Stepper exercise machine

An improved stair climbing exercise machine comprising:

• a support frame, having a base and generally tubular inclined slide mast;
• right and left foot-receiving pedals mounted on respective independently moveable shuttles slidably received in channels at each side of said mast;
• and
• electrically released drive means including an electric motor, a single drive shaft rotatable in one direction, drive linkage means for independently linking each pedal to said drive shaft, and worm means for operable coupling said motor to said drive shaft, said worm means comprising a worm operably coupled to said motor and a worm gear mounted on said drive shaft, said drive linkage means comprising substantially similar independent right and left drive linkages, each linking the associated right and left pedal to said drive shaft, whereby the movement of the pedals is transferred to said drive shaft, each linkage including a recoil assembly mounted on said drive shaft and a continuous linking means for linking said recoil assembly and the associated pedal, said linking means having a first end connected to the recoil assembly, a second end connected to said frame, and an intermediate portion including at least two generally parallel runs adapted to move in opposite directions relative to each other when the associated pedal is moved, said generally parallel runs being received at each end thereof by independent idler means for receiving said linking means.

An improved stair climbing exercise machine comprising:

• a support frame having a tubular slide mast;
• electrically released drive means;
• and
• right and left pedals mounted on respective independently movable shuttles slidably received in channels at each side of said mast, each said shuttle having upper and lower glide portions connected by a shank and carrying a pulley means at one end, said drive means being operably connected to said pulley means.

An improved stair climbing exercise machine comprising:

• a support frame, a base and a generally tubular inclined slide mast;
• right and left foot-receiving pedals mounted on respective independently movable shuttles slidably received in channels at each side of said support means, each said shuttle having upper and lower glide portions connected by a shank and carrying a pulley means at one end;
• and
• electrically released drive means including an electric motor, a single drive shaft rotatable in one direction, drive linkage means for independently linking each shuttle to said drive shaft, and worm means for operable coupling said motor to said drive shaft, said worm means comprising a worm operably coupled to said motor and a worm gear mounted on said drive shaft, said drive linkage means comprising substantially similar independent right and left drive linkages, each linking the associated shuttle to said drive shaft, whereby movement of the shuttles is transferred to said drive shaft, each linkage including a recoil assembly mounted on said drive shaft and a continuous linking means for linking said recoil assembly and the associated shuttle, said linking means having a first end connected to the recoil assembly, a second end connected to the said frame, and an intermediate portion operably connected to said pulley means and including at least two generally parallel runs adapted to move in opposite directions relative to each other when the associated shuttle is moved, said generally parallel runs being received at each end thereof by independent idler means for receiving said linking means.