Abstract:
A leg stretching exercise apparatus includes a base seat, a telescopic handle erectly projecting from the front of the base seat, pulley sets and hinge members set on both sides of the base seat, first and second side frames hinged at each hinge member, pedal plates respectively slideably mounted on the first and second side frames by wheels under the pedal plates. An end of resistance members is hooked on to crooks under the pedal plates, and the other end is mounted around the pulley sets at the side of the base seat then hooked on to the crooks at fixed end of the first and second side frames. Thereby, a user can step both feet on the pedal plates and move the pedal plates outwardly in horizontal direction to obtain good exercising effect by the resistant force generated from the resistance members while exercising.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to an exerciser, and more particularly to a leg stretching exercise apparatus for stretching muscles and tendons. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Conventional exercisers utilize many kinds of designs to train the muscles of the body. Regarding leg training, there are several operating types with respect to exercisers such as running-type, thigh clipping-type, stepping-type, stretching-type and the like. Conventional exercisers do not combine training the interior and exterior thigh muscles and stretching the tendons and muscles. Therefore, the inventor of the present invention dedicates to providing a novel and practical invention in the light of the problems existed in the conventional exercisers by combining detailed design and consideration and many years experience for manufacturing products and research in the related field. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide a leg stretching exerciser for solving the problems existed in the conventional exercisers and further to provide more different exercising methods in order to provide more options for exercising. 
         [0006]    Technological features for solving the problems: a leg stretching exerciser is provided, comprising: 
         [0000]    a base seat comprising a horizontal shaft, an intermediate shaft, a telescopic handle erectly projecting from the base seat, pulley sets and hinge members set on both sides of the base seat; 
         [0007]    two foldable side frames respectively comprising a fixed end, a base shaft, a fixed end, and a plurality of connecting members respectively disposed between the fixed ends and the base shafts, the fixed ends of the side frames respectively hinged at each hinge member on both sides of the base seat; 
         [0000]    two pedal plates comprising sliding members, limit devices used for preventing the pedal plates from sliding out of predetermined domain and crooks; the pedal plates respectively slideably mounted on the first side frame and the second side frame by the sliding members under the pedal plates, the sliding member comprising wheels and limit pieces, each pedal plate slideably limited on the connecting member of each side frame by the wheels and the limit pieces; and a resistance member having two ends; one end of the resistance member hooked on to crooks under the pedal plates, the other end of the resistance member mounted around the pulley sets at one side of the base seat and then hooked on to the corresponding crooks of the base shaft respectively. 
         [0008]    In a first aspect of the invention, the telescopic handle further comprises a connecting tube, an adjustable tube, a fixed element and a handle; the connecting tube mounted on the base seat; the adjustable tube mounted on the connecting tube; the handle mounted at a top end of the adjustable tube; a plurality of positioning holes defined therethrough at a lower end of the adjustable tube; the connecting tube further comprising positioning member, thereby the adjustable tube being fixed by the fixed element through one of the adjustable holes. 
         [0009]    In a second aspect of the invention, the resistance member is an elastic element. 
         [0010]    In a third aspect of the invention, the connecting member disposed between the fixed end and the base shaft is downwardly curved. 
         [0011]    In a fourth aspect of the invention, the limit device comprises a block shaft and a block body; the block shaft is fixed under the pedal plate; the block body is fixed on the connecting member to limit the block shaft. 
         [0012]    Thereby, a user can step both feet on the pedal plates and move the pedal plates outwardly in horizontal direction. Furthermore, by utilizing the resistance member to provide resistance, such resistant force generated while exercising enhances the exercising effect as both the interior and exterior thigh muscles of the user are effectively trained. 
         [0013]    Effects of the present invention compared to the prior art: 
         [0014]    1. Regarding leg training, there are several operating types with respect to exercisers such as running-type, thigh clipping-type, stepping-type, stretching-type and the like. Conventional exercisers don&#39;t combine training the interior and exterior thigh muscles and stretching the tendons and muscles. Therefore, exercisers often exercise and train their legs by a long period of time of running combined a short period of time of stretch. The muscles of the legs usually are exercised focally at some certain parts and are not evenly exercised. 
