Cross training exercise device
AssigneePrecor Incorporated
InventorsJanine Whan-Tong, Peter Pasero, Paul D. Barker
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An exercise device includes a pair of foot engaging links (30a, 30b). The rearward ends of the foot links are supported for arcuate motion about a pivot axis (26), and the forward ends of the foot links travel back and forth along a guide (36). The combination of these two foot link motions permits the users feet to travel along an elliptical path of travel. The inclination of the foot links may be selectively altered to vary the nature of the stepping motion experienced by the user. At flater inclinations of the foot links, the stepping motion may resemble cross country skiing. At progressively greater angles of inclination of the foot links, the stepping motions may simulate walking, jogging, running and climbing.
Claims60
An exercise device to simulate various types of stepping motions, comprising:
- a frame having a pivot axis defined thereon, the frame configured to be supported on a floor;
- a first and second foot link, each foot link including a first end and a second end;
- a foot support for receiving the user's feet, the foot support supported by the first and second foot links, and the foot support having a heel supporting section and toe supporting section;
- a coupling system associated with the first end of each foot link for coupling the first end of each foot link to the pivot axis so that the first end of each foot link travels in a closed path relative to the pivot axis;
- a guide associated with the frame and operative to engage and direct the second ends of the foot links along preselected reciprocating paths of travel as the first ends of the respective foot links travel along their paths of travel, so that when the exercise device is in use and when the second end of one of the foot links travels forwardly from a rearmost position, the heel supporting section of the foot support rising relative to the toe supporting section of the foot support so that the heel portion of the user's foot initially rises at a faster rate than a toe portion thereof and when the second end of the foot link travels rearwardly from a foremost position, the heel supporting section of the foot support lowering relative to the toe supporting, section of the foot support so that the heel portion of the user's foot initially lowers at a faster rate than the toe portion;
- and
- an elevation system for selectively and automatically changing at least one of the elevation and angular orientation of the guide relative to the frame so as to alter the path traveled by the second ends of the first and second links, and to alter the nominal relative orientation of the heel supporting section of the foot support relative to the toe supporting section of the foot support.
An exercise device to simulate various types of stepping motions, comprising:
- a frame configured to be supported on a floor;
- first and second foot links, each foot link having a first end portion and a second end portion;
- a foot support carried by the first and second foot links for receiving the feet of a user, the foot support having a heel supporting section and a toe supporting section;
- a coupling system associated with the first end portion of each foot link for coupling the first end portion of each foot link to the frame so that the first end portion of each foot link travels in closed, arcuate path relative to the frame;
- a guide system for supporting the second end portions of the foot links along a preselected reciprocating path of travel as the first end portions of the respective foot links travel along their paths of travel, so that when the exercise device is in use the foot support moves along a generally elliptical path of travel with the heel supporting section of the foot support rising and lowering relative to the toe supporting section of the foot support;
- and
- a powered elevation system for raising and lowering one of the coupling system and the guide system relative to the floor to change the path of travel of the foot support and to change the nominal orientation of the heel supporting section of the foot support relative to the toe supporting section of the foot support.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.