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US 6,387,017 B1Granted
Four bar exercise machine
OwnerJoseph D. Mareshinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An exercise machine for exercising the lower body, the upper body, or both simultaneously. The mechanism consists of a crank, a rocker, a connector link, and a stationary fourth link so arranged as to cause a portion of the connector link to travel about a closed curve resembling an ellipse, a tear drop shape, or any variation thereof. A flywheel and/or force resisting means may be added to provide inertial characteristics and drag resistance to the operator.
Claims20
A method of linking arm exercise motion to elliptical leg exercise motion, comprising the steps of:
- providing a frame designed to remain stationary on a floor surface;
- rotatably connecting a crank (306) to a first portion (304) of the frame;
- movably connecting a reciprocating member (296) to a second portion (300) of the frame;
- pivotally connecting a first portion of a connector link (292) to the reciprocating member (296);
- pivotally connecting a second portion of the connector link (292) to the crank (306), wherein the connector link (292), the reciprocating member (296), and the crank (306) form a linkage assembly movably interconnected between the first portion (304) of the frame and the second portion (300) of the frame;
- mounting a foot support (288) to a third portion of the connector link (292) which moves in a path having a substantially elliptical configuration;
- and
- mounting a handle (297) on a portion of the linkage assembly which moves in a path having a substantially elliptical configuration.
5 more elements
A method of adjusting elliptical exercise motion, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a frame designed to remain stationary upon a floor surface;
- (b) rotatably connecting a crank to a first portion of the frame;
- (c) movably interconnecting a linkage assembly between the crank and a second portion of the frame so that a limb supporting part of the linkage assembly moves in a substantially elliptical path having a particular configuration;
- and
- (d) selectively changing the distance defined between the first portion of the frame and the second portion of the frame so that the limb supporting part of the linkage assembly moves in a substantially elliptical path having a different configuration.
2 more elements
A method of adjusting elliptical exercise motion, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a frame designed to remain stationary on a floor surface;
- (b) rotatably connecting a crank to a first portion of the frame;
- (c) movably connecting a reciprocating member to a second portion of the frame;
- (d) pivotally interconnecting a connector link between the reciprocating member and the crank;
- (e) mounting a limb supporting member to a part of the connector link which moves in a path having a first substantially elliptical configuration;
- and
- (f) selectively changing the distance defined between the first portion of the frame and the second portion of the frame so that the limb supporting member moves in a path having a second substantially elliptical configuration.
4 more elements
A method of adjusting elliptical exercise motion, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a frame designed to remain stationary on a floor surface;
- (b) connecting a left crank (342) and a right crank (342) to a first frame portion (344) in such a manner that each said crank (342) rotates about a frame-based crank axis;
- (c) connecting a left foot support (337) to a first portion of a left connector link (340);
- (d) connecting a right foot support (336) to a first portion of a right connector link (341);
- (e) connecting a second portion of the left connector link (340) to a radially displaced portion of the left crank (342) in such a manner that the second portion of the left connector link (340) pivots about a rotating axis relative to the left crank (342);
- (f) connecting a second portion of the right connector link (341) to a radially displaced portion of the right crank (342) in such a manner that the second portion of the right connector link (341) pivots about a rotating axis relative to the right crank (342);
- (g) constraining a third portion of the left connector link (340) to move through a reciprocal path relative to a second frame portion (348);
- and
- (h) constraining a third portion of the right connector link (341) to move through a reciprocal path relative to the second frame portion (348);
- and
- (i) changing the distance defined between the first frame portion (344) and the second frame portion (348) to adjust a substantially elliptical exercise path through which each said foot support (337, 336) travels.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.