Foldable exerciser

Abstract

A foldable exerciser includes an elongated main frame, a prop member disposed to prop the main frame in a straddle position, a saddle mounting frame pivotally connected to the main frame and having a saddle mounting segment extending rearwardly, an operating unit pivotally connected to a top end of the main frame and having opposite force and weight ends, a coupler interconnecting the saddle mounting frame and the weight end such that rearward pivoting movement of the force end toward the saddle mounting segment in the straddle position can result in movement of the saddle mounting segment forward for simulating a horse-riding action, a bracing unit including lower and upper shanks telescopically fitted to each other, and a damper member disposed to bias the upper shank away from the lower shank so as to counteract an impact generated as a result of plunging of the saddle mounting segment toward the upper shank.

1 . A foldable exerciser comprising: 
 an elongated main frame having top and bottom ends opposite to each other, and a middle portion interposed therebetween;    a prop member having a rest end which is adapted to sit on a ground surface, and a propping end which is connected to said middle portion to prop said main frame in a straddle position;    a saddle mounting frame including a front pivot end which is pivotally connected to said middle portion about a first axis and between said top and propping ends, an arm segment which extends from said front pivot end in a radial direction relative to the first axis to terminate at a juncture, and a saddle mounting segment which extends rearwardly from said juncture such that said juncture is turnable about the first axis between proximate and distal positions relative to said top end;    a saddle mounted on said saddle mounting segment;    an operating unit including a fulcrum which is pivotally connected to said top end about a second axis parallel to the first axis, and a force end and a weight end at two sides of said fulcrum;    a coupler having a first coupled end which is coupled to said juncture, and a second coupled end which is coupled to said weight end such that in the straddle position, rearward pivoting movement of said force end about the second axis toward said saddle mounting segment results in turning of said juncture from the distal position to the proximate position so as to move said saddle mounting segment forward for simulating a horse-riding action; and    a bracing unit including    a lower shank which has a lower shank end coupled to said main frame proximate to said bottom end,    an upper shank which has an upper shank end distal from said lower shank end so as to brace said saddle mounting segment when said saddle mounting segment is in the distal position, and which is telescopically fitted to said lower shank such that said upper shank end is movable relative to said lower shank along a lengthwise axis thereof, and    a damper member with a biasing force, said damper member being disposed to bias said upper shank end away from said lower shank end such that when said saddle mounting segment is moved forward to simulate the horse-riding action, an impact generated as a result of plunging of said saddle mounting segment toward said upper shank end is counteracted by the biasing force.    
   
   
       2 . The foldable exerciser of  claim 1 , wherein said lower shank has an inner tubular wall surface which surrounds the lengthwise axis, and an outer tubular wall surface opposite to said inner tubular wall surface in radial directions relative to the lengthwise axis, said upper shank having an outer surrounding wall surface which is disposed inwardly of and which is slidable along said inner tubular wall surface.  
   
   
       3 . The foldable exerciser of  claim 2 , further comprising a mount which is mounted on said inner tubular wall surface and downwardly of said upper shank, said damper member being a coil spring which is disposed between said upper shank and said mount so as to bias said upper shank away from said mount.  
   
   
       4 . The foldable exerciser of  claim 3 , wherein said mount is disposed to slidably engage said inner tubular wall surface along the lengthwise axis, and has a plurality of adjustment holes displaced from each other along the lengthwise axis, said outer tubular wall surface of said lower shank having a through hole which extends through said inner tubular wall surface to be aligned with a selected one of said adjustment holes, 
 said foldable exerciser further comprising a first locking unit which includes a first nut member that has a first tapped hole and that is disposed on said outer tubular wall surface so as to register said first tapped hole with said through hole, and a first locking bolt which has a first threaded segment that threadedly engages said first tapped hole, and a first latch segment disposed to extend from said first threaded segment such that, by virtue of screw movement of said first threaded segment in said first tapped hole, said first latch segment is movable between a locking position, where said first latch segment is inserted into a selected one of said adjustment holes, and an unlocking position, where said first latch segment is disengaged from the selected one of said adjustment holes so as to permit movement of said mount along the lengthwise axis.    
   
   
       5 . The foldable exerciser of  claim 3 , further comprising a plunger rod which extends along the lengthwise axis to terminate at upper and lower heads that connect said upper shank and said mount respectively and loosely such that extent of the biasing action of said coil spring is restricted by the length of said plunger rod.  
   
   
       6 . The foldable exerciser of  claim 1 , wherein said lower shank end of said lower shank is pivotally connected to said main frame such that said upper shank end is pivotable between a holding position where said upper shank end braces said saddle mounting segment, and a collapsed position where said upper shank end is placed close to said front pivot end, 
 said foldable exerciser further comprising a second locking unit disposed to releasably retain said upper shank end in the holding position.    
   
   
       7 . The foldable exerciser of  claim 6 , wherein said second locking unit includes an insert hole which is formed in said lower shank, a second nut member which has a second tapped hole and which is mounted on said main frame proximate to said bottom end so as to register said second tapped hole with said insert hole when said upper shank end is in the holding position, and a second locking bolt which has a second threaded segment that threadedly engages said second tapped hole, and a second latch segment that extends from said second threaded segment such that by virtue of screw movement of said second threaded segment in said second tapped hole, said second latch segment is movable to be inserted into said insert hole to thereby retain said upper shank end in the holding position, and is movable to disengage from said insert hole to thereby permit pivoting movement of said upper shank end.  
   
   
       8 . The foldable exerciser of  claim 1 , wherein said coupler includes first and second tubular pieces which respectively have said first and second coupled ends, and first and second connected ends that are telescopically fitted to each other, one of said first and second connected ends having a plurality of adjustment holes displaced from each other along a lengthwise axis thereof, the other one of said first and second connected ends having a through hole which extends therethrough to be communicated with a selected one of said adjustment holes, and a third nut member which has a third tapped hole that is registered with said through hole, 
 said foldable exerciser further comprising a third locking bolt which has a third threaded segment that threadedly engages said third tapped hole, and a third latch segment that extends from said third threaded segment such that by virtue of screw movement of said third threaded segment in said third tapped hole, said third latch segment is movable to be inserted into a selected one of said adjustment holes or to disengage from the selected one of said adjustment holes so as to permit movement of said second tubular piece along the lengthwise axis.    
   
   
       9 . The foldable exerciser of  claim 8 , wherein said second coupled end is detachably coupled to said weight end such that said second coupled end is turnable relative to said juncture between an engaging position, where said second coupled end is retained with said weight end to thereby result in the rearward pivoting movement of said force end, and a disengaging position, where said second coupled end is disengaged from said weight end.  
   
   
       10 . The foldable exerciser of  claim 1 , wherein said propping end is pivotally connected to said middle portion of said main frame such that said rest end is pivotable between the straddle position, where said rest end is remote from said bottom end, and a folded position, where said rest end is proximate to said bottom end, said foldable exerciser further comprising a fastening unit which is disposed to releasably fasten said rest end in the straddle position.  
   
   
       11 . The foldable exerciser of  claim 1 , further comprising a pedaling unit which is mounted on said prop member, and which includes a pair of cranks journalled on said prop member, a pair of pedals connected respectively to two opposite ends of said cranks, and a resistance mechanism disposed to deliver a resistance force to said cranks.