US20130005542A1

US20130005542A1 - Multiple function exerciser

Info

Publication number: US20130005542A1
Application number: US13/193,922
Authority: US
Inventors: Shui-Chuan Wu; Tsang-Chen Chang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-06-30
Filing date: 2011-07-29
Publication date: 2013-01-03
Also published as: TWM427167U; JP3171341U

Abstract

An exerciser includes a leg positioning member which is slidably mounted to a slide rod and a damping device is located between the leg positioning member and the slide rod. Two handles are connected to the top of the slide rod. The user sits in a chair and the two thighs clamps the leg positioning member, the hands hold the handles to lift the slide rod to resist the damping device. The handles can also be adjusted to be operated by pivoting them. The handles can be installed to the lower end of the slide rod and the exerciser is arranged in up-side-down, the user can pushes the handles downward.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an exerciser, and more particularly, to a multiple exerciser which is compact and suitable for indoor use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Most of the conventional exercisers are bulky and heavy, and most of them are expensive and not suitable for general users who do not have enough space for the exercisers. Some exercisers are compact and can be used at homes, such as dumbbells or spring bars, these compact exercises have limited function and the users easily feel boring. Different types of exercise require different exercisers which become an economic burden for the users.
FIG. 18 discloses a conventional exerciser 9 which includes a socket 91, an operation rod 92 and a damping device 93. The socket 91 has a contact member 94 at the bottom thereof so as to support the exerciser and the operation rod 92 is longitudinally inserted into the socket 91. The damping device 93 is located in the socket 91 and is connected to the underside of the operation rod 92. A U-shaped resilient member 95 is extended to provide the damping feature.
However, the conventional exerciser 9 provides only one function and the user holds the handle and pushes it downward, this action is boring. When adjusting the resilient member 95, the socket 91 has to be removed and the resilient member 95 is replaced. This is not convenient for the users.
The present invention intends to provide an exerciser which provides multiple functions and the damping device can be adjusted and the exerciser can be used in different ways.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an exerciser and comprises a leg positioning member with a passage defined therethrough and a slide rod extends through the passage and is movable relative to the leg positioning member. A damping device is located between the leg positioning member and the slide rod. The damping device has an adjustment device for adjusting damping force of the damping device. Two handles are connected to the top of the slide rod.
Preferably, a top cap is connected to the top of the slide rod and includes two pivotal frames on two sides thereof. The two handles are respectively and pivotably connected to the pivotal frames. Two torsion springs are respectively located between the handle and the pivotal frame. Each handle has a contact member. The two contact members of the two handles located symmetrically relative to axis of the contact member. Each contact member has a protrusion.
Preferably, each handle comprises the contact member and a grip. The contact member has an insertion hole at a rear end thereof and the grip is inserted into the insertion hole.
Preferably, a locking device is connected to the top cap and comprises a knob, a T-shaped bolt and multiple nuts. The T-shaped bolt extends from the underside of the top cap and is connected to the nuts and a control member.
Preferably, the slide rod comprises an inner tube which is located in the slide rod and inserted into the top cap. The damping device biases the inner tube which contacts the two respective contact members of the two handles.
Preferably, the inner tube includes a positioning tube which is mounted to the damping device.
Preferably, two connection lugs respectively extend radially from two sides of the inner tube and are fixed to the leg positioning member. The slide rod includes two slots with which the connection lugs are slidably engaged.
Preferably, a hollow base and a positioning rod are connected to a lower end of the slide rod. The positioning rod is connected to the base and fixed to the lower end of the slide rod. The damping device is mounted to the positioning rod.
Preferably, the base has two through hole on two sides thereof.
Preferably, the base has two grooves defined therein which are located corresponding to two slide blocks on the positioning rod. The adjustment device includes a section with outer threads and the section extends through the base and is threadedly connected to a threaded hole in the underside of the positioning rod.
Preferably, a pad has a central hole and a connection portion is located on the pad. The connection portion is engaged with the leg positioning member.
The present invention provides an adjustment device at the lower end of the slide rod so that the user can adjust the stiffness of the damping device by operation of the control member of the adjustment device to meet requirement of different users.
The present invention includes multiple different ways to operate by pushing, pivoting and pulling the handles to exercise the upper body of the user. The exerciser is compact, light and easily to be carried and stored.
By using the locking device and the insertion holes, the exerciser can be operated individually to achieve purposes of exercising.
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

