Exerciser having foot pedals moving along an elliptical path

Abstract

An exerciser includes an elongated base which has two aligned slide slots. A post is fixed on a front end portion of the base. A driving wheel is disposed rotatably on the front end portion of the base, and has a fixed rotating shaft. Two cranks are connected respectively and fixedly to two ends of the rotating shaft. Each of two inner links has a front end that is connected rotatably to a respective one of the cranks and that is rotatable about the rotating shaft, and a rear end that is received slidably within a respective one of the slide slots in the base. Two horizontally extending transverse pivot pins connect two pedals respectively and rotatably to the inner links. Each of two upright swing levers has an intermediate portion that is mounted pivotally on a respective one of the posts. Each of two outer links has a front end that is connected pivotally to a lower end of a respective one of the swing levers, and a rear end that is connected fixedly to a respective one of the pedals. When the swing levers are swung by two hands of a user and when the pedals are depressed by two feet of the user, each of the pedals moves along an elliptical path.

I claim:  
     
         1 . An exerciser comprising: 
 an elongated base having a front end portion and a rear end portion which is formed with two aligned slide slots that extend in a longitudinal direction of said base and that are formed in two opposite sides of said base;    a post fixed on said front end portion of said base;    a driving wheel disposed rotatably on said front end portion of said base, and having a fixed rotating shaft;    two cranks connected respectively and fixedly to two ends of said rotating shaft;    two inner links, each of which has a front end that is connected rotatably to a respective one of said cranks and that is rotatable about said rotating shaft, and a rear end that is received slidably within a respective one of said slide slots in said base;    two pedals;    two horizontally extending transverse pivot pins for connecting said pedals respectively and rotatably to said inner links;    two upright swing levers, each of which has an intermediate portion that is mounted pivotally on said post; and    two outer links, each of which has a front end that is connected pivotally to a lower end of a respective one of said swing levers, and a rear end that is connected fixedly to a respective one of said pedals;    whereby, when said swing levers are swung by two hands of a user and when said pedals are depressed by two feet of the user, each of said pedals moves along an elliptical path.    
     
     
         2 . The exerciser as defined in    claim 1   , wherein each of said inner links has a fixed pedal-supporting seat, which is formed with a sleeve that is disposed rotatably around a respective one of said pivot pins, said pivot pins being mounted respectively and fixedly on said pedals.  
     
     
         3 . The exerciser as defined in    claim 2   , wherein each of said pivot pins has a first end that is connected fixedly to a respective one of said pedals, and a second end having an end surface that is formed with a threaded hole, said exerciser further including two rigid washers each of which abuts against an end surface of a respective one of said sleeves, and two bolts that extend respectively through said washers to engage said threaded holes in said pivot pins in such a manner that said sleeves are rotatable around said pivot pins.