Patent Publication Number: US-7896780-B2

Title: Stepper

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a stepper with which a user can exercise his or her legs, buttocks and waist. 
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     A conventional stepper includes two pedals that can be pivoted up and down about horizontal axles. The movement of the pedals is limited to vertical directions. Therefore, a user can only exercise his or her legs. 
     Another conventional stepper includes two pedals that can be pivoted about two inclined axles extended from a post. The inclined axles and the post form a Y-shaped structure. One of the pedals will be lifted and moved towards the post if the other pedal is trodden and moved away from the post, i.e., outwards. Therefore, a user is forced to twist his or her waist while exercising his or her legs by treading the pedals. The user uses a little energy to twist his or her waist because he or she easily keeps balance while moving the pedal downwards and outwards. 
     The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in prior art. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     It is the primary objective of the present invention to provide a stepper with which a user can exercise his waist, buttocks and legs at the same time. 
     To achieve the foregoing objective, the stepper includes a base, two axles, two pedal units and a coordinating unit. The axles are provided on the base so that they point downwards as they extend away from each other. Each of the pedal units is pivotally connected to a related one of the axles. The coordinating unit includes a lever and two connectors. The lever is pivotally provided on the base. Each of the connectors is used to connect the lever to a related one of the pedal units. 
     Other objectives, advantages and features of the present invention will be apparent from the following description referring to the attached drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will be described via the detailed illustration of eight embodiments referring to the drawings. 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a compact stepper according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the compact stepper shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a compact stepper according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of a compact stepper according to the third embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of a compact stepper according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a partial perspective view of a compact stepper according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a top view of a compact stepper according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a top view of a compact stepper according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a top view of a compact stepper according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a stepper includes a base  10 , two pedal units  20 , a coordinating unit  30  and two impeding elements  25  according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The base  10  includes a longitudinal bar  11  and two crossbars  12  each connected to an end of the longitudinal bar  11 . A post  13  is raised from one of the crossbars  12 , two wings  131  extended upwards from the post  13 . An axle  15  is extended downwards from each of the wings  131 . Each of the axles  15  includes a fixed end at a related one of the wings  131  and located lower than the fixed end. 
     Each of the pedal units  20  includes a sleeve  21  pivotally provided on a related one of the axles  15 , a crank  22  extended from the sleeve  21 , a beam  23  connected to the sleeve  21 , a pedal  24  provided on the beam  23  and a connector  36  connected to the sleeve  21 . Thus, the pedals  24  are pivotally provided on the axles  15 . 
     Each of the impeding elements  25  may be a spring or a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder. Each of the impeding elements  25  includes an end connected to one of the crossbars  12  with a universal joint  251  and an opposite end connected to a related one of the beams  23  with a universal joint  252 . Thus, each of the impeding elements  25  is used to exert impedance against the movement of a related one of the pedal units  20 . 
     The coordinating unit  30  includes a frame  31 , a lever  32 , two connectors  33 , an adjusting element  34 , washers  35  and a fastener  36 . The frame  31  is connected to the post  13  with the adjusting element  34  so that the distance between the frame  31  and the post  13  is adjustable by operating the adjusting element  34 . The adjusting element  34  includes preferably a threaded bolt and a knob attached to the threaded bolt. The frame  31  includes preferably two ears. The washers  35  are located between the ears of the frame  31 . The lever  32  is located between the washers  35 . The fastener  36  is driven through the ears of the frame  31 , the washers  35  and the lever  32  so that the lever  32  is pivotally connected to the frame  31 . Each of the connectors  33  includes an end pivotally connected to an end of the lever  32  and an opposite end pivotally connected to a related one of the cranks  22 . Thus, the pedal units  20  are interconnected so that one of the pedals  24  will be moved upwards and outwards if the other pedal  24  is moved downwards and inwards. 
