Stationary exercise apparatus for leg exercises

Abstract

An exercise apparatus for leg exercises includes a frame, two first link rods, two second link rods, and two pedals. Each first link rod has a rotating portion and a first reciprocating portion respectively moving along a circular path and a first reciprocating path. Each second link rod has a second reciprocating portion moving along a second reciprocating path. Each first link rod has a first pivot portion connected to a second pivot portion of the corresponding second link rod. Each pedal is coupled to the corresponding second link rod, moving along an elongated closed path. The first reciprocating path, the second reciprocating path and the closed path are located below a lowermost position of the circular path, and height ranges of the first reciprocating path and the second reciprocating path at least partially overlap.

1 . An exercise apparatus for leg exercises, comprising:
 a frame;   two first link rods, each having a rotating portion, a first reciprocating portion and a first pivot portion, the rotating portions of the two first link rods being restricted to moving along a circular path with respect to the frame, the first reciprocating portions of the two first link rods being restricted to moving along a first reciprocating path with respect to the frame;   two second link rods, each having a second reciprocating portion and a second pivot portion, the second reciprocating portions of the two second link rods being restricted to moving along a second reciprocating path with respect to the frame, the second pivot portions of the two second link rods respectively pivotally connected to the first pivot portions of the two first link rods; and   two pedals, respectively coupled to the two second link rods, each of the two pedals defining a toe end, a heel end, and a central portion between the toe end and the heel end;   wherein when the rotating portions of the two first link rods move along the circular path, the first reciprocating portions of the two first link rods and the second reciprocating portions of the two second link rods respectively move along the first reciprocating path and the second reciprocating path, and the central portions of the two pedals move along a closed path; and wherein a vertical distance between an uppermost position and a lowermost position of the closed path is greater than a horizontal distance between a foremost position and a rearmost position of the closed path;   wherein the first reciprocating path, the second reciprocating path and the closed path are located below a lowermost position of the circular path, and height ranges of the first reciprocating path and the second reciprocating path at least partially overlap.   
     
     
         2 . The exercise apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the height ranges of the first reciprocating path and the second reciprocating path at least partially overlap with a height range of the closed path. 
     
     
         3 . The exercise apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a distance between the first pivot portion and the rotating portion of each first link rod is greater than a distance between the second pivot portion and the second reciprocating portion of each second link rod. 
     
     
         4 . The exercise apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising two first swing arms and two second swing arms; each of the two first swing arms having an axial end and a swing end, the axial ends of the two first swing arms respectively pivotally mounted to the frame, the swing ends of the two first swing arms respectively pivotally mounted to the first reciprocating portions of the two first link rods; each of the two second swing arms having an axial end and a swing end, the axial ends of the two second swing arms respectively mounted to the frame, the swing ends of the two second swing arms respectively pivotally mounted to the second reciprocating portions of the two second link rods. 
     
     
         5 . The exercise apparatus as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the two first swing arms and the two second swing arms are coaxially coupled to the frame about a swing axis corresponding to a lateral axis of the exercise apparatus; and wherein a distance between the axial end and the swing end of each first swing arm differs from a distance between the axial end and the swing end of each second swing arm. 
     
     
         6 . The exercise apparatus as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the distance between the axial end and the swing end of each first swing arm is greater than the distance between the axial end and the swing end of each second swing arm. 
     
     
         7 . The exercise apparatus as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the swing axis is located lower than the lowermost position of the circular path. 
     
     
         8 . The exercise apparatus as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein both a lowermost position of the first reciprocating path and a lowermost position of the second reciprocating path are located higher than the swing axis. 
     
     
         9 . The exercise apparatus as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein both the first reciprocating path and the second reciprocating path are located in back of the swing axis. 
     
     
         10 . The exercise apparatus as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the first reciprocating portion is located higher than the first pivot portion of each first link rod; the second reciprocating portion is located in front of the second pivot portion of each second link rod; and wherein each pedal is located in back of the second pivot portion of the corresponding second link rod. 
     
     
         11 . The exercise apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein when the central portion of each pedal is located at the lowermost position, the toe end and the heel end are substantially at the same height; and wherein when the central portion of each pedal is located at the uppermost position, the heel end is significantly higher than the toe end. 
     
     
         12 . An exercise apparatus for leg exercises, comprising:
 a frame;   two first link rods, each having a rotating portion, a first reciprocating portion and a first pivot portion, the rotating portions of the two first link rods coupled to the frame to rotate about a first axis in a circular path;   two second link rods, each having a second reciprocating portion and a second pivot portion, the second pivot portions of the two second link rods respectively pivotally connected to the first pivot portions of the two first link rods;   two first swing arms, each having an axial end and a swing end, the axial ends of the two first swing arms respectively pivotally mounted to the frame, the swing ends of the two first swing arms respectively pivotally mounted to the first reciprocating portions of the two first link rods to guide the first reciprocating portions moving along a first reciprocating path with respect to the frame;   two second swing arms, each having an axial end and a swing end, the axial ends of the two second swing arms respectively pivotally mounted to the frame, the swing ends of the two second swing arms respectively pivotally mounted to the second reciprocating portions of the two second link rods to guide the second reciprocating portions moving along a second reciprocating path with respect to the frame; and   two pedals, respectively coupled to the second link rods, when the rotating portions of the two first link rods move along the circular path, the first reciprocating portions of the two first link rods and the second reciprocating portions of the two second link rods respectively move along the first reciprocating path and the second reciprocating path, and the two pedals move along a closed path;   wherein the first reciprocating path, the second reciprocating path and the closed path are located below a lowermost position of the circular path, and height ranges of the first reciprocating path and the second reciprocating path at least partially overlap.   
     
     
         13 . The exercise apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein a vertical distance between an uppermost position and a lowermost position of the closed path is greater than a horizontal distance between a foremost position and a rearmost position of the closed path. 
     
     
         14 . The exercise apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the height ranges of the first reciprocating path and the second reciprocating path at least partially overlap with a height range of the closed path. 
     
     
         15 . The exercise apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein a distance between the first pivot portion and the rotating portion of each first link rod is greater than a distance between the second pivot portion and the second reciprocating portion of each second link rod. 
     
     
         16 . The exercise apparatus as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the two first swing arms and the two second swing arms are coaxially coupled to the frame about a swing axis corresponding to a lateral axis of the exercise apparatus; and wherein a distance between the axial end and the swing end of each first swing arm differs from a distance between the axial end and the swing end of each second swing arm. 
     
     
         17 . The exercise apparatus as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the distance between the axial end and the swing end of each first swing arm is greater than the distance between the axial end and the swing end of each second swing arm. 
     
     
         18 . The exercise apparatus as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the swing axis is located lower than the lowermost position of the circular path. 
     
     
         19 . The exercise apparatus as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein both a lowermost position of the first reciprocating path and a lowermost position of the second reciprocating path are located higher than the swing axis. 
     
     
         20 . The exercise apparatus as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein both the first reciprocating path and the second reciprocating path are located in back of the swing axis.