US20090156377A1

US20090156377A1 - Exercise to simulate horizontal ladder exercise

Info

Publication number: US20090156377A1
Application number: US12/002,170
Authority: US
Inventors: Louis A. Brown
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-12-13
Filing date: 2007-12-13
Publication date: 2009-06-18

Abstract

An overhead exerciser for simulation of traveling suspended beneath a fixed horizontal ladder. The user is suspended freely from two depending levers, the reciprocation of the pair of levers simulating travel, although the person does not progress horizontally.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Apparatus to provide exercise on a single station device equivalent to traveling suspended along underneath a horizontal ladder.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A common gymnastic piece of apparatus comprises a ladder supported horizontally above the ground. The user launches himself underneath the ladder and with one hand grasps the first, rung of the ladder. Suspended from the first rung, the user swings himself toward the next rung. After he grasps it, he releases from the first rung and then swings his body so his free arm reaches for the third rung.
Repeated sequentially the user travels the length of the ladder, underneath it and suspending himself by-his arms, alternately engaging his arms to successive rungs. This is a common apparatus in gymnasiums, provided for exercise of upper body muscles. The movement of the body along the ladder is caused by movements of the user's arms and torso. It requires substantial area of the gymnasium to be dedicated to this one type of exerciser.
It is an object of this invention to provide apparatus enabling equivalent exercise, but requiring only the space and area respective to a single small group of rungs, without requiring the fixed rungs. It thereby makes available the advantages of this exercise in installations when space and rental considerations would otherwise preclude it.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A reactive exerciser is mounted to or suspended from a support stand that stations it well above a ▪ground▪ surface. The ground surface is one above which the user of the exerciser is supported by himself out of contact with the ground while using the device. Any floor of sufficient area is suitable for this. For most installations, the exerciser itself will be supported on a tower-like stand which rests on a floor.
This exerciser utilizes a pair of hand grips each mounted to a respective pivoted lever, each lever is so disposed and arranged that directly or through linkage it is capable of unidirectionally driving a rotor in the same direction. They are so interconnected that each lever periodically oscillates between a forward and a rearward position, the position of each of them being reciprocal to the other, so that the exertions of the suspender (dangling) users drives the rotor.
With this apparatus mounted above the surface, the user can engage grips on the levers as with a conventional ladder, and thereafter will exert himself in a manner very similar to traveling suspended under a ladder but without himself moving forwardly or rearwardly. In effect, the apparatus substitutes for a stationary ladder, but simulates movement along a ladder.
The above and other features of this invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevation showing the apparatus in use; and

FIG. 2 is an upward view taken at line 2-2 in FIG. 1 showing some of the mechanical features of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Exerciser 10 is shown in FIG. 1 mounted to a tower-like stand (sometimes called a base) 11 that rests on a ▪ground▪ surface 12. In the illustration, surface 12 may be the floor of a room.
Base 11 comprises upright legs fixed to a frame 13 on the floor. Rungs 14 are fixed to legs 15,16 to enable a user to climb to an operating level. As can be seen, this lever is high enough that when the user utilizes the exerciser, his feet will clear the ground. It is essential of this invention that the user be a freely unsupported body suspended (dangling) from the exerciser out of contact with the ground surface.
Exerciser 10 is mounted at the top of base 11. A central hub 25 is the center of the exerted forces. A rotor 26, in this device a wheel, is fixed to and rotates with the hub around axis 27. A left hand lever 30 and a right hand lever 31 have respective hand grips 32,33 at their free ends. The grips are laterally spaced apart to accommodate the user's own dimensions.
Both levers 30 and 31 are freely rotatable mounted to the hub, and include extensions 34,35 on the opposite sides of the axis for driving purposes to be described.
The rotor is coupled to the levers by a unidirectional transmission now to be described. A phase gear 36 is conveniently a sprocket-type. It is rotatably mounted to the base. Respective rigid links 37,38 are fixed to gear 36 on opposite sides of it and an externally aligned with each other, extending in opposite directions from the phase gear. Gear 36 and links 37,38 are fixed to a common shaft 39.
Importantly, these arms are therefore 180 degrees out of phase with each other. Arms 40,41 respectively connect extensions 34,35, to the ends of links 37 and 38. Because of this, which-ever one of the levers 30 or 31 moves forwardly, the other will move backwardly.
A chain 45 is drivingly connected to a reduction gear 46, which is also a sprocket. It drives chain 47 that is drivingly connected to the hub. Thus, relative movement of the major levers causes rotation of the rotor. This is a unidirectional drive
To provide resistance when desired, vanes 50 may be incorporated in the rotor, which may resemble a wheel, as shown. This restraint would be that of reaction with atmosphere. Alternatively, drag means such as a prony brake, disc brake, or compression brake may be provided as desired (not shown), which provide adjustable resistance. Once actuated, its inertia assists the alternating action of the handles.
In use as shown the user 60 suspends himself from the exerciser by grasping the grips, and then exerts his torso to simulate traveling under a ladder by drawing the forward one of it legs rearwardly, and then the other. Ordinarily he will grasp only one of them tightly to pull himself ▪forward▪ and not impede the ▪returning▪ grip. In the next, he shifts his hanging weight and pulls back strongly on the other. Alternatively, he may ▪drive▪ both levers at the same time.
This closely simulates the bodily functions exerted in traveling suspended under a fixed ladder, but in a device which utilizes much less area. This is a considerable advantage in training rooms and the like whose space is scarce and expensive.
This invention is not to be limited by the embodiment shown in the drawings and described in the description, which is given by way of example and not of limitation, but only in accordance with the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. In combination:

a stand providing a support above a surface; and;

a reactive exerciser to provide to a user a physical exercise simulative of travel by a suspended user progressively proceeding along the underside of a horizontal ladder, the ladder having a sequence of spaced-apart rungs, said exerciser being mounted to said stand at an elevation above that which the user when suspending himself from the ladder rungs would not contact the surface, said exerciser comprising:

a rotor having an axis of rotation; a pair of levers, each with a respective hand grip, said levers being mounted to be freely rotatable relatively to the hub and depending downwardly, and a unidirectional drive interconnected between said rotors and said levers whereby reciprocation of said levers results in driven rotation of the rotor;

whereby a user suspending himself from said hand grips exerts a sequential effort to move one of said levers toward himself while enabling his other arm to facilitate or ignore the reverse movement of the other lever causes rotation of the rotor, thereafter repeating this sequence with his opposite arm, the continuation of this sequence simulating the said traveling under a ladder.

2. In Combination:

a stand providing a support above a surface; and;

a rotor having an axis of rotation; a hub fixed to said rotor for driving rotation therewith; a pair of levers, each with a respective hand grip, said levers being mounted to be freely rotatable relatively to the hub and depending downwardly, each said lever having an extension on the opposite side of said axis; a phase sprocket, a pair of oppositely directed phase links rotatably coupled to said phase sprocket; a pair of drive links connected to respective said extensions and to a respective said phase link; a drive sprocket mounted to said base and to said hub; a first chain drive drivingly interconnecting said phase sprocket and drive socket, and a second chain drive drivingly interconnecting said drive socket and said hub;

whereby a user when suspending himself from said hand grips exerts a sequential effort to move one of said levers toward himself while enabling his other arm to facilitate or ignore the reverse movement of the other lever causes rotation of the rotor, thereafter repeating this sequence with his opposite arm, the continuation of this sequence simulating the said traveling under the ladder.

3. A combination according to claim 2 in which said rotor includes vanes reactive with air in which it is rotated.

4. A combination according to claim 2 in which an adjustable brake provides resistance to rotation of said rotor.