Stair climbing exercise apparatus

• US 5,116,294 A
• Filed: 04/22/1991
• Issued: 05/26/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bodyguard Fitness, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Inside Fitness, Inc.
• Inventors: Findlay, Nathanial B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crow, Stephen R.
• Application Number:
  US07/688,437
• Time in Patent Office: 400 Days
• Field of Search: 272/69, 272/70, 272/129, 272/93, 272/72
• US Class Current: 482/52
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0038 One foot moving independently from the other, i.e. there is no link between the movements of the feet
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0053 each support element being cantilevered by a parallelogram system
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0052 induced by electromagnets A63B21/0056 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/153 wound-up and unwound during exercise, e.g. from a reel
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/157 Ratchet-wheel links; Overrunning clutches; One-way clutches
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0056 the pivoting movement being in a vertical plane, e.g. steppers with a horizontal axis platforms for rocking motion about a horizontal axis A63B22/16
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0204 Standing on the feet
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/30 Maintenance

Abstract

A frame structure mounts two side-by-side steps which are pivotally connected to the frame structure for up-and-down motion. The up-and-down motion of each step is translated to rotary motion by a first and second pulley. The first pulley is connected to the first step by a strap which has one end connected to the strap and the other end connected to the first pulley. The second pulley is connected to the second step by a second strap which has one end connected to the second step and the other end anchored to the second pulley.

Claims

1. A stair climbing exercise apparatus, comprising:

a frame structure;

a first step and a side-by-side second step, said steps being pivotally connected to said frame structure for up-and-down motion thereof;

a first rotary member mounted on said frame structure adjacent said first step and a second rotary member mounted on said frame structure adjacent said second step;

a first strap means having one end connected to said first step and the other end connected to said first rotary member whereby, when said first step is moved from an upward to a downward position, said first rotary member is caused to rotate in one direction;

a second strap means having one end connected to said second step and the other end connected to said second rotary member whereby, when said second step is moved from an upward to a downward position, said second rotary member is caused to rotate in said one direction;

shaft means extending between said first rotary member and said second rotary member;

first connecting means connecting said first rotary member to one end of said shaft means such that said shaft means rotates with said first rotary member when said first rotary member rotates in said one direction and does not rotate with said first rotary member when said first rotary member rotates in an opposite direction;

second connecting means connecting said second rotary member to the other end of said shaft means such that said shaft means rotates with said second rotary member when said second rotary member rotates in said one direction and does not rotate with said second rotary member when said second rotary member rotates in said opposite direction;

an exercise resistance element;

means for transmitting rotation of said shaft means to said resistance element; and

first spring means for returning said first step to an upward position, and second spring means for returning said second step to an upward position;

said first rotary member comprising a first pulley and said second rotary member comprising a second, spaced, parallel pulley;

said first connecting means comprising a bushing connected to said one end of said shaft by a keyway;

said first pulley being connected to said bushing by a first one-way clutch;

said resistance element comprising an electromagnetic brake having a rotatable armature;

said rotatable armature of said electromagnetic brake comprising a short cylinder disposed parallel to said first and second pulleys and co-axial therewith;

a circular pedestal mounted within said armature and co-axial therewith;

a plurality of bobbins equally spaced around said pedestal;

said second connecting means comprising a second one-way clutch between the second end of said shaft means and said second pulley;

said first spring means being connected to said first pulley such that said first spring means winds up when said first pulley is rotated in said one direction, and, wherein, when said first spring means upwinds, it rotates said pulley in said opposite direction; and

said second spring means being connected to said second pulley such that said second spring means winds up when said second pulley is rotates in said one direction, and, wherein, when said second spring means unwinds, it rotates said pulley in said opposite direction.