Patent Publication Number: US-2011071005-A1

Title: Stepping and Waist Twirling Exercise Machine

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a stepping and waist twirling exercise machine, and more particularly to one having left and right stepping platforms for turning left/right synchronously and a linking rope provided on left and right stepping rods for assisting the turning of the left and right platforms, providing stepping exercise and enhancing a waist twirling effect. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     A conventional stepping exercise machine is provided with stepping pedals to move stepping rods, by the application of forces during the stepping motion by the user, the applied forces are resisted by fluidic cylinders. In order to provide a waist twirling effect, a turning axle between the two stepping rods may be biased at a proper angle for waist twirling exercise during the stepping motion. The conventional machine has the following shortcomings. 
     1. The waist twirling exercise is achieved by the biased angle of the stepping rods, but the twirling angle is limited, which is unable to provide a better waist twirling effect. 
     2. The range of vertical movement of the stepping pedals is not adjustable for the user&#39;s demand. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a stepping and waist twirling exercise machine, comprising left and right fluidic cylinders pivotally connected to left and right stepping rods and a machine base, respectively, and two ends of a linking rope of a linking mechanism secured to the left and right stepping rods for interconnecting the left and right stepping rods to compress the left and right fluidic cylinders in turn, characterized by: 
     the left and right stepping rods having left and right through holes for insertion of left and right bearings, left and right stepping platforms being provided on the left and right stepping rods, the left and right stepping platforms having left and right shafts to be inserted into the left and right bearings, the left and right stepping platforms providing active stepping and wait twirling exercise along with the user&#39;s left/right turning. 
     Preferably, the linking mechanism comprises: 
     a roller holder having a roller with a roller axle to secure a support seat, the support seat having an adjusting hole thereon; 
     a linking rope disposed on the roller, the linking rope having two ends secured to the left and right stepping rods, respectively; 
     a locating board disposed on a frame, the locating board having a confining hole corresponding in position to the adjusting hole; and 
     an adjusting bolt inserted through the confining hole of the locating board and screwed to the adjusting hole of the support seat of the roller holder. 
     According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a stepping and waist twirling exercise machine, comprising left and right fluidic cylinders pivotally connected to left and right stepping rods and a machine base, respectively, and two ends of a linking rope of a linking mechanism secured to the left and right stepping rods for interconnecting the left and right stepping rods to compress the left and right fluidic cylinders in turn, the machine comprising: 
     the left and right stepping rods having left and right through holes for insertion of left and right bearings, left and right stepping platforms being provided on the left and right stepping rods, the left and right stepping platforms having left and right shafts to be inserted into the left and right bearings; 
     left and right coil rollers secured to the left and right shafts, the left and right coil rollers being provided with left and right rope units each having left and right ropes, the left and right ropes having first ends secured to two sides of the left and right coil rollers and second ends secured to the machine base and a frame, respectively; and 
     left and right supporting mechanisms comprising left and right limit boards, left and right stop boards, and left and right pulleys disposed on the left and right stepping rods, the left and right rope units being located between the limit boards and the pulleys; 
     whereby, when the left and right stepping platforms are stepped downward in turn, the left and right ropes of the left and right rope units being pulled reciprocally to drive the left and right coil rollers to turn left/right synchronously, proving passive stepping and waist twirling exercise. 
     Preferably, two sides of each of the coil rollers are formed with notches for engagement of the left and right ropes. 
     Preferably, each of the left and right rope units is composed of a rope and a sleeve. 
     Preferably, the left and right pulleys are pivotally connected to front inner sides of the left and right stepping rods and formed with at least a groove for engagement of the left and right ropes of the left and right rope units. 
     Preferably, the left and right stop boards are connected to respective sides of the left and right stepping rods and located between the left and right limit boards and the left and right pulleys, and have upper and lower stop holes for insertion of the left and right ropes of the left and right rope units and for securing the left and right sleeves. 
