ELLIPTICAL EXERCISE MACHINE WITH ADJUSTABLE RAMP

• US 20080300114A1
• Filed: 06/04/2007
• Published: 12/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IFIT Incorporated (Amynta Agency, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Icon-Ip Pty Limited
• Inventors: Dalebout, William T., Evans, Richard O., Larsen, Trenton V.
• Granted Patent: US 7,618,350 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/52
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0676 with crank and handles being on the same side of the exercising apparatus with respect to the frontal body-plane of the user, e.g. crank 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 22/0015 with an adjustable movement path of the support elements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0023 the inclination of the main axis of the movement path being adjustable, e.g. the inclination of an endless band
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0664 performing an elliptic movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/205 in a substantially vertical plane, e.g. for exercising against gravity exercising for developing or strengthening the muscles or joints of the body by working against a user's body weight A63B21/068; with adjustable inclination A63B22/0023
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/09 Adjustable dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry

Abstract

An elliptical exercise machine with adjustable ramp is provided and comprises a frame, first and second reciprocating foot supports, each foot support having a foot placement pad, first and second swing arms being pivotally connected to an upright support structure, first and second link arms being connected to a respective swing arm and a second end of each link arm being interconnected to a second end of a respective reciprocating foot support, a drive assembly positioned on the upright support structure, wherein a first end of each reciprocating foot support is movably linked to the drive assembly, and a ramp assembly adjustably linked to the frame by an adjustment mechanism coupled to the frame and the ramp assembly, the adjustment mechanism being configured to adjust the position of the ramp assembly and to thereby adjust stride movements of the respective foot placement pads.

Claims

1. An elliptical exercise machine, comprising:

a frame having a base support structure and an upright support structure extending from the base support structure;

first and second reciprocating foot supports, each reciprocating foot support having a first end and a second end, each foot support having a foot placement pad that travels in an elliptical path;

first and second swing arms, each swing arm having a first end and a second end, each swing arm being pivotally connected to the upright support structure, each swing arm including a handlebar configured to be grasped by a user while the user exercises on the elliptical exercise machine;

first and second link arms, each link arm having a first end and a second end, the first end of each link arm being connected to a respective swing arm and the second end of each link arm being interconnected to the second end of a respective reciprocating foot support;

a drive assembly positioned on the upright support structure, wherein the first end of each reciprocating foot support is movably linked to the drive assembly such that the drive assembly is positioned substantially in front of the user when the user exercises on the elliptical exercise machine with the user'"'"'s feet on the foot placement pads and the user'"'"'s hands on the handlebars; and

a ramp assembly adjustably linked to the frame, the ramp assembly having first and second guide rails for guiding respective first and second reciprocating foot supports, wherein the ramp assembly is adjustably linked to the frame by an adjustment mechanism that is pivotally coupled to the frame, the adjustment mechanism being configured to enable a user to adjust the position of the ramp assembly relative to the drive assembly to thereby adjust the shape and orientation of the elliptical path of the respective foot placement pads.

2. An elliptical exercise machine as recited in claim 1, wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises:

(i) an angled member movably coupled to the frame and movably coupled to the ramp assembly; and

(ii) an extension motor movably coupled to the frame and movably coupled to a central portion of the angled member such that the extension motor pushes on the central portion of the angled member to adjust the position of the ramp assembly relative to the drive assembly.

3. An elliptical exercise machine as recited in claim 1, wherein the adjustment mechanism is configured to be selectively adjustable to adjust the position of the ramp assembly.

5. An elliptical exercise machine as recited in claim 2, wherein the extension motor is movably coupled to the base support structure and movably coupled to the central portion of the angled member.

6. An elliptical exercise machine as recited in claim 1 further comprising a console positioned on the upright support structure, wherein the elliptical exercise machine is configured such that the ramp assembly may be adjusted by operation of the console by the user.

7. An elliptical exercise machine as recited in claim 1, wherein the second end of each reciprocating foot support comprises a support member, each support member having an upper end and a lower end, wherein the second end of each link arm is connected to the lower end of each support member and each foot placement pad is positioned on the upper end of each support member.

9. An elliptical exercise machine as recited in claim 1, wherein the frame further comprises at least one wheel that provides portability to the elliptical exercise machine so that the machine can be readily moved to any desired location by rolling on the at least one wheel.

4. (canceled)

8. An elliptical exercise machine as recited in claim 4, wherein the ramp assembly has a first end and a second end, the first end being movably coupled to the angled member, the second end having at least one wheel to allow the ramp assembly to move back and forth as the height of the ramp assembly is adjusted.

