Exercise apparatus

An exercise apparatus for a user to exercise while standing on the user's feet, comprising:

• a frame;
• right and left foot pedals, said right and left pedals being laterally spaced apart and each having a forward end portion sized to receive a forward end portion of the user's corresponding foot thereon and a rearward end portion sized to receive a rearward end portion of the user's corresponding foot thereon;
• an upwardly oriented, right pedal swing arm supporting said right pedal, said right swing arm having an upper end portion pivotally attached to said frame to swing rearward and forward relative thereto and a lower end portion pivotally attached to said right pedal for rearward and forward reciprocating movement of said right pedal therewith in user variable rearward and forward amounts during the exercise along an arcuate path, said variable rearward amounts of said rearward movement of said right pedal corresponding to the amount of rearward movement of the user's foot on said right pedal applied by the user during the exercise, said lower end portion of said right swing arm supporting said right pedal for downward and upward movements of said rearward end portion thereof relative to said forward end portion thereof in user variable downward and upward amounts during the exercise, said variable downward amount of said downward movement of said rearward end portion of said right pedal corresponding to the amount of downward movement of the rearward end portion of the user's foot on said rearward end portion of said right pedal applied by the user during the exercise;
• an upwardly oriented, left pedal swing arm supporting said left pedal, said left swing arm having an upper end portion pivotally attached to said frame to swing rearward and forward relative thereto and a lower end portion pivotally attached to said left pedal for rearward and forward reciprocating movement of said left pedal therewith in user variable rearward and forward amounts during the exercise along an arcuate path, said variable rearward amounts of said rearward movement of said left pedal corresponding to the amount of rearward movement of the user's foot on said left pedal applied by the user during the exercise, said lower end portion of said left swing arm supporting said left pedal for downward and upward movements of said rearward end portion thereof relative to said forward end portion thereof in user variable downward and upward amounts during the exercise, said variable downward amount of said downward movement of said rearward end portion of said left pedal corresponding to the amount of downward movement of the rearward end portion of the user's foot on said rearward end portion of said left pedal applied by the user during the exercise;
• a swing control member engaging said frame and said right and left swing arms, in response to said rearward movement of said left swing arm corresponding to the rearward movement of the user's foot on said left pedal applied by the user during the exercise, said swing control member moving said right swing arm forward with said variable forward movement amount thereof corresponding to said variable rearward movement amount of said left swing arm, and in response to said rearward movement of said right swing arm corresponding to the rearward movement of the user's foot on said right pedal applied by the user during the exercise, said swing control member moving said left swing arm forward with said variable forward movement amount thereof corresponding to said variable rearward movement amount of said right swing arm;
• and
• upwardly oriented, right and left lift arms, said right lift arm having an upper end portion pivotally attached to said frame and a lower end portion pivotally attached to said right pedal, said left lift arm having an upper end portion pivotally attached to said frame and a lower end portion pivotally attached to said left pedal, in response to said downward movement of said rearward end portion of said left pedal corresponding to the downward movement of the rearward end portion of the user's foot on said left pedal applied by the user during the exercise, said right lift arm moving said rearward end portion of said right pedal upward with said variable upward movement amount thereof corresponding to said variable downward movement amount of said left pedal, and in response to said downward movement of said rearward end portion of said right pedal corresponding to the downward movement of the rearward end portion of the user's foot on said right pedal applied by the user during the exercise, said left lift arm moving said rearward end portion of said left pedal upward with said variable upward movement amount thereof corresponding to said variable downward movement amount of said right pedal, said swing control member and said lift arms being operatively disconnected such that movement of said right and left swing arms by said swing control member and movement of said right and left pedals by said right and left lift arms are independent of each other.

