Abstract:
The seated stepper is provided for exercising the lower body. The stepper includes a frame having opposite sides and a longitudinal axis, and a seat attached to the frame. First and second foot lever arrangements are pivotally coupled together on opposite sides of the frame to move alternately in forward and rearward directions towards forward and rearward positions. The foot lever arrangements have linearly moveable right and left foot receptacles adapted to be engaged by an exerciser&#39;s feet. First and second motion transfer arrangements are mounted on opposite sides of the frame and coupled to the foot lever arrangements for enabling reciprocating movement of one foot lever arrangement relative to the other foot lever arrangement. A transmission arrangement is mounted on the frame and is operably connected to the first and second motion transfer arrangements. The transmission arrangement includes upper and lower pulley and gear trains in meshing relationship with one another. A resistance structure is mounted to the frame and is operably connected to the transmission arrangement for resisting pivotal movement of each foot lever arrangement in one of the forward and rearward directions. The transmission arrangement enables either of the foot receptacles to be moved and prevents any inertia from the resistance structure from being transferred back to the foot lever arrangements.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to exercise equipment for strengthening muscles and providing cardiovascular conditioning. More particularly, the invention pertains to a stepper for permitting exercising of the lower body while the exerciser maintains a seated position. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     One of the more popular exercise devices in widespread use today is a seated or recumbent stepper which provides aerobic exercise as well as development of the leg muscles. Such device combines the comfort and support of a seated or reclined exercise position with a striding type of exercise such as provided by conventional upright machines known to simulate stair climbing. 
     One of the concerns of steppers relates to the application of resistance and its role in maintaining a smooth, rhythmic motion through the course of an exercise session. Some steppers provide non-uniform or variable resistance because of the use of chains, cables and springs which do not provide solid linkages. The variable or jerking motions that sometimes occur can cause potential injury to exercisers. The maintaining of proper resistance in steppers is also a problem because of the arcuate or curved path of their exercise movements which can vary the mechanical lever created between the exerciser and the stepper. Such variation in lever position will change the amount of force exerted upon a stepper linkage and thus the resistance experienced by the exerciser. Some steppers seek to avoid the undesirable jerking sensation by implying a rack and pinion system. However, the use of a rack and pinion can create frictional forces that undesirably reduce the efficiency of the steppers and can cause significant wear of some stepper components. A further drawback is the large number and complex arrangement of parts which leads to higher costs of production and possible future maintenance requirements. It is also important to prevent any momentum or inertia generated by the stepper resistance arrangement from being transferred back to the exerciser after the stepping movement is terminated so as to avoid potential injury to the exerciser. 
     Accordingly, it is desirable to offer a differently styled seated stepper which overcomes the problems set forth above, and relies on a unique system of components interconnected in a particular relationship so as to provide a comfortable lower body exercise machine that operates in a smooth, controllable and synchronized manner. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is a general object of the present invention to provide an exercise machine which uses an alternating linear stepping or leg pressing motion to provide a lower body workout. 
     It is one object of the present invention to provide a leg exercise machine that combines the comfort and support of a seated exercise position with a striding type of motion which will improve muscular and aerobic conditioning. 
     It is also an object of the present invention to provide a seated stepper which employs a specially designed transmission arrangement so as to enable reciprocating, synchronized movement of lower body limbs. 
     It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a seated stepper having a motion which is easily initiated by either foot of an exerciser. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a lower body exercise machine which maintains a smooth, selective resistance to an exercise movement to prevent any variable motion or feedback that may cause injury to an exerciser. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a seated stepper which has adjustable resistance levels, is easy to use and may be mass produced at a reasonable cost. 
     In one aspect of the invention, a seated stepper is provided for exercising the lower body. The stepper includes a frame having opposite sides and a longitudinal axis, and a seat attached to the frame. First and second foot lever arrangements are pivotally coupled together on opposite sides of the frame to move alternately in forward and rearward directions toward forward and rearward positions. The foot lever arrangements have linearly moveable right and left foot receptacles adapted to be engaged by an exerciser&#39;s feet. First and second motion transfer arrangements are mounted on opposite sides of the frame and are coupled to the foot lever arrangements for enabling reciprocating movement of one foot lever arrangement relative to the other foot lever arrangement. A transmission arrangement is mounted on the frame and is operably connected to the first and second motion transfer arrangements. The transfer arrangement includes upper and lower pulley and gear trains in meshing relationship with one another. A resistance structure is mounted to the frame and is operably connected to the transmission arrangement for resisting pivotal movement of each foot lever arrangement in one of the forward and rearward directions. The transmission arrangement enables either of the foot receptacles to be moved and prevents any inertia from the resistance structure from being transferred back to the foot lever arrangements. 
