# US 8,784,277 B2 · Exercise apparatus having a targeted fluid support system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,784,277 B2 - Document ID: US8784277B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/113,029 - Filed: 2011-05-20 - Published: 2012-11-22 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2011-05-20 - Assignees: Tristar Products, Inc. - Applicants: Jorge Prats - Inventors: Jorge Prats - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8784277B2 ## CPC - A63B 71/0619: {Displays, user interfaces and indicating devices, specially adapted for sport equipment, e.g. display mounted on treadmills} - A63B 21/00069: {Setting or adjusting the resistance level; Compensating for a preload prior to use, e.g. changing length of resistance or adjusting a valve} - A63B 21/0087: {of the piston-cylinder type (using hydraulic piston-cylinder type force resistors A63B21/0083)} - A63B 21/4033: {Handles, pedals, bars or platforms} - A63B 22/0056: {the pivoting movement being in a vertical plane, e.g. steppers with a horizontal axis (platforms for rocking motion about a horizontal axis A63B22/16)} - A63B 22/0058: {the vertical plane being the frontal body-plane} - A63B 24/0062: {Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance} - A63B 24/0087: {Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of groups A63B21/00 - A63B23/00, e.g. controlling load} - A63B 2024/0068: {Comparison to target or threshold, previous performance or not real time comparison to other individuals} - A63B 2230/75: calorie expenditure - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An exercise apparatus as in claim 1, 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. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the right depresser is a right hand plate configured to receive a right hand of a user of the exercise apparatus; and the left depresser is a left hand plate configured to receive a left hand of the user of the exercise apparatus. ### Claim 4 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. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) An apparatus as in claim 4, wherein the longitudinal axis of the right bellow and a longitudinal axis of the left bellow intersect with one another to form an inner angle that is less than 45 degrees. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) An apparatus as in claim 2, 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 pivot is configured to movably attach the right depresser and the left depresser to the front portion of the housing at an angle similar to that of the angle of attachment between the right top portion of the right bellow to the right depresser or the angle of attachment between the left top portion of the left bellow to the left depresser. ### Claim 7 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. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) An exercise apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the one of said pedals movable within one of the planes relative to the other of said pedals is rotatable within the one of the planes relative to the other of said pedals. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) An exercise apparatus as in claim 1, wherein each of said treadles includes a pair of overlying pedals, each of said pedals in one of said treadles being in a plane parallel to a plane of the other of said pedal in the one of said treadles, one of the pedals in the one of said treadles being rotatable in the plane of said one of said pedals, each of said pedals in the other of said treadles being in a plane parallel to a plane of the other of said pedal in the other of said treadles, one of the pedals in the other of said treadles being rotatable in the plane of said other of said pedals. ### Claim 10 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. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A system as in claim 10, wherein the first depresser is a right treadle configured to receive a right foot of a user of the exercise apparatus; and the second depresser is a left treadle configured to receive a left foot of the user of the exercise apparatus. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) A system as in claim 10, wherein the first depresser is a right plate configured to receive a right hand of a user of the exercise apparatus; and the second depresser is a left plate configured to receive a left hand of the user of the exercise apparatus. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) A fluid support system as in claim 10, wherein the fluid within the fluid transfer component applies a two dimensional force to the first depresser in response to motion of the second depresser. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) A fluid support system as in claim 10, wherein the fluid within the fluid transfer component is air. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) A fluid support system as in claim 10, wherein the fluid within the fluid transfer component is a hydraulic fluid. ### Claim 16 (depends on 4) An apparatus as in claim 4 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. ### Claim 17 (depends on 5) An apparatus as in claim 5 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.