Elliptical excercise machine
AssigneeNautilus, Inc.
InventorBrian Venturella
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An exercise machine may be adjustable to vary a characteristic of the exercise provided by the machine, for example by changing the reciprocation path of movable components of the machine. In some examples, adjustment to an incline of the path of a reciprocating linkage may be achieved, for example by a lift assembly, the components of which may be arranged in a manner that provides a relatively compact form factor. In general, a more compact design may be achieved through the examples of the present disclosure, for example by co-axially locating a rotatable resistance element on the driven/input shaft.
Claims38
An exercise machine comprising:
- a frame;
- a crank shaft rotatably coupled to the frame;
- a reciprocating member supporting a pedal such that the pedal constrained to move in a closed loop path, and wherein the reciprocating member is operatively coupled to the crank shaft such that movement of the pedal in the closed loop path causes rotation of the crank shaft;
- a rail pivotally coupled to the frame and movably supporting the reciprocating member, wherein the reciprocating member is configured to translate along the rail when the pedal moves in the closed loop path;
- and
- a lift mechanism operatively coupled to the rail for adjusting an incline angle of the rail, wherein the lift mechanism comprises a lever link having a first end operatively coupled to the rail and an opposite second end operatively coupled to a linear actuator, and wherein the lever link is pivotally coupled to the frame at a location between the first and second ends of the lever link.
The exercise machine of claim 9, wherein the resistance mechanism comprises a flywheel rotatably supported by the frame.
The exercise machine of claim wherein the least one of the transmission members that rotates synchronously with the crank shaft is coaxially positioned to the flywheel.
An exercise machine comprising:
- a frame;
- a crank shaft rotatably supported on the frame;
- a flywheel rotatable supported on the crank shaft and configured to rotate responsive to rotation of the crank shaft but at a different rotational speed than the crank shaft;
- and
- a reciprocating member supporting a pedal, the reciprocating member having a first end movably supported by the frame and constrained to move in a reciprocating back and forth motion responsive to movement of the pedal, the reciprocating member having an opposite second end operatively coupled to the crank shaft to cause rotation of the crank shaft responsive to the reciprocating back and forth motion of the first end.
An exercise machine comprising:
- a frame;
- a crank shaft rotatably coupled to the frame;
- a reciprocating member movably supported by the frame such that a first end of the reciprocating member rotates the crankshaft responsive to movement of the reciprocating member;
- a rail pivotally coupled to the frame and movably supporting a second end of the reciprocating, member such that the second end of the reciprocating member translates along the rail when the first end rotates the crankshaft;
- and
- a lift mechanism that selectively adjusts an incline angle of the rail, the lift mechanism comprising a lever link having a first end operatively coupled to the rail and an second end coupled to a free end of an extendible rod, wherein the lever link is pivotally coupled to the frame at a fulcrum, and wherein a distance between the fulcrum and the first end is greater than a distance between the fulcrum and the second end such that movement of the free end of the extendible rod by a first travel distance causes the second end of the lever link to move a second travel distance greater than the first travel distance.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.