         [0015]    2. The present invention includes a base seat comprising a first side frame and a second side frame respective at two sides. Further, a first pedal plate and a second pedal plate are mounted on the base seat. The pedal plates can be slid in horizontal direction and there is a resistance member mounted under the pedal plates (as shown in  FIG. 3 ). When it is in use, a user can step both feet on the pedal plates and move the pedal plates outwardly in horizontal direction. Furthermore, by utilizing the resistance member to provide resistance, the resistant force generated while exercising enhances the exercising effect as both the interior and exterior thigh muscles of the user are effectively trained. The present invention combines training the interior and exterior leg muscles and stretching the tendons and muscles, thus, it greatly helps shaping the legs. 
         [0016]    3. Regarding the leg stretching exercise apparatus of the present invention, the first side frame and the second side frame are hinged to the base seat and can be vertically folded (as shown in  FIG. 4 ) or horizontally folded. Therefore, the first side frame and the second side frame can be vertically folded to decrease the occupying space by a wide margin and is more convenient to store. Thus, the present invention is a novel product with commercial values. 
         [0017]    Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a leg stretching exercise apparatus in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is an upward view of the leg stretching exercise apparatus in accordance with the present invention; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a front view of the leg stretching exerciser being folded in accordance with the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0021]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the present invention provides a leg stretching exercise apparatus, comprises 
         [0022]    a base seat  10  includes a horizontal shaft  11  and an intermediate shaft  12 . The intermediate shaft is perpendicular to the horizontal shaft  11 . A plurality of pulley sets  122  and hinge members  121  are mounted on both sides of the base seat  10 . Further, a telescopic handle  13  is erectly projected from the horizontal shaft  11  of the base seat  10 . The telescopic handle  13  further includes a connecting tube  131 , an adjustable tube  14 , a fixed element  132  and a handle  142 . A positioning member  132  is mounted on a top of the connecting tube  131 . The adjustable tube  14  is mounted in the connecting tube  131 . A plurality of positioning holes  141  is disposed on the adjustable tube  14  and the positioning holes  141  are arranged in vertical direction; whereby utilizing the fixed element  131  to pass through the positioning member  132  to be secured by connecting to the positioning holes  141 , the adjustable tube  14  is secured. The handle  142  is mounted on a top end of the adjustable tube  14 . Therefore, a user can hold or pull the adjustable tube  14  to adjust the height and secure it. 
         [0023]    a first side frame  20  includes a pair of first fixed ends  21  and a first base shaft  22 . A connecting member  50  is formed between one of the first fixed ends  21  and the first base shaft  22 . The connecting member  50  is downwardly curved. One of the first fixed ends  21  of the first side frame  20  is hinged to the hinge member  121  of the base seat  10 . 
         [0024]    a first pedal plate  23  includes a sliding member  60  and a limit device  70 . The sliding member  60  and the limit device  70  are mounted under the first pedal plate  23 . A crook  63  is mounted at the bottom of the first pedal plate  23 . The sliding member  60  includes wheels  62  and limit pieces  61 . The first pedal plate  23  is limited on the connecting member  50  by the limit pieces  61  of the sliding member  60  to enable the first pedal plate  23  to slide on the connecting member  50 . A resistance member  40  includes: one end of the resistance member  40  is hooked onto crooks  63  under the first pedal plate  23  and mounted around the pulley sets  122  of the intermediate shaft  12 . The other end of the resistance member  40  is hooked onto the corresponding crooks  64  of the first base shaft  22 . The resistance member  40  can be an elastic rope. The resistance member  40  can provide appropriate resistance for the movement of the first pedal plate  23 . A limit device  70  includes a block shaft  71  and a block body  72 . The block shaft  71  is mounted at the bottom of the first pedal plate  23 . The block body  72  is fixed on the connecting member  50  to limit the block shaft  71 . Therefore, the limit device  70  can limit the first pedal plate  23  to move in a desired domain. 
         [0025]    A second side frame  30  includes a pair of second fixed ends  31  and a second base shaft  32 . The connecting member  50  is formed between one of the second fixed ends  31  and the second base shaft  32 . The connecting member  50  is curved. The second fixed end  31  of the second side frame  30  is hinged to the hinge member  121  of the base seat  10 . 
         [0026]    A second pedal plate  33  includes a sliding member  60  and a limit device  70 . The sliding member  60  and the limit device  70  are mounted under the second pedal plate  33 . A crook  63  is mounted at the bottom of the second pedal plate  33 . The sliding member  60  includes wheels  62  and limit pieces  61 . The second pedal plate  33  is limited on the connecting member  50  by the limit pieces  61  of the sliding member  60  to enable the second pedal plate  33  to slide on the connecting member  50 . 
