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.

What is claimed is: 
     
       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 framean 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.