FIG. 1 is a perspective view to show the exerciser of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view to show the exerciser of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the exerciser of the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows that an upward force is applied to the exerciser of the present invention;

FIG. 5 shows a user is ready to use the exerciser of the present invention;

FIG. 6 shows a user applies an upward force to the exerciser of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a side view to show the handles and the slide rod are moved up and down;

FIG. 8 shows that the handles are pivoted and the slide rod is pulled upward;

FIG. 9 shows a user pivots the handles and the slide rod is pulled upward;

FIG. 10 shows that a downward force is applied to the slide rod;

FIG. 11 shows a user applies a downward force to the slide rod;

FIG. 12 shows the slide rod is moved upward when the exerciser is used in up-side-down status;

FIG. 13 shows that the leg positioning member has a pad connected thereto;

FIG. 14 is a cross sectional view to show the locking device connected to the top cap and locking the handles;

FIG. 15 shows a top view of the operation of the locking device;

FIG. 16 is a cross sectional view to show the base connected to the lower end of the slide rod;

FIG. 17 shows the operation of the adjustment device to adjust the damping device, and

FIG. 18 shows the conventional exerciser.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the exerciser of the present invention comprises a leg positioning member 1, a slide rod 2, a damping device 3 and two handles 4.
The leg positioning member 1 is an I-shaped member and has two recesses 12 on two sides thereof so as to receive the user's thighs. A passage 11 is defined through the leg positioning member 1.
The hollow slide rod 2 extends through the passage 11 and is movable relative to the leg positioning member 1. A top cap 21 and an inner tube 22 are connected to the top of the slide rod 2 and two slots 20 are defined through the wall of the slide rod 2. The top cap 21 is fixed to the top of the slide rod 2 by multiple bolts. Two pivotal frames 211 are located on two sides of the slide rod 2 and the two handles 4 are respectively and pivotably connected to the pivotal frames 211. A torsion spring 212 is located between each pair of the handle 4 and the pivotal frame 211 so that the handle 4 can return to its initial position after being pivoted. The inner tube 22 is a hollow tube and located in the slide rod 2 and inserted into the top cap 21. An end piece 222 is fixedly connected in the top of the inner tube 22 by bolts and a positioning tube 223 is fixed to the lower end of the end piece 222. Two connection lugs 221 respectively extend radially from two sides of the inner tube 22 and are fixed to the leg positioning member 1 by bolts. The two connection lugs 221 the slide rod 2 are slidably engaged with the two slots 20. A hollow base 24 and a positioning rod 241 are connected to the lower end of the slide rod 2.
The damping device 3, preferably a spring, has its upper portion mounted to the positioning tube 223 of the end piece 222 on the slide rod 2, and the lower portion of the damping device 3 is mounted to the positioning rod 241 of the slide block 242. The damping device 3 is located between the leg positioning member 1 and the slide rod 2 so that when the leg positioning member 1 is moved relative to the slide rod 2 to compress the damping device 3, the damping device 3 provides a force to return the leg positioning member 1 and the slide rod 2.
Each handle 4 has a contact member 41 and the two contact members 41 of the two handles 4 are located symmetrically relative to axis of the contact member 41. Each handle 4 comprises the contact member 41 and a grip 42. The contact member 41 has an insertion hole 411 at the rear end thereof and the grip 42 is inserted into the insertion hole 411. The two contact members 41 are located overlapped when viewed from the horizontal direction, so that the grips 42 can be separated from the contact members 41. A locking device 5 is connected to the handles 4 to set the handles 4 to be pivotable or not.
As shown in FIG. 3, the slide rod 2 extends through the passage 11 and the two handles 4 are pivotably connected to the top cap 21. The contact members 41 are located in the end piece 222 of the inner tube 22. The leg positioning member 1 is connected to the inner tube 22 by the connection lugs 221 of the inner tube 22 so that the leg positioning member 1 and the inner tube 22 are co-movable relative to the slide rod 2.The base 24 and the positioning rod 241 are fixed to the slide rod 2 and the damping device 3 is located between positioning tube 223 and the positioning rod 241. The leg positioning member 1 and base 24 of the slide rod 2 can compress the damping device 3 to allow the leg positioning member 1 to be moved back and forth along the slide rod 2. The exerciser is compact, light and easily to be carried and stored.
