Patent Publication Number: US-8979712-B2

Title: Leg exerciser

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to physical exercising equipment and more particularly, to a leg exerciser for indoor application to exercise the muscles of the legs and to train the strength of the heart and lungs. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Among commercial fitness, gym &amp; exercise fitness equipment, the more popular ones are those designed for indoor application to simulate walking or running in exercising the muscles of the legs or training the strength of the heart and lungs. More particularly, the treadmill has been the most popular machine used for regular exercisers. Commercial treadmills commonly comprise a base seat, a tread platform consisting of a set of rollers, and a tread belt disposed on the tread platform and rotatable on the rollers. When a user is running on the tread belt at the tread platform, the tread belt is being continuously rotated in situ. 
     However, running on a treadmill puts much stress on your legs and knees. To avoid putting much stress on the knees, motor-based ladder exercises and stepper exercisers are developed. These motor-based exercisers commonly comprise two pedals connected to a motor system for enabling the user to simulate a ladder climbing or walking without putting significant stress on the knees. These motor-based exercisers are functional, however they commonly have a large size, not suitable for home use. 
     Taiwan Utility Model M414973 discloses a hydraulic stepping exerciser, which uses two hydraulic cylinders to support two pedals, enabling each pedal to be rapidly returned to its former position after having been stepped down. Further, people highly appreciate the characteristic of compact size of this design of hydraulic stepping exerciser. However, the lifespan of the hydraulic cylinders of this design of hydraulic stepping exerciser is not long. After a long use, the hydraulic cylinders of this design of hydraulic stepping exerciser may leak or break easily. An improvement in this regard is desired. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present invention to provide a leg exerciser, which has the characteristics of simple structure, ease of maintenance and storage and high durability that attract people to purchase. 
     To achieve this and other objects of a leg exerciser comprises a base positioned on a floor, two pedals arranged in parallel above the base, each pedal having one end thereof pivotally connected to the base, and two elastically deformable support members supporting the pedals on the floor, each said elastically deformable support member comprising a fixed end connected to one said pedal and a free end disposed in proximity to said floor. The elastically deformable support members are so configured that the free ends of the elastically deformable support members are alternatively moved back and forth along a predetermined path when a user is pedaling the pedals. 
     Further, the predetermined path is disposed in parallel to the floor. 
     Further, the elastically deformable support members are respectively formed of a respective spring plate, comprising a smoothly arched suspension arm connected between the fixed end and the free end. 
     Further, the free end of each elastically deformable support member has an elongated configuration and connected to the bottom wall of the associating pedal in a substantially parallel manner. Further, the spring plate of each elastically deformable support member defines a recessed surface portion on the bottom side of the smoothly arched suspension arm thereof and extending along the length of the smoothly arched suspension arm. 
     Further, two sliding coupling devices are respectively coupled between the free ends of the elastically support members and the base. Each sliding coupling device comprises a track plate extended from the base along the predetermined path, and a roller pivotally connected to the free end of one elastically support member and rotatably supported on the track plate. 
     Further, two elastic pull cords are respectively connected to the pedals. 
     In an alternate form of the present invention, the leg exerciser comprises a base positioned on the floor, two pedals arranged in parallel above the base, each pedal having one end thereof pivotally connected to the base, and two spring plates supporting the pedals on the floor. Each spring plate comprises a fixed end connected to one pedal, a free end movably supported on the floor, and a smoothly arched suspension arm connected between the fixed end and the free end. 
     Further, according to this alternate form, the free end of each spring plate has an elongated configuration and is connected to the bottom wall of the associating the pedal in a substantially parallel manner. Further, each spring plate defines a recessed surface portion on the bottom side of the smoothly arched suspension arm thereof and extending along the length of the smoothly arched suspension arm. 
     Further, according to this alternate form, two sliding coupling devices are respectively coupled to the free ends of the spring plates and alternatively movable back and forth along a predetermined path. 
     Further, according to this alternate form, the predetermined path is disposed in parallel to the floor. 
     Further, according to this alternate form, each sliding coupling device comprises a track plate extended from the base along the predetermined path, and a roller pivotally connected to the free end of one spring plate and rotatably supported on the track plate. 
     Further, according to this alternate form, two elastic pull cords are respectively connected to the pedals. 
