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US 5,040,785 AGranted
Climbing exercise machine
OwnerRichard D. Charnitskiinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved climbing exercise machine which has hand grips and foot pedals mounted to reciprocating separate sliding trucks which move within a track structure, wherein the sliding trucks are connected to each other by chains for mechanically providing co-ordinated leg and arm movements that simulate a vertical climbing action in a "homolateral pattern" and a "cross crawl pattern". A change from a "homolateral pattern" to a "cross crawl pattern" is easily facilitated by a longitudinal opening provided along the center of the track structure whereby the chains linking the right handle to the right foot pedal and the left handle to the left foot pedal, respectively, are interconnected via the longitudinal opening.
Claims12
A climbing exercise machine to provide simulation of a vertical climbing motion by enabling coordinated leg and arm movement, said climbing exercise machine comprising:
- a base member;
- a right track and a left track, said right and left track arranged substantially parallel to one another in side by side relationship, said right and left tracks attached to said base member such that one end of each of said tracks is at a higher elevation than the other and;
- first and second trucks, said first and second trucks mounted on the right track for movement along the right track with said first truck mounted above said second truck;
- third and fourth trucks, said third and fourth trucks mounted on the left track for movement along the left track with said third truck mounted above said fourth truck;
- wherein
- said first truck has a first handle and said third truck has a second handle extending therefrom and said second truck has a first foot support and said fourth truck has a second foot support extending therefrom, each of said first and second handles and each of said first and second foot supports mounted such that their movement is within a single plane;
- each track having at least one bearing surface which supports said trucks, said bearing surface substantially parallel and opposed to each other, said surface bearing at least a portion of the load applied by the user to the exercise machine, said handles and said foot supports extending outwardly from their respective tracks in a direction generally opposite to the bearing surface in their respective tracks;
- an opening between said tracks intermediate the ends thereof to permit the interconnection of said trucks;
- and
- interconnecting elements interconnecting each of said first, second, third and fourth trucks to provide a "cross crawl pattern" climbing motion whereby movement of the hands and feet of the user remain in a single plane throughout the entire range of displacement of said trucks.
7 more elements
A method of changing from a "homolateral pattern" to a "cross crawl pattern" of simulated vertical climbing in a climbing exercise machine, said climbing exercise machine comprising:
- a track structure having right and left tracks mounted parallel to one another, said right and left tracks having a longitudinal opening between them;
- and
- a first and a second truck, said first truck mounted above said second truck for movement along the right track;
- and
- a third and a fourth truck, said third truck mounted above said fourth truck for movement along the left track;
- and
- said first and third trucks having handles extending therefrom and said second and fourth trucks having foot supports extending therefrom,
- first and second interconnecting means, each of said first and second interconnecting means having a first and second end, wherein said first end of said first interconnecting means connects to said first truck and said second end of said first interconnecting means connects to said second truck, and said first end of said second interconnecting means connects to said third truck and said second end of said second interconnecting means connects to said fourth truck;
- and
- said method of changing from a "homolateral pattern" to a "cross crawl pattern" comprising the steps of:
- disengaging the second end of said first interconnecting means from said second truck;
- connecting said second end of said first interconnecting means with said fourth truck;
- disengaging the second end of said second interconnecting means from said fourth truck;
- and
- connecting said second end of said second interconnecting means with said second truck.
12 more elements
A method of operating a climbing exercise machine in two climbing patterns, said climbing exercise machine comprising;
- a base member;
- a right track and a left track, said right and left tracks arranged substantially parallel to one another in side by side relationship, said right and left tracks attached to said base member such that one end of each of said tracks is at a higher elevation than the other and;
- first and second trucks, said first and second trucks mounted on the right track for movement along the right track with said first truck mounted above said second truck;
- third and fourth trucks, said third and fourth trucks mounted on the left track for sliding movement along the left track with said third truck mounted above said fourth truck;
- and
- an opening between said tracks intermediate the ends thereof to permit the interconnection of said trucks;
- said method of operating comprising the steps of;
- connecting the first truck to the second truck and the third truck to the fourth truck to provide a "homolateral pattern" of climbing;
- disconnecting the connection between the first and second trucks and the third and fourth trucks;
- connecting through said opening the first truck to the fourth truck and the second truck to the third truck to provide a "cross crawl pattern" of climbing.
7 more elements
A climbing exercise machine to provide simulation of a vertical climbing motion by enabling coordinated leg and arm movements, said climbing exercise machine comprising:
- a base member;
- a right track and a left track, said right and left tracks arranged substantially parallel to one another in side by side relationship, said right and left tracks attached to said base member such that one end of each said tracks is at a higher elevation than the other end;
- first and second trucks, said first and second trucks mounted on the right track for movement along the right track with said first truck mounted above said second truck;
- third and fourth trucks, said third and fourth trucks mounted on the left track for movement along the left track with said third truck mounted above said fourth truck;
- wherein
- said first truck has a first handle and said third truck has a second handle extending therefrom and said second truck has a first foot support and said fourth truck has a second foot support extending therefrom;
- an opening between said tracks intermediate the ends thereof to permit the interconnection of said tracks;
- and
- flexible interconnecting means interconnecting each of said first, second, third and fourth trucks, said interconnecting elements being selectively disengageable and reattachable in two different configurations to selectively provide for a "cross crawl pattern" climbing motion in one configuration and a "homolateral" climbing motion in another configuration.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.