As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the user 7 sits in the chair 8 and the thighs 71 clamp the leg positioning member 1, the hands hold the handles 4. The user 7 applies an upward force to the handles 4 to pull the slide rod 2 upward, while the inner tube 22 and the leg positioning member 1 are stationary by the thighs as shown in FIG. 5, so that the base 24 compresses the damping device 3 which generates a force to against the upward force from the user. The hands are then released, the damping device 3 return the slide rod 2 and the handles 4 to their initial positions a shown in FIG. 7. By repeatedly operation the handles 4, the user 7 is exercised.
As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the thighs 71 clamp the leg positioning member 1 and the locking device 5 is operated to unlocked status, the hands hold and pivot the handles 4 to a desired angle. The two respective extensions 412 of the contact members 41 of the handles 4 contact the inner tube 22, while the inner tube 22 and the leg positioning member 1 are stationary by the thighs. The top cap 21 and the slide rod 2 are pulled upward as shown in FIG. 8. The base 24 compresses the damping device 3 which generates a force to against the transverse force from the user. When the slide rod 2 is pulled to the upper most position, the hands are then released, the damping device 3 and the torsion springs 212 return the slide rod 2 and the handles 4 to their initial positions. By repeatedly operation the handles 4, the user 7 is exercised.
As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the grips 42 are separated from the contact members 41 and respectively inserted into the through holes 243 of the base 24 of the slide rod 2. The exerciser is then put up-side-down on the thighs of the user 7. The top board 13 of the leg positioning member 1 contacts the thighs 71 or the thighs 71 clamp the leg positioning member 1 (not shown), the hands hold the handles 4 and the elbows are close to the user's body. A downward force is applied from the hands and the upper body of the user 7 to push the handles 4 and the slide rod 2 downward as shown in FIG. 12. The base 24 compresses the damping device 3 which generates a reaction force to the base 24 to fight against the user's force. When the hands are released, the damping device 3 returns the slide rod 2 and the handles 4. It is noted that, as shown in FIG. 13, a pad 10 is used with the exerciser and has a central hole 101 and a connection portion 102 is located on the pad 10. The connection portion 102 is engaged with the leg positioning member 1. The top cap 21, the contact members 41 and the locking device 5 are located in the central hole 101 of the pad 10 which is put on the thighs 71 of the user 7 so as to buffer the impact from the exerciser to the thighs 71. The exerciser exercises the user's hands, legs and upper body including muscles of the arms, abdomen, waist, and chest.
As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, for convenience of operation of the user 7, the locking device 5 is connected to the top cap 21 and comprises a knob 51, a T-shaped bolt 52 and multiple nuts 53. The T-shaped bolt 52 extends from the underside of the top cap 21 and is connected to the nuts and the knob 51.
The section from the pivotal point 213 of the handle 4 and the pivotal frame 211 of the top cap 21 to the front end of the handle 4 is defined as the extension 412 of the contact member 41. The extensions 412 of the two contact members 41 are located on two parallel planes and are overlapped when viewed in horizontal direction. Each contact member 41 has a protrusion 413 and the two respective protrusions 413 face to each other to define a space 414 in which the T-shaped bolt 52 is located as shown in FIG. 12.
By rotating the knob 51, the T-shaped bolt 52 is rotated and the head 521 of the T-shaped bolt 52 is engaged with or disengaged from the protrusion 413 of the contact member 41 corresponding thereto. The user 7 can also rotate the knob 51 to lock the handles 4. When rotating the knob 51, the head 521 of the T-shaped bolt 52 is engaged with the protrusion 413 of the contact member 41 corresponding thereto as shown in FIG. 15, so that the handles 4 are locked and cannot be pivoted so that the user 7 can operate the handles 4 up and down.
As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the damping device 3 has an adjustment device 6 for adjusting damping force of the damping device 3. The adjustment device 6 includes a section with outer threads 61 and the section extends through the base 24 and is threadedly connected to a threaded hole 244 in the underside of the positioning rod 241. The control member 60 of the adjustment device 6 is exposed from the base 24 for convenience of operation by the user 7. The slide block 242 of the adjustment device 6 is slidable in the grooves 240 of the base 24, the positioning rod 241 of the base 24 can compress the damping device 3 which becomes stiff so that the user 7 consumes energy within a short period of time. Alternatively, the damping device 3 can be adjusted to be more resilient or soft for some users' needs.
The present invention provides multiple different ways to operate and the exerciser of the present invention is compact, light and easily to be carried and stored. The present invention provides an adjustment device to adjust the stiffness of the damping device by operation of the control member of the adjustment device to meet requirement of different users.
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.