An exercise apparatus for a user to exercise while standing on the user's feet, comprising:

• a frame;
• right and left foot pedals, said right and left pedals being laterally spaced apart and each having a forward end portion to receive a forward end portion of the user's corresponding foot thereon and a rearward end portion to receive a rearward end portion of the user's corresponding foot thereon;
• a right pedal swing arm supporting said right pedal, said right swing arm having an upper end portion pivotally attached to said frame to swing rearward and forward relative thereto and a lower end portion attached to said right pedal for rearward and forward reciprocating movement of said right pedal therewith in user variable rearward and forward amounts during the exercise along an arcuate path, said variable rearward amounts of said rearward movement of said right pedal corresponding to the amount of rearward movement of the user's foot on said right pedal applied by the user during the exercise, said lower end portion of said right swing arm supporting said right pedal for downward and upward movements of said rearward end portion thereof relative to said forward end portion thereof in user variable downward and upward amounts during the exercise, said variable downward amount of said downward movement of said rearward end portion of said right pedal corresponding to the amount of downward movement of the rearward end portion of the user's foot on said rearward end portion of said right pedal applied by the user during the exercise;
• a left pedal swing arm supporting said left pedal, said left swing arm having an upper end portion pivotally attached to said frame to swing rearward and forward relative thereto and a lower end portion attached to said left pedal for rearward and forward reciprocating movement of said left pedal therewith in user variable rearward and forward amounts during the exercise along an arcuate path, said variable rearward amounts of said rearward movement of said left pedal corresponding to the amount of rearward movement of the user's foot on said left pedal applied by the user during the exercise, said lower end portion of said left swing arm supporting said left pedal for downward and upward movements of said rearward end portion thereof relative to said forward end portion thereof in user variable downward and upward amounts during the exercise, said variable downward amount of said downward movement of said rearward end portion of said left pedal corresponding to the amount of downward movement of the rearward end portion of the user's foot on said rearward end portion of said left pedal applied by the user during the exercise;
• a swing control member engaging said frame and said right and left swing arms, in response to said rearward movement of said left swing arm corresponding to the rearward movement of the user's foot on said left pedal applied by the user during the exercise, said swing control member moving said right swing arm forward with said variable forward movement amount thereof corresponding to said variable rearward movement amount of said left swing arm, and in response to said rearward movement of said right swing arm corresponding to the rearward movement of the user's foot on said right pedal applied by the user during the exercise, said swing control member moving said left swing arm forward with said variable forward movement amount thereof corresponding to said variable rearward movement amount of said right swing arm;
• and
• a lift control member engaging said frame and said right and left pedals, in response to said downward movement of said rearward end portion of said left pedal corresponding to the downward movement of the rearward end portion of the user's foot on said left pedal applied by the user during the exercise, said lift member moving said rearward end portion of said right pedal upward with said variable upward movement amount thereof corresponding to said variable downward movement amount of said left pedal, and in response to said downward movement of said rearward end portion of said right pedal corresponding to the downward movement of the rearward end portion of the user's foot on said right pedal applied by the user during the exercise, said lift member moving said rearward end portion of said left pedal upward with said variable upward movement amount thereof corresponding to said variable downward movement amount of said right pedal, said swing control member and said lift member being operatively disconnected such that movement of said right and left swing arms by said swing control member and movement of said right and left pedals by said lift member are independent of each other.

An exercise apparatus for a user to exercise while standing on the user's feet, comprising:

