Exercise Apparatus

• US 20090176625A1
• Filed: 01/07/2009
• Published: 07/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cybex International
• Original Assignee: Cybex International
• Inventors: Lee, Scott, Giannelli, Raymond
• Granted Patent: US 9,108,081 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/52
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0038 One foot moving independently from the other, i.e. there is no link between the movements of the feet
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0041 one hand moving independently from the other hand, i.e. there is no link between the movements of the hands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0043 the movements of the limbs of one body half being synchronised, e.g. the left arm moving in the same direction as the left leg
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/206 on a curved path
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/025 on rollers or wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/005 using electromagnetic or electric force-resisters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/008 using hydraulic or pneumatic force-resisters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/012 using frictional force-resisters electromagnetically-controlled brakes A63B21/0056
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/225 with flywheels
• 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 22/201 for moving a support element in reciprocating translation, i.e. for sliding back and forth on a guide track

Abstract

An exercise apparatus comprising:

• • a frame;
  • a curved ramp comprised of a non-articulating, non-pivoting curved member that defines a unitary curved path of travel between a selected forward and selected rearward position;
  • a foot support adapted to travel along the unitary curved path from the selected forward position to the selected rearward position and to travel along the same unitary curved path from the selected rearward position to the selected forward position; and
  • a handle interconnected to the foot support and adapted to move in the same direction, forward or rearward, as the foot support via the interconnection to the foot support.

Claims

1. An exercise device comprising:

a foot support arranged on a frame for supporting a user standing upright on the foot support, the foot support being movable back and forth between a rearward position and a forward position along a curved path on a ramp mounted to the frame;

the foot support being supported on a rear linkage that is pivotally interconnected to a manually graspable arm that is pivotably mounted to the frame at a select pivot point; and

the arm being pivotable forwardly and backwardly in the same direction respectively with forward and backward movement of the foot support through the interconnection of the rear linkage to the arm.

2. The exercise device of claim 1 wherein:

the ramp comprises a non-articulating, non-pivoting curved member that defines a unitary curved path of travel between a selected forward and a selected rearward position; and

the foot support is adapted to travel along the unitary curved path from the selected forward position to the selected rearward position and to travel along the same unitary curved path from the selected rearward position to the selected forward position.

3. The exercise device of claim 1 wherein the rear linkage is pivotally interconnected to a link that is directly pivotally connected to the arm.

4. The exercise device of claim 1 wherein the foot support is mounted for movement back and forth between a rearward down position and a forward up position.

5. The exercise device of claim 1 wherein the rear linkage is selectively adjustable to limit the back and forth travel of the frame linkage to any one of a plurality of separate reproducible segments of the overall arcuate path.

6. The exercise device of claim 1 wherein:

the arm has a handle disposed on one side of the select pivot point for manual pivoting of the arm around the select pivot point by the user grasping and exerting forward or backward force on the handle; and

,

the arm is linked to the rear linkage through an arm linkage pivotably connected to the arm on the one side of the select pivot point.

7. The exercise device of claim 1 wherein:

the arm is linked to a resistance mechanism through a first crank; and

the first crank being pivotably interconnected to the resistance mechanism through a second crank.

8. The exercise device of claim 1 wherein:

the rear linkage is linked to a resistance mechanism through a first crank; and

the first crank being pivotably interconnected to the resistance mechanism through a second crank.

9. The exercise device of claim 1 wherein:

the rear linkage is interconnected to a forward linkage; and

the forward linkage is interconnected to a resistance mechanism through a crank.

10. The exercise device of claim 6 wherein the arm linkage is connected to a forward linkage that is connected to the rear linkage.

11. The exercise device of claim 1 wherein:

the rear linkage is interconnected to a forward linkage; and

the forward linkage being connected to the arm linkage and a crank.

