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US 5,135,447 AGranted
Exercise apparatus for simulating stair climbing
AssigneeLife Fitness, LLC
InventorsChester F. Robards, Jr., Steven J. Cinke, Stephen A. Waltasti, Robert Kohan, Donald J. Alexander, Douglas G. Guenther, David J. Thum, Tomas Leon
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A step type exercise apparatus is disclosed in which two pedal members are connected for reciprocating movement by a chain which, in turn, operates through a transmission providing a resistive force to the pedals. The resistive force is supplied by an alternator which is controlled by a computer. Means are provided to lubricate the chain thereby prolonging the life of the chain.
Claims180
A stair climbing exercise apparatus comprising:
- a frame;
- a first pedal member pivotally secured to said frame for rotational movement in a vertical direction;
- a second pedal member pivotally secured to said frame for rotational movement in a vertical direction;
- an alternator, having a shaft and a control field, secured to said frame;
- control means operatively connected to said alternator and said pedal members for applying a control current to said alternator control field in response to the rate of rotational movement of said pedal members;
- and
- connection means for directly connecting said first pedal member to said second pedal member such that said pedal members are limited to said rotational movement in opposite directions and for connecting said pedal members to said alternator shaft such that said alternator is effective to apply a resistance force opposing said pedal member movement.
4 more elements
A stair climbing exercise apparatus comprising:
- a frame;
- a first pedal member pivotally secured to said frame for rotational movement in a vertical direction;
- a second pedal member pivotally secured to said frame for rotational movement in a vertical direction;
- an alternator, having a shaft and a control field, secured to said frame;
- control means operatively connected to said alternator and said pedal members for applying a control current to said alternator control field in response to the rate of rotational movement of said pedal members;
- and
- connection means for directly connecting said first pedal member to said second pedal member such that said pedal members are limited to said rotational movement in opposite directions including a drive chain operatively connected between said first pedal member and said second pedal member, and including transmission means for connecting said drive chain to said alternator shaft,
- said connection means includes a first shaft rotationally secured to said frame and secured to a first one way clutch operatively interposed between said drive chain and said transmission means effective to rotate said transmission means in a first direction when said first pedal member is moving downwardly and to a second one way clutch operatively interposed between said drive chain and said transmission means effective to rotate said transmission in said first direction when said second pedal member is moving downwardly, and
- said transmission means includes a first pulley secured to said first shaft and a drive belt connecting said first pulley to said alternator shaft.
6 more elements
A stair climbing exercise apparatus comprising:
- a frame;
- a first pedal member pivotally secured to said frame for rotational movement in a vertical direction;
- a second pedal member pivotally secured to said frame for rotational movement in a vertical direction;
- connection means for directly connecting said first pedal member to said second pedal member such that said pedal members are limited to said rotational movement in opposite directions and for connecting, including a drive chain cooperative connected between said first pedal member and said second pedal member;
- and
- chain tensioning means for absorbing slack in at least a portion of the length of said drive chain during said rotational movement of said first and second pedal members wherein said chain tensioning means includes a sprocket mounted to said frame, said sprocket being biased towards and engaging said drive chain.
3 more elements
A stair climbing exercise apparatus comprising:
- a frame;
- a first pedal member to support one foot of a standing user, said first pedal member being pivotally connected to said frame for rotational movement in a vertical direction;
- a second pedal member to support the other foot of a standing user, said second pedal member being pivotally connected to said frame for rotational movement in a vertical direction;
- and
- position means operatively associated with at least one of said pedal members for generating a signal representing the rotational positions of said pedal member.
2 more elements
A stair climbing exercise apparatus comprising:
- a frame;
- a first pedal member to support one foot of a standing user, said first pedal member being pivotally secured to said frame for limited rotational movement in a vertical direction;
- a second pedal member to support the other foot of a standing user, said second pedal member being pivotally secured to said frame for limited rotational movement in a vertical direction;
- detection means for detecting the actual range of said rotational movement of said pedal means;
- and
- display means operatively connected to said detection means for displaying an indication of the actual range of said rotational movement of said pedal members.
3 more elements
A stair climbing exercise apparatus comprising:
- a frame;
- a first pedal member pivotally secured to said frame for limited rotational movement in a vertical direction;
- a second pedal member pivotally secured to said frame for limited rotational movement in a vertical direction;
- connection means for directly connecting said first pedal member to said second pedal member such that said pedal members are limited to said rotational movement in opposite directions;
- force means for applying a resistance force to said pedal members that effectively limits said pedal rotational movement to a predetermined rate;
- and
- display means operatively connected to said pedal members for generating a display of actual user effort derived from the rate of said rotational movement of said pedal members.