• right and left foot pedals, said right and left pedals being laterally spaced apart and each having a forward end portion to receive a forward end portion of the user's corresponding foot thereon and a rearward end portion to receive a rearward end portion of the user's corresponding foot thereon;
• a right pedal swing arm supporting said right pedal for rearward and forward swinging motion and having a lower end portion attached to said right pedal for rearward and forward reciprocating movement of said right pedal therewith in user variable rearward and forward amounts during the exercise along a right path, said variable rearward amounts of said rearward movement of said right pedal corresponding to the amount of rearward movement of the user's foot on said right pedal applied by the user during the exercise, said lower end portion of said right swing arm supporting said right pedal for downward and upward movements of said rearward end portion thereof relative to said forward end portion thereof in user variable downward and upward amounts during the exercise, said variable downward amount of said downward movement of said rearward end portion of said right pedal corresponding to the amount of downward movement of the rearward end portion of the user's foot on said rearward end portion of said right pedal applied by the user during the exercise;
• a left pedal swing arm supporting said left pedal for rearward and forward swinging motion and having a lower end portion attached to said left pedal for rearward and forward reciprocating movement of said left pedal therewith in user variable rearward and forward amounts during the exercise along an a left path, said variable rearward amounts of said rearward movement of said left pedal corresponding to the amount of rearward movement of the user's foot on said left pedal applied by the user during the exercise, said lower end portion of said left swing arm supporting said left pedal for downward and upward movements of said rearward end portion thereof relative to said forward end portion thereof in user variable downward and upward amounts during the exercise, said variable downward amount of said downward movement of said rearward end portion of said left pedal corresponding to the amount of downward movement of the rearward end portion of the user's foot on said rearward end portion of said left pedal applied by the user during the exercise;
• a swing control member engaging said right and left swing arms, in response to said rearward movement of said left swing arm corresponding to the rearward movement of the user's foot on said left pedal applied by the user during the exercise, said swing control member moving said right swing arm forward with said variable forward movement amount thereof corresponding to said variable rearward movement amount of said left swing arm, and in response to said rearward movement of said right swing arm corresponding to the rearward movement of the user's foot on said right pedal applied by the user during the exercise, said swing control member moving said left swing arm forward with said variable forward movement amount thereof corresponding to said variable rearward movement amount of said right swing arm;
• and
• a lift control member engaging said right and left pedals, in response to said downward movement of said rearward end portion of said left pedal corresponding to the downward movement of the rearward end portion of the user's foot on said left pedal applied by the user during the exercise, said lift control member moving said rearward end portion of said right pedal upward with said variable upward movement amount thereof corresponding to said variable downward movement amount of said left pedal, and in response to said downward movement of said rearward end portion of said right pedal corresponding to the downward movement of the rearward end portion of the user's foot on said right pedal applied by the user during the exercise, said lift control member moving said rearward end portion of said left pedal upward with said variable upward movement amount thereof corresponding to said variable downward movement amount of said right pedal.

An exercise apparatus for a user to exercise while standing on the user's feet, comprising:

• right and left foot pedals, said right and left pedals being laterally spaced apart and each having a forward end portion to receive a forward end portion of the user's corresponding foot thereon and a rearward end portion to receive a rearward end portion of the user's corresponding foot thereon;
• a right pedal swing member supporting said right pedal for rearward and forward swinging motion and having a lower end portion attached to said right pedal for rearward and forward reciprocating movement of said right pedal therewith in user variable rearward and forward amounts during the exercise along a right path, said variable rearward amount of said rearward movement of said right pedal corresponding to the amount of rearward movement of the user's foot on said right pedal applied by the user during the exercise, said lower end portion of said right swing member supporting said right pedal for downward and upward movements of said rearward end portion thereof relative to said forward end portion thereof in user variable downward and upward amounts during the exercise, said variable downward amount of said downward movement of said rearward end portion of said right pedal corresponding to the amount of downward movement of the rearward end portion of the user's foot on said rearward end portion of said right pedal applied by the user during the exercise;
• a left pedal swing member supporting said left pedal for rearward and forward swinging motion and having a lower end portion attached to said left pedal for rearward and forward reciprocating movement of said left pedal therewith in user variable rearward and forward amounts during the exercise along a left path, said variable rearward amount of said rearward movement of said left pedal corresponding to the amount of rearward movement of the user's foot on said left pedal applied by the user during the exercise, said lower end portion of said left swing member supporting said left pedal for downward and upward movements of said rearward end portion thereof relative to said forward end portion thereof in user variable downward and upward amounts during the exercise, said variable downward amount of said downward movement of said rearward end portion of said left pedal corresponding to the amount of downward movement of the rearward end portion of the user's foot on said rearward end portion of said left pedal applied by the user during the exercise;
• a swing control member engaging said right and left swing members, in response to said rearward movement of said left swing member corresponding to the rearward movement of the user's foot on said left pedal applied by the user during the exercise, said swing control member moving said right swing member forward with said variable forward movement amount thereof corresponding to said variable rearward movement amount of said left swing member, and in response to said rearward movement of said right swing member corresponding to the rearward movement of the user's foot on said right pedal applied by the user during the exercise, said swing control member moving said left swing member forward with said variable forward movement amount thereof corresponding to said variable rearward movement amount of said right swing member;
• and
• a lift control member engaging said right and left pedals, in response to said downward movement of said rearward end portion of said left pedal corresponding to the downward movement of the rearward end portion of the user's foot on said left pedal applied by the user during the exercise, said lift control member moving said rearward end portion of said right pedal upward with said variable upward movement amount thereof corresponding to said variable downward movement amount of said left pedal, and in response to said downward movement of said rearward end portion of said right pedal corresponding to the downward movement of the rearward end portion of the user's foot on said right pedal applied by the user during the exercise, said lift control member moving said rearward end portion of said left pedal upward with said variable upward movement amount thereof corresponding to said variable downward movement amount of said right pedal.

