Abstract:
A swing stepper includes an inclined stepper for the user to step on two distal locations so to step on to and twist waist to reciprocally move around; and a handle bar disposed axially on a base that reciprocally turns around synchronously with the stepper so that two distal ends of the stepper to alternatively swing up and down in the course of the reciprocal swing when the user trades and twists to reciprocally turn around both of the stepper and the handlebar for staying fit.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     (a) Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention is related to a fitness equipment, and more particularly, to a swing stepper to allow its user while reciprocally twisting his/her waist, alternatively bends and pulls straight both legs to step on a pair of pedals for coordination to simultaneously achieve purpose of the swing exercise by twisting waist and simulating treading.  
         [0003]     (b) Description of the Prior Art  
         [0004]     Generally, fitness equipment simulates the motions that would have been done outdoors so to allow the user to work out within a confined area attempting to achieve the same fitness results given outdoors. For example, a stepper allows the user to alternatively tread on a pair of pedals for achieving sports and exercise purposes.  
         [0005]     Steppers generally available in the market share the similar basic construction as illustrated in  FIG. 1  of the accompanying drawings. Both front ends of a pair of pedal assemblies A are pivoted to a base  10  and coupled to a hydraulic cylinder B through a connection mechanism (not illustrated) to take advantage of damping provided by the hydraulic cylinder B for both pedal assemblies A to alternatively reciprocate up and down in coordination. Reciprocation of both pedal assemblies driven by the hydraulic cylinder B creates proper resistance to demand more force application from the user.  
         [0006]     However, the stepper appeals to provide a general workout purpose. When compared to other types of fitness equipment such as a walker or a stationary bike the stepper giving advantages of smaller size and lower price provides sports effects only limited to both legs even though coordination of motion from other parts of the body is required. A fitness equipment having a horizontal turntable disposed to a base is also available in the market for the user to step on the turntable while twisting his waist to reciprocally turn around the turntable. However, it provides only the exercise of one&#39;s waist and is considered as fitness equipment with comparatively less functional since it is unable to work out simultaneously with other parts of one&#39;s body.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The primary purpose of the present invention is to provide a swing stepper for its user to achieve at the same time the exercise results of twisting waste and simulating walk. To achieve the purpose, a stepper is disposed axially at a certain inclination to a base. Two pedals are respectively provided at two distal locations corresponding to the stepper. The user twists his/her waist to drive the stepper to reciprocally swing. Meanwhile, a handle bar is axially provided to the base that turns around in synchronous with the stepper. Whereas the swing object is disposed at a certain inclination to the base, both distal ends of the stepper swings up and down alternatively in the course of the reciprocal swing by the stepper to allow the user alternatively bends or pulls straight both legs to step on the pedals in coordination with the motion of twisting. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a stepper of the prior art.  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is a schematic view showing reciprocal motion of a stepper of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  is schematic view showing alternative motions up and down of two distal ends of the stepper of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 6  is a schematic view showing reciprocal swing by both of a stepper and a handle bar of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 7  is schematic view showing alternative motions up and down of two distal ends of the stepper of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view showing a limiting component and a connection component of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 9  is an exploded view of the construction of the limiting component and the connection component of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 10  is a sectional view of the construction of the limiting component and the connection component of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0018]      FIG. 11  is a schematic view showing adjustment by the limiting component of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0019]      FIG. 12  is a schematic view showing changed status of the relative positions of a frame and an extension bar of the limiting component of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0020]      FIG. 13  is a sectional view showing a limiting component and a damper member of a third preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0021]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a preferred embodiment of the present invention is essentially comprised of a base  10 , a stepper  30  axially disposed at a certain inclination to the base  10 , and two pedals  31  respectively provided at both distal ends of the stepper  30 . A user with his both feet stepping on the pedals  31  twists his/her waist to reciprocally swing the stepper  30  as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . As the stepper  30  is disposed at a certain inclination, both distal ends of the stepper  30  alternatively swing up and down in conjunction with the reciprocal swing of the stepper  30  as illustrated in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0022]     Now referring to  FIG. 5 , a handle bar  20  is axially provided to the base  10  and a connection component  40  links the stepper  30  and the handle bar  20 . Wherein, the stepper  30  is disposed at a certain inclination and two pedals  31  are respectively provided to both distal ends of the stepper  30 . The user holds the handle bar  20  and twists his/her waist to drive both of the stepper  30  and the handle bar  20  to synchronously engage in reciprocal swing as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . As the stepper  30  is disposed at a certain inclination, both distal ends of the stepper  30  alternatively swing up and down in conjunction with the reciprocal swing of the stepper  30  as illustrated in  FIG. 7 .  
         [0023]     The user by holding the handle bar  20  with both hands to secure better firm twist of his/her waist while having both legs alternatively bent and pulled straight in coordination with the swing to achieve the exercise results of twisting waist and simulating walk at the same time.  
         [0024]     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2, 3 , and  4 . An off center shaft  71 ′ is disposed to the base  10  and a sleeve  72 ′ is provided at the center of the stepper  30  to connect the shaft  71 ′ so to axially secure the stepper  30  to the base  10 .  
