US 5,593,372 A · Stationary exercise apparatus having a preferred foot platform path

Abstract

A stationary exercising apparatus which promotes cardiovascular exercise yet minimizes impact on critical joints through the generation of a predetermined elliptical path movement while maintaining foot platforms substantially parallel with the floor. A base structure supports a pair of reciprocating members which are displaced in a horizontal direction parallel with the floor at one end yet reciprocate in circular motion at the other end through a coupling system attached to the frame. A linkage assembly is included which operates in conjunction with the reciprocation of one end of the reciprocating members to maintain the foot platforms substantially parallel with a reference plane while revolving the foot platforms in a substantially elliptical path. The apparatus may include additional linkage to facilitate a corresponding upper body exercise involving movement of the arms along a predetermined arc.

Claims30

Dependent claims

An apparatus for exercising comprising:

a frame having a base portion adapted to be supported by a floor;
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 the floor;
a coupling member having (i) a pulley 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 pulley so that rotation of said pulley results in the rotation of said second ends of said first and second reciprocating members in a substantially circular path about said pivot axis;
and
means for orienting the bottom of the foot of the user of the apparatus, said orienting means including first and second foot platforms so that during operation of the apparatus each said foot platform remains substantially parallel with a predetermined reference plane while revolving in a predetermined substantially elliptical path.

2 more elements

An apparatus for exercising comprising:

a frame having a base portion adapted to be supported by a floor;
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 the floor;
a coupling member having (i) a pulley supported by said frame defining a pivot axis, and (ii) means for pivotally attaching said second ends of said first and second reciprocating members to said pulley so that rotation of said pulley results in rotation of said second ends of said first and second reciprocating members in a substantially circular path about said axis;
and
first and second linkage assemblies, said first linkage assembly pivotally connected proximate a first end between the first and second ends of said first reciprocating member proximate said first end of said first reciprocating member and said first linkage assembly having a second end attached to said coupling member attaching means at said first reciprocating member, said second linkage assembly pivotally connected proximate a first end between the first and second ends of said second reciprocating member proximate said first end of said second reciprocating member and said second linkage assembly having a second end attached to said coupling member attaching means at said second reciprocating member,
said first linkage assembly having a foot platform proximate said first end of said first linkage assembly and said second linkage assembly having a foot platform proximate said first end of said second linkage assembly,
wherein during use of the apparatus said foot platforms remain substantially parallel with a predetermined reference plane while revolving in a predetermined substantially elliptical path.

4 more elements

An exercising apparatus comprising:

a frame having a base portion adapted to be supported by a floor;
a first linkage assembly having:
(i) a reciprocating member,
(ii) a foot member assembly, and
(iii) an arm member assembly, said reciprocating member having a first end and a second end, said first end of said reciprocating member being adapted for linear movement substantially parallel with the floor;
a second linkage assembly having:
(i) a reciprocating member,
(ii) a foot member assembly, and
(iii) an arm member assembly, said reciprocating member of said second linkage assembly having a first end and a second end, said first end of said second linkage assembly reciprocating member being adapted for linear movement substantially parallel with the floor;
and
a coupling member having:
(i) a pulley Supported by said frame defining a pivot axis;
and
(ii) means for pivotally attaching said second ends of said reciprocating members to said pulley so that rotation of said pulley results in the rotation of said second ends of said reciprocating members in a substantially circular path about said axis,
said first linkage assembly foot member assembly comprising a first foot link and a second foot link, said first foot link having first and second ends and said first foot link pivotally connected proximate said first end of said first linkage assembly reciprocating member and proximate said first end of said first foot link, said second foot link having first and second ends, said first end of said second foot link attached to said coupler member attaching means at said second end of said first linkage assembly reciprocating member and said second end of said second foot link engaging said first foot link proximate said second end of said first foot link, said first linkage assembly foot member assembly includes a foot platform proximate said first end of said first foot link,
said second linkage assembly foot member assembly comprising a first foot link and a second foot link, said first foot link of said second foot member assembly having first and second ends, said first foot link of said second foot member assembly being pivotally connected to said second linkage assembly reciprocating member proximate said first end of said second linkage assembly reciprocating member and proximate said first end of said first foot link of said second linkage assembly foot member assembly, said second foot link of said second linkage assembly foot member assembly having first and second ends, said first end of said second foot link of said second linkage assembly foot member assembly attached to said coupling member attaching means at second end of said second linkage assembly reciprocating member and said second end of said second foot link of said second linkage assembly foot member assembly engaging said first foot link of said second linkage assembly foot member assembly proximate said second end of said first foot link of said second linkage assembly foot member assembly, said first foot link of said second linkage assembly foot member assembly includes a foot platform proximate said first end of said first foot link of said second linkage assembly foot member assembly,
wherein upon operation of the apparatus, said foot platform of said first linkage assembly foot member assembly and said foot platform of said second linkage assembly foot member assembly remain substantially parallel with a predetermined reference plane while revolving in a predetermined substantially elliptical path.