An exercise apparatus for a user to exercise while standing on the user's feet, comprising:

• right and left foot pedals, said right and left pedals being laterally spaced apart and each having a forward end portion to receive a forward end portion of the user's corresponding foot thereon and a rearward end portion to receive a rearward end portion of the user's corresponding foot thereon;
• a right pedal swing member supporting said right pedal for rearward and forward swinging motion and having a lower end portion attached to said right pedal for rearward and forward reciprocating movement of said right pedal therewith along a right path, said lower end portion of said right swing member supporting said right pedal for downward and upward rotational movements of said rearward end portion thereof relative to said forward end portion thereof in user variable amounts during the exercise;
• a left pedal swing member supporting said left pedal for rearward and forward swinging motion and having a lower end portion attached to said left pedal for rearward and forward reciprocating movement of said left pedal therewith along a left path, said lower end portion of said left swing member supporting said left pedal for downward and upward rotational movements of said rearward end portion thereof relative to said forward end portion thereof in user variable amounts during the exercise;
• and
• a lift control member engaging said right and left pedals, in response to said downward movement of said rearward end portion of said left pedal, said lift control member moving said rearward end portion of said right pedal upward, and in response to said downward movement of said rearward end portion of said right pedal, said lift control member moving said rearward end portion of said left pedal upward.

An exercise apparatus for a user to exercise while standing on the user's feet, comprising:

• right and left foot pedals, said right and left pedals being laterally spaced apart and each having a forward end portion to receive a forward end portion of the user's corresponding foot thereon and a rearward end portion to receive a rearward end portion of the user's corresponding foot thereon;
• a right pedal swing member supporting said right pedal for rearward and forward swinging motion and having a lower end portion attached to said right pedal for rearward and forward reciprocating movement of said right pedal therewith, said lower end portion of said right swing member supporting said right pedal for downward and upward movements of said rearward end portion thereof relative to said forward end portion thereof;
• a left pedal swing member supporting said left pedal for rearward and forward swinging motion and having a lower end portion attached to said left pedal for rearward and forward reciprocating movement of said left pedal therewith, said lower end portion of said left swing member supporting said left pedal for downward and upward movements of said rearward end portion thereof relative to said forward end portion thereof;
• a swing control member engaging said right and left swing members, in response to said rearward movement of said left swing member, said swing control member moving said right swing member forward, and in response to said rearward movement of said right swing member, said swing control member moving said left swing member forward;
• and
• a lift control member engaging said right and left pedals, in response to said downward movement of said rearward end portion of said left pedal, said lift control member moving said rearward end portion of said right pedal upward, and in response to said downward movement of said rearward end portion of said right pedal, said lift control member moving said rearward end portion of said left pedal upward, said swing control member and said lift control member being operatively disconnected such that movement of said right and left swing members by said swing control member and movement of said right and left pedals by said lift control member are independent of each other.