     Each of the first and second motion transfer arrangements includes a member rotatably mounted to the frame, and a swing arm having a forward end pivotally joined to one of the foot lever arrangements and a rearward end pivotally secured to the rotatable member. One of the rotatable members on one side of the frame is coupled to the transmission arrangement by a main drive belt. Each of the rotatable members has a circular configuration and is located beneath the seat. One of the rotatable members is a main drive pulley and the other of the rotatable members is a flywheel. The transmission arrangement includes a rigid gear case holding the upper and lower pulley and gear trains, an upper idler pulley and a lower idler pulley. The upper pulley and gear train includes a rotatable upper clutch shaft having an upper shaft pulley mounted thereon, an upper shaft gear secured thereto and a pair of pillow block bearings secured to the shaft on both sides of the upper shaft gear. The lower pulley and gear train includes a rotatable lower clutch shaft having a lower shaft pulley with an internal one-way clutch mounted to the lower clutch shaft, a lower shaft gear with an internal one-way clutch secured to the lower clutch shaft, a pair of pillow block bearings secured to the lower clutch shaft on both sides of the lower shaft gear, and a brake drive pulley fixed on the lower clutch shaft. The main drive belt is engaged with the main drive pulley, the upper idler pulley, the upper shaft pulley, the lower shaft pulley and the lower idler pulley. The upper shaft gear is constantly engaged with the lower shaft gear. The brake drive pulley is operably connected to the resistance structure by a resistance drive belt. The transmission arrangement is constructed and arranged such that the brake drive pulley rotates in only one direction. The resistance structure is an eddy current brake/generator having a rotating disc. The upper clutch shaft and the lower clutch shaft have longitudinal axes which are disposed generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the frame. 
     In another aspect of the invention, a seated stepper has a frame with opposite sides, a seat bottom mounted on the frame, first and second foot lever arrangements coupled to the frame to move in forward and rearward linear positions towards forward and rearward positions and resistance structure mounted on the frame for resisting movement of the foot lever arrangements in one of the forward and rearward directions. The invention is improved by a pulley and gear transmission arrangement mounted on the frame between the foot lever arrangements and the resistance structure for preventing any inertia from the resistance structure from being fed back to the foot lever arrangements so as to prevent injury to a exerciser. The foot lever arrangements are pivotally joined to opposite sides of the frame. The foot lever arrangements are coupled together so that they will move in unison. The transmission arrangement includes an upper pulley and gear train mounted on an upper cylindrical clutch shaft in constant meshing relationship with a lower pulley and gear train secured on a lower clutch shaft. The lower cylindrical clutch shaft includes a lower shaft pulley with an internal one-way clutch and a lower shaft gear with an internal one-way clutch. A longitudinal axis of the upper cylindrical clutch shaft is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the lower cylindrical clutch shaft. 
     Various other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be made apparent from the following description taken together with the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The drawings illustrate the best mode presently contemplated of carrying out the invention. 
       In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a right rear perspective view of the seated stepper embodying the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a right front perspective view of the seated stepper; 
         FIG. 3  is a left front perspective view of the seated stepper; 
         FIG. 4  is a left rear perspective view of the seated stepper; 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the transmission arrangement used in the seated stepper; 
         FIG. 6  is a view similar to  FIG. 2  showing the right swing arm and the resistance device broken away from the seated stepper; 
         FIG. 7  is another view similar to  FIG. 2  showing only the right swing arm broken away from the seated stepper; and 
         FIG. 8  is a view similar to  FIG. 3  showing the left swing arm broken away from the seated stepper. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1–4 , a seated stepper  10  for providing muscular and cardiovascular conditioning of the lower body comprises a frame  12 , a seat  14  adjustably secured to the frame  12 , respective right and left foot lever arrangements  16 ,  18  pivotally joined to the frame and generally horizontally displaced from seat  14 , a transmission arrangement  19 , a single resistance structure  20 , and right and left foot motion transfer systems  22 ,  24 . Generally all the major components of the stepper  10  beneath the seat  14  are enclosed by a lower housing (not shown) that prevents inadvertent contact with the exerciser or the exerciser&#39;s clothing during the use of the stepper  10 . 
