Lateral elliptical exercise apparatus
OwnerPaul William Eschenbachinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to a standup exercise apparatus that simulates lateral climbing with arm exercise. More particularly, the present invention relates to an exercise machine having separately supported pedals for the feet and arm exercise coordinated with the motion of the feet. Each pedal follows a separate elongate curve with lateral movement. As one pedal moves downward on the inside portion of one pedal curve, the other pedal moves sideways upward following the outer portion of the other pedal curve. A pair of cranks rotate in opposite directions when driven by the pedal movement. The orientation of the pedal curves is adjustable to exercise leg muscles differently. Arm exercise is coordinated with the foot pedal movements.
Claims17
An exercise apparatus comprising:
- a framework, said framework configured to be supported by a horizontal surface;
- a pair of crank arms, each said crank arm rotatably connected to said framework at a respective pivot axis and configured to rotate through continuous full revolutions during operation of said exercise apparatus;
- a coupling device, said coupling device configured to cause said crank arms to have operably associated opposing rotation;
- a pair of foot supports, each said foot support pivotally connected to a respective said crank arm pivotally connected to one end and having a foot engaging pedal connected to the other end of said foot support to follow a closed loop elongate curve positioned lateral to an operator having a major axis oriented generally vertical;
- a pair of guides, each said guide operably associated with a respective said foot support and said framework to cause a portion of said foot support to have a generally up and down movement;
- said pedals configured to move relative to said framework when the feet of said operator are rotating said crank arms whereby said pedals follow said closed loop elongate curves with movement that is lateral to said operator.
An exercise apparatus comprising:
- a framework, said framework configured to be supported by a horizontal surface;
- a pair of crank arms, each said crank arm rotatably connected to said framework at a respective pivot axis and configured to rotate through continuous full rotations during operation of said exercise apparatus;
- a pair of meshed gears, each said gear attached to a respective said crank arm to rotate about a respective said pivot axis on said framework in a direction opposed to the direction of rotation of the other said crank arm;
- a pair of foot supports, each said foot support pivotally connected to a respective said crank arm;
- a pair of pedals, each pedal attached to a respective foot support and following a separate closed loop elongate curve positioned lateral to an operator;
- a pair of guides, each said guide operably associated with a respective said foot support and said framework;
- said pedals configured to move relative to said framework when the feet of said operator are rotating said crank arms whereby one said pedal follows one said closed loop elongate curve moving downward while the other said pedal is moving sideways upward along the other said closed loop elongate curve.
An exercise apparatus comprising:
- a framework, said framework configured to be supported by a horizontal surface;
- a pair of crank arms, each said crank arm rotatably connected to said framework at a respective pivot axis and configured to rotate through continuous full rotations during operation of said exercise apparatus;
- a coupling device, said coupling device configured to cause said crank arms to have operably associated opposing rotation;
- a pair of foot supports, each said foot support pivotally connected to a respective said crank arm and having a foot engaging pedal configured to follow a closed loop elongate curve positioned lateral to an operator;
- a pair of guides, each said guide operably associated with a respective said foot support and said framework to cause a portion of said foot support to have a generally up and down movement;
- an adjustment device, said adjustment device operably associated with said guides and said framework;
- said pedals configured to move relative to said framework when the feet of said operator are rotating said crank arms whereby said pedals follow said closed loop elongate curves with movement that is sideways to said operator and said adjustment device can change the orientation of said closed loop elongate curves.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.