Stride adjustment mechanism

An exercise apparatus comprising:

• a frame;
• a control system;
• a pivot axle supported by said frame;
• a pedal lever;
• including a first, a central and a second portion;
• a pedal, secured to said central portion of said pedal lever;
• a reciprocating guide mechanism coupled to said first portion of said pedal lever effective to guide said first portion of said pedal lever in a generally horizontal reciprocating motion;
• a crank rotationally connected to said pivot axle at a first end of said crank and adapted to support said second portion of said pedal lever at second end of said crank;
• a attachment assembly including said crank and a link crank pivotally secured to said second portion of said pedal lever;
• and
• a stride adjustment mechanism, operatively associated with said control system and said attachment assembly effective to selectively alter the phase angle between said crank and said link crank thereby being effective to change the horizontal portion of said elliptical path.

An exercise apparatus comprising:

• a frame;
• a control system;
• a first pedal lever including a first, a central and a second portion;
• a first and second rocker;
• a second pedal lever;
• including a first, a central and a second portion;
• a first pedal, secured to said central portion of said pedal lever;
• a second pedal, secured to said central portion of said first pedal lever;
• a first crank rotationally connected to said pivot axle;
• a second crank rotationally connected to said pivot axle;
• a first and second stride adjustment mechanism, operatively associated with said first and second pedal levers effective to change the horizontal portion of the elliptical path of said first and second pedal lever;
• and
• a first and second sensor mechanism for generating a signal representing the stride length of said first and second pedal levers.

An exercise apparatus comprising:

• a frame;
• a control system;
• a first pedal lever including a first, a central and a second portion;
• a second pedal lever;
• including a first, a central and a second portion;
• a first pedal, secured to said central portion of said pedal lever;
• a second pedal, secured to said central portion of said first pedal lever;
• a first crank rotationally connected to said pivot axle;
• a second crank rotationally connected to said pivot axle;
• a first and second stride adjustment mechanism, operatively associated with said first and second pedal levers effective to change the horizontal portion of the elliptical path of said first and second pedal lever;
• and
• a first and second sensor mechanism for generating a signal representing the stride length of said first and second pedal levers.

A method for equalizing a first pedal stride length and a second pedal stride length of an elliptical step machine having variable pedal stride lengths comprising the steps of:

• measuring the stride length of each of said pedals;
• comparing said measured stride lengths of said first and second pedals;
• and
• increasing or decreasing at least one of said pedal stride lengths to make the first and second pedal stride lengths equal.

An exercise apparatus comprising:

• a frame;
• a control system;
• a pivot axle supported by said frame;
• a pedal lever;
• including a first, a central and a second portion;
• a pedal, secured to said central portion of said pedal lever;
• a reciprocating guide mechanism coupled to said first portion of said pedal lever effective to guide said first portion of said pedal lever in a generally horizontal reciprocating motion;
• a crank rotationally connected to said pivot axle at a first end of said crank and adapted to support said second portion of said pedal lever at second end of said crank;
• a attachment assembly including said crank and a link crank pivotally secured to said second portion of said pedal lever;
• and
• a compliant mounting assembly secured between said attachment assembly and said pedal lever.