     Frame  12  includes a front transverse member  26 , a rear transverse member  28  and a longitudinally extending member  30  which extends linearly, rearwardly and angularly upwardly from the front transverse member  26  and terminates in a strut  33  having a lower branch  32  fixed to the center of the rear transverse member  28 . The front transverse member  26  includes a cylindrical tube  34  having a pair of end caps  36 ,  38  mounted for rotation thereon. The end caps  36 ,  38  may function as wheels when stepper  10  is lifted from the rear and moved while the front transverse member  26  supports the stepper  10 . The bottom of the rear transverse member  28  is provided with a rotatable adjustment device  40  to slightly change the vertical position at the rear of the stepper  10 , if desired. An upper branch  42  of the strut  33  extends upwardly and slightly forwardly, and is integrally formed with a downwardly and forwardly projecting section  44  which supports a seat tube  46 . 
     Slidably supported on the seat  46  is a saddle  48  to which is mounted a seat bottom  50  provided with a pair of grab handles  52 ,  54  laterally thereof. Also attached to the saddle  48  is a framework  56  for supporting a seat back  58  typically at an obtuse angle relative to the seat bottom  50 . The saddle  48  includes an adjustment mechanism  60  to permit sliding adjustment of the seat  14  depending on the size of the exerciser. For optimum cardiovascular results, the seat  14  is designed to be placed at a height such that the seated exerciser&#39;s heart is located above the foot lever arrangements  16 ,  18 . 
     The frame  12  also includes at its front end a forwardly, upwardly and rearwardly extending, curved support arm  66  for positioning a control panel  68  forwardly of the seat  14 . A forward end of a support bar  70  is attached to the support arm  66 , and a rearward end of the support bar  70  is secured beneath the seat supporting section  44 . A mounting brace  72  extends between the seat supporting section  44  and the angular rear portion of member  30 . An upper portion of curved support arm  66  located beneath the control panel  68  carries a short extension  74  for supporting a fixed shaft  76  oriented generally transversely to a vertical plane bisecting the seat bottom  50 . 
     The right foot lever arrangement  16  includes a foot receptacle  78  having an upper arm  80  and a lower arm  82 . A top end of the upper arm  80  is provided with a first cylindrical bearing assembly  84  rotatably mounted about a right end of the shaft  76 . Similarly, the left foot lever arrangement  18  includes a foot receptacle  86  having an upper arm  88  and a lower arm  90 . A top end of the upper arm  88  is equipped with a second cylindrical bearing assembly  92  rotatably mounted about a left end of the shaft  76 . As will be appreciated hereafter, the right and left foot lever arrangements  16 ,  18 , respectively, are coupled or tied together to an upper part of frame curved support arm  66  in such a manner that the foot lever arrangements  16 ,  18  can pivot forwardly and rearwardly of each other with the foot receptacles  78  and  86  moving in a linear path back and forth. 
     The right and left foot motion transfer systems  22 ,  24  are employed to transfer motion from the right and left foot lever arrangements  16 ,  18  respectively, through the transmission arrangement  19  to the resistance structure  20 . 
     The right foot motion transfer system  22  includes a moveable, upwardly angled, right side swing arm  94  ( FIG. 7 ) and a rotatable, circular main drive pulley  96  located beneath the seat  14 . The drive pulley  96  is rigidly mounted (such as by welding) for rotation on a shaft  98  which is rotatably supported by a bearing assembly  97  ( FIG. 2 ) on frame brace  72 . The right side swing arm  94  has a forward end which is pivotally connected to a bottom end of the right foot lower arm  82  via a pair of bearings  99  ( FIG. 2 ) and a pin  100 . The right side swing arm  94  has a rearward end which is pivotally connected to the end of a lever arm  102  extending from the center of the main drive pulley  96  via a pair of bearings  103  on a pin  104 . That is, the rearward end of the right side swing arm  94  is effectively pivotally connected to the main drive pulley  96  so that forward movement of the right side swing arm  94  will cause the main drive pulley  96  to rotate in a clockwise direction as shown by the arrow  105  in  FIG. 2 . The main drive pulley  96  is connected by a main drive belt  106  to the transmission arrangement  19 . 