     According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a stepping and waist twirling exercise machine comprising left and right fluidic cylinders pivotally connected to left and right stepping rods and a machine base, respectively, and two ends of a linking rope of a linking mechanism secured to the left and right stepping rods for interconnecting the left and right stepping rods to compress the left and right fluidic cylinders in turn, the machine comprising: 
     the left and right stepping rods having left and right through holes for insertion of left and right bearings, left and right stepping platforms being provided on the left and right stepping rods, the left and right stepping platforms having left and right shafts to be inserted into the left and right through holes; 
     left and right coil rollers secured to the left and right shafts; 
     left and right limit boards disposed under the left and right stepping rods and located in front of the left and right coil rollers, the left and right limit boards having left and right limit holes, the left limit hole being adapted for insertion of left and right ropes of a left rope unit and for securing left and right sleeves of the left rope unit, the right limit hole being adapted for insertion of left and right ropes of a right rope unit and for securing left and right sleeves of the right rope unit; 
     left and right pulleys pivotally connected to respective front inner sides of the left and right stepping rods and secured to left and right pulley boards for changing directions of the left and right ropes and driving same turning angles of the left and right coil rollers to turn the left and right stepping platforms synchronously; 
     left and right stop boards secured to respective sides of the left and right stepping rods and located between the left and right limit boards and the left and right pulleys, the left stop board having upper and lower stop holes and the right stop board having upper and lower stop holes for stabilizing the left and right ropes into the grooves of the left and right pulleys; 
     the left and right rope units, the left and right ropes of the left rope unit and the left and right ropes of the right rope unit being provided with the left and right sleeves, the left and right ropes of the left rope unit having first and second ends, respectively, the first ends of the left and right ropes of the left rope unit of the left stepping rod being secured to two sides of the left coil roller, the second end of the left rope being secured to a left fixing board of the machine base, the second end of the right rope being secured to an upper fixing board of the frame; the left and right ropes of the right rope unit having first and second ends, respectively, the first ends of the left and right ropes of the right rope unit of the right stepping being secured to two sides of the right coil roller, the second end of the left rope being secured to the upper fixing board of the frame, the right rope being secured to a right fixing board of the machine base; and 
     a linking mechanism disposed on the frame, the linking mechanism having a linking rope with two ends secured to the left and right stepping rods. 
     Preferably, the linking mechanism comprises: 
     a roller holder having a roller with a roller axle to secure a support seat, the support seat having an adjusting hole thereon; 
     a linking rope disposed on the roller, the linking rope having two ends secured to the left and right stepping rods, respectively; 
     a locating board disposed on a frame, the locating board having a confining hole corresponding in position to the adjusting hole; and 
     an adjusting bolt inserted through the confining hole of the locating board and screwed to the adjusting hole of the support seat of the roller holder. 
     Preferably, two sides of each of the coil rollers are formed with notches for engagement of the left and right ropes. 
     Preferably, the left and right pulleys are formed with at least a groove. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 1-A  is an exploded view showing a stepping platform and a stepping rod of the present invention; 
         FIG. 1-B  is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 1-C  and  1 -D are schematic views of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention in an operating status; 
         FIG. 1-E  is a partially sectional view of a linking mechanism of the present invention; 
         FIG. 1-F  is a cross-sectional view of the linking mechanism of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2-A  is a front perspective view of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2-B  is a rear perspective view of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 2-C  and  2 -D are schematic views of a third preferred embodiment of the present invention in an operating status; 
         FIG. 3  is a left bottom view of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3-A  is an enlarged view showing a coil roller of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the present invention in an operating status. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 1-A  and  FIG. 1-B , left and right stepping rods  1  and  1 ′ have left and right through holes  111  and  111 ′ for insertion of left and right bearings  1111  and  1111 ′. Left and right stepping platforms  12  and  12 ′ are provided with left and right shaft  121  and  121 ′ to be inserted into the left and right bearings  1111  and  1111 ′. When the user stands on the left and right stepping platforms  12  and  12 ′ for motion, the left and right stepping platforms  12  and  12 ′ are able to turn left or right along with the user&#39;s twirling motion, providing active stepping and waist twirling exercise. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 2-A ,  FIG. 2-B ,  FIG. 3 , and  FIG. 4 , left and right coil rollers  13  and  13 ′ are provided on the left and right shafts  121  and  121 ′. The coil rollers  13  and  13 ′ are provided with left and right rope units  15  and  15 ′ at two sides thereof. The left and right rope units  15  and  15 ′ are set up with a support mechanism. The support mechanism includes left and right sleeves  1511 ,  1521 ,  1511 ′, and  1521 ′ fitted on left and right ropes  151 ,  151 ′,  152 , and  152 ′. Two ends of the left and right sleeves  1511 ,  1521 ,  1511 ′, and  1521 ′ are secured to left and right limit boards  14  and  14 ′ and left and right stop boards  191  and  191 ′, respectively. The other ends of the left and right ropes  151  and  152  on the left stepping rod  1  are secured to a frame  10  and a machine base  11  through a left pulley  19 . Oppositely, the other ends of the left and right ropes  151 ′ and  152 ′ on the right stepping rod  1 ′ are secured to the frame  10  and the machine base  11  through a right pulley  19 ′. When the left and right stepping platforms  12  and  12 ′ are stepped downward in turn, the left and right rope units  15  and  15 ′ will bring the left and right coil rollers  13  and  13 ′ to turn left or right synchronously, providing passive stepping and waist twirling exercise. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-E  and  1 -F, the frame  10  is provided with a linking mechanism  2 . The linking mechanism  2  includes a linking rope  22  having two ends secured to the left and right stepping rods  1  and  1 ′ respectively and an adjusting bolt  24  for controlling ascension and descent of the linking rope  22  to control the left and right stepping rods  1  and  1 ′. The foresaid structure is in conjunction with the damping of left and right fluidic cylinders C and C′ to achieve stepping exercise as well as waist twirling exercise. 
