Stair exerciser apparatus

Abstract

The present invention relates to a stair exercise device for simulating stair climbing, the device having a plurality of steps which are activated by the weight of a person walking up them. A stationary platform at the base of the stair exercise device sends a signal to a controller to bring the exercise device to a controlled stop when an operator steps onto the platform. The steps of the exercise device stop in a predetermined location when the exercise device comes to a controlled stop, ensuring proper step location to allow the operator to easily enter and exit the exercise device. Steps have a step platform of a different color than the risers between steps to aid in foot placement.

Description

Or
(A)=Arctan (h/d)

It is beneficial to an operator of the stair exerciser 100 to minimize the step-up height of the stair exerciser 100. That is, a lower step-up height makes it easier for an operator to mount the lowest step 30 of the stair exerciser 100 from the stationary platform 70, and a lower step-up height make it easier for an operator to dismount from the lowest step 30 of the stair exerciser 100 to the stationary platform 70. One way to lower the step-up height (H) is to increase the difference in elevation (h) between the front portion and rear portion of the step platform 32. A lower front portion of the step platform 32 means a lower step-up height (H). However, increasing the difference in elevation (h) between the front portion and rear portion of the step platform 32 also increases the angle (A) of the orientation of the step platform 32. Therefore, care must be taken to choose a predetermined stopping location for the steps 30 such that the step-up height (H) is low for the convenient entering and exiting of the stair exerciser 100, while keeping the angle (A) of the orientation of the step platform 32 low enough to ensure that an operator will not slip off the of the step platform 32.

The angle (A) for the lowest step platform 32 may be 0 degrees from the horizontal plane, or 5 degrees, 10 degrees, 15 degrees, 17.5 degrees, 20 degrees, 25 degrees, or 30 degrees. A step platform 32 at any of these angles (0-30 degrees from the horizontal plane) provides a surface that may easily be stood upon.

The step-up height (H) for the lowest step platform 32 may be 0 inches above the support surface 10 or ground, or it may be 5 inches, 10 inches, 12 inches, 13 inches, 14 inches, or 15 inches above the support surface 10. A step platform 32 at any of these step-up heights 10 or elevations (0-15 inches above the support surface) provides a reasonable step-up height from the support surface 10.

The controller 125 has the ability to bring the steps 30 to a controlled stop at any position along the cyclical path followed by the steps 30 and the endless chain conveyor 12. In the preferred embodiment, the controller 125 is configured to bring the steps 30 to a predetermined controlled stop location that will position the lowest step platform 32 having a relatively low elevation or step-up height (H) of approximately 13 inches above the support surface 10, and having a relatively low orientation angle (A) of approximately 17.5 degrees from a horizontal plane.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a close-up view of the removable debris tray 80 and the stationary platform 70 are shown. The stationary platform 70 has hook features 78 to connect the stationary platform 70 to the frame 20. The stationary platform 70 also has a mating feature 72 to connect to a loop 82 on the debris tray 80. By connecting the debris tray 80 to the stationary platform 70, and by connecting the stationary platform 70 to the frame 20, the stationary platform 70 and the debris tray 80 become an integral part of the stair exerciser 100, and move with the stair exerciser 100 as a single unit.

In FIG. 6, the underside of the stationary platform 70 has a load switch 75 for sending a load signal 76 to the controller 125. The load switch 75 detects when an operator is standing on the stationary platform 70, and sends the load signal 76 to the controller 125. The controller 125 then brings the steps 30 to a controlled stop if the steps 30 are moving, and the controller 125 engages the locking mechanism 160 to prevent any further motion of the steps 30. The operator may then easily step up onto the steps 30 of the stair exerciser 100 while the steps 30 are locked into a stationary position.

Referring now to FIG. 7, the removable access panel 60 is shown. The access panel 60 has locking tabs 68 along one side that may be snapped into an access hatch opening in the housing 50 to quickly attach the one side of the access panel 60 to the housing 50. The access panel 60 as shown also has two quick locking fasteners 65 that can be screwed into the housing 50. The quick locking fasteners 65 are configured to remain attached to the access panel 60 at all times, so the quick locking fasteners 65 will not fall out and get lost like a typical screw fastener. The quick locking fasteners 65 shown only require a quarter-turn of the quick locking fastener 65 to connect the access panel 60 to the housing 50. By using a combination of snap-fit locking tabs 68 to attach one side of the access panel 60 and a limited number of quick locking fasteners 65 to retain the other side of the access panel 60, the removable access panel 60 may be removed from access hatch opening in a matter of seconds, and just as quickly replaced, thereby aiding any maintenance work that may need to be performed within the housing.

Referring now to FIGS. 8-10, the casters 170 have a caster wheel 175 much like the transport wheel 27 (shown in FIGS. 3-4). However, the casters 170 also have a wheel lock 176 to prevent rotation of the caster wheel 175. By locking the wheel lock 176, the stair exerciser 100 is held in a stationary position, and by unlocking the wheel lock 176, the stair exerciser 100 is able to be rolled about on the two caster wheels 175 and two transport wheels 27 for relocation of the stair exerciser 100.

