Patent Publication Number: US-6702722-B1

Title: Exercise device

Description:
This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/359,828 filed Jul. 23, 1999 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,155,959 which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/030,638 filed Feb. 25, 1998 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,928,115 issued on Jul. 27, 1999) which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 06/039,815 filed on Feb. 26, 1997. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to exercise equipment, and more particularly to a new and improved stationary device for simultaneous or independent exercising of the arms and legs of a human. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Numerous stationary exercise devices are known in the art, including stationary bicycles, treadmills, rowing machines, and stair stepping devices to name a few. However, with the exception of rowing machines and Nordic Track machines, few if any of these devices provide the opportunity of either simultaneous or independent workout for both arms and legs. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a vertically oriented exercise device for working out both arms and legs simultaneously or independently. A stationary base is provided having an adjustable vertical standard attached thereto. A rotatable pedal operated load wheel is provided near the bottom of the standard. Friction drag on the load wheel may be adjusted to make it easier or more difficult to rotate using the arms and/or the legs. A cushioned seat is provided for attachment to the standard at an adjustably convenient central location thereby allowing the user to comfortably sit thereon while also reaching the pedals attached to the load wheel. A sturdy metal bracket may be used to attach the cushioned seat to the vertical standard. A pair of movable hand grips are provided near the upper end of the standard to be held by the user during exercise. Each of the hand grips is attached to a slidable vertical member, and each such member is attached through a set of pivoting linkages to the pedals on the load wheel. These linkages allow force applied to the hand grips to directly turn the load wheel. Thus, the legs independently, the arms independently, or both the arms and legs together may be used to turn the load wheel. As a result, without exiting or changing anything on the exerciser, the user may shift the emphasis of force back and forth from the arms to the legs during a given workout. The user may rest the legs while operating the device using only the arms, and vice versa. 
     In an alternative embodiment, the exercise device of the present invention may independently or additionally include a seat that is adjustably attached to the stationary base allowing the device to be used as a recumbent exercise machine for exercising the legs. The seat includes a pair of gripping handles which are attached thereto. 
     In another alternative embodiment, the exercise device of the present invention may independently or additionally include a second adjustable upright standard adjustably attached to the base. This standard supports a pair of vertically oriented handle members which are pivotally attached at the top of the standard. A hand grip is provided at the top of each handle member. The bottom of each handle member is hingedly attached to one end of a motion transmission member. The opposite end of each motion transmission member is attached at the pivot of one of the load wheel pedals. Thus, as the pedals move around the wheel, oscillating motion is imparted to each transmission member, and thus to each handle member. Alternatively, as the handle members are moved back and forth the load wheel can be turned. This allows the user to shift the emphasis of force from the arms to the legs without exiting the exercise device. 
     In yet another alternative embodiment, the exercise device of the present invention may independently or additionally include a second adjustable upright standard adjustably attached to the base for supporting a stationary handle. 
     It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a stationary exercise machine that provides both simultaneous and independent workout of arms and legs. 
     It is a further important object of the present invention to provide a stationary exercise machine having a base and a vertical standard supporting a pedal operated load wheel, an adjustable seat, and a pair of slidable hand grips. 
     It is a further important object of the present invention to provide a stationary exercise machine having a vertical standard supporting a pedal operated load wheel, an adjustable seat, and a pair of slidable hand grips which are connected to the load wheel through a series of linkages thereby allowing the load wheel to be rotated by sliding the hand grips. 
     It is a further important object of the present invention to provide a stationary exercise machine having a pair of vertical standards, one standard supporting a load wheel and an adjustable seat, the other supporting a set of oscillating handle members connected to the load wheel through a series of linkages thereby allowing the load wheel to be rotated by oscillating the handle members. 
