Portable elliptical exercise machine

• US 10,080,918 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2017
• Issued: 09/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fitness Cubed Inc.
• Original Assignee: Fitness Cubed Inc.
• Inventors: Dalmia, Arnav
• Primary Examiner(s): Crow, Stephen R
• Application Number:
  US15/657,911
• Publication Number:
  US 20170319898A1
• Time in Patent Office: 428 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0688 with cranks being substantially within the horizontal moving range of the support elements, e.g. by using planetary gearings
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0683 Input by handheld remote control
• CPC Class Codes: 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
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00196 using pulsed counterforce, e.g. vibrating resistance means A61H1/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0051 using eddy currents induced in moved elements, e.g. by permanent magnets
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0054 for charging a battery
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/225 with flywheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0046 Details of the support elements or their connection to the exercising apparatus, e.g. adjustment of size or orientation attachments of resisters or weights to the body of the user A63B21/4001; using rollers, wheels, castors or gliding means to be moved over the floor or guide tracks A63B22/20
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/04 with movable multiple steps , i.e. more than one step per limb, e.g. steps mounted on endless loops, endless ladders steppers with cantilevered support elements pivoting about an axis A63B22/0048
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/06 with support elements performing a rotating cycling movement, i.e. a closed path movementsupport stands for bicycles A63B69/16; unicycles B62K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0664 performing an elliptic movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0694 without integral seat, e.g. portable mini ergometers being placed in front of a chair, on a table or on a bed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/805 Optical or opto-electronic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/806 Video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/64 Heated
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces

Abstract

An exercise apparatus having a pulley, a pair of stabilizing assemblies each configured to couple a front portion of a respective pedal element to each side of the pulley, a looped belt configured to couple the pulley to a resistance assembly, a tension stabilizer configured to maintain a tension of the looped belt on the pulley, and the resistance assembly configured to assert an adjustable resistance to the pedal elements through the looped belt, where the resistance is adjusted by changing a distance between a flywheel element and a corresponding magnetic plate element of the resistance assembly, the magnetic plate asserting a magnetic force over the distance on the flywheel element and the looped belt looping around a co-rotating extension from the flywheel element.

Claims

1. A portable elliptical exercise apparatus comprising:

a) a base plate;

b) a left stabilizer;

c) a right stabilizer,

wherein the left cross-shaped stabilizer and the right cross-shaped stabilizer are coupled to each other along a common rotation axis;

d) a left pedal,

wherein a first end of the left pedal is coupled to the left stabilizer, and

wherein a second end of the left pedal is directly attached to a first wheel in contact with the base plate,

wherein the first wheel rolls linearly along the base plate when the left pedal is in motion;

e) a right pedal,

wherein a first end of the right pedal is coupled to the right stabilizer, and

wherein a second end of the right pedal is directly attached to a second wheel, wherein the second wheel rolls linearly along the base plate when the right pedal is in motion; and

f) a variable resistance assembly coupled to the left stabilizer and the right stabilizer.

2. The portable elliptical exercise apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the left stabilizer and the right stabilizer are rotationally coupled to the base plate.

3. The portable elliptical exercise apparatus according to claim 1, wherein rotation of the left stabilizer causes the left pedal to exhibit elliptical motion.

4. The portable elliptical exercise apparatus according to claim 3, wherein an angle of the left foot pedal varies between 2°

and 32°

from horizontal during elliptical motion.

5. The portable elliptical exercise apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a top surface of the base plate comprises a silicon pad located under the first wheel.

6. The portable elliptical exercise apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the left pedal and the right pedal each comprise a cushioned pad.

7. The portable elliptical exercise apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a chassis for covering the left stabilizer, the right stabilizer, and the variable resistance assembly.

8. The portable elliptical exercise apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the chassis comprises a handle on a top surface of the chassis for carrying the portable elliptical exercise apparatus.

9. The portable elliptical exercise apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the left stabilizer and the right stabilizer are approximately 150 mm in rotational diameter.

10. The portable elliptical exercise apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the left stabilizer and the right stabilizer are approximately 670 grams in mass.

11. The portable elliptical exercise apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a bottom surface of the base plate comprises a polymer material to increase traction between the base plate and a floor.

12. The portable elliptical exercise apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first end of the left pedal remains at a higher level than the second end of the left pedal for an entirety of the elliptical motion.