ONE-STEP FOLDABLE ELLIPTICAL EXERCISE MACHINE

• US 20080200314A1
• Filed: 02/20/2007
• Published: 08/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IFIT Incorporated (Amynta Agency, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ICON Health & Fitness Incorporated (HF HOLDINGS INC)
• Inventors: Dalebout, William T., Chatterton, N. Jeffrey, Ercanbrack, Gaylen W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,736,279 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/52
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/067 with crank and handles being on opposite sides of the exercising apparatus with respect to the frontal body-plane of the user, e.g. the crank is behind and handles are in front of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/025 on rollers or wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/001 by simultaneously exercising arms and legs, e.g. diagonally in anti-phase A63B22/0076 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0664 performing an elliptic movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/50 Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49716 Converting

Abstract

A folding elliptical exercise machine that allows for easy, safe, and quick storage and being capable, upon a single motion by a user, of changing its shape into a substantially compact form for storage, and vice versa, is provided. The elliptical exercise machine comprises a frame having a base support structure having a front portion and a rear portion, wherein the rear portion is rotatably attached to the front portion such that the elliptical exercise machine is movable between an operating position and a storage position, and first and second reciprocating foot supports interconnected to the frame, each foot support having a first end and a second end with a collapsible joint therebetween, wherein each reciprocating foot support is collapsible such that the exercise machine can be moved between the operating position and the storage position in a single step by rotating the rear portion of the base support structure upward and toward the front portion of the base support structure. A method for changing the position of the elliptical exercise machine of the present invention from an operating position to a storage position, and vice versa, also is provided.

Claims

1. A folding elliptical exercise machine comprising:

a frame having a base support structure having a front portion and a rear portion, wherein the rear portion is rotatably attached to the front portion such that the elliptical exercise machine is movable between an operating position and a storage position; and

first and second reciprocating foot supports interconnected to the frame, each foot support having a first end and a second end with a collapsible joint therebetween, wherein each reciprocating foot support is collapsible such that the exercise machine can be moved between the operating position and the storage position.

2. The elliptical exercise machine of claim 1, wherein each reciprocating foot support is collapsible such that the exercise machine can be moved between the operating position and the storage position in a single step by rotating the rear portion of the base support structure upward and toward the front portion of the base support structure.

3. The elliptical exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the frame further comprises an upright support structure and the first end of each reciprocating foot support is interconnected to the upright support structure.

4. The elliptical exercise machine of claim 3 further comprising:

first and second swing arms, each swing arm having a first end and a second end, the first end of each swing arm being pivotally connected to the upright support structure and the second end of each swing arm being connected to the first end of each reciprocating foot support.

5. The elliptical exercise machine of claim 1 further comprising:

a drive assembly situated on the rear portion of the base support structure, wherein the second end of each reciprocating foot support is movably linked to the drive assembly.

6. The elliptical exercise machine of claim 1 further comprising:

a locking mechanism that, in the storage position, prevents the rear portion of the base support structure from inadvertently rotating with respect to the front portion of the base support structure.

7. The elliptical exercise machine of claim 6 further comprising:

a release member for disengaging the locking mechanism such that the rear portion of the base support structure can rotate with respect to the front portion of the base support structure.

8. The elliptical exercise machine of claim 7, wherein the locking mechanism and the release member are situated on the rear portion of the base support structure.

9. The elliptical exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the collapsible joint of each reciprocating foot support defines a forward portion and a rearward portion of each reciprocating foot support and wherein the forward portion of each reciprocating foot support is about twice as long as the rearward portion of each reciprocating foot support.

10. The elliptical exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the collapsible joint of each reciprocating foot support defines a forward portion and a rearward portion of each reciprocating foot support and wherein the forward portion of each reciprocating foot support is at least twice as long as the rearward portion of each reciprocating foot support.

11. The elliptical exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the collapsible joint of each reciprocating foot support defines a forward portion and a rearward portion of each reciprocating foot support and wherein a ratio of length of the forward portion of each reciprocating foot support to length of the rearward portion of each reciprocating foot support is such that a user need only impart a nominal force to cause the exercise machine to be moved from the operating position to the storage position.

12. The elliptical exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the collapsible joint of each reciprocating foot support defines a forward portion and a rearward portion of each reciprocating foot support and, wherein for each reciprocating foot support, the rearward portion has a curvature such that the collapsible joint, the first end of the reciprocating foot support, and the second end of the reciprocating foot support form three points of a triangle.

13. A folding elliptical exercise machine comprising:

a frame having a base support structure having a front portion and a rear portion, wherein the rear portion is rotatably attached to the front portion such that the elliptical exercise machine is movable between an operating position and a storage position; and

first and second reciprocating foot supports, each foot support having a forward portion, a rearward portion, a first end situated on the forward portion, and a second end situated on the rearward portion, the first end of each reciprocating foot support being interconnected to the frame and the second end of each reciprocating foot support being movably interconnected to the base support structure, wherein each reciprocating foot support is collapsible such that the exercise machine can be moved between the operating position and the storage position.

14. The elliptical exercise machine of claim 13, wherein each reciprocating foot support is collapsible such that the exercise machine can be moved between the operating position and the storage position in a single step by rotating the rear portion of the base support structure upward and toward the front portion of the base support structure.

15. The elliptical exercise machine of claim 13, wherein the frame further comprises an upright support structure and the first end of each reciprocating foot support is interconnected to the upright support structure.

16. The elliptical exercise machine of claim 15 further comprising:

first and second swing arms, each swing arm having a first end and a second end, the first end of each swing arm being pivotally connected to the upright support structure and the second end of each swing arm being connected to the first end of each reciprocating foot support.

