Exercising Device with Combined Stepping and Twisting Functions

Abstract

The present invention relates to an exercising device with combined stepping and twisting functions comprising a base member, a stepper mechanism mounted on the base member, a stepper assembly pivotably and rotatably secured with respect to the stepper mechanism and base member in a manner that the stepper assembly is capable of performing simultaneously or one at a time stepping and twisting functions through an engaging rotatable mechanism into which the stepper assembly is movably engaged through a linkage means, and a selecting mechanism for selectively activating or deactivating the functions being provided thereto.

1 . An exercising device with combined stepping and twisting functions comprising:
 a base member, a stepper mounting means mounted on said base member, a stepper assembly pivotably and rotatably secured with respect to said mounting means and base member in a manner that said stepper assembly is capable of performing simultaneously or one at a time stepping and twisting functions through an engaging rotatable mechanism into which said stepper assembly is movably engaged through a linkage means, a selecting means for selectively activating or deactivating said functions being provided thereto; characterized in that said stepper mounting means and engaging rotatable mechanism are lockably and horizontally rotatable relative to each other and said base member at a common axis of rotation located proximate the central section of said device, such that a stepping function is activated solely when said mounting means is made non-rotatable relative to said base member while said mechanism being in a rotatable state relative to said mounting means;
 a twisting function is activated solely when said mechanism is made non-rotatable relative to said mounting means while said mounting means being in a rotatable state relative to said base member; and combined stepping and twisting functions are activated simultaneously when said mechanism is made non-rotatable relative to said base member while said mounting means being in a rotatable state relative to said base member and said mechanism; 
 resulting in a centralized assemblage of elements and mechanisms facilitating the selective activation and deactivation of said functions. 
   
     
     
         2 . An exercising device according to  claim 1  wherein said rotatable mechanism is in a form of a pair of complementing lower and upper disk members, in which the lower disk member is fixedly secured to said mounting means while the upper disk member that is rotatably engaged with said lower disk member is rotatably mounted on said base member through an upstanding axle provided thereon along said common axis of rotation. 
     
     
         3 . An exercising device according to  claim 1  or  2  wherein said rotatable mechanism functions also as a stepper load resistance that translates into a resistive force applied to said stepper assembly. 
     
     
         4 . An exercising device according to  claim 3  wherein said rotatable mechanism has the disk members thereof in a form of friction disks that comprise of female disk and male disk members, respectively; said male disk member having peripheral ridge frictionally engaging with respective peripheral channel provided to said female member whose engagement is compressively and adjustably secured by a tightening means engaged with said axle. 
     
     
         5 . An exercising device according to  claim 4  wherein said tightening means has an ergonomic handle suitably designed to facilitate easy manual gripping and twisting action when in use. 
     
     
         6 . An exercising device according to  claim 1  further characterized in that said selecting means is a releasable knob-type lock, a pair of which being provided to said mechanism wherein one lock is releasably lockable to said mounting means and the other lock being releasably lockable to said base member that is also provided with another same type of lock being releasably lockable to said mounting means. 
     
     
         7 . An exercising device according to  claim 6  wherein said knob-type lock is in a form that comprises of a spring-biased latch member slidably mounted in a sleeve fixedly secured on said mechanism and base member, said latch member being lockably engageable with corresponding catch provided to said mounting means and base member when said latch member is being released from the spring-biased engagement thereof with said sleeve in an unlocked normal position. 
     
     
         8 . An exercising device according to  claim 7  wherein said latch member is a generally tubular member that is spirally and concentrically slidable longitudinally within said sleeve that is in a form of a generally annular sleeve defining an inner elongated member whose top end portion provided with a pre-determined means for indicating the device's function, such that when said member is in an upwardly lifted, biased normal unlocked position, said member is concealed downwardly within said member, and when said member is in a downwardly released, locked position, said member shows up with the means thereof being exposed at the top portion of said member, indicating the particular associated function of the device that is at work as selected by a user. 
     
     
         9 . An exercising device according to  claim 1  wherein the rotatable mountings of said rotatable mechanism and mounting means into said axle adopt the use of bearing members. 
     
     
         10 . An exercising device according to  claim 1  wherein said base member is provided with a stopper that limits the rotational displacement of said mounting means. 
     
     
         11 . An exercising device according to  claim 1  wherein said stepper assembly comprises:
 a pair of pedal arms with respective pedals, said pedal arms being pivotably mounted, at the sleeved front end portions thereof, to corresponding opposite side branching shaft members provided upwardly on an upstanding frontal post member of said mounting means, said sleeved end portion being connected to said mechanism through said linkage means which is in a form of two-part linkage member.   
     
     
         12 . An exercising device according to  claim 1  wherein said base member adopts any stable structural platforms selected from I-beam type with front and rear anchor members, radial type with radial anchor members, and any polygonal type with variations of anchor member arrangements. 
     
     
         13 . An exercising device according to  claim 1  wherein there is provided a hand-exercising means mounted on said base member or said mounting means.