       FIG. 1-A ,  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 2-A , and  FIG. 2-B  show a stepping and waist twirling exercise machine of the present invention. The fluidic cylinders C and C′ are pivotally connected to the left and right stepping rods  1  and  1 ′ and the machine base  11 , respectively. The left and right stepping rods  1  and  1 ′ compress the left and right fluidic cylinder C and C′ in turn for a damping effect. The stepping and waist twirling exercise machine comprises left and right stepping rods  1  and  1 ′, left and right coil rollers  13  and  13 ′, left and right limit boards  14  and  14 ′, left and right pulleys  19  and  19 ′, left and right stop boards  191  and  191 ′, left and right rope units  15  and  15 ′, and a linking mechanism  2 . 
     The left and right stepping rods  1  and  1 ′ have left and right through holes  111  and  111 ′ for insertion of left and right bearings  1111  and  1111 ′. Left and right stepping platforms  12  and  12 ′ are provided with left and right shaft  121  and  121 ′ for extending from the left and right bearings  1111  and  1111 ′ in the left and right through holes  111  and  111 ′. 
     The left and right coil rollers  13  and  13 ′ are disposed on the left and right shafts  121  and  121 ′. 
     The left and right limit boards  14  and  14 ′ are disposed under the left and right stepping rods  1  and  1 ′ and located in front of the left and right coil rollers  13  and  13 ′. The left and right limit boards  14  and  14 ′ have left and right limit holes  141  and  141 ′. The left limit hole  141  is adapted for insertion of left and right ropes  151  and  152  of the left rope unit  15  and for securing left and right sleeves  1511  and  1521 . The right limit hole  141 ′ is adapted for insertion of left and right ropes  151 ′ and  152 ′ of the right rope unit  15 ′ and for securing left and right sleeves  1511 ′ and  1521 ′. 
     The left and right pulleys  19  and  19 ′ are pivotally connected to front inner sides of the left and right stepping rods  1  and  1 ′, respectively. The left pulley  19  has at least one groove, and is secured to a left pulley board  192 . The right pulley  19 ′ has at least one groove, and is secured to a right pulley board  192 ′. The left and right pulleys  19  and  19 ′ are adapted for changing the direction of the left and right ropes  151 ,  152 ,  151 ′ and  152 ′ and for driving the same turning angle of the left and right coil rollers  13  and  13 ′ so as to turn the left and right stepping platforms  12  and  12 ′ synchronously. 
     The left and right stop boards  191  and  191 ′ are secured to the sides of the left and right stepping rods  1  and  1 ′ and located between the left and right limit boards  14  and  14 ′ and the left and right pulleys  19  and  19 ′. The left stop board  191  has upper and lower stop holes  1911  and  1912  for stabilizing the left and right ropes  151  and  152  into the groove of the left pulley  19 . The right stop board  191 ′ has upper and lower stop holes  1911 ′ and  1912 ′ for stabilizing the left and right ropes  151 ′ and  152 ′ into the groove of the left pulley  19 ′. 