17. The elliptical exercise machine of claim 13 further comprising:

a drive assembly situated on the rear portion of the base support structure, wherein the second end of each reciprocating foot support is movably linked to the drive assembly.

18. The elliptical exercise machine of claim 13 further comprising:

a locking mechanism that, in the storage position, prevents the rear portion of the base support structure from inadvertently rotating with respect to the front portion of the base support structure.

19. The elliptical exercise machine of claim 18 further comprising:

a release member for disengaging the locking mechanism such that the rear portion of the base support structure can rotate with respect to the front portion of the base support structure.

20. The elliptical exercise machine of claim 19, wherein the locking mechanism and the release member are situated on the rear portion of the base support structure.

21. The elliptical exercise machine of claim 13, wherein the forward portion of each reciprocating foot support is about twice as long as the rearward portion of each reciprocating foot support.

22. The elliptical exercise machine of claim 13, wherein the forward portion of each reciprocating foot support is at least twice as long as the rearward portion of each reciprocating foot support.

23. The elliptical exercise machine of claim 13, wherein a ratio of length of the forward portion of each reciprocating foot support to length of the rearward portion of each reciprocating foot support is such that a user need only impart a nominal force to cause the exercise machine to be moved from the operating position to the storage position.

24. The elliptical exercise machine of claim 13, wherein each reciprocating foot support further comprises a collapsible joint situated between the first end and second end of each reciprocating foot support, and wherein for each reciprocating foot support, the rearward portion has a curvature such that the collapsible joint, the first end of the reciprocating foot support, and the second end of the reciprocating foot support form three points of a triangle.

33. The elliptical exercise machine of claim 23, wherein the collapsible joint of each reciprocating foot support defines a forward portion and a rearward portion of each reciprocating foot support and wherein the forward portion of each reciprocating foot support is at least twice as long as the rearward portion of each reciprocating foot support.

34. The elliptical exercise machine of claim 23, wherein the collapsible joint of each reciprocating foot support defines a forward portion and a rearward portion of each reciprocating foot support and wherein a ratio of length of the forward portion of each reciprocating foot support to length of the rearward portion of each reciprocating foot support is such that a user need only impart a nominal force to cause the exercise machine to be moved from the operating position to the storage position.

25. A folding elliptical exercise machine comprising:

a frame having a base support structure having a front portion and a rear portion, wherein the rear portion is rotatably attached to the front portion such that the elliptical exercise machine is movable between an operating position and a storage position; and

first and second reciprocating foot supports interconnected to the frame, each foot support having a first end and a second end with a collapsible joint therebetween, wherein each reciprocating foot support is collapsible such that the exercise machine can be moved between the operating position and the storage position in a single step by rotating the rear portion of the base support structure upward and toward the front portion of the base support structure.

26. The elliptical exercise machine of claim 25, wherein the frame further comprises an upright support structure and the first end of each reciprocating foot support is interconnected to the upright support structure.

27. The elliptical exercise machine of claim 25 further comprising:

first and second swing arms, each swing arm having a first end and a second end, the first end of each swing arm being pivotally connected to the upright support structure and the second end of each swing arm being connected to the first end of each reciprocating foot support.

28. The elliptical exercise machine of claim 25 further comprising:

a drive assembly situated on the rear portion of the base support structure, wherein the second end of each reciprocating foot support is movably linked to the drive assembly.

29. The elliptical exercise machine of claim 25 further comprising:

a locking mechanism that, in the storage position, prevents the rear portion of the base support structure from inadvertently rotating with respect to the front portion of the base support structure.

30. The elliptical exercise machine of claim 27 further comprising:

a release member for disengaging the locking mechanism such that the rear portion of the base support structure can rotate with respect to the front portion of the base support structure.

31. The elliptical exercise machine of claim 28, wherein the locking mechanism and the release member are situated on the rear portion of the base support structure.

32. The elliptical exercise machine of claim 25, wherein the collapsible joint of each reciprocating foot support defines a forward portion and a rearward portion of each reciprocating foot support and wherein the forward portion of each reciprocating foot support is about twice as long as the rearward portion of each reciprocating foot support.

35. The elliptical exercise machine of claim 25, wherein the collapsible joint of each reciprocating foot support defines a forward portion and a rearward portion of each reciprocating foot support, and wherein for each reciprocating foot support, the rearward portion has a curvature such that the collapsible joint, the first end of the reciprocating foot support, and the second end of the reciprocating foot support form three points of a triangle.

36. A method for changing the position of an elliptical exercise machine from an operating position to a storage position, the machine having a front portion and a rear portion, the method consisting of rotating the rear portion of the machine upward and toward the front portion of the machine.

37. A method for changing the position of an elliptical exercise machine from an operating position to a storage position, the machine comprising a frame having a base support structure having a front portion and a rear portion, wherein the rear portion is rotatably attached to the front portion such that the elliptical exercise machine is movable between an operating position and a storage position, the method consisting of rotating the rear portion of the base support structure upward and toward the front portion of the base support structure.

38. A method for changing the position of an elliptical exercise machine from an operating position to a storage position or from a storage position to an operating position, the machine comprising a frame having a base support structure having a front portion and a rear portion, wherein the rear portion is rotatably attached to the front portion such that the elliptical exercise machine is movable between an operating position and a storage position, the method consisting of rotating the rear portion of the base support structure:

upward and toward the front portion of the base support structure to change the machine from an operating position to a storage position;

or downward and toward a support surface to change the machine from a storage position to an operating position.