     A user has to exercise his or her legs, buttocks, waist and even arms to keep balance in treading one of the pedals  24  downwards and inwards. Therefore, the user can exercise various muscles and consume much energy with the stepper. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a stepper according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment is like the first embodiment except the following features. The wings  131  are omitted. The frame  31  is attached to the post  13  by welding for example. Hence, the adjusting element  34  is omitted. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , there is shown a stepper according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The third embodiment is like the second embodiment except that the frame  31  is attached to the longitudinal bar  11 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , there is shown a stepper according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The third embodiment is like the first embodiment except the following features. A bar  16  is used instead of the wings  131  and axles  15 . The bar  16  includes a middle section attached to the post  13  and two terminal sections  160  inserted though the sleeves  21 . A coordinating unit  40  is used instead of the coordinating unit  30 . The coordinating unit  40  includes a frame  41 , a lever  42 , two connectors  43  and an adjusting element  44 . The frame  41  is attached to the longitudinal bar  11 . The lever  42  is connected to the frame  41 . Each of the connectors  43  includes an end pivotally connected to an end of the lever  42  and an opposite end pivotally connected to a related one of the cranks  22 . The adjusting element  44  is driven though the frame  41  and connected to the lever  42  so that the position of the lever  42  relative to the frame  41  is adjustable by operating the adjusting element  44 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , there is shown a stepper according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. The fifth embodiment is like the first embodiment except the following features. There are two axles  17  extended from one of the crossbars  12 . The sleeves  21  are pivotally supported on the axles  17 . Hence, the post  13 , the wings  131  and the axles  15  are omitted. Each of the axles  17  includes an upper end and a lower end. The distance between the upper ends of the axles  17  are shorter than the distance between the lower ends of the axles  17 . A coordinating unit  50  is used instead of the coordinating unit  30 . The coordinating unit  50  includes a frame  51 , a lever  52  and two connectors  53 . The frame  51  is connected to the other crossbar  12 . The lever  52  is pivotally connected to the frame  51 . Each of the connectors  53  includes an end pivotally connected to an end of the lever  52  and an opposite end pivotally connected to a related one of the cranks  22 . In each of the pedal units  20 , the beam  23  is connected to the crank  22  instead of the sleeve  21 . An impeding element  26  is used instead of the impeding element  25 . The impeding element  26  is an elastic element formed with two ends each connected to one of the beams  23  via a universal joint  261 . The impeding element  26  exerts impedance against the movement of each of the pedals  24 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , there is shown a stepper according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. The sixth embodiment is like the first embodiment except the following features. Two pairs of ears  18  are provided on one of the crossbars  12 . An axle  180  is supported on each pair of ears  18 . Therefore, the wings  131  and the axles  15  are omitted. Each of the axles  180  is supported on a related pair of ears  18 . 
     An impeding unit  60  is used instead of the impeding elements  25 . The impeding unit  60  includes a rod  61 , a wheel  62 , a movable element  63 , an adjusting element  64 , a rod  65 , two bent elements  66  and a frictional strap  67 . The rod  61  is parallel to the longitudinal bar  11 . The rod  61  includes an end connected to the post  13  and another end connected to the wheel  62 . The frictional strap  67  is wound around the wheel  62 . Each of the bent elements  66  includes an end connected to an end of the frictional strap  67  and another end pivotally connected to the movable element  63 . The rod  65  is transversely connected to the rod  61 . The rod  65  includes two slots  650  each for receiving a pin driven through a related one of the bent elements  66 . The adjusting element  64  is inserted through the post  13 . The adjusting element  64  is preferably a threaded bolt driven in a screw hole defined in the movable element  63  or engaged with a nut attached to the movable element  63 . The adjusting element  64  is operable to move the movable element  63  relative to the rod  65  so that the angles of the bent elements  66  are changed. Therefore, the length of the portion of the frictional strap  67  wound around the wheel  62  is changed, and so is the stress in the frictional strap  67  as well as the friction between the wheel  62  and the frictional strap  67 . 
     A coordinating unit  70  is used instead of the coordinating unit  30 . The coordinating unit  70  includes a lever  72  and two connectors  73 . The lever  72  is connected to the wheel  62  so that they can only be rotated together. Each of the connectors  73  is used to connect an end of the lever  72  to a related one of the pedal units  20 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , there is shown a stepper according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention. The seventh embodiment is like the sixth embodiment except the following features. Two axles  15  are connected to the post  13 . Hence, the pairs of ears  18  and the axles  180  are omitted. The bent elements  66  are pivotally connected to the rod  65 . Hence, the slots  650  are omitted. The adjusting element  64  is connected to the bent elements  66 . Hence, the movable element  63  is omitted. 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , there is shown a stepper according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention. The eighth embodiment is like the second embodiment except the following features. A coordinating unit  80  is used instead of the coordinating unit  30 . The coordinating unit  80  includes an adjusting element  81 , a wheel  82  and two connectors  83 . The adjusting element  81  is preferably a threaded bolt driven in a screw hole defined in the post  13 . A knob is attached to an end of the adjusting element  81 . The wheel  82  is pivotally connected to another end of the adjusting element  81 . Each of the connectors  83  includes an end connected to the wheel  82  and another end connected to a related one of the cranks  22 . By operating the adjusting element  81 , the angles of the pedal units  20  are changed. 
     The present invention has been described via the detailed illustration of the embodiments. Those skilled in the art can derive variations from the embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments shall not limit the scope of the present invention defined in the claims.