     It is a further important object of the present invention to provide a stationary exercise machine having a pair of vertical standards, one standard supporting a load wheel and an adjustable seat, and the other supporting a stationary handle member. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a stationary exercise machine which allows the user to operate the load wheel using the legs independently, the arms independently, or both the arms and legs together. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a stationary exercise machine which allows the user to shift the emphasis of force back and forth from the arms to the legs during a given workout without exiting the machine or changing anything on it. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a stationary exercise machine which allows the user to rest the legs while operating the device using only the arms. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a stationary exercise machine which allows the user to rest the arms while operating the device using only the legs. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide stationary base supporting a load wheel with pedals and an adjustable seat with handles attached thereto for use as a recumbent exercise machine for exercising the legs. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a single stationary base for supporting a dual-use exercise machine having a pair of vertical standards, one standard supporting a load wheel and an adjustable seat, the other supporting a set of oscillating handle members connected to the load wheel through a series of linkages for exercising the arms and legs; and a second adjustable seat with handles attached thereto for use as a recumbent exercise machine for exercising only the legs. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a single stationary base for supporting a tri-use exercise machine having a pair of vertical standards, one standard supporting a load wheel, an adjustable seat, and a pair of slidable vertical members with handles and linkages to the load wheel for exercising the arms and legs; a second standard supporting a set of oscillating handle members connected to the load wheel through a series of linkages for exercising the arms and legs; and a second adjustable seat with handles attached thereto for use as a recumbent exercise machine for exercising only the legs. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide an enjoyable exercise device. 
     Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the detailed descriptions and the claims herein. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention showing a user resting on the adjustable seat with feet on the pedals and hands holding the slidable grips. 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of the present invention showing internal aspects using phantom lines. 
     FIG. 2A is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention showing a combination including the slidable vertical members, a recumbent seat, and a second vertical standard for supporting a second set of handles. 
     FIG. 2B is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention showing the combination of a recumbent seat and a second vertical standard for supporting a second set of handles. 
     FIG. 2C is a side view of another alternative embodiment of the present invention showing the combination of a recumbent seat and a second vertical standard for supporting a stationary handle. 
     FIG. 2D is a side view of another alternative embodiment of the present invention showing the combination of slidable vertical members, a recumbent seat, and a second vertical standard for supporting a stationary handle. 
     FIG. 3 is an opposite side view of the present invention showing internal aspects using phantom lines. 
     FIG. 4 is a cut away view along line  4 — 4  of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 5 is a cut away view along line  5 — 5  of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the support base of the embodiment of FIG. 2C showing the adjustability of the vertical standards. 
     FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the load wheel shaft of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Referring to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and referring particularly to FIGS. 1-3 it is seen that the invention includes a support base  11  having a vertical standard  12  attached thereto. The load wheel  14  is rotatably attached to standard  12  near the bottom at pivot  13 . An adjustable tension strap  15  is wrapped around wheel  14  and may be tightened or loosened to adjust friction drag on the load wheel using adjustment screw  16  on base  11 . A pair of pedals  17  (and  17   a ) are pivotally attached to the center of wheel  14 . 
     Strap  15  is attached around the outer edge of wheel  14  and is mounted at either end on base  11 . One end of strap  15  is adjustable at  16  so as to allow different tension (friction) to be imparted to the wheel. The outer edge of wheel  14  is slidably (rotatably) attached to the wheel itself so that wheel  14  rotates inside edge  19 . 
     A seat  20  is provided which may be adjustably attached to standard  12  at almost any location using support bar  21 . 
     A pair of hand grips  41  (and  41   a ) are provided on the device. Grips  41  and  41   a  are attached, respectively, to the upper portions of slidable vertical members  33  and  33   a . The positions of the hand grips may be adjusted to fit the user. At least two enclosures or housings  31  are provided along the length of standard  12  which guide, support and retain slidable members  33  and  33   a  . The lower ends of slidable members  33  and  33   a  are pivotally attached, respectively, to the upper ends of linking members  35  and  35   a  at pivots  34  and  34   a . The lower ends of linking members  35  and  35   a  are pivotally attached, respectively, to the central pivots of pedals  17  and  17   a  (see FIGS.  2  and  3 ). This construction allows vertical force (whether up or down) applied to the hand grips to be transmitted through members  33  through linkages  34  and  35  to pedals  17  in order to rotate wheel  14 . 
