22  is pivotably connected to the two extensions  254  by extending a bolt  222  through holes  257  in the two extensions  254  and the second end of the cylinder  22 . Each link  25  has a bolt  27  which is pivotably connected to the two connection plates  251  by extending a bolt  28  through holes  258  of the connection plates  251  and a hole  271  defined through an end of each of the two bolts  27 . An adjusting member  29  is rotatably connected between the two bolts  27  by threadedly connecting to the two bolts  27  so that when rotating the adjusting member  29 , the two links  25  are pivoted to be close to each other as shown in FIG. 5, or to be away from each other as shown in FIG.  8 . 
     Two pedals  24  each include a support board  241  connected to an underside of the pedals  24  and each support board  241  includes two connection frames  242 . 
     Two link covers  23  are respectively mounted to the two links  25  and each link cover  23  includes a first end pivotably connected to the two lugs  212  by extending a bolt  234  through holes  215  in the lugs  212  and holes  231  in the first end of the link cover  23 . A second end of each link cover  23  is pivotably connected to the two connection frames  242  on the support board  241  by extending a bolt  233  through holes  232  in the second of the link cover  23  and holes  242  in the connection plates. Another bolt  256  extend through holes  255  in the two extensions  254  and holes  243  in the two connection frames  242  of the support board  241 . An aperture  235  is defined through each of the link cover  23  for the connection plates  251  on the links  25  extending therethrough. 
     FIGS. 5 to  7  show that when the adjusting member  29  is rotated to pull the two links  25  pivotably close with each other, the height for each pedal  24  that can be moved is increased so that the user may alternatively step downward the pedals  24  with a longer travel distance. FIGS. 8 to  10  show that when the adjusting member  29  is rotated in opposite direction to pivot the two links  25  away from each other, the height for each pedal  24  that can be moved is decreased so that the user may alternatively step downward the pedals  24  with a shorter travel distance. 
     The travel distance of the two pedals  24  can be adjusted evenly and simultaneously by rotating the adjusting member  29 . 
     While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.