Exercise and therapeutic trainer

• US 6,908,416 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2001
• Issued: 06/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Core Industries Incorporated (SPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Unisen Incorporated (Prosegur Compañia de Seguridad SA)
• Inventors: Mercado, Fred, Rufino, John C., Goh, Yong Ming
• Primary Examiner(s): Crow, Stephen R.
• Application Number:
  US10/028,451
• Publication Number:
  US 20020049122A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,338 Days
• Field of Search: 482 51- 53, 482/54, 482 57- 65, 482 79- 80
• 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 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 2022/0682 with support elements being cantilevered, i.e. the elements being supported only on one side without bearing on tracks on the floor below the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/206 on a curved path
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00181 comprising additional means assisting the user to overcome part of the resisting force, i.e. assisted-active exercising
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0051 using eddy currents induced in moved elements, e.g. by permanent magnets
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0053 using alternators or dynamos
• 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 22/0664 performing an elliptic movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0204 Standing on the feet
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0233 in 90/90 position, like on a chair

Abstract

An exercise trainer having a first crank arm and a second crank arm respectively connected to a first foot link and a second foot link with foot pedals supported on the foot links, and bearing supports for the foot links removed from the crank arms. A flexible connection connects a ground point, the foot pedals, and the foot links to provide relative movement in a modified ellipse as to the ground point of at least twice the length of each crank arm. A seat is mounted on the trainer having a motor and control for raising and lowering the seat with respect to the foot pedals. The first and second crank arms are connected to a motor for driving the crank arms at a given speed which can supplement a user'"'"'s effort or provide a load to a user beyond a given speed.

Claims

1. An exercise trainer to provide exercise movement to a user comprising:

a first crank arm and a second crank arm oriented at an angular distance from the other;

a first foot link connected to said first crank arm and a second foot link connected to said second crank arm;

foot pedals supported on said foot links for relative movement with respect to said foot links;

a bearing support for said foot links at a point removed from said first and second crank arms to which said first and second foot links are supported for sliding reciprocating movement;

a connection between a grounded point and said foot pedals interconnected with said foot links to provide relative horizontal movement of said foot pedals at least twice the length of each respective crank arm; and

,

a seat mounted on said trainer to provide for a user sitting on said trainer and placing the user'"'"'s feet on said foot pedals for exercise movement.

2. The exercise trainer as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

said connection is of a length to provide a movement of said foot pedals in the outline of a modified ellipse.

3. The exercise trainer as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

said connection provides movement of said foot pedals of at least twice the crank length upon 90°

of movement of the crank arm and at least four times the distance upon 180°

of movement of the crank arm.

4. The exercise trainer as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said connection comprises a flexible member connected to said foot link by one or more pulleys around which said flexible member is placed at a point removed from the foot pedal.

5. The exercise trainer as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

said first and second crank arms being connected to a motor for driving said crank arms at a given speed.

6. The exercise trainer as claimed in claim 5 further comprising:

a controller which limits the speed of said motor to provide a load beyond said speed to the crank arms and connected foot pedals.

7. The exercise trainer as claimed in claim 5 further comprising:

a motor and control for raising and lowering said seat with respect to said foot pedals.

8. An exercise trainer with a leg movement multiplier and a seat comprising:

a base;

first and second crank arms rotationally supported angularly apart on said base;

first and second foot links connected respectively to said first and second crank arms at one end and supported for sliding movement distally from said crank arms;

first and second foot pedals respectively supported for longitudinal movement on said first and second foot links;

a connection between said foot pedals and a ground connection on said base and interconnected with said foot links so that said foot links when moved in supported relationship with said crank arms provide for a degenerated horizontal elliptical movement of said foot pedals greater than twice the length of its respective crank arm; and

,

a seat mounted on said base having a height adjustment with respect to the foot pedals.

9. The exercise trainer as claimed in claim 8 further comprising:

said connection being a flexible member supported on a pulley to the rearward of said foot pedal and a pulley forward of said foot pedal.

10. The exercise trainer as claimed in claim 8 wherein:

said crank arms are connected to a motor for providing rotational movement of said crank arms.

11. The exercise trainer as claimed in claim 10 further comprising:

a motor controller for controlling the speed of said motor for positive drive of said pedals and alternatively providing a load on said pedals.