4 more elements
A stair climbing exercise apparatus comprising:
- a frame;
- a first pedal member to support one foot of a standing user, said first pedal member being pivotally secured to said frame for rotational movement in a vertical direction;
- a second pedal member to support the other foot of a standing user, said second pedal member being pivotally secured to said frame for rotational movement in a vertical direction;
- connection means for directly connecting said first pedal member to said second pedal member such that said pedal members are limited to said rotational movement in opposite directions;
- and
- force means for applying a resistance force to said pedal members that effectively limits said rotational movement to a predetermined rate.
3 more elements
A stair climbing exercise apparatus comprising:
- a frame;
- a first pedal member pivotally secured to said frame for rotational movement in a vertical direction;
- a second pedal member pivotally secured to said frame for rotational movement in a vertical direction;
- connection means for directly connecting said first pedal member to said second pedal member such that said pedal members are limited to said rotational movement in opposite directions and for connecting, including a drive chain cooperative connected between said first pedal member and said second pedal member;
- and
- chain tensioning means for absorbing slack in at least a portion of the length of said drive chain during said rotational movement of said first and second pedal members, said chain tensioning means including a sprocket mounted to said frame, said sprocket being biased towards, and engaging said drive chain.
3 more elements
A stair climbing exercise apparatus comprising:
- a. a frame;
- b. a first pedal member pivotally secured to said frame for rotational movement in a vertical direction;
- c. a second pedal member pivotally secured to said frame for rotational movement in a vertical direction;
- d. an alternator, having a shaft and a control field, secured to said frame;
- e. connection means for directly connecting said first pedal member to said second pedal member such that said pedal members are limited to said rotational movement in opposite directions and for connecting said pedal members to said alternator such that said alternator is effective to apply a resistance force opposing said pedal member movement, said connection means including a drive chain operatively connected with said first pedal member and said second pedal member and a transmission means for connecting said drive chain to said alternator;
- and
- f. dispensing means secured to said frame for dispensing a lubricating fluid onto the said drive chain.
4 more elements
A stair climbing exercise apparatus comprising:
- a. a frame;
- b. a first pedal member pivotally secured to said frame for rotational movement in a vertical direction;
- c. a second pedal member pivotally secured to said frame for rotational movement in a vertical direction;
- d. an alternator, having a shaft and a control field, secured to said frame;
- e. connection means for directly connecting said first pedal member to said second pedal member such that said pedal members are limited to said rotational movement in opposite directions including a chain drive operatively connected with said first pedal member and said second pedal member, and including transmission means for connecting said drive chain to said alternator shaft, said connection means includes a first shaft rotationally secured to said frame and a first one way clutch operatively interposed between said drive chain and said transmission means effective to rotate said transmission means in a first direction when said first pedal member is moving downwardly and to a second one way clutch operatively interposed between said drive chain and said transmission means effective to rotate said transmission in said first direction when said second pedal member is moving downwardly, and said transmission means includes a first pulley secured to said first shaft and a drive belt connecting said first pulley to said alternator shaft;
- f. dispensing means secured to said frame for dispensing a lubricating fluid onto said drive chain;
- and
- g. control means operatively connected to said alternator for applying a control current to said alternator control field in response to the rate of rotational movement of said alternator, the said control means also operatively connected to said dispensing means for activating the said dispensing means.
5 more elements
A stair climbing exercise apparatus comprising:
- a. a frame;
- b. a first pedal member to support one foot of a standing user, said first pedal member being pivotally connected to said frame for rotational movement in a vertical direction;
- c. a second pedal member to support the other foot of the standing user, said first pedal member being pivotally connected to said frame for rotational movement in a vertical direction;
- d. a connection means for directly connecting said first pedal member to said second pedal member such that said pedal members are limited to said rotational mount in opposite directions;
- and
- e. a dispensing means to dispense lubricating fluid onto said connecting means.
3 more elements
A stair climbing exercise apparatus comprising:
- a. a frame;
- b. a first pedal member to support one foot of a standing user, said first pedal member being pivotally connected to said frame for rotational movement in a vertical direction;
- c. a second pedal member to support the other foot of the standing user, said first pedal member being pivotally connected to said frame for rotational movement in a vertical direction;
- d. connection means for directly connecting said first pedal member to said second pedal member such that said pedal members are limited to said rotational movement in opposite directions;
- e. dispensing means for dispensing a lubricating fluid onto said connection means;
- and
- f. force means for applying a resistance force to said pedal members effectively limiting said rotational movement to a predetermined rate.
4 more elements
A stair climbing exercise apparatus comprising:
- a. a frame;
- b. a first pedal member pivotally secured to said frame for rotational movement in a vertical direction;
- c. a second pedal member pivotally secured to said frame for rotational movement in a vertical direction;
- d. connection means for directly connecting said first pedal member to said second pedal member such that said pedal members are limited to said rotational movement in opposite directions including a chain drive operatively connected with said first pedal member and said second pedal member;
- e. dispensing means secured to said frame for dispensing lubricating fluid onto said connection means;
- and
- f. display means operatively connected to said pedal members for generating a display of actual user effort derived from the rate of said rotational movement of said pedal members.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.