         [0027]    One end of the resistance member  40  is hooked onto crooks  63  under the second pedal plate  33  and mounted around the pulley sets  122  of the intermediate shaft  12 . The other end of the resistance member  40  is hooked onto the corresponding crooks  64  of the second base shaft  32 . The resistance member  40  can be an elastic rope. The resistance member  40  can provide appropriate resistance for the horizontal movement of the second pedal plate  33 . The limit device  70  includes a block shaft  71  and a block body  72 . The block shaft  71  is mounted at the bottom of the second pedal plate  33 . The block body  72  is fixed on the connecting member  50  to limit the block shaft  71 . Therefore, the limit device  70  can limit the second pedal plate  33  to move in a desired domain. 
         [0028]    Regarding the leg stretching exercise apparatus of the present invention, the first side frame  20  and the second side frame  30  are hinged to the intermediate shaft  12  of the base seat  10  and can be vertically or horizontally foldable. Therefore, the first side frame and the second side frame can be vertically folded to decrease the occupying space by a wide margin. 
         [0029]    Furthermore, the resistance member  40  is an elastic element. 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIGS. 2-3 , with respect to the leg stretching exercise apparatus, the telescopic handle  13  is mounted at a front end of the base seat  10 . The first side frame  20  and the second side frame  30  are respectively hinged to both sides of the base seat  10 . The first side frame  20  and the second side frame  30  respectively includes the first fixed end  21 , the second fixed end  31  and the first base shaft  22 , the second base shaft  32  and the connecting members  50  respectively connecting between the first fixed end  21  and the first base shaft  22  and between the second fixed end  31  and the second base shaft  32 . The connecting member  50  is downwardly curved. The first fixed end  21  of the first side frame  20  and the second fixed end  31  of the second side frame  30  are hinged to the hinge members  121  of the base seat  10 . The first pedal plate  23  and the second pedal plate  33  both include the sliding member  60  and the limit device  70 . The crooks  63  are mounted at the bottom of the first pedal plate  23  or the second pedal plate  33 . The sliding member  60  includes wheels  62  and limit pieces  61 . The first pedal plate  23  or the second pedal plate  33  is limited on the connecting member  50  by the limit pieces  61  of the sliding member  60  to enable the first pedal plate  23  or the second pedal plate  33  to slide on the connecting member  50 . One end of the resistance member  40  is hooked onto crooks  63  under the first pedal plate  23  or the second pedal plate  33  and mounted around the pulley sets  122  of the intermediate shaft  12 . The other end of the resistance member  40  is hooked onto the corresponding crooks  64  of the first base shaft  22  or the second base shaft  32 . The resistance member  40  can be an elastic rope. The resistance member  40  can provide appropriate resistance for the horizontal movement of the first pedal plate  23  or of the second pedal plate  33 . The limit device  70  includes a block shaft  71  and a block body  72 . The block shaft  71  is mounted at the bottom of the first pedal plate  23  or the second pedal plate  33 . The block body  72  is fixed on the connecting member  50  to limit the block shaft  71 . Therefore, the limit device  70  can limit the first pedal plate  23  or the second pedal plate  33  to move in a desired domain. 
         [0031]    Besides, referring to  FIG. 3 , the first side frame  20  and the second side frame  30  are hinged to the base seat  10  and can be vertically or horizontally folded. Therefore, the first side frame and the second side frame can be vertically folded to decrease the occupying space by a wide margin and is more convenient to store. 
         [0032]    When in use, the user steps on the leg stretching exercise apparatus and hold the handle  142  of the telescopic handle  13 . The user steps both feet on the pedal plates  23 ,  33  and moves the pedal plates  23 ,  33  outwardly in horizontal direction. The first pedal plate  23  and the second pedal plate  33  slide on the connecting member  50 . The first pedal plate  23  and the second pedal plate  33  are both pulled by the resistance member  40 . The user has to exert with force that is greater than the pull force and thus successfully move the pedal plates  23 ,  33  outwardly in horizontal direction. When the user sets free the pedal plates  23 ,  33 , the pedal plates  23 ,  33  will be pulled back by the resistance member  40  to the original position. Thus, by utilizing the repeated action of pull and release, the user exercises and stretches the muscles and tendons. It is also good for shaping the legs and enhancing the exercising effect of the interior and exterior thigh muscles. 
         [0033]    To conclude, the present invention has efficacy and practical value and can improve the economic value. The present invention is distinguished from the prior art. Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.