US20040110604A1

US20040110604A1 - Rocking exercise device

Info

Publication number: US20040110604A1
Application number: US10/315,209
Authority: US
Inventors: Chun-Yueh Chen Wu
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-12-10
Filing date: 2002-12-10
Publication date: 2004-06-10

Abstract

Rocking exercise device including at least one rocking member having an arched bottom face. A top face of the rocking member is provided with a front step board and a rear step board oppositely inclined toward the center. The opposite ends of the front step board and rear step board of the rocking member respectively have a downward extending front projecting block and a rear projecting block. The rocking member is equipped with two fastening straps at the front and rear step boards. A shaft hole transversely passes through the rocking member. A center point of the shaft hole and a center point of the arch of the bottom face of the rocking member are not at the same position. One end of a shaft rod is fitted in the shaft hole and the other end of the shaft rod is fitted in the shaft hole of an adjacent rocking member.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to a rocking exercise device, and more particularly to a rocking exercise device that provides back and forth and left and right rocking exercising effect for a user. Also, the rocking exercise device can be used more safely.

FIG. 13 shows a conventional rocking exercising shoe having an

arched base

7. The arched base 7 has an arched bottom face 71. The top face of the base 7 is provided with a front step board 72 and a rear step board 73 inclined toward each other for a user to step thereon. The front and rear ends of the bottom face 71 respectively have two projections 74. When the base 7 swings back and forth, the projections 74 contact with the ground to restrict the rocking amplitude of the base 7.

In use, a user's foot steps on the

base

7 with the front portion of the sole positioned on the front step board 72 and the heel positioned on the rear step board 73. The arched bottom face 71 swings back and forth on the ground so as to stretch and exercise the muscles of the leg.

When the

base

7 swings back and forth, the projections 74 contact with the ground to restrict the rocking amplitude of the base 7 and thus prevent the user from falling down.

However, the distance between the two

projections

74 is too short so that the rocking amplitude of the base 7 is limited and an expected exercising effect can be hardly achieved. Moreover, the projection 74 simply slightly protrudes from the bottom face 71 of the base 7 so that the stopping effect is poor. In the case that the user excessively swings and the rocking angle of the base 7 exceeds the stoppable angle of the projections 74, the user may still fall down forward or backward.

FIG. 14 shows an improved rocking exercise device in which two

side plates

75 are respectively locked on two sides of the base 7. Two stopper sections 76 are respectively formed on front and rear ends of each side plate. The stopper sections 76 are respectively positioned on outer sides of two ends of the arched base 7. When the base 7 swings, the stopper sections 76 contact with the ground to prevent the base 7 from over-rocking, while the base 7 can have larger rocking amplitude.

However, the

side plates

75 are fixed on two sides of the base 7 by screws. After a period of use, the screws tend to loosen and the side plates 75 may detach. This results in danger in use.

Furthermore, such exercising shoe can simply swing back and forth to stretch the leg of the user, while the other parts of the user cannot be exercised with such exercising shoe.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a rocking exercise device including at least one rocking member having an arched bottom face. A shaft rod is pivotally fitted between two adjacent rocking members. A center point of the shaft rod and a center point of the arch of the bottom face of the rocking member are not at the same position, whereby the rocking members will eccentrically swing. Therefore, when a user's feet step on the rocking members and swing back and forth, the rocking members will at the same time swing left and right. Accordingly, the muscles of the user's leg are stretched and the waist of the user is twisted to exercise the whole body of the user.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide the above rocking exercise device which further includes a frame body on which two rocking members are pivotally disposed. A handlebar is disposed on an upright stem of the frame body for a user to hold when stepping on the rocking members. Therefore, the safety in use of the rocking exercise device can be ensured.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide the above rocking exercise device in which a leaf spring is disposed under the bottom of the rocking member, whereby a user can jump up and down to exercise.