     As best seen in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the transmission arrangement  19  is mounted in a rigid gear case  108  which is fixed to the frame member  30  and the support bar  70 . The gear case  108  provides a mounting for an upper rotatable idler pulley  110  and a lower rotatable idler pulley  112 . Also mounted on the gear case  108  is an upper pulley and gear train  114  and a lower pulley and gear train  116 . Upper gear train  114  includes an upper, cylindrical clutch shaft  118  having an upper pulley  120  rigidly mounted by a locking key  122 . An upper gear  124  is fixedly attached to the shaft  118  by a locking key  126 , and the gear  124  is flanked on both sides by a pair of pillow block bearings  128  fixed to the upper clutch shaft  118 . Lower gear train  116  includes a lower, cylindrical clutch shaft  130  having a brake drive pulley  132  attached thereto by a locking key  134 . The respective longitudinal axes of the clutch shafts  118 ,  130  are parallel to each other. A lower pulley  136  with an internal one-way clutch is installed on the lower clutch shaft  130  in a manner such that when rotated clockwise, the clutch engages the lower clutch shaft  130  and causes the shaft  130  to also rotate clockwise. A lower gear  138  with an internal one-way clutch is joined on the lower clutch shaft  130  so that when rotated clockwise, the clutch engages the shaft  130  and causes the shaft  130  to rotate clockwise. A pair of pillow block bearings  140  is fixed to the lower clutch shaft  130  on both sides of the lower gear  138 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the main drive belt  106  engaging the main drive pulley  96  passes under the upper idler pulley  110  around the upper shaft pulley  120  and the clutch lower shaft pulley  136  and over the lower idler pulley  112 . The purpose of the upper and lower idler pulleys  110 ,  112  is to increase the contact area of the main drive belt  106  on the upper shaft pulley  120  and the clutch lower shaft pulley  136  to prevent slippage. The transmission arrangement  19  contributes to the smooth, rhythmic motion of the stepper  10  throughout the entire exercise. 
     The brake drive pulley  132  is connected by a resistance drive belt  142  to a rotatable spool  144  of the resistance structure  20  which is fixed to the frame member  30 . The resistance drive belt  142  also passes under a belt tensioner  146  which is attached by a bracket  148  ( FIG. 2 ) to the support arm  70 . The resistance structure  20  preferably takes the form of an eddy current brake/generator which is electronically connected to the controller  68  where the exerciser may vary the resistance applied during exercise. The brake/generator  20  typically includes a rotating brake disc  149  which builds inertia or momentum due to rotation of brake pulley  132 . Also included in brake/generator  20  is a brake coil (not shown) which is electrically controllable by the controller  68  to vary pulses in the coil which will control rotation of the disc  149 . It should be understood that other types of resistance structure may also be employed in lieu of the brake/generator  20 . 
     The left foot motion transfer system  24  includes a moveable, upwardly angled left side swing arm  150  ( FIG. 8 ), and a circular flywheel  152  rigidly mounted for rotation on the shaft  98 . The flywheel  152  and main drive pulley  96  are mounted on shaft  98  so that both members  96 ,  152  will simultaneously rotate. The left side swing arm  150  has a forward end which is pivotally connected to a bottom end of the left foot lower arm  90  via a pair of bearings  154  ( FIG. 4 ) and a pin  156 . The left side swing arm  150  has a rearward end which is pivotally connected to the periphery of the flywheel  152  by a pivot bearing  158  and a pin  160 . With this construction, rearward movement of the left side swing arm  150  will cause the flywheel  152  to rotate in the counterclockwise direction as shown by the arrow  162  in  FIG. 4 . 
     It should be understood that the right and left side swing arms  94 ,  150  are respectively connected to the main drive pulley  96  and flywheel  152  so that when the right foot lever arrangement  16  is driven forward, the left foot lever arrangement  18  is driven in synchronism rearwardly as depicted in  FIGS. 1–4 . 
     When the exerciser is comfortably positioned in the adjustable seat  14 , one places his/her feet in the respective foot receptacles  78 ,  86  of the right and left foot lever arrangements  16 ,  18  having starting positions as shown in  FIGS. 1–4 . Referring to  FIG. 3 , when foot pressure is applied by the left foot against the left foot receptacle  86 , the left foot lever arrangement  18  rotates forwardly about bearing assembly  92  in the direction of arrow  164  about the shaft  76  so that the foot receptacle  86  moves in a linear path. The left side swing arm  150  moves correspondingly forward causing the flywheel  152  and shaft  98  to rotate in a clockwise direction facing the flywheel. This in turn rotates the main drive pulley  96  in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in  FIG. 1 . The lever arm  102  which is connected to the main drive pulley  96  pulls the right side swing arm  94  rearward which, in turn, pulls the right lever foot arrangement  16  and the exerciser&#39;s right leg rearward. The inertia created by the flywheel  152  rotating in this motion is enough to continue the movement of the left foot lever arrangement  18  to the forward limit of its motion, and cause a smooth transition to a rearward movement of the left foot lever arrangement  18 . At this time, the right foot lever arrangement  16  is pushed forward by the exerciser&#39;s right foot. 
