Exercise device with elliptical stepping motion

An exercise device for providing an elliptical stepping motion with vertical travel greater than horizontal travel, the exercise device comprising:

• a frame having a lower portion configured to be supported on a horizontal surface, the frame having a crank pivot axis defined on the lower portion;
• a crank assembly pivotally connected to the crank pivot axis for rotation about the crank pivot axis, the crank assembly having a first and a second attachment point each offset from the crank pivot axis and separated from each other by approximately 180 degrees;
• a pair of foot links each having a forward end, a rearward end, and a mid-portion therebetween, each foot link having a crank attachment at the forward end, the crank attachment connected to one of the attachment points of the crank assembly such that the forward ends of the foot links move in a circular path as the crank assembly rotates, a foot receiving area defined at the rearward end of each foot link, each foot receiving area being longitudinally fixed with respect to the respective foot link, the mid portion of each foot link having a defined support location;
• the frame further having a pair of foot support links that each vertically supports the respective foot link at the support location, the foot support link having an upper end pivotally connected to the support location of the respective foot link and a lower end pivotally connected to the lower portion of the frame;
• each foot link having a forward length defined from the support location to the crank attachment and a rearward length defined from the support location to a central point of the foot receiving area, the rearward length of the foot links being at least 1.5 times the forward length such that as the crank assembly rotates, the foot receiving areas move in a path of travel having more vertical travel than horizontal travel.