Stationary exercise apparatus

An exercise apparatus, comprising:

• a frame;
• two supporting members, each supporting member defining a first portion, a second portion and a third portion, the first portions of the two supporting members respectively coupled to the frame to rotate about a first axis;
• a first guiding mechanism mounted to the frame for guiding the first portions of the two supporting members to move along a circular path about the first axis with respect to the frame;
• a second guiding mechanism mounted to the frame for guiding the second portions of the two supporting members to move along a reciprocating path with respect to the frame such that the second portion of each supporting member is reciprocated between a first end point and a second end point of the reciprocating path, and the third portion of each supporting member is moved along a first closed path;
• two control links, each control link having a pivot portion, a restricted portion and a supporting portion, the pivot portions of the two control links respectively pivotally mounted to the third portions of the two supporting members so that the pivot portion of each control link moves together with the third portion of the corresponding supporting member along the first closed path, the supporting portions of the two control links configured to support a user's feet, each supporting portion having a toe end and a heel end;
• and
• a third guiding mechanism mounted to the frame for guiding the restricted portions of the two control links to move along a restricted path with respect to the frame such that a position of the restricted portion within the restricted path is determined by a position of the pivot portion of the corresponding control link within the first closed path so as to determine a position and an angle of the supporting portion with respect to the frame, a specific part of the supporting portion moving along a second closed path while the pivot portion is moving along the first closed path;
• wherein, the first portion of each supporting member is arranged above the second portion and the third portion;
• the reciprocating path is located below a lowermost point of the circular path and the first end point is higher than the second end point, an angle defined by a connection line of the first end point and the second end point and a horizontal plane being greater than 45 degrees;
• the second closed path is located below the lowermost point of the circular path, and a vertical distance between an uppermost point and a lowermost point of the second closed path is greater than a horizontal distance between a foremost point and a rearmost point of the second closed path.