Patent Publication Number: US-2013244838-A1

Title: Folding step exerciser

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to step exercisers and more particularly to a folding step exerciser. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     A conventional step exerciser is shown in  FIG. 9  and comprises a rectangular base frame  91  adapted to rest on the ground, a front upright  92  extending substantially vertically from the base frame  91 , a height adjustable handle bar  93  extending upward from an upper end of the upright  92 , a brace  94  interconnecting a rear end of the base frame  91  and an intermediate portion of the upright  92 , left and right foot pedals  95 ,  96  each having a front end pivotably secured to the front end of the base frame  91 , a transverse bar  98 , and two hydraulic cylinders  97  each having one end pivotably secured to one end of the bar  98  and an other end slidably secured to one of the right and left foot pedal  95  and  96 . 
     However, the conventional step exerciser is not collapsible, resulting in difficulties of transporting or storage. Thus, the need for improvement still exists. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore one object of the invention to provide a folding step exerciser comprising a main frame for placement on a surface and comprising a brace interconnecting a front end and a rear end and a pair of handlebars extending from a top end of the brace; a transmission device comprising two coaxial drive shafts disposed on both sides of the brace respectively, a first rotating shaft disposed below the drive shafts, a first wheel coaxial with the first rotating shaft, a first belt for linking the drive shafts and the first wheel, a second wheel coaxial with the first rotating shaft, a connection rotating shaft disposed between and driven by the drive shafts, a third wheel disposed between the drive shafts adjacent to the connection rotating shaft, a second belt for linking the second wheel and the third wheel, a roller for guiding the second belt, and a flywheel operatively connected to the connection rotating shaft; two length adjustable pedals disposed on both sides of the main frame respectively, each length adjustable pedal having one end pivotably secured to a front portion of the main frame; a pulley disposed below the transmission device; a main belt for linking the pulley, the drive shafts, and the pedals; a magnetic damping device comprising a knob on the main frame, a damping member spaced from and partially put on the flywheel, the damping member including a magnetic member for attracting the flywheel, and a rope interconnecting the knob and the damping member; a sensor disposed in close proximity to one of the length adjustable pedals for sensing a pedaling motion of one of the length adjustable pedals; and a numeric display mounted between the handlebars for displaying a count of the pedaling motion of one of the length adjustable pedals sensed by the sensor; wherein a turning of the knob either decreases or increases a rotating speed of the flywheel; and wherein the pedaling motion of the length adjustable pedals rotates the drive shafts via the main belt so as to activate the transmission device which in turn rotate the connection rotating shaft, the first wheel, the first rotating shaft, the second wheel, the third wheel, and the flywheel sequentially. 
     The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side elevation of a folding step exerciser according to the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the folding step exerciser with guard frame removed; 
         FIG. 3  is a side elevation of the  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of a lower portion of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  schematically depicts operation of the transmission assembly of the transmission device; 
         FIG. 6  is a side elevation showing the folded step exerciser; 
         FIG. 7  is a side elevation showing a woman using the folding step exerciser for exercise; 
         FIG. 8  shows a lower portion of  FIG. 3  for illustrating length adjustment of the tube; and 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a conventional step exerciser. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 8 , a folding step exerciser in accordance with the invention comprises the following components as discussed in detail below. 
     A main frame  1 , a transmission device  2 , a pedal assembly  3 , a pulley  4 , a main belt  5 , a magnetic damping device  6 , and a numeric display  7  are provided. The main frame  1  is rested on the ground and comprises a brace  12  interconnecting a front end and a rear end, a pair of handlebars  11  extending from a top end of the brace  12 , and a guard frame  13  for shrouding the transmission device  2 . 
     The transmission device  2  comprises a drive shaft assembly  21  disposed on two sides of the brace  12  and including two coaxial drive shafts  211  disposed on two sides of the brace  12  respectively, a transmission assembly  22  disposed between the drive shafts  211  and including a first rotating shaft  221  disposed below the drive shafts  211 , a first wheel  224  coaxial with the first rotating shaft  221 , a first belt  227  for mechanically linking the drive shafts  211  and the first wheel  224 , a second wheel  223  coaxial with the first rotating shaft  221 , a connection rotating shaft  225  disposed between and driven by the drive shafts  211 , a third wheel  222  disposed between the drive shafts  211  adjacent to the connection rotating shaft  225 , a second belt  226  for mechanically linking the second wheel  223  and the third wheel  222 , a roller  229  for guiding the second belt  226 , and a flywheel  228  operatively connected to the connection rotating shaft  225 . 
     The pedal assembly  3  comprises two foot plates  30  disposed on both sides of the main frame  1  respectively. Each foot plate  30  is pivotably secured to a front portion of the main frame  1  by a tube  31  having a length can be adjusted by fastening or unfastening a thumb screw  32 . The greater of the length of the tube  31  the greater of the pedal cycle and vice versa. 
     The pulley  4  is disposed below the transmission device  2 . The main belt  5  links the pulley  4 , the drive shafts  211 , and the tubes  31 . The magnetic damping device  6  comprises a knob  61  on the main frame  1 , a damping member  62  spaced from and partially put on the flywheel  228  and including a magnetic member  621  for attracting the flywheel  228 , and a rope  63  interconnecting the knob  61  and the damping member  62 . Thus, for example, a clockwise turning of the knob  61  can increase a distance between the magnetic member  621  and the flywheel  228  so that a resistance for rotating the flywheel  228  can be decreased (i.e., the flywheel  228  may increase rotating speed). To the contrary, a counterclockwise turning of the knob  61  can decrease the distance between the magnetic member  621  and the flywheel  228  so that the resistance for rotating the flywheel  228  can be increased (i.e., the flywheel  228  may decrease rotating speed). A sensor  71  is disposed in close proximity to the tube  31  so that a pedaling motion of the foot plate  30  can be sensed and counted. The count is further displayed on the numeric display  7  between the handlebars  11  for user viewing. 
     The operation of the folding step exerciser is detailed below. A use may pedal for exercise by stepping on the foot plates  30  upward and downward in a cyclic manner. And in turn, the drive shafts  211  may rotate via the main belt  5 . Further, the transmission device  2  may activate to rotate the connection rotating shaft  225 , the first wheel  224 , the first rotating shaft  221 , the second wheel  223 , the third wheel  222 , and the flywheel  228  in sequence. 
     While the invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modifications within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.