Abstract:
An exerciser with gliding pedals includes two link assemblies pivotably connected to two pivots on the base and two rails are connected on the two link assemblies. Two pedals are movably engaged with the two rails and two cylinders are connected between the link assemblies and the base. The pedals are stepped up and down alternatively and the pedals can be slid relative to the rails during operation.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to an exerciser and more particularly, to a stepping exerciser with gliding pedals.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     A conventional stepping exerciser generally includes an I-shaped base and two rods each have one end thereof pivotably connected to the base and two pedals are connected to the other two respective ends of the two rods. Two hydraulic cylinders are connected between the pedals and the base so that when the user alternatively steps downward the pedals, the cylinders provides resistance and the user has to overcome the resistance to move the pedals downward. Nevertheless, the stepping exerciser can only be operated in the unchanged and boring way, the displacement in horizontal direction is less than 5 cm and this is not a comfortable way to work out. Some exercisers combine an elliptical exerciser and the stepping exerciser so that the trace for the user&#39;s feet has a wider range of movement. However, such combination makes the exerciser to be bulky and occupies too much space.  
         [0003]     The present invention intends to provide a stepping exerciser which includes two pedals and the pedals can glide along tow respective rails so that the user&#39;s foot can move longer distance.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     The present invention relates to an exerciser that comprises a base having a post extending from a first end thereof and a transverse bar transversely and pivotably extends through the post. A first pivot is fixedly connected to the post and a second pivot is connected to the base. The second pivot is located at a distance from the post.  
         [0005]     Two link assemblies are located on two sides of the base and each link assembly has two first link and two second links. The two first links are located in parallel with each other and have two respective first ends connected to the first pivot. The two second links are located in parallel with each other and have two respective first ends connected to the second pivot. Two cylinders each have one end connected to the base and the other end of each of the two cylinders is pivotably connected to a separation bar connected between the two second links. One of the two first links of each link assembly is in contact with the transverse bar.  
         [0006]     Two gliding assemblies each have a support member and a rail. The two rails each have a groove defined therein and the support members are movably received in the grooves of the two rails. The two rails are connected to second ends of the first and second links of each link assembly. Two pedals are fixedly connected on the support parts.  
         [0007]     The primary object of the present invention is to provide a stepping exerciser whose pedals can be movable along two respective rails so that the user&#39;s feet can move in horizontal direction.  
         [0008]     The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view to show the exerciser of the present invention;  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view to show the exerciser of the present invention;  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  shows a side view of the exerciser of the present invention;  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view along line A-A in  FIG. 3  to show the rollers in the groove in the rail and the support member is movable by the rollers;  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is a side view to show that the pedal is located at a high position;  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  is a side view to show that the pedal is located at a low position;  
         [0015]      FIG. 7  is a cross sectional view to show that the pedal is glided toward the rail, and  
         [0016]      FIG. 8  is a cross sectional view to show that the pedal is glided away from the rail. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0017]     Referring to FIGS.  1  to  3 , the exerciser  1  of the present invention comprises an I-shaped base  10  which has a front transverse leg  101  at a first end of the base  10 , a rear transverse leg  102  at a second end of the base  10  and a central column connected between the front and rear legs  101 ,  102 . A post  103  extends from the front transverse leg  101  and a display panel  1031  is connected to a top of the post  103 . A transverse bar  1032  transversely and pivotably extends through the post  103 . A first pivot  104  is fixedly connected to the post  103 . An inclined bar is connected between the front transverse leg  101  and the central column and a second pivot  105  is connected to the inclined bar of the base  10 . The second pivot  105  is located at a distance from the post  103 .  
         [0018]     Two link assemblies  11  are located on two sides of the base  10  and each link assembly  11  has two first link  111  and two second links  112 . The two first links  111  are located in parallel with each other and have two respective first ends connected to the first pivot  104  by a first shaft  113  located between the two first ends of the first links  111 . The two second links  112  are located in parallel with each other and have two respective first ends connected to the second pivot  105  by a second shaft  114  located between the two first ends of the second links  112 . Two cylinders  12  each have one end connected to the rear transverse bar  102  of the base  10  and the other end of each of the two cylinders  12  is pivotably connected to a separation bar  116  connected between the two second links  112 . One of the two first links  111  of each link assembly  11  has a recess  1111  and the transverse bar  1032  is engaged with the recess  111 . Each first link  111  that has the recess  1111  has a stop bar  1112  connected thereto, and the transverse bar  1032  is located between the recess  111  and the stop bar  1112 . When the first link  112  with the recess  1111  is pivoted toward the first end of the base  10 , the transverse bar  1032  is pivoted about a longitudinal axis of the post  103  and the other link assembly  11  is pivoted toward the second end of the base  10 .  
         [0019]     Two connection parts  13  each have a first end pivotably connected to the first ends of the two first links  111  of each link assembly  11  by extending a bolt through a hole  115  defined through the first end of the first link  111  and a separation bar between the two first links  111  and the fixedly connected to the connection part  13 . A pivotable part  131  is pivotably connected to a second end of each of the connection part  13 . Two connection boards  117  each have a first end connected to the first end of the connection part  13  and a second end of each of the two connection boards  117  is pivotably connected to the separation bar  116 .  
         [0020]     Two gliding assemblies  14  each have a support member  142  and a rail  141 , each of the support members  142  has a first end pivotably connected to the pivotable part  131 . The two rails  141  each have a groove defined therein and the support members  142  are movably received in the grooves of the two rails  141 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , two rollers  143  are located in the grooves in the two rails  141  and the support member  142  is smoothly movable in the grooves by the rollers  143 . The two rails  141  are connected to second ends of the first and second links  111 ,  112  of each link assembly  11 . Two pedals  15  are fixedly on the support parts  142 .  
         [0021]     Referring to FIGS.  5  to  8 , the user steps the pedals  15  alternatively and downward and the first links  111  of the two link assemblies  11  pivot the transverse bar  1032  so that the user has to overcome the resistance from the two cylinders  12 . In the meanwhile, the pedals  15  can be glided relative to the rails  141  and the feet move in horizontal direction at a sufficient distance such as 30 cm.  
         [0022]     While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.