An exercise apparatus for a user to exercise while standing on the user's feet, comprising:

• right and left foot pedals, said right and left pedals being laterally spaced apart and each having a forward end portion to receive a forward end portion of the user's corresponding foot thereon and a rearward end portion to receive a rearward end portion of the user's corresponding foot thereon;
• a right pedal swing member supporting said right pedal for rearward and forward swinging motion and having a lower end portion attached to said right pedal for rearward and forward reciprocating movement of said right pedal therewith, said lower end portion of said right swing member supporting said right pedal for downward and upward movements of said rearward end portion thereof relative to said forward end portion thereof;
• a left pedal swing member supporting said left pedal for rearward and forward swinging motion and having a lower end portion attached to said left pedal for rearward and forward reciprocating movement of said left pedal therewith, said lower end portion of said left swing member supporting said left pedal for downward and upward movements of said rearward end portion thereof relative to said forward end portion thereof;
• and
• a lift control member engaging said right and left pedals, in response to said downward movement of said rearward end portion of said left pedal, said lift control member moving said rearward end portion of said right pedal upward, and in response to said downward movement of said rearward end portion of said right pedal, said lift control member moving said rearward end portion of said left pedal upward, said lift control member being operatively disconnected from said right and left swing members such that upward and downward movements of said right and left pedals by said lift control member are independent of said rearward and forward reciprocating movements of said right and left swing members.

An exercise apparatus for a user to exercise while standing on the user's feet, comprising:

• right and left foot pedals, said right and left pedals being laterally spaced apart and each having a forward end portion to receive a forward end portion of the user's corresponding foot thereon and a rearward end portion to receive a rearward end portion of the user's corresponding foot thereon;
• a right pedal swing member supporting said right pedal for rearward and forward swinging motion and having a lower end portion attached to said right pedal for rearward and forward reciprocating movement of said right pedal therewith, said lower end portion of said right swing member supporting said right pedal for downward and upward movements of said rearward end portion thereof relative to said forward end portion thereof;
• a left pedal swing member supporting said left pedal for rearward and forward swinging motion and having a lower end portion attached to said left pedal for rearward and forward reciprocating movement of said left pedal therewith, said lower end portion of said left swing member supporting said left pedal for downward and upward movements of said rearward end portion thereof relative to said forward end portion thereof;
• and
• a swing control member engaging said right and left swing members, in response to said rearward movement of said left swing member, said swing control member moving said right swing member forward, and in response to said rearward movement of said right swing member, said swing control member moving said left swing member forward, said swing control member being operatively disconnected from said right and left pedals such that rearward and forward reciprocating movements of said right and left swing members by said swing control member are independent of said upward and downward movements of said right and left pedals.

An exercise apparatus for a user to exercise while standing on the user's feet, comprising:

• right and left foot pedals, said right and left pedals being laterally spaced apart and each having a forward end portion to receive a forward end portion of the user's corresponding foot thereon and a rearward end portion to receive a rearward end portion of the user's corresponding foot thereon;
• a right pedal swing member supporting said right pedal for rearward and forward swinging motion and having a lower end portion attached to said right pedal for rearward and forward reciprocating movement of said right pedal therewith in rearward and forward amounts variable by user applied rearward and forward foot movements while on said right and left pedals during the exercise, said lower end portion of said right swing member supporting said right pedal for downward and upward movements of said rearward end portion thereof relative to said forward end portion thereof in downward and upward amounts variable by user applied downward and upward foot movements while on said right and left pedals during the exercise;
• a left pedal swing member supporting said left pedal for rearward and forward swinging motion and having a lower end portion attached to said left pedal for rearward and forward reciprocating movement of said left pedal therewith in rearward and forward amounts variable by user applied rearward and forward foot movements while on said right and left pedals during the exercise, said lower end portion of said left swing member supporting said left pedal for downward and upward movements of said rearward end portion thereof relative to said forward end portion thereof in downward and upward amounts variable by user applied downward and upward foot movements while on said right and left pedals during the exercise;
• a swing control member engaging said right and left swing members, in response to said rearward movement of said left swing member corresponding to the rearward movement of the user's foot on said left pedal applied by the user during the exercise, said swing control member moving said right swing member forward with said variable forward movement amount thereof corresponding to said variable rearward movement amount of said left swing member, and in response to said rearward movement of said right swing member corresponding to the rearward movement of the user's foot on said right pedal applied by the user during the exercise, said swing control member moving said left swing member forward with said variable forward movement amount thereof corresponding to said variable rearward movement amount of said right swing member;
• and
• a lift control member engaging said right and left pedals, in response to said downward movement of said rearward end portion of said left pedal corresponding to the downward movement of the rearward end portion of the user's foot on said left pedal applied by the user during the exercise, said lift control member moving said rearward end portion of said right pedal upward with said variable upward movement amount thereof corresponding to said variable downward movement amount of said left pedal, and in response to said downward movement of said rearward end portion of said right pedal corresponding to the downward movement of the rearward end portion of the user's foot on said right pedal applied by the user during the exercise, said lift control member moving said rearward end portion of said left pedal upward with said variable upward movement amount thereof corresponding to said variable downward movement amount of said right pedal.

