Mobile exercise apparatus
OwnerRobert E. Rodgers, Jr.inventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mobile exercising apparatus which promotes cardiovascular exercise yet minimizes impact to critical joints. A frame supports a pair of reciprocating members which are displace generally horizontally along the frame at one end yet reciprocate in a circular motion at the other through a coupling system attached to the frame. Structure is included which permits each foot of the user to move in a generally elliptical path during exercise and drive a wheel thereby propelling the apparatus. This allows simulation of walking or running without impact. The device may include linkage to facilitate a corresponding upper body exercise involving movement of the arm in which case each hand of the user is displaced along an arcuate path.
Claims10
A mobile exercising apparatus comprising:
- a frame having a top portion and a base portion and at least two wheels;
- a pair of pivotal linkage assemblies, each linkage assembly having at least a first end and a second end, a portion of each said linkage assembly adapted for substantially linear movement along said base portion of said frame and includes means for supporting each foot of the user;
- a coupling assembly supported within said frame and pivotally connected to said second end of each linkage assembly;
- and
- means for rotatably engaging said coupling assembly with at least one of said wheels,
- wherein pivotal movement of said linkage assemblies revolves each foot of the user in a substantially elliptical path and enables said rotating means to initiate rotation of at least one of said wheels.
A mobile exercising apparatus comprising:
- a frame having a top portion and a base portion and at least two wheels;
- first and second reciprocating members, each reciprocating member having a first end and a second end, said first end of said first and second reciprocating members adapted for linear motion substantially parallel with said base portion;
- a coupling member having (i) a sprocket supported by said frame defining a pivot axis, and (ii) means for attaching said second ends of said first and second reciprocating members to said sprocket so that rotation of said sprocket results in the rotation of said second ends of said first and second reciprocating members in a substantially circular path about said pivot axis;
- means for rotatably engaging said sprocket with at least one of said wheels;
- and
- first and second pivotal linkage assemblies for orienting the bottom of the foot of the user of the apparatus so that each foot follows a substantially elliptical path during operation of the apparatus.
A mobile exercising apparatus comprising:
- a frame having at least two wheels;
- a first linkage assembly having:
- (i) a first reciprocating member, and
- (ii) a first foot member, said first reciprocating member having a first end and a second end, said first end of said first reciprocating member being adapted for substantially linear movement along said frame;
- a second linkage assembly having:
- (i) a second reciprocating member, and
- (ii) a second foot member, said second reciprocating member having a first end and a second end, said first end of said second reciprocating member being adapted for substantially linear movement along said frame;
- and
- a coupling member having:
- (i) a sprocket supported by said frame defining a pivot axis;
- and
- (ii) means for attaching said second ends of said first and second reciprocating members to said sprocket so that rotation of said sprocket results in the rotation of said second ends of said reciprocating members in a substantially circular path about said axis,
- said first foot member being pivotally connected proximal one end between said first and second ends of said first reciprocating member, and having a camming portion proximate said second end of said first foot member and adapted to engage said frame,
- said second foot member being pivotally connected proximal one end between said first and second ends of said second reciprocating member, and having a camming portion proximate said second end of said second foot member and adapted to engage said frame,
- wherein each foot of the user of the device follows a predetermined closed path having a preferred anatomical pattern.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.