The present invention can be best understood through the following description and accompanying drawings wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective assembled view of a first embodiment of the present invention; [0013]
FIG. 2 is a perspective exploded view of the first embodiment of the present invention; [0014]
FIG. 3 is a side view of the rocking member of the first embodiment of the present invention; [0015]
FIG. 4 shows the use of the first embodiment of the present invention; [0016]
FIG. 5 shows that when a user steps on the rocking members and swing back and forth, the rocking members will at the same time swing left and right; [0017]
FIG. 6 is a perspective assembled view of a second embodiment of the present invention; [0018]
FIG. 7 shows the use of the second embodiment of the present invention; [0019]
FIG. 8 is a perspective assembled view of a third embodiment of the present invention; [0020]
FIG. 9 shows the use of the third embodiment of the present invention; [0021]
FIG. 10 is a perspective exploded view of a fourth embodiment of the present invention; [0022]
FIG. 11 shows the use of the fourth embodiment of the present invention; [0023]
FIG. 12 is a perspective exploded view of a fifth embodiment of the present invention; [0024]
FIG. 13 is a side view of a conventional exercising shoe; and [0025]
FIG. 14 is a side view of another type of conventional exercising shoe.[0026]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Please refer to FIGS. [0027] 1 to 3. According to a first embodiment, the rocking exercise device of the present invention includes at least one rocking member 1 having an arched bottom face 11 in contact with a support face. A slip-proof pad 111 is paved under the bottom face 11 to increase the frictional force against the support face. The top face of the rocking member 1 is provided with a front step board 12 and a rear step board 13 oppositely inclined toward the center for a user to step thereon. Multiple domed protuberances 14 are distributed over the front and rear step boards 12, 13 to provide massaging effect for the user's feet.
An [0028] upright wall 15 is formed on rear edge of the rear step board 13. The upright wall 15 has a profile corresponding to that of the heel of human foot, whereby the heel of the user is stopped from rearward slipping out.
The rocking [0029] member 1 is formed with a shaft hole 17 transversely passing through the rocking member 1. The center point C1 of the shaft hole 17 and the center point C2 of the arch of the bottom face 11 are not at the same position. Therefore, the rocking member 1 will eccentrically swing. One end of a shaft rod 2 is fitted in the shaft hole 17. The other end of the shaft rod 2 is fitted in the shaft hole 17 of an adjacent rocking member 1. A sleeve 21 is fitted around the middle section of the shaft rod 2 to stop the opposite sides of the two rocking members 1 and space the two rocking members 1 from each other by a certain distance. One end of the shaft rod 2 has a stop flange 22, while the other end of the shaft rod 2 is formed with a thread 23. By means of a nut 24, the shaft rod 2 can be fixed on the two rocking members 1.
In use, as shown in FIG. 4, a user can sit and step on the two rocking [0030] members 1 with both feet. The front portion of the sole is positioned on the front step board 12 and the heel is positioned on the rear step board 13. By means of the arched bottom faces 11, the rocking members 1 swing on the ground back and forth. When the user presses his/her feet forward or backward, the muscles of the instep and the front side of the leg are stretched and exercised.
Referring to FIG. 5, when rocking back and forth, the center point C[0031] 1 of the shaft hole 17 of the rocking member 1 and the center point C2 of the arch of the bottom face 11 are not at the same position. Therefore, the rocking member 1 will eccentrically swing. When the user's feet step on the rocking members 1 and swing back and forth, the shaft rod 2 will be deflected, whereby the two rocking members 1 will also swing left and right. Accordingly, the waist of the user will swing along with the rocking, members 1. In cooperation with the rocking of both hands in reverse direction, the whole body of the user can be exercised.
FIGS. 6 and 7 show a second embodiment of the present invention, in which the rocking exercise device has a [0032] frame body 3 on which two rocking members 1 are pivotally disposed. A pivot seat 31 is disposed on the middle section of the frame body 3. The pivot seat 31 has three pivot plates 311 at equal intervals. Each pivot plate has a circular hole 312. The middle pivot plate 311 divides the pivot seat 31 into two spaces in which the rocking members 1 are respectively pivotally disposed. The shaft rod 2 of the rocking members 1 extends through the circular holes 312 of the three pivot plates 311. Two ends of the shaft rod 2 are respectively fixed in the circular holes 312 of two outer pivot plates 311. Accordingly, the rocking members 1 can swing back and forth on the pivot seat 31 of the frame body 3.
The [0033] frame body 1 has an upright stem 32 at one end opposite to the pivot seat 31. The upright stem 32 is telescopic to adjust the length in accordance with the height of a user. A handlebar 33 is transversely disposed on top end of the stem 32 for a user to hold.
The [0034] upright stem 32 is telescopic to adjust the height of the handlebar 33 in accordance with the height of a user. Moreover, a user, especially a child or a user with poor balance feeling can hold the handlebar 33 in exercise so as to ensure safety.
FIGS. 8 and 9 show a third embodiment of the present invention, in which the opposite ends of the [0035] front step board 12 and rear step board 13 of the rocking member 1 respectively have a downward extending front projecting block 121 and a rear projecting block 131. The free ends of the front and rear projecting blocks 121, 131 respectively have stopper sections 122, 132 tangential to the arch of the bottom face 11. A slip-proof cap 133 is fitted on each stopper section 122, 132 to contact with the ground. Each rocking member 1 is equipped with two fastening straps 16 at the front and rear step boards 12, 13. The fastening straps 16 are wound over the foot of the user to fix the foot on the rocking member 1. In this embodiment, the fastening strap 16 is a strap having loop-hook tape.
In this embodiment, when a user wears the rocking [0036] members 1 to walk and exercise, the shaft rod 2 is detached to separate the two rocking members 1. When walking, the feet of the user will press the rocking members 1 forward, whereby the muscles of the instep and front side of the leg are stretched and exercised.
The [0037] stopper section 122 of the front projecting block 121 is tangential to the arch of the bottom face 11. Therefore, when the user walks and the front section of the sole is pressed down, the stopper section 122 of the front projecting block 121 and the bottom face 11 both well contact with the ground. In addition, the slip-proof pad 111 provides a slip-proof effect to prevent the user from slipping down.
FIGS. 10 and 11 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention, in which an [0038] arched leaf spring 4 is disposed under the bottom of the rocking member 1. Two ends of the leaf spring 4 are respectively formed with two insertion sections 41 in which the front and rear projecting blocks 121, 131 of the rocking member 1 are inserted. By means of the resilience of the leaf spring 4, a user can jump up and down to exercise.
FIG. 12 shows a fifth embodiment of the present invention, in which two [0039] transverse beams 6 are connected between the two rocking members 1 respectively under the front and rear step boards 12, 13. Accordingly, a user's feet can step on the rocking members 1 and roll back and forth. The upper half of the user's body can tilt backward or forward to keep in balance. This can exercise the waist of the user.
The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the present invention, not intended to limit the scope thereof. Many modifications of the above embodiments can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. [0040]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A rocking exercise device comprising at least one rocking member having an arched bottom face adapted to contact with a support face, a top face of the rocking member being provided with a front step board and a rear step board oppositely inclined toward the center for a user's foot to step thereon, the rocking member being formed with a shaft hole transversely passing through the rocking member, a center point of the shaft hole and a center point of the arch of the bottom face of the rocking member being not at the same position, whereby the rocking member will eccentrically swing, one end of a shaft rod being fitted in the shaft hole, the other end of the shaft rod being fitted in the shaft hole of an adjacent rocking member.

