# US 2021/0275864 A1 · Elliptical excercise machine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0275864 A1 - Document ID: US20210275864A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/808,221 - Filed: 2020-03-03 - Published: 2021-09-09 - Earliest claimed: 2020-03-03 - Assignees: Nautilus, Inc. - Applicants: Nautilus, Inc. - Inventors: Brian Venturella - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210275864A1 ## CPC - A63B 22/0664: {performing an elliptic movement} - A63B 21/225: {with flywheels} - A63B 22/001: {by simultaneously exercising arms and legs, e.g. diagonally in anti-phase (A63B22/0076 takes precedence)} - A63B 22/0023: {the inclination of the main axis of the movement path being adjustable, e.g. the inclination of an endless band} - A63B 22/04: with movable {multiple} steps {, i.e. more than one step per limb, e.g. steps mounted on endless loops, endless ladders (steppers with cantilevered support elements pivoting about an axis A63B22/0048)} - A63B 24/0087: {Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of groups A63B21/00 - A63B23/00, e.g. controlling load} - A63B 22/205: {in a substantially vertical plane, e.g. for exercising against gravity (exercising for developing or strengthening the muscles or joints of the body by working against a user's body weight A63B21/068; with adjustable inclination A63B22/0023)} - A63B 2022/0676: {with crank and handles being on the same side of the exercising apparatus with respect to the frontal body-plane of the user, e.g. crank and handles are in front of the user} - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein a first end of the reciprocating member is slidably supported on the rail and a second end of the reciprocating member is configured to rotate about the crank shaft when the pedals move along the closed loop path. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the reciprocating member is coupled to the crank shaft via a crank arm. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the frame includes a base for contact with a support surface and an upright support extending from the base, and wherein the rail is pivotally coupled to the base and the lever link is pivotally coupled to the upright support. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The exercise machine of claim 4, wherein the linear actuator is coupled to the upright support at a location above a fulcrum of the lever link. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1, 4) The exercise machine of claim 4, wherein the linear actuator is coupled to the frame at a location below a fulcrum of the lever link 7. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the linear actuator is coupled to frame such that an extension of the linear actuator increases the incline angle of the rail. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The exercise machine of claim 1, further comprising a link arm coupling the first end of the lever link to the rail. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The exercise machine of claim 1, further comprising a resistance mechanism operatively coupled to the crank shaft to resist rotation of the crank shaft. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The exercise machine of claim 9, wherein the resistance mechanism comprises a flywheel rotatably supported by the frame. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The exercise machine of claim 10, herein the flywheel supported by the crank shaft. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The exercise machine of claim 11, wherein the flywheel is supported on the crank shaft by one or more two-way bearings. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The exercise machine of claim 11, wherein the crank shaft is operatively coupled to the flywheel to cause the flywheel to rotate responsive to but asynchronously with the crank shaft. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The exercise machine of claim 10, further comprising a transmission assembly operatively coupled between the crank shaft and the flywheel to cause rotation of the flywheel at an output rotational speed greater than an input rotational speed to the transmission assembly. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The exercise machine of claim 14, wherein the transmission assembly comprises a two-stage belt-drive assembly. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The exercise machine of claim 10, further comprising a plurality of transmission members pivotally supported on the frame, wherein rotation of the crank shaft causes at least one of the transmission members to rotate synchronously with the crank shaft. ### Claim 17 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. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The exercise machine of claim 17, wherein one or more of the transmission members are rotatably supported on a transmission shaft spaced apart from the crank shaft. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The exercise machine of claim 18, wherein the lever arm is coupled to the frame at a location between the crank shaft and the transmission shaft. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the pedal'pivotally coupled to the reciprocating member. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The exercise machine of claim 1, further comprising, a reciprocating handle link pivotally coupled to the frame and operatively associated with the crank shaft to drive rotation of the crank shaft. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The exercise machine of claim 21, wherein the reciprocating handle link is coupled to the reciprocating member thereby operatively associating the handle link with the crank shaft. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The exercise machine of claim 22, wherein the reciprocating handle link is coupled to the reciprocating member via a reciprocating foot link. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The exercise machine of claim 23, wherein the reciprocating foot link is pivotally coupled to the reciprocating member at a location between a first end and a second end of the reciprocating foot link. ### Claim 25 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. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The exercise machine of claim 25, further comprising a crank arm coupling the second end of the reciprocating member to the crank shaft. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The exercise machine of claim 26, further comprising a handle link configured to be driven by a user's hand, and wherein the handle link is operatively coupled to the crank shaft for driving rotation of the crank shaft. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The exercise machine of claim 27, further comprising a foot link pivotally coupled to the handle link and the reciprocating member. ### Claim 29 (depends on 25) The exercise machine of claim 25, further comprising a rail pivotally coupled to the frame and movably supporting the reciprocating member, and a lift mechanism operatively engaged with the rail to vary an incline angle of the rail. ### Claim 30 (depends on 25) The exercise machine of claim 25, wherein the frame includes a base for contact with a support surface and an upright support extending from the base, wherein the exercise machine further comprises: a rail pivotally coupled to the base and slidably supporting the first end of the reciprocating member; and a lever link pivotally coupled to the upright support and operatively associated with the rail to pivot the rail relative to the base. ### Claim 31 (depends on 25) The exercise machine of claim 25 further comprising a transmission assembly operatively coupled between the crank shaft and the flywheel to drive rotation of the flywheel at an output rotational speed greater than an input rotational speed to the transmission assembly. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The exercise machine of claim 31, wherein the transmission assembly is a two-stage belt-drive assembly. ### Claim 33 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. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The exercise machine of claim 33, wherein the lever ink is pivotally coupled to an upright support of the frame. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The exercise machine of claim 34, wherein the free end of the rod is oriented towards a base of the exercise machine such that extension of the rod causes an increase in the incline angle of the rail. ### Claim 36 (depends on 34) The exercise machine of claim 34, wherein the free end of the rod is oriented away from a base of the exercise machine such that extension of the rod causes a decrease in the incline angle of the rail. ### Claim 37 (depends on 34) The exercise machine of claim 34, further comprising a flywheel associated with a brake mechanism, wherein the flywheel is coupled to the frame at a location below the fulcrum. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) The exercise machine of claim 37, further comprising a transmission assembly that transmits the rotation of the crankshaft to the flywheel, wherein the transmission assembly includes at least one disk rotatably coupled to the frame at a location above the fulcrum. ### Claim 39 (depends on 33) The exercise machine of claim 33, further comprising a pedal pivotally coupled to the reciprocating member such that the pedal is constrained to move in a closed' loop path.