     In conclusion, the invention uses spring plates to support the pedals on the floor and to impart a feedback force and an elastic restoring force to the pedals when the user is stepping on the pedals, maintaining structural simplicity for easy maintenance. Further, subject to the arrangement of the track plate and roller of the sliding coupling device at the free end of each spring plate, the invention enhances the operational smoothness and stability. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an elevational view of a leg exerciser in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the leg exerciser in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of a part of the present invention, illustrating the arrangement of the transmission mechanism. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic applied view of the present invention, illustrating an operation status of the leg exercise. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic applied view of the present invention, illustrating another operation status of the leg exercise. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a leg exerciser in accordance with the present invention is shown comprising a base  10  positioned on the floor  11 , two pedals  20  pivotally provided at the top side of the base  10 , and two elastically deformable support members  30  supporting the pedals  20  on the floor  11 . 
     The base  10  comprises an H-frame  12  horizontally positioned on the floor  11 , and an upright support  13  vertically upwardly extended from one end of the H-frame  12 . The two pedals  20  are supported on the elastically deformable support members  30  above the base  10 , each having one end thereof respectively pivoted to the upright support  13 . 
     The elastically support members  30  are respectively made of a spring plate  31 . The spring plate  31  comprises an elongated fixed end  32  affixed to the bottom wall of one pedal  20  in a substantially parallel manner to enhance connection stability, a free end  34  disposed in proximity to the floor  11  and movable back and forth along a predetermined path  50  in parallel to the floor  11 , an smoothly arched suspension arm  33  connected between the elongated fixed end  32  and the free end  32 , and a recessed surface portion  35  located on the bottom side of the smoothly arched suspension arm  33  and extending along the length of the smoothly arched suspension arm  33 . 
     Further, in order to enhance the mechanical strength and elastic restoring force of the smoothly arched suspension arm  33  of the spring plate  31  of each elastically support member  30 , an elastic reed  36  configured subject to the configuration of the smoothly arched suspension arm  33  is attached to the bottom wall of the smoothly arched suspension arm  33 . 
     When the user steps on the pedal  20 , the spring plate  31  of the associating elastically support member  30  is elastically deformed to extend the linear distance between the fixed end  32  and the free end  34 . When the applied force disappears, the spring plate  31  immediately returns to its former shape to shorten the linear distance between the fixed end  32  and the free end  34 . Thus, when the user is alternatively stepping on the pedals  20 , the elastically support members  30  are alternatively curved to move the pedals  20  up and down, and the free ends  34  of the spring plates  31  of the elastically support members  30  are alternatively moved back and forth along the predetermined path  50 . 
     Further, a sliding coupling device  40  is coupled between the free end  34  of the spring plate  31  of each elastically support member  30  and the base  10  to smoothen reciprocating movement of the free end  34  of the spring plate  31  of the associating elastically support member  30 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the sliding coupling device  40  comprises a track plate  42  extended from the other end of the H-frame  12  of the base  10  along the predetermined path  50  remote from the upright support  13  and kept in flush with the bottom wall of the H-frame  12  of the base  10 , and a roller  41  pivotally connected to the free end  34  of the spring plate  31  of the associating elastically support member  30  and rotatably supported on the track plate  42 . During reciprocating motion of the free end  34  of the spring plate  31  of each elastically support member  30  on the predetermined path  50 , the roller  41  of the associating sliding coupling device  40  is forced to move back and forth along the track plate  42 , reducing friction resistance between the free end  34  and the floor  11  and enhancing operational stability. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , two elastic pull cords  51  are respectively connected to the pedals  20  adjacent to the upright support  13 . When the user is stepping on the pedals  20 , the user&#39;s both hands can seize and pull the elastic pull cords  51  to apply a resisting force to the pedals  20 , thereby increasing the training intensity without adjusting the strength and weight of the spring plates  31  of the elastically support members  30 . 
     As stated above, the invention uses the spring plates of the elastically support members to impart a feedback force and an elastic restoring force to the pedals when the user is stepping on the pedals, maintaining structural simplicity for easy maintenance. Further, subject to the arrangement of the track plate and roller of the sliding coupling device at the free end of the spring plate of each elastically support member, the invention enhances the operational smoothness and stability.