14 more elements

An exercising apparatus comprising:

a frame having a base portion adapted to be supported by a floor;
a first linkage assembly having a reciprocating member and a foot link, said reciprocating member having first and second ends, said first end of said reciprocating member adapted for linear movement substantially parallel with the floor, said foot link having first and second ends, said foot link pivotally attached proximate said end of said foot link between said first and second ends of said reciprocating member proximate said first end of said reciprocating member;
a second linkage assembly having a reciprocating member and a foot link, said reciprocating member of said second linkage assembly having first and second ends, said first end of said second linkage assembly reciprocating member adapted for linear movement substantially parallel with the floor, said foot link of said second linkage assembly having first and second ends, said foot link of said second linkage assembly pivotally attached between said first and second ends of said reciprocating member of said second linkage assembly proximate said first end of said reciprocating member of said second linkage assembly;
and
a coupling member having (i) a pulley supported by said frame defining a pivot axis, and (ii) means for attaching said second ends of said reciprocating members to said pulley and said second ends of said foot links so that rotation of said pulley results in rotation of said second ends of said reciprocating members in a first circular path about said axis and in rotation of said second ends of said foot links in a second circular path about said axis while said foot platforms remain substantially parallel with a predetermined reference plane and revolves in a predetermined substantially elliptical path.

2 more elements

An apparatus for exercising comprising:

a frame having a base portion adapted to be supported by a floor;
first and second reciprocating members, each reciprocating member having first and second ends, said first ends of said first and second reciprocating members adapted for linear motion substantially parallel with the floor;
a coupling member having (i) a pulley supported by said frame defining a pivot axis, and (ii) means for pivotally attaching said second ends of said first and second reciprocating members to said pulley so that rotation of said pulley results in the rotation of said second ends of said first and second reciprocating members in a substantially circular path about said pivot axis;
a first linkage assembly having a first link and a second link, said first link having first and second ends, said first link pivotally attached between said first and second ends of said first reciprocating member proximate said first end of said first reciprocating member and proximate said first end of said first link, said first link including a foot platform proximate said first end of said first link and said first link including a bent portion distally from said foot platform, said second link having first and second ends, said first end of said second link attached to said coupler member attaching means at said second end of said first reciprocating member and said second end of said second link pivotally attached to said second end of said first link;
a second linkage assembly having a first link and a second link, said first link of said second linkage assembly having first and second ends, said first link of said second linkage assembly pivotally attached between said first and second ends of said second reciprocating member proximate said first end of said second reciprocating member and proximate said first end of said first link of said second linkage assembly, said first link of said second linkage assembly including a foot platform proximate said first end of said first link of said second linkage assembly and said first link of said second linkage assembly including a bent portion distally from its foot platform, said second link of said second linkage assembly having first and second ends, said first end of said second link of said second linkage assembly attached to said coupler member attaching means at said second end of said second reciprocating member and said second end of said second link of said second linkage assembly pivotally attached to said second end of said first link of said second linkage assembly,
wherein during operation of the apparatus each said foot platform remains substantially parallel with a predetermined reference plane while revolving in a predetermined substantially elliptical path.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Stationary exercise apparatus having a preferred foot platform path

Life of this patent

Stationary exercise apparatus having a preferred foot platform path

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims30