Dual-function treading exerciser

Abstract

A dual-function treading exerciser includes a treading platform, an upright frame, and a movable handle assembly. The frame includes an upright frame body and two fixed handles connected fixedly to an upper portion of the frame body. The movable handle assembly includes two pulling devices and a rotary shaft journalled on the frame. Each pulling device includes a housing with a receiving chamber, a pulley disposed rotatably in the chamber, a pull cord wound on the pulley, a handgrip fastened to an end of the cord and movable rearwardly to unwind the cord from the pulley, and a biasing unit for biasing the cord to wind around the pulley when the cord is pulled rearwardly and is subsequently released.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A dual-function treading exerciser comprising: 
 a treading platform having a front end and provided with a continuous tread extending around said platform;    an upright frame including an upright frame body connected fixedly to said front end of said platform, and a pair of fixed handles connected fixedly to an upper portion of said frame body; and    a movable handle assembly including a pair of pulling devices mounted on said frame, and a rotary shaft journalled on said frame, each of said pulling devices including a housing with a receiving chamber, a pulley disposed rotatably in said chamber, a pull cord wound on said pulley, a handgrip fastened to an end of said pull cord and movable rearwardly to unwind said pull cord from said pulley, and a biasing unit for biasing said pull cord to wind around said pulley when said cord is pulled rearwardly and is subsequently released.    
     
     
         2 . The dual-function treading exerciser of  claim 1 , wherein said movable handle assembly is disposed substantially higher than said fixed handles.  
     
     
         3 . The dual-function treading exerciser of  claim 1 , wherein said biasing unit of each of said pulling devices includes a spring member connected between a respective one of said housings and a respective one of said pulleys for biasing the respective one of said pulleys to rotate in said chamber in the respective one of said housings in a predetermined direction.  
     
     
         4 . The dual-function treading exerciser of  claim 3 , wherein said spring member is a spiral spring that is fastened to the respective one of said housings at one end and to the respective one of said pulleys at the other end.  
     
     
         5 . The dual-function treading exerciser of  claim 1 , wherein said movable handle assembly further includes: 
 a flywheel assembly mounted fixedly on said rotary shaft;    a unidirectional bearing disposed between said rotary shaft and each of said pulleys so as to rotate said rotary shaft synchronously with said pulleys only when said pulleys rotate in a direction, in which said pull cords are unwound from said pulleys; and    an adjustable magnetic resistance device disposed adjacent to said flywheel assembly so as to provide resistance to rotation of said flywheel assembly.    
     
     
         6 . The dual-function treading exerciser of  claim 5 , wherein said flywheel assembly includes a flywheel, and a pair of magnetically conductive rings disposed respectively and fixedly on opposite sides of said flywheel, said adjustable magnetic resistance device including: 
 a positioning seat fixed on said frame and having two spaced-apart parallel sliding rails;    a threaded shaft journalled on said positioning seat and having an externally threaded portion; and    a magnet seat including a U-shaped body and two spaced-apart parallel sliding plates that are connected fixedly to said U-shaped body and that are disposed respectively and slidably along said sliding rails, said body having two opposite side walls which are provided respectively with two aligned magnet units, between which said flywheel assembly is disposed, and a connecting wall which interconnects said side walls fixedly and which is formed with a threaded hole that engages said threaded shaft so as to move said U-shaped body toward and away from said flywheel when said threaded shaft is rotated relative to said positioning seat, thereby adjusting magnitude of the resistance.    
     
     
         7 . The dual-function treading exerciser of  claim 6 , wherein said magnetic resistance device further includes: 
 a motor disposed on said frame and provided with a motor shaft; and    a gear sleeved fixedly on said motor shaft and engaging said externally threaded portion of said threaded shaft so as to transfer rotation of said motor shaft to said threaded shaft.