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US 6,554,750 B2Granted
Exercise methods and apparatus
OwnerKenneth W. Stearns, Joseph D. Mareshinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An exercise apparatus links rotation of a crank to generally elliptical motion of a foot supporting member. A foot supporting linkage is movably connected between a rocker and a crank in such a manner that the foot supporting member moves through a range of motion greater in length than the distance between the points of connection to the crank.
Claims11
An elliptical motion exercise apparatus, comprising:
- a frame designed to rest upon a floor surface;
- left and right rocker links pivotally mounted on a first end of said frame and pivotal about a common pivot axis;
- left and right cranks rotatably mounted on an opposite, second end of said frame and rotatable about a common crank axis;
- left and right intermediate links having first ends connected to respective cranks and second ends connected to respective rocker links, wherein points of interconnection between said rocker links and said intermediate links are disposed at a first radius from said pivot axis;
- and
- left and right foot supports supported on intermediate portions of respective intermediate links and connected to respective rocker links, wherein points of interconnection between said rocker links and said foot supports are disposed at a relatively greater, second radius from said pivot axis, and said foot supports are constrained to travel through adjacent, generally elliptical paths having generally vertical minor axes that are shorter than a crank diameter defined by said cranks, and generally horizontal major axes that are longer than said crank diameter.
3 more elements
An elliptical striding machine, comprising:
- a frame designed to rest upon a floor surface;
- left and right cranks rotatably mounted on said frame;
- left and right rocker links pivotally mounted on said frame;
- left and right drawbar links pivotally interconnected between respective said cranks and respective said rocker links, wherein left and right rollers are rotatably mounted on intermediate portions of respective said drawbar links;
- left and right foot links pivotally connected to respective said rocker links and rollably supported by respective said rollers, wherein said foot links are decoupled from respective said cranks for horizontal movement relative thereto.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.