An exercise apparatus for a user to exercise while standing on the user's feet, comprising:

• right and left foot pedals, said right and left pedals being laterally spaced apart and each having a forward end portion to receive a forward end portion of the user's corresponding foot thereon and a rearward end portion to receive a rearward end portion of the user's corresponding foot thereon;
• a right pedal swing member supporting said right pedal for rearward and forward swinging motion and having a lower end portion attached to said right pedal for rearward and forward reciprocating movement of said right pedal therewith in rearward and forward amounts variable by user applied rearward and forward foot movements while on said right and left pedals during the exercise, said lower end portion of said right swing member supporting said right pedal for downward and upward movements of said rearward end portion thereof relative to said forward end portion thereof in downward and upward amounts variable by user applied downward and upward foot movements while on said right and left pedals during the exercise;
• a left pedal swing member supporting said left pedal for rearward and forward swinging motion and having a lower end portion attached to said left pedal for rearward and forward reciprocating movement of said left pedal therewith in rearward and forward amounts variable by user applied rearward and forward foot movements while on said right and left pedals during the exercise, said lower end portion of said left swing member supporting said left pedal for downward and upward movements of said rearward end portion thereof relative to said forward end portion thereof in downward and upward amounts variable by user applied downward and upward foot movements while on said right and left pedals during the exercise;
• a right lift member supporting said right pedal and applying a right side lifting force on said right pedal to lift said rearward end portion of said right pedal upward in a user variable upward movement amount corresponding to user applied foot movements while on said right and left pedals during the exercise;
• and
• a left lift member supporting said left pedal and applying a left side lifting force on said left pedal to lift said rearward end portion of said left pedal upward in a user variable upward movement amount corresponding to user applied foot movements while on said right and left pedals during the exercise, said right and left swing members and said right and left lift members together providing swinging support for said right and left pedals and limiting downward travel thereof to provide uninhibited swinging movement of said right and left pedals out of supporting contact with any structure therebelow.

An exercise apparatus for a user to exercise while standing on the user's feet, comprising:

• right and left foot pedals, said right and left pedals being laterally spaced apart and each having a forward end portion to receive a forward end portion of the user's corresponding foot thereon and a rearward end portion to receive a rearward end portion of the user's corresponding foot thereon;
• a right pedal swing member supporting said right pedal for rearward and forward swinging motion and having a lower end portion attached to said right pedal for rearward and forward reciprocating movement of said right pedal therewith, said lower end portion of said right swing member supporting said right pedal for downward and upward movements of said rearward end portion thereof relative to said forward end portion thereof;
• a left pedal swing member supporting said left pedal for rearward and forward swinging motion and having a lower end portion attached to said left pedal for rearward and forward reciprocating movement of said left pedal therewith, said lower end portion of said left swing member supporting said left pedal for downward and upward movements of said rearward end portion thereof relative to said forward end portion thereof;
• a right lift member supporting said right pedal and applying a right side lifting force on said right pedal to lift said rearward end portion of said right pedal upward during the exercise;
• and
• a left lift member supporting said left pedal and applying a left side lifting force on said left pedal to lift said rearward end portion of said left pedal upward during the exercise, said right and left swing members and said right and left lift members together providing swinging support for said right and left pedals and limiting downward travel thereof to provide uninhibited swinging movement of said right and left pedals out of supporting contact with any structure therebelow, said right and left swing members and said right and left lift members being operatively disconnected such that rearward and forward movements of said right and left pedals by said right and left swing members and downward and upward movements of said rearward end portions of said right and left pedals by said right and left lift members are independent of each other, whereby swinging movements of said right and left pedals and lifting movements thereof may be independently performed by the user.

