US20050239606A1

US20050239606A1 - Wiggle stepper

Info

Publication number: US20050239606A1
Application number: US11/035,853
Authority: US
Inventors: Kuan-I Lin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-04-27
Filing date: 2005-01-14
Publication date: 2005-10-27
Also published as: JP3114265U; DE202005000095U1; TWM258760U

Abstract

A wiggle stepper includes a base member, an adjust seat mounted on the base member, two platforms respectively pivotally mounted to the base member, a connector for connecting the platform and a cylinder that is mounted between the platform and the base member. Each platform is moved upwardly and downward, and wiggled obliquely to prevent the moving route of the platform from forming a dead space for user to smoothly operate the two platforms. The user can adjust the position of the adjust seat for adjusting the tension from the adjust seat according to the physical strength of the user.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a stepper, and more particularly to a wiggle stepper.
2. Description of Related Art
A conventional stepper in accordance with the prior art shown in FIG. 9 comprises a base member (60) and two platforms (61) each with one pivotally mounted to the base member (60). Two cylinders (62) each mounted between a corresponding one of the two platforms (61) and the base member (60) for providing damping to the two platforms (61) when the user steps thereon.
The conventional stepper only provides an exercise to the user's legs by repeatedly swinging up and down. As a result, the user may feel that is a boring exercise and gradually reduce the use frequency of the conventional stepper. In addition, the damping from the cylinders (62) can not be adjusted according to the purpose of the user. Consequently, the using scope is limited.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the disadvantages of the conventional stepper.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the present invention is to provide an improved stepper that is a wiggle stepper.
To achieve the objective, the wiggle stepper in accordance with the present invention comprises a a base member, an adjust seat mounted on the base member, two platforms respectively pivotally mounted to the base member, a connector for connecting the platform and a cylinder that is mounted between the platform and the base member. Each platform is moved upwardly and downward, and wiggled obliquely to prevent the moving route of the platform from forming a dead space for user to smoothly operate the two platforms. The user can adjust the position of the adjust seat for adjusting the tension from the adjust seat according to the physical strength of the user.
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

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wiggle stepper in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a partially exploded perspective view of the wiggle stepper in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a partially perspective view of the wiggle stepper of the present invention for showing the connection between the base member and the cylinder;
FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the wiggle stepper in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a first operational view of the wiggle stepper of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a second operational view of the wiggle stepper of the present invention;
FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a damping adjust device of the wiggle stepper of the present invention;
FIG. 8 is a operational of the damping adjust device in FIG. 7; and
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a conventional stepper in accordance with the prior art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 1-7, a wiggle stepper in accordance with the present invention comprises a base member (10), an adjust seat (20) mounted on the base member (10), two platforms (30) respectively pivotally mounted to the base member (10), a connector (40) for connecting the platform (30) and a cylinder (50) that is mounted between the platform (30) and the base member (10).
The base member (10) is H-shaped and has a seat (11) mounted on a front portion of the base member (10). The seat (11) includes a plate (111) perpendicularly upwardly secured on a front end of the base member (10) and two cubic posts (112) mounted on a top of the plate (111). The two cubic posts (112) are adjacent and parallel to each other, and extend toward a rear end of the base member (10) to define a V-shaped groove (12) under the two cubic posts (112). Each cubic post (112) includes a front end having a pivot (13) upwardly and outwardly mounted thereon. A bolt (14) is screwed through the plate (11) from the front end of the base member (10) and a pin (15) is laterally secured on a middle portion of the base member (10).
The adjust seat (20) includes a U-shaped frame (22) with one end pivotally connected to the bolt (14) and a guiding portion (21) formed on the top of the frame (22) such that the adjust seat (20) can be slidably mounted under the two cubic posts (112). The guiding portion (21) has a shape corresponding to that of the groove (12) under the two cubic posts (112). A shaft (221) is longitudinally secured between a bottom of the frame (22) and the guiding portion (21) for pivotally mounted a damping wheel (23) within the adjust seat (20).
Each platform (30) has a first end sleeved on a corresponding one of the two pivots (13). A crank (31) is formed on a front section of each of the two platforms (30). A cable (32) has two opposite ends respectively secured on the two cranks (31) and coiled on the damping wheel (23) to make the two platforms (30) moved contrary relative to each other. Each crank (31) has a connecting seat (33) mounted thereon for connecting to the connector (40).
The connector (40) has a first end having a first pivot hole (401) defined therein and a second end having a second pivot hole (402) defined therein. The first pivot hole (401) and the second pivot hole (402) perpendicularly correspond to each other. The first end of the connector (40) is pivotally received in the connecting seat (33) by a pin (not numbered) extending through the connecting seat (33) and the first pivot hole (401) in the first end of the connector (40). An H-shaped linkage (41) has a first end pivotally mounted to the second end of the connector (40) due to the second pivot hole (402). A cylinder (50) has a first end pivotally connected to a second end of the linkage (41) and a second end pivotally mounted to a corresponding end of the pin (15). The cylinder (50) can absorb the gravity from the corresponding platform (30) when the user steps thereon.
The platform (30) is moved upwardly and downward, and wiggled obliquely due to the angle of the pivot (13). In addition, the linkage (41) is upwardly and downward moved to prevent the moving route of the platform (30) from forming a dead space for user to smoothly operate the two platforms (30). Furthermore, the user can adjust the position of the adjust seat (20) for adjusting the tension of the cable (32) according to the physical strength of the user.
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.

Claims

1. A wiggle stepper comprising:

a base member having a seat mounted on a front portion of the base member, the seat including a plate perpendicularly upwardly secured on a front end of the base member and two cubic posts mounted on a top of the plate, the two cubic posts adjacent and parallel to each other, and extending toward a rear end of the base member, each cubic post including a front end having a pivot upwardly and outwardly mounted thereon, a bolt screwed through the plate from the front end of the base member and a pin laterally secured on a middle portion of the base member;

an adjust seat slidably mounted on the base member under the two cubic post, the adjust seat including a U-shaped frame with one end pivotally connected to the bolt, a shaft longitudinally secured on a bottom of the frame for pivotally mounted a damping wheel within the adjust seat;

two platforms respectively pivotally mounted to the base member, each platform having a first end sleeved on a corresponding one of the two pivots, a crank formed on a front section of each of the two platforms, a cable having two opposite ends respectively secured on the two cranks and coiled on the damping wheel to make the two platforms moved contrary relative to each other, each crank having a connecting seat mounted thereon for connecting to the connector;

a connector for connecting the platform and a cylinder that is mounted between the platform and the base member, the connector including a first end having a first pivot hole defined therein and a second end having a second pivot hole defined therein, the first pivot hole and the second pivot hole perpendicularly correspond to each other, the first end of the connector pivotally received in the connecting seat by a pin extending through the connecting seat and the first pivot hole in the first end of the connector, an linkage having a first end pivotally mounted to the second end of the connector due to the second pivot hole; and

a cylinder having a first end pivotally connected to a second end of the linkage and a second end pivotally mounted to a corresponding end of the pin.

2. The wiggle stepper as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base member has a V-shaped groove defined under the two cubic posts due to the shape of the two cubic posts.

3. The wiggle stepper as claimed in claim 1, wherein the linkage is H-shaped.

4. The wiggle stepper as claimed in claim 2, wherein the adjust seat includes a guiding portion formed on the top of the frame and having a shape corresponding to that of the V-shaped groove under the two cubic posts.