Claims

1. An exerciser comprising:

a leg positioning member having a passage defined therethrough;

a slide rod extending through the passage and movable relative to the leg positioning member;

a damping device located between the leg positioning member and the slide rod, the damping device having an adjustment device for adjusting damping force of the damping device;

two handles connected to a top of the slide rod.

2. The exerciser as claimed in claim 1, wherein a top cap is connected to the top of the slide rod and includes two pivotal frames on two sides thereof, the two handles are respectively and pivotably connected to the pivotal frames, two torsion springs are respectively located between the handle and the pivotal frame, each handle has a contact member, the two contact members of the two handles located symmetrically relative to axis of the contact member, each contact member has a protrusion.

3. The exerciser as claimed in claim 2, wherein each handle comprises the contact member and a grip, the contact member has an insertion hole at a rear end thereof and the grip is inserted into the insertion hole.

4. The exerciser as claimed in claim 3, wherein a locking device is connected to the top cap and comprises a knob, a T-shaped bolt and multiple nuts, the T-shaped bolt extends from an underside of the top cap and is connected to the nuts and the knob.

5. The exerciser as claimed in claim 3, wherein the slide rod comprises a inner tube which is located in the slide rod and inserted into the top cap, the damping device biases the inner tube which contacts the two respective contact members of the two handles.

6. The exerciser as claimed in claim 5, wherein the inner tube includes a positioning tube which is mounted to an upper section of the damping device.

7. The exerciser as claimed in claim 5, wherein two connection lugs respectively extend radially from two sides of the inner tube and are fixed to the leg positioning member, the slide rod includes two slots with which the connection lugs are slidably engaged.

8. The exerciser as claimed in claim 1, wherein a hollow base and a positioning rod are connected to a lower end of the slide rod, the positioning rod is connected to the base and fixed to the lower end of the slide rod, a lower section of the damping device is mounted to the positioning rod.

9. The exerciser as claimed in claim 8, wherein the base has two through hole on two sides thereof.

10. The exerciser as claimed in claim 8, wherein the base has two grooves defined therein which are located corresponding to two slide blocks on the positioning rod, the adjustment device includes a section with outer threads and the section extends through the base and is threadedly connected to a threaded hole in an underside of the positioning rod.

11. The exerciser as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a pad which has a central hole and a connection portion is located on the pad, the connection portion is engaged with the leg positioning member.