     Detail of a housing  31  is shown in FIG.  4 . The housing  31  is made of two halves that are bolted together to allow firm support to members  33  while also making access possible for lubrication and repair. A flange  36  is provided at the top of each of members  35  to provide clearance between member  35  and wheel  14  as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5. 
     In the alternative embodiments shown in FIGS. 2A,  2 B and  2 C, it is seen that an adjustable seat  45  is provided on base  11 . Seat  45  may be slidably adjusted by the user for optimum distance from pedals  17 . Grip handles  47  are provided on seat  45  for the user to hold him/herself in position while pedaling the load wheel in a recumbent position. Seat  45 , handles  47  and load wheel  14  with pedals  17  may be independently or additionally provided in the invention. 
     FIGS. 2A,  2 B and  2 C also illustrate another alternative or additional aspect of the invention utilizing a second adjustable vertical standard  51  which supports either a single handle or hand grip  56  (FIG. 2C) or a pair of elongated oscillating handle members  54  (FIG.  2 B). Standard  51  may be adjusted both vertically and horizontally to place the handle  56  or handle members  54  in an optimum position for the user. 
     As shown in FIG. 2B, members  54  are pivotally attached to standard  51  at pivot  53 . Hand grips or handles  55  are provided at the tops of members  54 . A pair of transmission members  58  are provided between the lower ends of members  54  and pedals  17 . This construction allows force applied to the pedals to move the handle members  54  back and forth, or force applied to the handle members  54  to rotate the load wheel  14 . 
     The second vertical standard  51  supporting oscillating members  54  allows the user to exercise the arms. Thus, this embodiment may be provided in addition to, or as an alternative to the arm-exercising upper portion provided on the first standard  12 . When provided as an alternative arm exerciser as shown in FIG. 2B, or as an alternative arm rest as shown in FIG. 2C, the upper portion of standard  12  above seat support bar  21  is eliminated, as are the slidable vertical members  33  and  33   a , guides  31  and linking members  35  and  35   a . 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In the preferred embodiment all of the following parts should be made of sturdy metal or other suitable substance: base  11 , vertical standard  12 , pedal connectors  18 , force imparting members  33  and  35 , and guides  31 . Wheel  14  may be constructed of heavy metal to retain inertia, to withstand the friction of the tension strap and to transmit heat away from the friction surface. Ball bearings, or other suitable structures may be used between wheel  14  and rim  19  thereof Strap  15  should be made of metal fabric or other sturdy flexible material designed to withstand the friction and the heat. Vertical standard  12  should be at least six feet (6′) in height, and seat  20  should be adjustable to fit along at least a three foot (3′) section at the center thereof 
     In the alternative embodiments of FIGS. 2A,  2 B and  2 C, seat  45  should be adjustable back and forth, as well as up and down, for different sized users so that each user may adjust the seat for optimum distance from the pedals of the load wheel. Vertical standard  51 , handle members  54  &amp;  56  and transmission members  58  should all be made of sturdy metal or other suitable substance. 
     It is understood that any suitable frictionally resistant load wheel  14  may be employed in the present invention. 
     It is preferred to include all of the embodiments together in a single exercise device to allow the user many-different alternative exercises without the need for a large space and/or multiple machines, as shown in FIG.  2 A. However, the embodiment of the recumbent seat and load wheel, as well as the embodiment of the second vertical standard and load wheel may be separated from the slidable vertical members of the device and used independently, as shown in FIGS. 2B and 2C. 
     It is to be understood that variations and modifications of the present invention may be made without departing from the scope thereof. It is also to be understood that the present invention is not to be limited by the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but only in accordance with the appended claims when read in light of the foregoing specification.