FIG. 10 shows the caster 170 pivotally connected to the base 25. The caster 170 is configured to be raised and lowered relative to the base 25, allowing the caster 170 to be used to level the stair exerciser 100. A bearing plate 179 is mounted to the caster 170 at a distance from a pivot axle 178. The pivot axle 178 pivotally connects the caster 170 to the base 25, such that the caster 170 may pivot up or down about the pivot axle 178. A height adjustment screw 180 is screwed into a hole in the top of the base 25 and is driven down until it contacts the bearing plate 179 of the caster 170. The height adjustment screw 180 prevents the caster 170 from pivoting up any higher than the point at which the bearing plate 179 contacts the height adjustment screw 180. By adjusting the position of the height adjustment screw 180 in the base 25, the caster 170 can be lowered relative to the base 25 so that all four wheels (the two transport wheels 27, and the two caster wheels 175) are all in contact with the support surface 10. When all four wheels are in firm contact with the support surface 10, the stair exerciser 100 is properly leveled.

Whereas the present invention has been described in relation to the drawings attached hereto, it should be understood that other and further modifications, apart from those shown or suggested herein, may be made within the spirit and scope of this invention.

Claims

1. A stair exerciser apparatus for simulating stair climbing, comprising:

a frame having a baseresting, to rest on a substantially horizontal support surface;

a pair of shafts rotatably mounted to the frame, the pair of shafts including a lower shaft located toward the rotatably mounted on a frame rear of the apparatus portion and an upper shaft located rotatably mounted on the frame above and forward of the lower shaftand toward the front of the apparatus;

a pair of chain assemblies synchronously revolvably disposed about the pair of shafts to constitute an endless chain conveyor, at least an upper run of the endless chain conveyor supported by the frame an endless conveyor engaged with the upper shaft and the lower shaft;

a plurality of steps disposed across the endless chain operatively joined to the endless conveyor and capable of moving cyclically following the revolving endless chain to move with the endless conveyor, wherein along the upper run of the endless chain conveyor, each of the plurality of steps are made up of includes a substantially horizontal step platform and a substantially vertical riser joined to the step platform, wherein each step platform is not less than 8 8.3 inches deep and not greater than 12 11.8 inches deep, and wherein a step proximate to the lower shaft is brought to a stop one of the steps is disposed to be stopped at a predetermined location as the step platform is partially rotated about the lower shaft such that the distance between the substantially horizontal support surface and the lowest portion of the step platform is between 12 inches and 14 inches;

a braking mechanism to adjust and control the resistance to rotation of at least one of the pair of shafts, and thereby disposed to engage the endless conveyor to adjust and control the downwardly running a downward speed of the steps;

a locking mechanism for preventing motion of the plurality of steps when the locking mechanism is engaged, the locking mechanism being engaged disposed to engage the endless conveyor when the motion of the plurality of steps is fully are stoppedby the braking mechanism;

a step position sensor for determining the position of at least one of the plurality of steps along its cyclical movement disposed to generate step position data for at least one of the plurality of steps; and

a controller communicatively engaged with in communication with the step position sensor to receive the step position data from the step position sensor, and selectively activate the locking mechanism, and the braking mechanism, the controller adjusting to adjust and controlling control the braking mechanism for adjusting the resistance of the apparatus, the controller also adjusting and controlling the braking mechanism and the locking mechanism for bringing to bring the plurality of steps to a controlled stop in one of the one or more a predetermined locations, thereby to provide a stair landing position proximate the lower shaft that enables easy to enable ingress onto and egress from the apparatus.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each step platform is not less than 10 9.8 inches deep and not greater than 11 11.0 inches deep.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each step riser is not less than 7 7.1 inches high and not greater than 10 9.8 inches high.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each step riser is not less than 7.5 inches high and not greater than 9 inches high.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a pair of handlebars, each handlebar having a contact heart rate pulse sensor built into the handlebar.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a pair of handlebars, each handlebar having a contact heart rate pulse sensor built into the handlebar, and having at least one handlebar having including a control disposed to be activated by a user to communicate with the controller to adjust the downwardly running downward speed of the steps.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one a handlebar, and the at least one handlebar having includes a control disposed to be activated by a user to communicate with the controller to adjust the downwardly running downward speed of the steps and to stop the steps.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one a handlebar, and the at least one handlebar having includes a control disposed to be activated by a user to communicate with the controller to bring the steps to a stopthe motion of the steps.