12. The exercise device of claim 11 wherein the crank is interconnected to a second crank.

13. An exercise device comprising:

a foot support arranged on a frame for supporting a user standing upright on the foot support, the foot support being movable back and forth between a rearward position and a forward position along an arcuate path on a ramp mounted to the frame;

the foot support being supported on a rear linkage that is pivotally interconnected to a manually graspable arm that is pivotably mounted to the frame at a select pivot point;

the arm having a handle disposed on one side of the select pivot point for manual pivoting of the arm around the select pivot point by the user grasping and exerting forward or backward force on the handle; and

the arm being linked to the rear linkage through an arm linkage pivotably connected to the arm on the one side of the select pivot point.

14. The exercise device of claim 13 wherein the arm is pivotable forwardly and backwardly in the same direction respectively with forward and backward movement of the foot support through the interconnection of the rear linkage to the arm.

15. The exercise device of claim 13 wherein the arm is interconnected to a resistance mechanism through a crank.

16. The exercise device of claim 13 wherein the foot support is mounted for movement back and forth between a rearward down position and a forward up position.

17. The exercise device of claim 13 wherein the rear linkage is selectively adjustable to limit the back and forth travel of the frame linkage to any one of a plurality of separate reproducible segments of the overall arcuate path.

18. The exercise device of claim 13 wherein:

the arm is linked to a resistance mechanism through a first crank; and

the first crank being pivotably interconnected to the resistance mechanism through a second crank.

19. The exercise device of claim 13 wherein:

the rear linkage is linked to a resistance mechanism through a first crank; and

the first crank being pivotably interconnected to the resistance mechanism through a second crank.

20. The exercise device of claim 13 wherein:

the rear linkage is interconnected to a forward linkage; and

the forward linkage is interconnected to a resistance mechanism through a crank.

21. The exercise device of claim 13 wherein the arm linkage is connected to a forward linkage that is connected to the rear linkage.

22. The exercise device of claim 13 wherein:

the rear linkage is connected to a forward linkage; and

the forward linkage being connected to the arm linkage and a crank.

23. The exercise device of claim 22 wherein the crank is interconnected to a second crank.

24. The exercise device of claim 13 wherein the rear linkage is selectively adjustable to limit the back and forth travel of the frame linkage to any one of a plurality of separate reproducible segments of the overall arcuate path.

25. An exercise device comprising:

a foot support arranged on a frame for supporting a user standing upright on the foot support, the foot support being movable back and forth between a rearward position and a forward position along an arcuate path on a ramp mounted to the frame;

the foot support being supported on a rear linkage that is pivotally interconnected to a manually graspable arm that is pivotably mounted to the frame at a select pivot point; and

the arm being interconnected to a resistance mechanism through a crank.

26. A method of performing an exercise comprising placing an exerciser'"'"'s two feet on an exercise machine having a foot support suspended on a frame for back and forth movement, the method comprising:

supporting the foot support on an arcuate ramp for back and forth movement thereon;

interconnecting the foot support to a manually graspable arm that is mounted to the frame at a select pivot point for forward and backward movement around the pivot point;

adapting the interconnection of the arm and the foot support such that the foot support and the arm move forwardly and backwardly in the same direction when either is moved forwardly or backwardly; and

driving one or the other or both of the foot support and the arm forwardly or backwardly with one or the other or both of a foot and a hand respectively of the user.

27. The method of claim 26 further comprising:

interconnecting the arm and the foot support to a resistance mechanism.

28. A method of performing an exercise comprising placing an exerciser'"'"'s two feet on an exercise machine having a foot support suspended on a frame for back and forth movement, the method comprising:

supporting the foot support on an arcuate ramp;

interconnecting the foot support to a manually graspable arm that is mounted to the frame at a select pivot point for forward and backward movement around the pivot point, the arm having a handle mounted on one side of the select pivot point;

connecting a pivotable link to a link pivot located on the arm in a position that is on the one side of the select pivot;

interconnecting the link to the foot support; and

driving one or the other or both of the foot support and the arm forwardly or backwardly with one or the other or both of a foot and a hand respectively of the user.