2. The rocking exercise device as claimed in claim 1, wherein opposite ends of the front step board and rear step board of the rocking member respectively have a downward extending front projecting block and a rear projecting block, free ends of the front and rear projecting blocks respectively having stopper sections tangential to the arch of the bottom face, each rocking member being equipped with two fastening straps at the front and rear step boards.

3. The rocking exercise device as claimed in claim 2, wherein an arched leaf spring is disposed under the bottom of the rocking member, two ends of the leaf spring being respectively formed with two insertion sections in which the front and rear projecting blocks of the rocking member are inserted.

4. The rocking exercise device as claimed in claim 2, wherein a slip-proof cap is fitted on each stopper section to contact with the ground and increase frictional force against the ground.

5. The rocking exercise device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the fastening strap has loop-hook tape and is wound over the foot of a user to fix the foot on the rocking member.

6. The rocking exercise device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a sleeve is fitted around a middle section of the shaft rod to stop the opposite sides of the two rocking members and space the two rocking members from each other by a certain distance, one end of the shaft rod having a stop flange, while the other end of the shaft rod being formed with a thread on which a nut is screwed to fix the shaft rod on the two rocking members.

7. The rocking exercise device as claimed in claim 1, wherein multiple domed protuberances are distributed over the front and rear step boards to provide massaging effect for the user's feet.

8. The rocking exercise device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a frame body on which two rocking members are pivotally disposed, a pivot seat being disposed on a middle section of the frame body, the pivot seat having three pivot plates at equal intervals, each pivot plate having a circular hole, a middle pivot plate dividing the pivot seat into two spaces in which the rocking members are respectively pivotally disposed, the shaft rod of the rocking members extending through the circular holes of the three pivot plates, two ends of the shaft rod being respectively fixed in the circular holes of two outer pivot plates, whereby the rocking members can swing back and forth on the pivot seat of the frame body, the frame body having an upright stem at one end opposite to the pivot seat, the upright stem being telescopic to adjust the length in accordance with the height of a user, a handlebar being transversely disposed on top end of the stem for a user to hold.

9. The rocking exercise device as claimed in claim 1, wherein two transverse beams are connected between two rocking members respectively under the front and rear step boards thereof.