Stepper exercise apparatus

Abstract

A stepper exercise apparatus may include a frame pivotally supporting two pedals connected to the frame. Two cylinders are pivotally connected to the two pedals and to the frame. The pedals may be interconnected to move in coordinated movement in opposite directions. The cylinders provide exercise resistance to the force alternatively applied to the pedals by the user. An exercise resistance adjustment assembly may be actuated to adjust the exercise resistance setting of the stepper exercise apparatus.

1 . A stepper exercise apparatus, comprising:
 a) a frame, said frame including a front base member and a rear base member;   b) a generally vertically extending post fixedly secured to said front base member;   c) a pair of foot support members pivotally connected to said post;   d) a support bar interconnecting said post and said rear base member; and   e) an exercise resistance assembly operably connecting said pair of foot support members.   
     
     
         2 . The stepper exercise apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said exercise resistance assembly includes rocker levers rotatably connected to said post pivotal about a common axis. 
     
     
         3 . The stepper exercise apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said exercise resistance assembly includes a gear disk rotatably secured to said post, and further including an actuator shaft operatively connected to a pair of exercise resistance members. 
     
     
         4 . The stepper exercise apparatus of  claim 3  wherein manipulation of said rocker levers rotates said gear disk to change a first exercise resistance setting to a second exercise resistance setting. 
     
     
         5 . The stepper exercise apparatus of  claim 4  including visual indicia of exercise resistance settings. 
     
     
         6 . The stepper exercise apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said exercise resistance assembly includes an exercise selector for adjusting an exercise resistance setting. 
     
     
         7 . The stepper exercise apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said exercise resistance assembly includes a push button configuration for adjusting an exercise resistance setting. 
     
     
         8 . A stepper exercise apparatus, comprising:
 a) a frame including a front base member and a rear base member;   b) a generally vertically extending support member fixedly secured to said front base member;   c) a pair of foot pedals pivotally connected to said support member; and   d) an exercise resistance assembly operably connecting said pair of foot pedals for dependent reciprocal movement.   
     
     
         9 . The stepper exercise apparatus of  claim 8  wherein said exercise resistance assembly includes an exercise resistance selector actuable to change a first exercise resistance setting to a second exercise resistance setting. 
     
     
         10 . The stepper exercise apparatus of  claim 8  wherein said exercise resistance assembly includes a linear selector actuable to change a first exercise resistance setting to a second exercise resistance setting. 
     
     
         11 . The stepper exercise apparatus of  claim 9  wherein said exercise resistance assembly includes a pair of cylinders, a first end of each said pair of cylinders pivotally connected to a respective said pair of foot pedals, a second end of each said pair of cylinders pivotally connected to opposite ends of a transverse shaft movably connected to said front base member. 
     
     
         12 . The stepper exercise apparatus of  claim 11  wherein said exercise resistance selector is operatively connected to said transverse shaft to raise and lower said second end of each said pair of cylinders. 
     
     
         13 . The stepper exercise apparatus of  claim 11  wherein said exercise resistance selector includes a selector shaft movably connected to a collar pivotally secured to said support member, said selector shaft defining an elongated body having oppositely facing longitudinal threaded concentric portions and longitudinal flat portions, said collar further including an axial passageway configured to receive said selector shaft therethrough, a pair of pins extending through opposite sides of said collar projecting into said axial passageway into engagement with said threaded concentric portions of said shaft, wherein twisting said shaft about 90° aligns said pins opposite said longitudinal flat portions of said shaft. 
     
     
         14 . The stepper exercise apparatus of  claim 11  wherein said exercise resistance selector includes a helical shaft movably connected to said support member, said helical shaft movably supporting an internally threaded collar, a hinge connector pivotally secured to said collar interconnecting said helical shaft and said transverse shaft. 
     
     
         15 . The stepper exercise apparatus of  claim 11  wherein said exercise resistance selector includes a rack and pinion assembly. 
     
     
         16 . The stepper exercise apparatus of  claim 8  wherein said exercise resistance assembly includes a right foot paddle and a left foot paddle pivotally connected to a right rack and a second rack, respectively, said right rack and said left rack movably supported by said support member, and further including a pinion gear interconnecting said right rack and said left rack and a locking rack slidably coupled to said left rack movable to locking engagement with said right rack.