         [0025]     Similarly as illustrated in  FIGS. 8, 9 , and  10  for a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, another sleeve  72  is vertically provided to the base  10  and the handle bar  20  is comprised of a post  21  and a pair of lateral bars  22  for the user to hold onto. A clamp  24  is provided at the lower end of the post  21  to be connected to an inner shaft  71  and the inner shaft  71  is inserted into the sleeve  72  so to axially provide the handle bar  20 .  
         [0026]     The connection component  40  includes a connecting rod  42  and two levers  41 . Both levers  41  are pivoted to the connecting rod  42  and respectively fixed to the handle bar  20  and the spindle of the stepper  30 . In the second preferred embodiment, one lever  41  is fixed to the sleeve  72 ′ at the center of the stepper; and another lever  41  is fixed to the inner shaft  71  at the lower end of the handle bar  20 . A slot  721  is provided on the sleeve  72  inserted with the inner shaft  71  at the lower end of the handle bar  20  for the lever  41  to stick out and move therein thus to connect the stepper  30  and the handle bar  20 . An resilient member  80  is each sandwiched at where both levers  41  are pivoted to the connecting rod  42  to fill up the action gap between the connecting rod  42  and both levers  41  for providing proper buffer and absorption.  
         [0027]     Furthermore, a limiting component  50  is disposed to the base  10  to limit the amplitude of the reciprocal swing by the stepper  30 . A damping member  60  is provided at where the relative action takes place between the stepper  30  and the base  10  to increase the force applied to the motion of the reciprocal swing of the stepper  30 .  
         [0028]     The limiting component  50  includes a frame  51  adapted with two sidewalls  52 . A lever  32  laterally extends from the spindle of the stepper (i.e. the front of the sleeve  72 ′ at the center of the stepper  30 ) into the space between both sidewalls  52  of the frame  51  for the frame  51  to limit the lever  32  to swing therein. A resilient member  80  is provided at the tail of the lever  32  to buffer the impact force between the lever  32  and both sidewalls  52 .  
         [0029]     The bottom of the frame  51  and the base  10  are pivoted to each other. A limiting plate  53  extending between the frame  51  and the lever  32  is fixed to the base  10 . A channel  531  is provided on the limiting plate  53  in the direction consistent with that of the lever  32 . A bolt  54  penetrates through the channel  531  to engage with the frame  51 . The bolt  54  and the limiting plate  53  to fasten the frame  51  in its position in relation to the lever  32 . Depending on the age or build of the user, the relative positions between the frame  51  and the lever  32  is adjusted in time as illustrated in  FIGS. 11 and 12  before fixing the frame  51  so to adjust the amplitude of the reciprocal swing of the stepper  30  and the handle bar  20 .  
         [0030]     The damping member  60  to increase the force applied to the stepper  30  is basically comprised of a regulation knob  61  screwed to the base  10 , and a friction block  62  penetrated by the regulation knob  61  and contacting the stepper  30 . As illustrated in  FIG. 10 , a clipping member  63  coupled to the base  10  is provided to the damping member  60 . The clipping member  63  is comprised of a base plate  631  and a mobile plate  632 . The regulation knob  61  penetrates through the mobile plate  632  and screwed to the base plate  631 . An extension plate  33  is fixed to the spindle of the stepper  30  (i.e., at where in the rear of the sleeve  72 ′ at the center of the stepper  30  as illustrated) that extends into where between the base plate  631  and the mobile plate  632 . Two friction blocks  62  are respectively fixed to the inner sides of the base plate  631  and the mobile plate  632  of the clipping member  63 . A resilient member  80  penetrates the regulation knob to contact the mobile plate  632 . Accordingly, the amplitude of the force applied to the stepper  30  is adjusted by turning the regulation knob  61 .  
         [0031]     Of course, the damping member  60  may be summarized to a regulation knob  61  passing through the sleeve  72 ′ at the center of the stepper  30  and screwed to the inner shaft  71 ′, the resilient member  80  penetrated by the regulation knob  61  and contacting the sleeve  72 ′, and the clipping member  63 ; and two friction blocks are respectively provided on the sleeve  72 ′ and below the clipping member  63  to achieve the same purpose of regulating the amplitude of the force applied to the stepper  30  by turning the regulation knob  61 . The bolt  54  is directly fastened above where the frame  51  of the limiting component  50  is pivoted to couple the bolt  54  to the inner shaft  71 ′ of the base  10  to achieve the same purpose of adjusting the amplitude of the reciprocal swing of the stepper  30  by regulating the torque of the bolt  54  to change the relative positions between the frame  51  and the lever  32 .  
         [0032]     The prevent invention provides a swing stepper for the user to achieve the exercise purpose of twisting his/her waist and simulating the walk at the same time, and the application for a utility patent is duly filed accordingly. However, it is to be noted that that the preferred embodiments disclosed in the specification and the accompanying drawings are not limiting the present invention; and that any construction, installation, or characteristics that is same or similar to that of the present invention should fall within the scope of the purposes and claims of the present invention.