29. An exercise device comprising:

a foot support arranged on a frame for supporting a user standing upright on the foot support, the foot support being movable back and forth between a rearward position and a forward position along an arcuate path on a ramp mounted to the frame;

the foot support being supported on a rear linkage that is pivotally interconnected to a manually graspable arm that is pivotably mounted to the frame at a select pivot point for pivoting back and forth through a selectable angle, the arm and the foot support being interconnected such that driven movement of one of the arm or the foot support causes driven movement of the other;

an arm lever or crank rigidly connected or interconnected to the arm in an arrangement such that movement of the arm back or forth through the selectable angle causes simultaneous movement of the arm lever or crank through the same selectable angle; and

the arm lever or crank being interconnected to a resistance mechanism that resists movement of the arm and the foot support through the arm lever or crank.

30. The exercise device of claim 29 wherein:

the arm lever or crank is interconnected to a second crank or lever that is interconnected to the rear linkage; and

the arm crank or lever and the second crank or lever being interconnected such that driven movement of one of the arm and the foot support causes simultaneous movement of the other of the arm and the foot support.

31. The exercise device of claim 30 wherein the second crank or lever is interconnected to the resistance mechanism in an arrangement such that driven movement of one or the other of the arm and the foot support causes the resistance mechanism to be driven through the second crank or lever.

32. The exercise device of claim 29 wherein:

the arm lever or crank is interconnected to a second crank or lever;

the second crank or lever being interconnected to a third crank or lever that is connected to the resistance mechanism; and

the arm being interconnected to the resistance mechanism through the second and third cranks or levers.

33. The exercise device of claim 32 wherein:

the rear linkage is interconnected to the arm through the second crank in an arrangement such that driven movement of one of the arm or the foot support causes the other of the arm or the foot support to be moved.

34. The exercise device of claim 29 wherein the rear linkage is selectively adjustable to limit the back and forth travel of the frame linkage to any one of a plurality of separate reproducible segments of the overall arcuate path.

35. An exercise device comprising:

a foot support arranged on a frame for supporting a user standing upright on the foot support, the foot support being movable back and forth between a rearward position and a forward position along an arcuate path on a ramp mounted to the frame;

the foot support being supported on a rear linkage that is pivotally interconnected to an intermediate crank or lever;

the intermediate crank or lever being interconnected to a resistance crank or lever that is connected to a resistance mechanism; and

the foot support being interconnected to the resistance mechanism through the intermediate and resistance cranks or levers.

36. The exercise device of claim 35 wherein:

an arm having a handle that is interconnected to the intermediate crank or lever such that movement of one of the arm or foot support causes movement of the other of the arm or foot support.

37. A method of performing an exercise comprising placing an exerciser'"'"'s foot on an exercise machine having a foot support supported on a frame for back and forth movement, the method comprising:

supporting the foot support on an arcuate ramp and adapting the foot support to be drivably movable in along the arcuate ramp from back to front and front to back along the same path of travel in both directions;

interconnecting the foot support to a resistance mechanism with at least two crank mechanisms, the crank mechanisms being drivably interconnected to and disposed between the resistance mechanism and the foot support; and

driving the foot support with the exerciser'"'"'s foot to drive the resistance mechanism through the at least two cranks.

38. The method of claim 37 further comprising:

interconnecting the foot support to a manually graspable arm that is mounted to the frame at a select pivot point for forward and backward movement around the pivot point;

adapting the foot support and the arm to move and to pivot in unison through their interconnection; and

driving one or the other or both of the foot support and the arm to drive the resistance mechanism through the at least two cranks.

39. The method of claim 38 further comprising:

rigidly connecting or interconnecting a lever to the arm or the foot support such that the lever pivots in unison with the arm; and

interconnecting the lever to one of the at least two cranks that interconnect to the resistance mechanism.

40. An exercise apparatus comprising:

a frame;

a curved ramp comprised of a non-articulating, non-pivoting curved member that defines a unitary curved path of travel between a selected forward and selected rearward position;

a foot support adapted to travel along the unitary curved path from the selected forward position to the selected rearward position and to travel along the same unitary curved path from the selected rearward position to the selected forward position; and

a handle interconnected to the foot support and adapted to move in the same direction, forward or rearward, as the foot support via the interconnection to the foot support.

41. The apparatus of claim 40 wherein the curved path of travel comprises a portion of a circumference of a circle having a selected radius.