Dual-function treading exerciser

• US 7,052,440 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2003
• Issued: 05/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Johnson Health Tech Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Johnson Health Tech Company Limited
• Inventors: Nelson, Derek, Liao, Hung-Mao, Pyles, Nathan, Wang, Chih-Jen
• Primary Examiner(s): Cronin, Stephen K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAM M
• Application Number:
  US10/603,117
• Publication Number:
  US 20040102292A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,071 Days
• Field of Search: 482 51- 74, 482114-116, 482118-122, 482/126, 482/127
• US Class Current: 482/54
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0041 one hand moving independently from the other hand, i.e. there is no link between the movements of the hands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0676 with crank and handles being on the same side of the exercising apparatus with respect to the frontal body-plane of the user, e.g. crank and handles are in front of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0051 using eddy currents induced in moved elements, e.g. by permanent magnets
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/025 Spiral springs with turns lying substantially in plane surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/153 wound-up and unwound during exercise, e.g. from a reel
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0012 the exercises for arms and legs being functionally independent
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/02 with movable endless bands , e.g. treadmills other training appliances for running on the spot A63B69/0028
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0664 performing an elliptic movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/047 Walking and pulling or pushing a load for exercising the player ability for rugby or American football A63B69/34

Abstract

A dual-function exercise device includes lower body exercise device, a frame, and a movable handle assembly. The movable handle assembly includes two independent pulling devices and a rotary shaft journalled on the frame. Each pulling device includes a pulley disposed rotatably on the frame, a pull cord wound on the pulley, a handgrip fastened to an end of the cord and movable to unwind the cord from the pulley, and a biasing unit for biasing the cord to wind around the pulley when the cord is pulled and is subsequently released.

Claims

1. A dual-function treading exerciser comprising:

a lower body exerciser and an upper body exerciser, said upper body exerciser including;

a frame joined to the lower body exerciser;

a movable handle assembly including a pair of pulling devices mounted on said frame, and a rotary shaft journalled substantially vertically on said frame, each of said pulling devices including, a pulley disposed on said frame, a pull cord wound on said pulley, a handgrip fastened to an end of said pull cord and movable rearwardly to unwind said pull cord from said pulley, and a biasing unit for biasing said pull cord to wind around said pulley when said cord is pulled rearwardly and is subsequently released;

a flywheel assembly mounted on said rotary shaft, said flywheel assembly including a flywheel and a pair of magnetically conductive rings disposed respectively and on opposite sides of said flywheel;

a unidirectional bearing disposed between said rotary shaft and each of said pulleys so as to rotate said rotary shaft synchronously with said pulleys only when said pulleys rotate in a direction in which said pull cords are unwound from said pulleys; and

,

a magnetic resistance device disposed adjacent to said flywheel assembly so as to provide resistance to rotation of said flywheel assembly.

2. The dual-function exerciser of claim 1, wherein said lower body exerciser comprises:

a treading platform; and

a continuous tread extending around said platform.

3. The dual-function exerciser of claim 1, wherein said movable handle assembly is joined to a front portion of said frame.

4. The dual-function exerciser of claim 1, wherein said frame extends upwardly from a front portion of said dual-function exerciser.

5. The dual-function exerciser of claim 1, wherein said frame extends upwardly from a front portion of said dual-function exerciser, and said movable handle assembly is joined to an upper portion of said frame.

6. The dual-function exerciser of claim 1, and further comprising fixed handles, and wherein said movable handle assembly is disposed substantially higher than said fixed handles.

7. The dual-function exerciser of claim 1, wherein said biasing unit of each of said pulling devices includes a spring member biased to rotate in a predetermined direction.

8. The dual-function exerciser of claim 7, wherein said spring member is a spiral spring that is fastened to a housing at one end and to the respective one of said pulleys at the other end.

9. The dual-function treading exerciser of claim 1, wherein said magnetic resistance device includes:

a positioning seat fixed on said frame and having two spaced-apart parallel sliding rails; and

a magnet seat including a U-shaped body, said body having two opposite side walls which are provided respectively with two aligned magnet units, between which said flywheel assembly is disposed, and a connecting wall which interconnects said side walls and which is formed with a threaded hole that engages a threaded shaft so as to move said U-shaped body toward and away from said flywheel when said threaded shaft is rotated relative to said positioning seat, thereby adjusting magnitude of the resistance.

10. The dual-function treading exerciser of claim 9, wherein said magnetic resistance device further includes:

a motor disposed on said frame and provided with a motor shaft; and

a gear sleeved on said motor shaft and engaging an externally threaded portion of said threaded shaft so as to transfer rotation of said motor shaft to said threaded shaft.

11. A dual-function treading exerciser comprising:

a lower body exerciser and an upper body exerciser, said upper body exerciser including;

a frame joined to the lower body exerciser;

a movable handle assembly including a pair of pulling devices mounted on said frame, and a rotary shaft journalled substantially vertically on said frame, each of said pulling devices including, a chamber, a pulley disposed in said chamber, a pull cord wound on said pulley, a handgrip fastened to an end of said pull cord and movable rearwardly to unwind said pull cord from said pulley, and a biasing unit for biasing said pull cord to wind around said pulley when said cord is pulled rearwardly and is subsequently released;

a flywheel assembly mounted on said rotary shaft, said flywheel assembly including a flywheel, and a pair of magnetically conductive rings disposed respectively and on opposite sides of said flywheel;

a unidirectional bearing disposed between said rotary shaft and each of said pulleys so as to rotate said rotary shaft synchronously with said pulleys only when said pulleys rotate in a direction, in which said pull cords are unwound from said pulleys; and

,

a magnetic resistance device disposed adjacent to said flywheel assembly so as to provide resistance to rotation of said flywheel assembly.

