Patent Publication Number: US-5833582-A

Title: Body exerciser

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     (a) Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to a body exerciser, and more particularly to a universal body exerciser that allows the user to perform various kinds or forms of exercises. 
     (b) Description of the Prior Art 
     Conventional exercising apparatuses generally have only a single function. People have to buy different types of exercising apparatus in order to be able to do various kinds of exercises. This is very costly and space-occupying. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A primary object of the present invention is to provide a body exerciser equipped with foot pedal means. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a body exerciser whereby the user can perform sit-up exercises. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a body exerciser whereby the user can train the leg muscles. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a body exerciser whereby the user can perform pulling exercises. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a body exerciser whereby the user can train the chest muscles. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which, 
     FIG. 1 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the structure of the connecting seat according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the structure of the pendulum device and beam device according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing the state of the invention in which the pendulum device is stationary and the gravity pendulum provides a load; 
     FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing the state of the invention in which the pendulum device swings and the gravity pendulum provides a load; 
     FIG. 6 is a schematic view (I) showing the present invention in use; 
     FIG. 7 is a schematic view (II) showing the present invention in use; 
     FIG. 8 is a schematic view (III) showing the present invention in use; 
     FIG. 9 is a schematic view (IV) showing the present invention in use; and 
     FIG. 10 is a schematic view (V) showing the present invention in use. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference to FIGS. 1-5, the present invention essentially comprises a base 1, a connecting seat, a pendulum device, and a beam device 4. The base 1 is substantially arcuate and is provided with lugs and opposed, curved slide tracks 12. The connecting seat 2 has a bottom end pivotally connected to positioning seats 14 at both sides of a rear end of the base 1, and a back portion the movement of which is controlled by a hydraulic lever 21 pivotally provided on the base 1, the connecting seat 2 providing a load for exercising purposes and being further provided with two guide wheels 22 at an upper end with a handle 23 at either side. The pendulum device 3 is pivotally provided at the lugs 11 below the base 1, and includes a gravity pendulum 31 having an axle 32, unidirectional sprockets 33 on the ends of the axle 32; a pair of foot pedals respectively mounted at the two ends of the axle 32; a positioning plate 35 disposed in front of the pendulum device 3; a clamp type brake 36 provided below the positioning plate 35; and a pull lever 37 disposed above the positioning plate 35 for controlling the brake 36 to brake the gravity pendulum 31. The beam device 4 includes a substantially U-shaped frame 41 connected to the pendulum device 3 for linking-up movement and having two vertical portions 411 at both sides; a pair of slide wheels 42 disposed at the vertical portions 411 of the frame 41 and mounted on the curved slide tracks 12 of the base 1; a predetermined number of idle sprockets 43 provided on the frame 41 at predetermined positions; chains 44 for driving the unidirectional sprocket 33; a spring 45 connected to one end of the chain 44 and secured to the frame 41 at a determined position; fastening rings 46 each connected to the other end of the chains 44 that projects from the frame 41; a cable 47 to be connected to the fastening rings 46; and an insertion stem 49 disposed at that vertical portion 411 of the frame opposite to where the fastening rings 46 are, for receiving an auxiliary lever 48 which can be of any desirable form. 
     Referring to FIG. 2, the positioning seats 14 pivotally connected to the bottom end of the connecting seat 2 are respectively locked in elongated slots 16 at one sides of the base 1 to allow adjustment of the position of the connecting seat 2. 
     Referring to FIG. 3, positioning pins 13 are provided between the pendulum device 3 and the lugs 11 on which it is pivotally mounted for securing the pendulum device 3 when the pendulum device 3 is not in use. The positioning pins 13 are inserted into positioning hole 111 of the lugs 11 to stop the pendulum device 3 from moving. 
     The cable 47 is provided with an attachment ring 471 which may be fastened at various positions of the exerciser with the cable 47 passing around idle wheels w at different positions to allow the user to perform pull and push exercises. 
     The beam device 4 is provided with securing rings 40 at both ends at the bottom side to which the cable 47 may be fastened to pull the beam device 4 to swing. 
     The auxiliary lever 48 may be a hand grip 48a or a foot rest 48b or means of other functions. 
     The technical features and advantages of the invention are described hereinbelow. 
     The gravity pendulum 31 acts as a load device. The positioning pins 13 on the lugs 11 control the movement of the pendulum device 3. When the pendulum device 3 is fixed and prevented from moving by the positioning pins 13, by working the foot pedals 34 or pulling the cable 47 to cause the chains 44 to drive the unidirectional sprockets 33 to turn the gravity pendulum 31. When the pendulum device 3 freely swings, by pulling the hand grip 48a or working the foot rest 48b optionally fitted into the insertion stem 49 at one vertical portion 411 of the beam device 4, due to the linking-up movement of the frame 41 and the pendulum device 3, the beam device 4 may swing back and forth along the curved slide tracks 12 with the gravity pendulum 31 serving as the load. Furthermore, the pedals 34 may be worked to cause the gravity pendulum 31 to swing back and forth. 
     Operation of the body exerciser of the invention is further described with reference to FIGS. 6-10. Referring to FIG. 6, when the pendulum device 3 is stationary and the hand grip 48a is fitted into the insertion stem 49 of the beam device 4, the user may drive the foot pedals 34 like driving an exer-bike the stretched spring 45 overcoming the unidirectional sprocket 33 to rotate freely while chain 44 is displaced in a reverse direction by spring 45. The positioning seat 14 may be pushed forwardly along the elongated slot 16 to support the back of the user. Positioning bolts 15 are used to lock the positioning seat 14 fixedly in position. Referring to FIG. 7, when the foot rest 48b is mounted in the insertion stem 49, the user may perform sit-ups with the help of the foot rest 48b. Referring to FIG. 8, as the cable 47 may be fastened to the fastening ring 46 of the chain 44 at various positions and passing around a certain number of idle wheels W, the user may perform pulling to train his/her arm and chest muscles. The arrangement of the spring 45 causes the unidirectional sprocket 33 to perform idle rotation relative to the gravity pendulum when the chain 44 retreats so that there is no load and the cable 47 can be quickly retrieved. Furthermore, when the pendulum device 3 freely swings (i.e., when the positioning pins 13 are removed from the positioning holes 111), the user may straddle on the base 1 with the feet on the foot pedals 34 and the hands holding the hand grip 48a to perform rocking exercises. Referring to FIG. 10, the pendulum device 3 freely swings and the cable 47 is fastened to the mounting ring 40 at the bottom side of the frame 41 to allow the user to pull the beam device 4 as a pulling exercise. 
     In summary, the body exerciser of the invention allows the user to perform various exercises such as sit-up, pedaling, pulling, and other kinds of exercise the user desires. The present invention is indeed a universal body exerciser. 
     Although the present invention has been illustrated and described with reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it should be understood that it is in no way limited to the details of such embodiment but is capable of numerous modifications within the scope of the appended claims.