An exercise apparatus for a user to exercise while standing on the user's feet, comprising:

• right and left foot pedals, each having a forward end portion to receive a forward end portion of the user's corresponding foot thereon and a rearward end portion to receive a rearward end portion of the user's corresponding foot thereon, said right pedal being supported for rearward and forward reciprocating movement thereof while permitting said rearward end portion of said right pedal to move downward and upward relative to said forward end portion thereof, and said left pedal being supported for rearward and forward reciprocating movement thereof while permitting said rearward end portion of said left pedal to move downward and upward relative to said forward end portion thereof;
• a first pedal interconnect member engaging said right and left pedals, in response to said rearward movement of said left pedal, said first pedal interconnect member moving said right pedal forward, and in response to said rearward movement of said right pedal, said first pedal interconnect member moving said left pedal forward;
• and
• a second pedal interconnect member engaging said right and left pedals, in response to said downward movement of said rearward end portion of said left pedal, said second pedal interconnect member moving said rearward end portion of said right pedal upward, and in response to said downward movement of said rearward end portion of said right pedal, said second pedal interconnect member moving said rearward end portion of said left pedal upward, said first and second pedal interconnect members being operatively disconnected such that said rearward and forward reciprocating movements of said right and left pedals are independent of said upward and downward movements of said rearward end portions of said right and left pedals.

An exercise apparatus for a user to exercise while standing on the user's feet, comprising:

• right and left foot pedals, each having a forward end portion to receive a forward end portion of the user's corresponding foot thereon and a rearward end portion to receive a rearward end portion of the user's corresponding foot thereon, said right pedal being supported for rearward and forward reciprocating movement thereof while permitting said rearward end portion of said right pedal to move downward and upward relative to said forward end portion thereof, and said left pedal being supported for rearward and forward reciprocating movement thereof while permitting said rearward end portion of said left pedal to move downward and upward relative to said forward end portion thereof;
• a pedal interconnect member engaging said right and left pedals, in response to said rearward movement of said left pedal, said pedal interconnect member moving said right pedal forward, and in response to said rearward movement of said right pedal, said pedal interconnect member moving said left pedal forward;
• said rearward end portion of said right pedal being downwardly movable relative to said forward end portion thereof in user variable downward amounts within a range of maximum downward movement during the exercise corresponding to the amount of downward movement of the rearward end portion of the user's foot on said rearward end portion of said right pedal applied by the user during the exercise, said rearward end portion of said right pedal being independently downwardly movable with respect to said rearward and forward reciprocating movements of said right and left pedals;
• and
• said rearward end portion of said left pedal being downwardly movable relative to said forward end portion thereof in user variable downward amounts within a range of maximum downward movement during the exercise corresponding to the amount of downward movement of the rearward end portion of the user's foot on said rearward end portion of said left pedal applied by the user during the exercise, said rearward end portion of said left pedal being independently downwardly movable with respect to said rearward and forward reciprocating movements of said right and left pedals.

An exercise apparatus for a user to exercise while standing on the user's feet, comprising:

• right and left foot pedals, each having a forward end portion to receive a forward end portion of the user's corresponding foot thereon and a rearward end portion to receive a rearward end portion of the user's corresponding foot thereon, said right pedal being supported for rearward and forward reciprocating movement thereof while permitting said rearward end portion of said left pedal to move downward and upward relative to said forward end portion thereof, and said left pedal being supported for rearward and forward reciprocating movement thereof while permitting said rearward end portion of said left pedal to move downward and upward relative to said forward end portion thereof;
• a pedal interconnect member engaging said right and left pedals, in response to said rearward movement of said left pedal, said pedal interconnect member moving said right pedal forward, and in response to said rearward movement of said right pedal, said pedal interconnect member moving said left pedal forward;
• said rearward end portion of said right pedal being downwardly movable relative to said forward end portion thereof in user variable downward amounts within a range of maximum downward movement during the exercise corresponding to the amount of downward movement of the rearward end portion of the user's foot on said rearward end portion of said right pedal applied by the user during the exercise;
• and
• said rearward end portion of said left pedal being downwardly movable relative to said forward end portion thereof in user variable downward amounts within a range of maximum downward movement during the exercise corresponding to the amount of downward movement of the rearward end portion of the user's foot on said rearward end portion of said left pedal applied by the user during the exercise.