     The left and right rope units  15  and  15 ′ includes the left and right limit boards  14  and  14 ′, the left and right ropes  151  and  152  of the left rope unit  15 , the left and right ropes  151 ′ and  152 ′ s  of the right rope unit  15 ′, and the right and left sleeves  1511 ,  1521 ,  1511 ′ and  1521 ′. The left and right ropes  151  and  152  of the left rope unit  15  have first and second ends, respectively. The first ends of the left and right ropes  151  and  152  of the left rope unit  15  of the left stepping rod  1  are secured to two sides of the left coil roller  13 . The second end of the left rope  151  is secured to a left fixing board  17  of the machine base  11 . The second end of the right rope  152  is secured to an upper fixing board  101  of the frame  10 . The left and right ropes  151 ′ and  152 ′ of the right rope unit  15 ′ have first and second ends, respectively. The first ends of the left and right ropes  151 ′ and  152 ′ of the right rope unit  15 ′ of the right stepping rod  1 ′ are secured to two sides of the right coil roller  13 ′. The second end of the left rope  151 ′ is secured to the upper fixing board  101  of the frame  10 . The right rope  152 ′ is secured to a right fixing board  18  of the machine base  11 . 
     The linking mechanism  2  includes a roller holder  21  disposed on the frame  10 , a roller  211 , and a linking rope  22  on the roller  211 . The linking rope  22  has two ends secured to the left and right stepping rods  1  and  1 ′. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 2-C ,  FIG. 2-D ,  FIG. 3 , and  FIG. 4 , when the right stepping platform  12 ′ is stepped, the left rope  151 ′ of the right rope unit  15 ′ subjected to the lower stop hole  1912 ′ of the right stop board  191 ′ pushes the left sleeve  1511 ′ of the left rope  151 ′ such that the left rope  151 ′ brings the right coil roller  13 ′ to turn clockwise as well as the right stepping platform  12 ′ to turn clockwise synchronously; meanwhile, the left stepping platform  12  drives the left stepping rod  1  to rise by means of the linking rope  22  when the right stepping rod  1 ′ is stepped. The left sleeve  1511  of the left rope  151  is urged by the upper stop hole  1911  of the left stop board  191  such that the left rope  151  brings the left coil roller  13  to turn clockwise as well as the left stepping platform  12  to turn clockwise synchronously. On the contrary, when the left stepping platform  12  is stepped, the right rope  152  of the left rope unit  15  subjected to the lower stop hole  1912  of the left stop board  191  pushes the right sleeve  1521  of the right rope  152  such that the right rope  152  of the left rope unit  15  brings the left coil roller  13  to turn counterclockwise as well as the left stepping platform  12  to turn counterclockwise synchronously; meanwhile, the right stepping platform  12 ′ drives the right stepping rod  1 ′ to rise by means of the linking rope  22  when the left stepping rod  1  is stepped. The right sleeve  1511 ′ of the right rope  151 ′ is urged by the upper stop hole  1911 ′ of the right stop board  191 ′ such that the right rope  152 ′ brings the right coil roller  13 ′ to turn counterclockwise as well as the right stepping platform  12 ′ to turn counterclockwise synchronously. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , and  FIG. 3-A , the coil roller  13  and  13 ′ are formed with notches  131  and  131 ′ for engagement of the left and right rope  151 ,  152 ,  151 ′, and  152 ′ of the left and right rope unit  15  and  15 ′. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , FIG.  1 -A˜ 1 -F, the linking mechanism  2  may achieved by a linking adjustment mechanism to adjust the range of the vertical movement of the left and right stepping rods  1  and  1 ′, namely, consisting of a linking rope  22 , a roller holder  21 , a locating board  23 , and an adjusting bolt  24 . 
     The roller holder  21  comprises a roller  211  with a roller axle  2111  and a support seat  25  above the roller  21 . The support seat  25  has an adjusting hole  251  thereon. 
     The linking rope  22  is placed on the roller  211 , and has two ends secured to the left and right stepping rods  1  and  1 ′, respectively. 
     The locating board  23  is disposed on the frame  10 , and has a confining hole  231  corresponding in position to the adjusting hole  251 . 
     The adjusting bolt  24  in inserted through the confining hole  231  of the locating board  23  and screwed to the adjusting hole  251  of the support seat  25  of the roller holder  21 . 
     Accordingly, when the adjusting bolt  24  is turned clockwise/counterclockwise, the linking rope  22  will be driven to adjust the range of vertical movement of the left and right stepping rod  1  and  1 ′ for the user&#39;s demand. 
     Although particular embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.