     When the main drive pulley  96  is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, the main drive belt  106  rotates the upper shaft pulley  120  and the clutch lower shaft pulley  136  in a counterclockwise direction. Because the clutch and the lower shaft pulley  136  will only transmit motion to the lower clutch shaft  130  when turned in a clockwise direction, the lower shaft pulley  136  “idles”. The upper shaft pulley  120  when rotated counterclockwise, compels the upper shaft gear  124  to rotate in a counterclockwise direction. The upper shaft gear  124  meshed to the lower shaft gear  138  causes the lower shaft gear  138  to rotate clockwise. Because the clutch in the lower shaft gear  138  transmits motion to the lower clutch shaft  130  when rotated clockwise, the brake drive pulley  132  is rotated clockwise. Because the brake drive pulley  132  is operably connected to the resistance structure  20 , resistance is applied to the left foot lever arrangement  18 . 
     When the exerciser initially presses down on the right foot receptacle  78  of the right foot lever arrangements  16  with his foot, the foot receptacle  78  moves in a linear path and the right side swing arm  94  moves forward causing the main drive pulley  96  and flywheel  152  to rotate in a counterclockwise direction as seen in  FIG. 4 . The inertia created by the flywheel  152  rotating in this motion is enough to continue the movement on the right foot lever arrangement  16  to the forward limit of this motion, and cause a smooth transition to a rearward movement of the right foot lever arrangement  16 . At this time, the left foot lever arrangement  18  is pushed forward by the exerciser&#39;s left foot. 
     When the main drive pulley  96  is rotated in a clockwise direction, the main drive belt  106  rotates the upper shaft pulley  120  and the clutch lower shaft pulley  136  in a clockwise direction. Because the clutch in the lower shaft pulley  136  will rotate the lower clutch shaft  130  when rotated in a clockwise direction, the brake drive pulley  132  connected to the resistance structure  20  is caused to rotate in a clockwise direction so that resistance is applied to the right foot lever arrangement  16 . The upper shaft pulley  120 , when rotated clockwise, compels the upper shaft gear  124  to rotate in a clockwise direction. The upper shaft gear  124  meshed to the lower shaft gear  138 , causes the lower shaft gear  138  to rotate in a counterclockwise direction. Because the one-way clutch in the lower shaft gear  138  only transmits motion to the lower clutch shaft  130  when rotated in a clockwise direction, the gear  138  holds “idles” on the shaft  130 . 
     Regardless of whether the main drive pulley  96  is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise, the brake drive pulley  132  will always rotate in a clockwise rotation. When the main drive pulley  96  is stopped by not pressing either of the foot receptacles  78 ,  86 , inertia of the resistance mechanism  20 , because of its high speed of rotation, will not stop but will not be transmitted to the drive pulley  96 . The clutch is in the clutch lower shaft pulley  136  in the clutch gear  138  will both “idle”. 
     The brake/generator  20  is electronically controlled by the exerciser to produce resistance of the rotation of the main drive pulley  96  determining the pressure required by the exerciser to press the foot receptacles  78  and  86  into a forward position. Reciprocating, synchronized movement of the right and left foot lever arrangement  16 ,  18  continues as described above until foot pressure on the forwardly and linearly moving foot receptacle  78  or  86  is stopped terminating that particular exercise session. 
     As previously mentioned, the stepper  10  includes a control panel  68  which is programmed so that it will provide information to the exerciser with respect to the distance traveled, time elapsed, speed (RPM), resistance, etc. The exerciser may control certain or all of these parameters by a touch-type screen. The control panel  68  can be powered by a battery (not shown) mounted on the frame  12 . 
     It should be appreciated that the present invention provides a seated stepper wherein each of the foot receptacles  78 ,  86  of the foot lever arrangement  16 ,  18  is smoothly moved at all times in opposite linear directions and in synchronism without relying on chains, springs and gear/rack combinations, and without the potential for injury to the exerciser. 
     While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain substitutions, alterations, and omissions may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. Accordingly, the foregoing description is meant to be exemplary only and should not be deemed limitative on the scope of the invention set forth with the following claims.