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US 8,784,277 B2Granted
Exercise apparatus having a targeted fluid support system
AssigneeTristar Products, Inc.
InventorJorge Prats
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An exercise stepper with a fluid resistance system guides stepper treadles angularly downward and outward from the center of the stepper. According to an embodiment bellows that support treadles angle downward and outward.
Claims17
An exercise apparatus, comprising:
- a housing having a front portion and a back portion;
- a right depresser configured to receive force from a user of the exercise apparatus;
- a left depresser configured to receive force from a user of the exercise apparatus;
- a pivot configured to movably attach the right depresser and the left depresser to the front portion of the housing;
- and
- a support system at least partially contained by the back portion of the housing, wherein the support system includes:
- a right force resistor having a right top portion attached to the right depresser at an angle and a right bottom portion attached to the back portion of the housing;
- a left force resistor having a left top portion attached to the left depresser at an angle and a left bottom portion attached to the back portion of the housing;
- and
- a resistance system at least partially contained by the back portion of the housing and coupled to the right resistor and the left resistor and configured to transfer force;
- and
- wherein the right depresser is a right treadle configured to receive a right foot of a user of the exercise apparatus;
- and
- the left depresser is a left treadle configured to receive a left foot of the user of the exercise apparatus;
- and
- wherein one of said treadles includes a pair of overlying pedals in parallel planes, one of said pedals being movable within one of the planes relative to the other of said pedals.
13 more elements
An exercise apparatus, comprising:
- a housing having a front portion and a back portion;
- a right depresser configured to receive force from a user of the exercise apparatus;
- a left depresser configured to receive force from a user of the exercise apparatus;
- a pivot configured to movably attach the right depresser and the left depresser to the front portion of the housing;
- and
- a support system at least partially contained by the back portion of the housing, wherein the support system includes:
- a right force resistor having a right top portion attached to the right depresser at an angle and a right bottom portion attached to the back portion of the housing;
- a left force resistor having a left top portion attached to the left depresser at an angle and a left bottom portion attached to the back portion of the housing;
- a resistance system at least partially contained by the back portion of the housing and coupled to the right resistor and the left resistor and configured to transfer force;
- and
- wherein said right force resistor is a right bellow, and said left force resistor is a left bellow, and wherein said resistance system is a fluid passageway at least partially contained by the back portion of the housing and coupled to the right bellow and the left bellow and configured to transfer fluid between the right bellow and the left bellow in response to motion of the right depresser and the left depresser;
- wherein the right bellow includes a right top portion and a right bottom portion, and the left bellow includes a left top portion and a left bottom portion, and the right top portion of the right bellow is attached to the right depresser and the left top portion of the left bellow is attached to the left depresser such that a longitudinal axis of the right bellow and a longitudinal axis of the left bellow intersect with one another.
9 more elements
An exercise apparatus, comprising:
- a housing having a front portion and a back portion;
- a right depresser configured to receive force from a user of the exercise apparatus;
- a left depresser configured to receive force from a user of the exercise apparatus;
- a pivot configured to movably attach the right depresser and the left depresser to the front portion of the housing;
- and
- a support system at least partially contained by the back portion of the housing, wherein the support system includes:
- a right force resistor having a right top portion attached to the right depresser at an angle and a right bottom portion attached to the back portion of the housing;
- a left force resistor having a left top portion attached to the left depresser at an angle and a left bottom portion attached to the back portion of the housing;
- and
- a resistance system at least partially contained by the back portion of the housing and coupled to the right resistor and the left resistor and configured to transfer force;
- wherein said right force resistor is a right bellow, and said left force resistor is a left bellow, and wherein said resistance system is a fluid passageway at least partially contained by the back portion of the housing and coupled to the right bellow and the left bellow and configured to transfer fluid between the right bellow and the left bellow in response to motion of the right depresser and the left depresser;
- and
- wherein the angle of attachment between the right top portion of the right bellow to the right depresser is different than the angle of attachment between the left top portion of the left bellow to the left depresser.
10 more elements
A fluid support system for use with an exercise apparatus, comprising:
- a first bellow configured to attach to a first depresser of the exercise apparatus at an acute angle with respect a vertical axis of the exercise apparatus;
- a second bellow configured to attach to a second depresser of the exercise apparatus at an acute angle with respect to the vertical axis of the exercise apparatus;
- a fluid transfer component at least partially contained by the first bellow and the second bellow and configured to transfer a pressurized fluid between the first bellow and the second bellow in response to motion of the first depresser or the second depresser;
- and
- wherein the angle of attachment of the first bellow to the first depresser of the exercise apparatus or the angle of attachment of the second bellow to the second depresser of the exercise apparatus is user-adjustable.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.