An exercise apparatus for a user to exercise while standing on the user's feet, comprising:

• right and left foot pedals, each having a forward end portion to receive a forward end portion of the user's corresponding foot thereon and a rearward end portion to receive a rearward end portion of the user's corresponding foot thereon, said right pedal being supported for rearward and forward reciprocating movement thereof while permitting said rearward end portion of said right pedal to move downward and upward relative to said forward end portion thereof, and said left pedal being supported for rearward and forward reciprocating movement thereof while permitting said rearward end portion of said left pedal to move downward and upward relative to said forward end portion thereof;
• a pedal interconnect member engaging said right and left pedals, in response to said rearward movement of said left pedal, said pedal interconnect member moving said right pedal forward, and in response to said rearward movement of said right pedal, said pedal interconnect member moving said left pedal forward;
• a right heel lift member engaging said right pedal to move said rearward end portion of said right pedal upward after said downward movement thereof;
• and
• a left heel lift member engaging said left pedal to move said rearward end portion of said left pedal upward after said downward movement thereof.

An exercise apparatus for a user to exercise while standing on the user's feet, comprising:

• right and left foot pedals, each having a forward end portion to receive a forward end portion of the user's corresponding foot thereon and a rearward end portion to receive a rearward end portion of the user's corresponding foot thereon;
• a right pedal support member supporting said right pedal for rearward and forward reciprocating movement of said right pedal in user variable rearward and forward amounts during the exercise along a right path, said variable rearward amount of said rearward movement of said right pedal corresponding to the amount of rearward movement of the user's foot on said right pedal applied by the user during the exercise, said right support member supporting said right pedal for downward and upward movements of said rearward end portion thereof relative to said forward end portion thereof in user variable downward and upward amounts during the exercise, said variable downward amount of said downward movement of said rearward end portion of said right pedal corresponding to the amount of downward movement of the rearward end portion of the user's foot on said rearward end portion of said right pedal applied by the user during the exercise;
• a left pedal support member supporting said left pedal for rearward and forward reciprocating movement of said left pedal in user variable rearward and forward amounts during the exercise along a left path, said variable rearward amount of said rearward movement of said left pedal corresponding to the amount of rearward movement of the user's foot on said left pedal applied by the user during the exercise, said left support member supporting said left pedal for downward and upward movements of said rearward end portion thereof relative to said forward end portion thereof in user variable downward and upward amounts during the exercise, said variable downward amount of said downward movement of said rearward end portion of said left pedal corresponding to the amount of downward movement of the rearward end portion of the user's foot on said rearward end portion of said left pedal applied by the user during the exercise;
• a first pedal interconnect member engaging said right and left pedals, in response to said rearward movement of said left pedal corresponding to the rearward movement of the user's foot on said left pedal applied by the user during the exercise, said first pedal interconnect member moving said right pedal forward, and in response to said rearward movement of said right pedal corresponding to the rearward movement of the user's foot on said right pedal applied by the user during the exercise, said first pedal interconnect member moving said left pedal forward;
• and
• a second pedal interconnect member engaging said right and left pedals, in response to said downward movement of said rearward end portion of said left pedal corresponding to the downward movement of the rearward end portion of the user's foot on said left pedal applied by the user during the exercise, said second pedal interconnect member moving said rearward end portion of said right pedal upward, and in response to said downward movement of said rearward end portion of said right pedal corresponding to the downward movement of the rearward end portion of the user's foot on said right pedal applied by the user during the exercise, said second pedal interconnect member moving said rearward end portion of said left pedal upward.