Exercise apparatus with elliptical foot motion

An exercise apparatus, comprising:

• a frame having a base that is configured to rest upon a floor surface;
• a front crank rotatably mounted on a forward portion of the frame for rotation about a front crank axis;
• a rear crank rotatably mounted on a rearward portion of the frame for rotation about a rear crank axis, and constrained to rotate together with the front crank;
• a left rail and a right rail, wherein each said rail is constrained to rotate together with a respective portion of the rear crank and a respective portion of the front crank;
• a left foot support and a right foot support, wherein each said foot support is movably mounted on a respective said rail;
• a left rocker link and a right rocker link, wherein each said rocker link is pivotally mounted on the frame for pivoting about a common pivot axis, and each said rocker link includes a first member that extends from the pivot axis to a distal end that is sized and configured for grasping, a second member that extends from the pivot axis to a distal end that is operatively connected to a respective said foot support, and an intermediate third member that angles forward relative to the second member;
• a left drive link movably interconnected between a respective said third member and a respective portion of the front crank, wherein the left drive link remains generally vertical during rotation of the front crank, and links rotation of the front crank to both pivoting of the left rocker link and movement of the left foot support along the left rail;
• and
• a right drive link movably interconnected between a respective said third member and a respective portion of the front crank, wherein the right drive link remains generally vertical during rotation of the front crank, and links rotation of the front crank to both pivoting of a respective said first member and movement of the right foot support along the right rail.

An exercise apparatus, comprising:

• a frame having a base that is configured to rest upon a floor surface;
• a front crank rotatably mounted on a forward portion of the frame for rotation about a front crank axis;
• a rear crank rotatably mounted on a rearward portion of the frame for rotation about a rear crank axis, and constrained to rotate together with the front crank;
• a left rail and a right rail, wherein each said rail is constrained to rotate together with a respective portion of the rear crank and a respective portion of the front crank;
• a left foot support and a right foot support, wherein each said foot support is movably mounted on a respective said rail;
• a left rocker link and a right rocker link, wherein each said rocker link is pivotally mounted on the frame for pivoting about a common pivot axis, and each said rocker link includes an upper distal end that is sized and configured for grasping, and a lower distal end that is operatively connected to a respective foot support;
• a left linking means, interconnected between the front crank and the left rocker link, for linking rotation of the front crank to pivoting of the left rocker link and movement of the left foot support relative to the left rail in such a manner that the upper distal end of the left rocker link moves rearward as the left foot support moves forward;
• and
• a right linking means, interconnected between the front crank and the right rocker link, for linking rotation of the front crank to pivoting of the right rocker link and movement of the right foot support relative to the right rail in such a manner that the upper distal end of the right rocker link moves rearward as the right foot support moves forward.

An exercise apparatus, comprising:

• a frame having a base that is configured to rest upon a floor surface;
• a front crank rotatably mounted on a forward portion of the frame for rotation about a front crank axis;
• a rear crank rotatably-mounted on a rearward portion of the frame for rotation about a rear crank axis, and constrained to rotate together with the front crank;
• a left rail and a right rail, wherein each said rail is constrained to rotate together with a respective portion of the rear crank and a respective portion of the front crank;
• a left foot support and a right foot support, wherein each said foot support is movably mounted on a respective said rail;
• a left rocker link and a right rocker link, wherein each said rocker link is pivotally mounted on the frame for pivoting about a common pivot axis, and each said rocker link includes a lower distal end that is operatively connected to a respective foot support;
• an adjustable left linking means, interconnected between the front crank and the left rocker link, for linking rotation of the front crank to pivoting of the left rocker link and movement of the left foot support relative to the left rail;
• and
• an adjustable right linking means, interconnected between the front crank and the right rocker link, for linking rotation of the front crank to pivoting of the right rocker link and movement of the right foot support relative to the right rail, wherein each said linking means is adjustable between a first arrangement, wherein a respective said foot support moves through a first elliptical foot path having a first major axis, and a second arrangement, wherein a respective said foot support moves through a second elliptical foot path having a relatively larger, second major axis with a midpoint that is rearward in comparison to a midpoint associated with the first major axis.

An exercise apparatus, comprising:

• a frame having a base that is configured to rest upon a floor surface;
• a front crank rotatably mounted on a forward portion of the frame for rotation about a front crank axis;
• a rear crank rotatably mounted on a rearward portion of the frame for rotation about a rear crank axis, and constrained to rotate together with the front crank;
• a left rail constrained to rotate together with a left portion of the rear crank and a left portion of the front crank, wherein the left portion of the front crank is inboard relative to a left bearing assembly on the frame;
• a right rail constrained to rotate together with a right portion of the rear crank and a right portion of the front crank, wherein the right portion of the front crank is inboard relative to a right bearing assembly on the frame;
• a left foot support and a right foot support, wherein each said foot support is movably mounted on a respective said rail;
• left rocker link and a right rocker link, wherein each said rocker link is pivotally mounted on the frame for pivoting about a common pivot axis, and each said rocker link includes a lower distal end that is operatively connected to a respective foot support;
• a left drive link movably interconnected between the left rocker link and a portion of the front crank that is outboard relative to the left bearing assembly, wherein the left drive link links rotation of the front crank to both pivoting of the left rocker link and movement of the left foot support along the left rail;
• and
• a right drive link movably interconnected between the right rocker link and a portion of the front crank that is outboard relative to the right bearing assembly, wherein the right drive link links rotation of the front crank to both pivoting of the right rocker link and movement of the right foot support along the right rail.