10. An elliptical exercise machine, comprising:

a frame having a base support structure and an upright support structure extending from the base support structure;

first and second reciprocating foot supports, each reciprocating foot support having a first end and a second end, each foot support having a foot placement pad;

first and second swing arms, each swing arm having a first end and a second end, each swing arm being pivotally connected to the upright support structure, each swing arm including a handlebar configured to be grasped by a user while the user exercises on the elliptical exercise machine;

first and second link arms, each link arm having a first end and a second end, the first end of each link arm being connected to a respective swing arm and the second end of each link arm being interconnected to the second end of a respective reciprocating foot support;

a drive assembly positioned on the upright support structure, wherein the first end of each reciprocating foot support is movably linked to the drive assembly such that the drive assembly is positioned substantially in front of the user when the user exercises on the elliptical exercise machine with the user'"'"'s feet on the foot placement pads and the user'"'"'s hands on the handlebars; and

a ramp assembly adjustably linked to the frame, the ramp assembly having first and second guide rails for guiding respective first and second reciprocating foot supports, wherein the ramp assembly is adjustably linked to the frame by an adjustment mechanism coupled to the frame and the ramp assembly, the adjustment mechanism being configured to adjust the position of the ramp assembly relative to the drive assembly such that as the position of the ramp assembly is adjusted, the distance between the ramp assembly and the drive assembly changes, thereby adjusting the shape and orientation of the stride movements of the respective foot placement pads, wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises;

(i) an angled member movably coupled to the frame and movably coupled to the ramp assembly; and

(ii) an extension motor movably coupled to the frame and movably coupled to a central portion of the angled member.

11. An elliptical exercise machine as recited in claim 10, wherein the adjustment mechanism is configured to be selectively adjustable to adjust the position of the ramp assembly.

13. An elliptical exercise machine as recited in claim 10, wherein the extension motor is movably coupled to the base support structure and movably coupled to the central portion of the angled member.

14. An elliptical exercise machine as recited in claim 10 further comprising a console positioned on the upright support structure, wherein the elliptical exercise machine is configured such that the ramp assembly may be adjusted by operation of the console by the user.

15. An elliptical exercise machine as recited in claim 10, wherein the second end of each reciprocating foot support comprises a support member, each support member having an upper end and a lower end, wherein the second end of each link arm is connected to the lower end of each support member and each foot placement pad is positioned on the upper end of each support member.

17. An elliptical exercise machine as recited in claim 10, wherein the frame further comprises at least one wheel that provides portability to the elliptical exercise machine so that the machine can be readily moved to any desired location by rolling on the at least one wheel.

12. (canceled)

16. An elliptical exercise machine as recited in claim 12, wherein the ramp assembly has a first end and a second end, the first end being movably coupled to the angled member, the second end having at least one wheel to allow the ramp assembly to move back and forth as the height of the ramp assembly is adjusted.

18. An elliptical exercise machine, comprising:

a frame having a base support structure and an upright support structure extending from the base support structure;

first and second reciprocating foot supports, each reciprocating foot support having a first end and a second end, each foot support having a foot placement pad;

first and second swing arms, each swing arm having a first end and a second end, each swing arm being pivotally connected to the upright support structure, each swing arm including a handlebar configured to be grasped by a user while the user exercises on the elliptical exercise machine;

first and second link arms, each link arm having a first end and a second end, the first end of each link arm being connected to a respective swing arm and the second end of each link arm being interconnected to the second end of a respective reciprocating foot support;

a drive assembly positioned on the upright support structure, wherein the first end of each reciprocating foot support is movably linked to the drive assembly such that the drive assembly is positioned substantially in front of the user when the user exercises on the elliptical exercise machine with the user'"'"'s feet on the foot placement pads and the user'"'"'s hands on the handlebars; and

a ramp assembly adjustably linked to the frame, the ramp assembly having first and second guide rails for guiding respective first and second reciprocating foot supports, wherein the ramp assembly is adjustably linked to the frame by an adjustment mechanism coupled to the frame and the ramp assembly, the adjustment mechanism being configured to selectively adjust the position of the ramp assembly independently from the drive assembly such that movement of the ramp assembly changes the distance between the ramp assembly and the drive assembly, thereby adjusting stride movements of the respective foot placement pads, wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises;

(i) an angled member movably coupled to the upright support structure and movably coupled to the ramp assembly; and

(ii) an extension motor movably coupled to the base support structure and movably coupled to a central portion of the angled member.

19. An elliptical exercise machine as recited in claim 18 further comprising a console positioned on the upright support structure, wherein the elliptical exercise machine is configured such that the ramp assembly may be adjusted by operation of the console by the user.

20. An elliptical exercise machine as recited in claim 18, wherein the second end of each reciprocating foot support comprises a support member, each support member having an upper end and a lower end, wherein the second end of each link arm is connected to the lower end of each support member and each foot placement pad is positioned on the upper end of each support member.

21. An elliptical exercise machine as recited in claim 18, wherein the ramp assembly has a first end and a second end, the first end being movably coupled to the angled member, the second end having at least one wheel to allow the ramp assembly to move back and forth as the height of the ramp assembly is adjusted.

22. An elliptical exercise machine as recited in claim 18, wherein the frame further comprises at least one wheel that provides portability to the elliptical exercise machine so that the machine can be readily moved to any desired location by rolling on the at least one wheel.