12. The dual-function exerciser of claim 11, wherein said lower body exerciser comprises:

a treading platform; and

a continuous tread extending around said platform.

13. The dual-function exerciser of claim 11, wherein said movable handle assembly is joined to a front portion of said frame.

14. The dual-function exerciser of claim 11, wherein said frame extends upwardly from a front portion of said dual-function exerciser.

15. The dual-function exerciser of claim 11, wherein said frame extends upwardly from a front portion of said dual-function exerciser, and said movable handle assembly is joined to an upper portion of said frame.

16. The dual-function exerciser of claim 11, and further comprising fixed handles, and wherein said movable handle assembly is disposed substantially higher than said fixed handles.

17. The dual-function exerciser of claim 11, wherein said biasing unit of each of said pulling devices includes a spring member biased to rotate in said chamber in a predetermined direction.

18. The dual-function exerciser of claim 17, wherein said spring member is a spiral spring that is fastened to a housing at one end and to the respective one of said pulleys at the other end.

19. The dual-function treading exerciser of claim 11, wherein said magnetic resistance device includes:

a positioning seat fixed on said frame and having two spaced-apart parallel sliding rails; and

a magnet seat including a U-shaped body, said body having two opposite side walls which are provided respectively with two aligned magnet units, between which said flywheel assembly is disposed, and a connecting wall which interconnects said side walls and which is formed with a threaded hole that engages a threaded shaft so as to move said U-shaped body toward and away from said flywheel when said threaded shaft is rotated relative to said positioning seat, thereby adjusting magnitude of the resistance.

20. The dual-function treading exerciser of claim 19, wherein said magnetic resistance device further includes:

a motor disposed on said frame and provided with a motor shaft; and

a gear sleeved on said motor shaft and engaging an externally threaded portion of said threaded shaft so as to transfer rotation of said motor shaft to said threaded shaft.

21. A dual-function treading exerciser comprising:

a lower body exerciser and an upper body exerciser, said upper body exerciser including;

a frame joined to the lower body exerciser;

a movable handle assembly including a pair of pulling devices mounted on said frame to operate independently of one another to enable a plurality of upper body exercises, and a rotary shaft journalled substantially vertically on said frame, each of said pulling devices including, a pulley disposed on said frame, a pull cord wound on said pulley, a handgrip fastened to an end of said pull cord and movable rearwardly to unwind said pull cord from said pulley, and a biasing unit for biasing said pull cord to wind around said pulley when said cord is pulled rearwardly and is subsequently released;

a flywheel assembly mounted on said rotary shaft, said flywheel assembly including a flywheel, and a pair of magnetically conductive rings disposed respectively and on opposite sides of said flywheel; and

,

a unidirectional bearing disposed between said rotary shaft and each of said pulleys so as to rotate said rotary shaft synchronously with said pulleys only when said pulleys rotate in a direction, in which said pull cords are unwound from said pulleys.

22. The dual-function exerciser of claim 21, wherein said lower body exerciser comprises:

a treading platform; and

a continuous tread extending around said platform.

23. The dual-function exerciser of claim 21, wherein said movable handle assembly is joined to a front portion of said frame.

24. The dual-function exerciser of claim 21, wherein said frame extends upwardly from a front portion of said dual-function exerciser.

25. The dual-function exerciser of claim 21, wherein said frame extends upwardly from a front portion of said dual-function exerciser, and said movable handle assembly is joined to an upper portion of said frame.

26. The dual-function exerciser of claim 21, and further comprising fixed handles, and wherein said movable handle assembly is disposed substantially higher than said fixed handles.

27. The dual-function exerciser of claim 21, wherein said biasing unit of each of said pulling devices includes a spring member biased to rotate in a predetermined direction.

28. The dual-function exerciser of claim 27, wherein said spring member is a spiral spring that is fastened to a housing at one end and to the respective one of said pulleys at the other end.

29. The dual-function treading exerciser of claim 21, wherein said movable handle assembly further includes:

magnetic resistance device disposed adjacent to said flywheel assembly so as to provide resistance to rotation of said flywheel assembly.

30. The dual-function treading exerciser of claim 29, wherein said magnetic resistance device includes:

a positioning seat fixed on said frame and having two spaced-apart parallel sliding rails; and

a magnet seat including a U-shaped body, said body having two opposite side walls which are provided respectively with two aligned magnet units, between which said flywheel assembly is disposed, and a connecting wall which interconnects said side walls and which is formed with a threaded hole that engages a threaded shaft so as to move said U-shaped body toward and away from said flywheel when said threaded shaft is rotated relative to said positioning seat, thereby adjusting magnitude of the resistance.

31. The dual-function treading exerciser of claim 30, wherein said magnetic resistance device further includes:

a motor disposed on said frame and provided with a motor shaft; and

a gear sleeved on said motor shaft and engaging an externally threaded portion of said threaded shaft so as to transfer rotation of said motor shaft to said threaded shaft.