9. A stair exerciser apparatus for simulating stair climbing, comprising:

a frame having a base resting to rest on a substantially horizontal support surface;

a pair of shafts rotatably mounted to the frame, the pair of shafts including a lower shaft located toward the rear of the apparatus and an upper shaft located above the lower shaft and toward the front of the apparatus;

a pair of chain assemblies synchronously revolvably disposed about the pair of shafts to constitute an endless chain conveyor, at least an upper run of the endless chain conveyor supported by the frame;

a plurality of steps disposed across the endless chain conveyor and capable of moving cyclically following to move with the revolving endless chain conveyor, wherein along the upper run of the endless chain conveyor, each of the plurality of steps are made up of a substantially horizontal includes a step platform and a substantially vertical riser;

a braking mechanism to adjust and control the resistance to rotation of at least one of the pair of shafts, and thereby to adjust and control the downwardly running downward speed of the steps;

a locking mechanism for preventing to prevent motion of the plurality of steps when the locking mechanism is engaged, the locking mechanism being engaged when the motion of the plurality of steps is fully stopped by the braking mechanism;

a handlebar having a control to adjust the downwardly running downward speed of the stepsand a control to bring to a stop the motion of the steps;

a sensor for determining disposed to determine the position of for at least one of the plurality of stepsalong its cyclical movement; and

a controller communicatively engaged in communication with the sensor, the locking mechanism, the braking mechanism, and the handlebar controls control, and the controller adjusting and controlling is in communication with the braking mechanism for adjusting the resistance of the apparatus to adjust downward speed of the steps, and the controller also adjusting and controlling is in communication with the braking mechanism and the locking mechanism for bringing to bring the plurality of steps to a controlled stop in one of one or more a predetermined locations, thereby to location and thereby provide a stair landing position proximate the lower shaft that enables easy ingress onto and egress from the apparatus.

10. A stair exerciser apparatus for simulating stair climbing, comprising:

a frame having a base to rest on a substantially horizontal support surface;

a pair of shafts rotatably mounted to the frame, the pair of shafts including a lower shaft located toward the rear of the apparatus and an upper shaft located above the lower shaft and toward the front of the apparatus;

an endless conveyor having an upper run supported by the frame;

a plurality of steps engaged with the endless conveyor to move with the endless conveyor, and each of the plurality of steps includes a step platform and a riser;

a braking mechanism to adjust and control the resistance to rotation of at least one of the pair of shafts, and thereby adjust and control the downward speed of the steps;

a locking mechanism to prevent motion of the plurality of steps when the steps are stopped by the braking mechanism;

a handlebar having a control disposed to be activated by a user;

a sensor disposed to determine the position of at least one of the plurality of steps; and

a controller in communication with the sensor, the locking mechanism, and the braking mechanism, to adjust and control the braking mechanism and the locking mechanism to stop at least one of the steps in a predetermined stair landing position proximate the lower shaft when the handlebar control is activated.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the handlebar includes a contact heart rate pulse sensor.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, and further comprising:

a second handlebar, and the second handlebar includes a contact heart rate pulse sensor, and includes a control to adjust the downwardly running speed of the steps.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, and further comprising:

a second handlebar, and the second handlebar includes a control to adjust the downward speed of the steps.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, and further comprising:

a second handlebar, and the second handlebar includes a control disposed to be activated by a user, and in communication with the controller to bring to a stop the motion of the steps.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the endless conveyor is meshed with the upper shaft.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the upper shaft comprises:

a sprocket meshed with the endless conveyer.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the braking mechanism operatively engages the endless conveyor to variably resist movement of the endless conveyor.

18. The apparatus of claim 10, and further comprising:

a flywheel rotatably mounted on the frame and operatively engaged with the endless conveyer.

19. The apparatus of claim 10, and further comprising:

a flywheel rotatably mounted on the frame and operatively engaged with the upper shaft.

20. The apparatus of claim 10, and further comprising:

a guide rail joined to the frame; and

a guide pin joined to one of the steps, and slidably engaged with the guide rail.

21. The apparatus of claim 10, and further comprising:

a stationary platform joined to the frame.

22. The apparatus of claim 10, and further comprising:

a stationary platform joined to the frame base and spaced apart from and below the step in the predetermined location.

23. The apparatus of claim 10, and further comprising:

a stationary platform joined to the frame adjacent to the stair landing position.

24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the endless conveyor comprises:

a first chain assembly, and operatively engaged with the upper shaft and the lower shaft; and

a second chain assembly.

25. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the endless conveyor comprises:

a chain.

26. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the braking mechanism operatively engages the endless conveyor to variably resist movement of the endless conveyor.

27. The apparatus of claim 1, and further comprising:

a flywheel rotatably mounted on the frame and operatively engaged with the endless conveyer.

28. The apparatus of claim 1, and further comprising:

a flywheel rotatably mounted on the frame and operatively engaged with the upper shaft.

29. The apparatus of claim 1, and further comprising:

a guide pin joined to one of the steps, and slidably engaged with the frame.

30. The apparatus of claim 1, and further comprising:

a stationary platform joined to the frame and spaced apart from and below the step at the fixed stair location.

31. The apparatus of claim 1, and further comprising:

a stationary platform joined to the frame base.

32. The apparatus of claim 1, and further comprising:

a stationary platform joined to the frame; and

a load sensing switch connected to the stationary platform and in communication with the controller to selectively engage the locking mechanism.