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US 7,452,309 B1Granted
Exercise methods and apparatus
OwnerKenneth W. Stearns, Joseph D. Mareshinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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
A method of facilitating exercise involving elliptical foot motion, comprising the steps of:
- providing a frame;
- rotatably mounting left and right cranks on the frame for rotation about a common crank axis;
- rotatably mounting left and right rollers on respective said cranks;
- pivotally mounting left and right rocker links on a forward portion of the frame;
- providing left and right foot supporting links having rearward foot supporting platforms sized and configured to support respective left and right feet of a person;
- movably connecting forward ends of the foot supporting links to respective said rocker links;
- supporting intermediate portions of the foot supporting links on respective said rollers in such manner that said foot supporting platform are cantilevered relative to respective said rollers and movable to respective locations disposed rearward of the common crank axis;
- moveably interconnecting left and right drawbar links between respective said rocker links and respective said cranks in a manner that constrains respective said foot supporting platforms to move through respective elliptical paths disposed rearward of the common crank axis;
- and
- accommodating selective adjustment of the elliptical path between a stepping motion having a relatively greater vertical component, and a striding motion having a relatively greater horizontal component.
7 more elements
A method of facilitating exercise involving elliptical foot motion, comprising the steps of:
- providing a frame;
- rotatably mounting left and right cranks on the frame for rotation about a common crank axis;
- pivotally mounting left and right rocker links on a forward portion of the frame;
- providing left and right foot supporting links having rearward foot supporting platforms sized and configured to support respective left and right feet of a person;
- movably connecting forward ends of the foot supporting links to respective said rocker links;
- supporting intermediate portions of the foot supporting links on respective said cranks in such a manner that said foot supporting platforms are cantilevered relative thereto;
- movably interconnecting left and right drawbar links between respective said rocker links and respective said cranks in a manner that constrains respective said foot supporting platforms to move through respective elliptical paths disposed rearward of the common crank axis;
- and
- accommodating selective adjustment of the elliptical paths between a stepping motion having a relatively greater vertical component, and a striding motion having a relatively greater horizontal components.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.