Epicycle gear exercise device

An exercise apparatus comprising a plurality of gears sized, positioned and supported relative to one another so as to form an epicyclic gear train, said plurality of gears comprising at least one planetary gear, at least one foot-pedal being supported by said at least one planetary gear for rotation with said at least one planetary gear about a generally circular path around a rotational axis of said at least one planetary gear, said at least one foot-pedal also tracing a substantially elliptical foot-path having a major axis and a minor axis as said epicyclic gear train operates.

An elliptical foot-path exercise apparatus comprising:

• a support frame;
• at least one crank being supported relative to said support frame so as to be rotatable about a crank axis, said at least one crank having an effective crank-arm length;
• at least one foot pedal being connected to said at least one crank through at least one intermediate member such that said at least one foot pedal is attached to said at least one intermediate member and said at least one intermediate member is attached to said at least one crank, by an intermediate axle said at least one intermediate member revolving relative to said crank about said intermediate axle and said foot pedal revolving relative to said intermediate member about a foot pedal axis, said at least one foot pedal being sized and arranged relative to said at least one crank so as to follow a substantially elliptical foot-path comprising a major axis, a length of said major axis of said elliptical foot-path being adjustable by varying a point-of-attachment of said at least one foot pedal along said at least one intermediate member.

An exercise apparatus for providing simulated walking or running motion comprising two planetary gears, two sun/ring gears and at least one crank supported and arranged so as to be rotatable about a crank axis, said two planetary gears each comprising an effective diameter and said two sun/ring gears also each comprising an effective diameter, each said planetary gear being pivotably secured to a pivot point on said at least one crank and each said planetary gear being sized and arranged such that as said at least one crank is rotated said planetary gears engage and rotate relative to said sun/ring gears while simultaneously revolving about said crank axis so as to form an epicyclic gear train, and two foot pedals each pivotably secured to a pivot point on a corresponding one of said planetary gears, said foot pedals being sized and arranged to support the feet of a user and whereby each said foot-pedal follows a substantially elliptical foot-path as said at least one crank is rotated.

An exercise apparatus for providing simulated walking or running motion comprising a support frame, at least one crank pivotably supported relative to said support frame so as to be rotatable about a crank axis, at least one planetary gear pivotably supported relative to said at least one crank and rotatable therewith, at least one sun/ring gear supported relative to said support frame and sized and positioned to engage said at least one planetary gear so as to form an epicyclic gear train, at least one foot-pedal being adapted to support a user's foot and said at least one foot-pedal being pivotably supported relative to said at least one planetary gear such that the user's foot will revolve in a circular pattern around a rotational axis of said at least one planetary gear, whereby said at least one foot-pedal follows a substantially elliptical foot-path as said at least one crank rotates, said elliptical path having a major axis and a minor axis, and said at least one crank having an effective crank-arm length.

An exercise apparatus for providing simulated walking or running motion comprising a plurality of gears sized, positioned and supported relative to one another so as to form an epicyclic gear train, said plurality of gears including at least one planetary gear, a rotatable crank having an effective crank-arm length for rotating said at least one planetary gear, the effective working diameter of said at least one planetary gear being equal to about twice said effective crank-arm length, at least one foot-pedal having a foot support portion adapted to support a user's foot, said at least one foot-pedal being pivotably supported relative to said at least one planetary gear for supporting a user's foot at a pedal axis, said pedal axis being disposed beneath said foot support portion, said at least one foot-pedal tracing a substantially elliptical foot-path as said epicyclic gear train operates, and said elliptical foot-path having a major axis and a minor axis.

An elliptical foot-path exercise apparatus comprising a support frame, a single-piece central crank supported relative to said support frame so as to be rotatable about a crank axis, said crank having an effective crank-arm length, a plurality of gears sized, positioned and supported relative to one another so as to form an epicyclic gear train, said plurality of gears including a right planetary gear and a left planetary gear, each of said planetary gears being rotatable about respective axes which axes intersect said crank, and a right foot pedal and a left foot pedal each being supported relative to each corresponding planetary gear such that each of said foot pedals traces a substantially elliptical path as said crank is rotated, each of said right foot pedal and said left foot pedal comprising a respective pivot axis and a respective foot supporting portion adapted to support a user's foot, a part of said respective foot support portion being disposed vertically above said respective pivot axis and said pivot axis intersecting with the respective one of said left planetary gear and said right planetary gear.

An exercise apparatus comprising a support frame having a right side and a left side, at least one crank supported relative to said support frame so as to be rotatable about a crank axis, at least one sun/ring gear supported on said support frame, at least one planetary gear pivotally supported relative to a said at least one crank, rotatable therewith and sized and positioned to engage said at least one sun/ring gear so as to form an epicyclic gear train, and at least one foot pedal pivotally supported relative to said at least one planetary gear, said at least one foot pedal being disposed between said right side and said left side of said support frame.

An exercise device comprising a support frame, a crank supported by said support frame, said crank being rotatable about a crank axis, a planetary gear rotatably supported by said crank, said planetary gear being rotatable about a planetary axis, a pedal rotatably supported by said planetary gear, said pedal being rotatable about a pedal axis, said pedal axis extending through said planetary gear, said planetary gear engaging a sun/ring gear, said sun/ring gear having an effective working diameter, said pedal following a substantially elliptical foot-path when said crank rotates about said crank axis, said substantially elliptical foot path having a major diameter that is less than said effective working diameter of said sun/ring gear.

An exercise device comprising a support frame, a crank being supported by said support frame, said crank being rotatable about a crank axis, an intermediate member being supported by said crank, a pedal being supported by said intermediate member and being pivotable about a pedal axis, said pedal being adapted to support a foot above said pedal axis, said pedal axis revolving in a circular pattern around an axis that extends through said intermediate member and said intermediate member axis revolving around said crank axis in a circular pattern such that said pedal revolves around said crank axis in an elliptical pattern.

An exercise device comprising a support frame, a crank supported by said support frame, said crank being rotatable about a crank axis, a planetary gear rotatably supported by said crank, said planetary gear being rotatable about a planetary axis, a pedal rotatably supported by said planetary gear, said pedal being rotatable about a pedal axis, said pedal axis extending through said planetary gear, said planetary gear engaging a sun/ring gear, said pedal following a substantially elliptical foot-path when said crank rotates about said crank axis, said planetary gear having an effective working diameter, said sun/ring gear having an effective working diameter and said planetary gear effective working diameter being about one-half said sun/ring gear effective working diameter.