12. An exercise trainer comprising:

a base;

a first and second crank arm angularly apart from each other mounted on said base;

a motor connected to said crank arms for driving said crank arms;

first and second foot links respectively connected to said first and second crank arms;

a bearing surface mounted on said base removed from said connection of said foot links to said crank arms providing reciprocal movement of said foot links;

a foot pedal mounted on each of said foot links having a bearing surface which engages said foot links for reciprocal movement with respect to said foot links;

a linkage between said foot pedals and said foot links;

a securement for securing said linkage to a fixed portion on said base to provide relative horizontal movement of said foot pedals greater than twice the length of a crank arm, and in a degenerated elliptical path; and

,

a seat mounted for movement by a motor up and down with respect to said foot pedals in order to raise and lower a user with respect to said foot pedals.

13. The exercise trainer as claimed in claim 12 further comprising:

said linkage comprising a flexible member connected to said foot pedal and to said foot link; and

,

a controller for controlling the speed of said motor connected to said crank arms and the elevation of said seat.

14. The exercise trainer as claimed in claim 12 further comprising:

a rotational mounting for said seat for causing said seat to turn on its mounting toward the side of said trainer.

15. An exercise trainer comprising:

a first and second foot link connected and supported for opposing reciprocal movement;

a support for said foot links providing a bearing surface for reciprocal movement and support so as to allow said foot links to reciprocate;

a first foot pedal mounted on said first foot link and a second foot pedal mounted on said second foot link;

a connecting member connected between said foot link and said foot pedal;

a base with a ground connection connecting said base to said connecting member to assist movement of said foot pedals on said foot link in a modified elliptical path;

a seat mounted on said exerciser for raised and lowered placement with respect to said pedals; and

,

a motor for driving said foot pedals.

16. The exercise trainer as claimed in claim 15 further comprising:

a controller for controlling the movement of said motor to provide a drive or a retarding movement of said foot pedals with respect to a user'"'"'s movements.

17. The exercise trainer as claimed in claim 15 further comprising:

a motor connected to said seat having a linkage to raise and lower said seat; and

,

a controller for controlling said motor to raise and lower said seat to a desired height.

18. The exercise trainer as claimed in claim 15 further comprising:

a controller which sets the speed of said motor to provide a given speed of said pedals under positive drive and a retarding force when a user exceeds the given speed.

19. An exercise trainer having a seat comprising:

a first and second crank arm having a common axis supported on a frame with a base, said first and second crank arm being angularly displaced from each other;

a first foot link and a second foot link respectively supported on said first crank arm and said second crank arm;

a support for supporting said foot links removed from said first and second crank arm supports for reciprocal movement as said cranks are turned;

a first foot pedal on said first foot link and a second foot pedal on said second foot link supported for reciprocal movement on said foot link;

a linkage between said foot pedal and said foot link and a fixed portion of said frame to provide reciprocal movement of said foot pedals through a degenerated ellipse having its major axis greater than the length of the crank arm to which it is supported;

a seat mounted on said exercise trainer having an adjustable seat mounting for moving said seat as to its distance with respect to said first and second foot pedals; and

,

a motor connected to said seat for adjusting the distance of said seat with respect to said pedals.

20. The exercise trainer as claimed in claim 19 further comprising:

said linkage being formed as a flexible member wrapped at either end around a pulley and connected to said foot link.

21. The exercise trainer as claimed in claim 20 further comprising:

a controller for controlling the height of said seat.

22. The exercise trainer as claimed in claim 19 further comprising:

a motor connected to said crank arms; and

,

a controller for controlling the speed of said motor.

23. The exercise trainer as claimed in claim 22 further comprising:

said controller having a control for controlling the speed of said motor at a setpoint to supplement or retard movement by a user.

24. An exercise trainer having a seat comprising:

a motor and a seat positioned generally vertically higher than said motor;

a first crank arm and a second crank arm angularly offset from each other connected to said motor for rotational movement;

a first foot link connected to said first crank arm and a second foot link connected to said second crank arm;

a first foot receiving member and a second foot receiving member respectively connected for movement on said first foot link and said second foot link;

a linkage between said first foot link and said foot receiving member interconnecting them, a linkage between said second foot link and said foot receiving member, both of said linkages connected to a ground point so that said foot links when reciprocated cause said foot receiving members to reciprocally move on said foot links in relative displacement with respect to said ground; and

,

a controller for controlling the speed of said motor and the attendant speed of said crank arms.

25. The exerciser as claimed in claim 24 further comprising:

said controller having a circuit for setting the speed of said motor at a given speed of movement for a user, and which can retard the movement of a user above a set speed and supplements the movement of a user below the set speed.

26. The exercise trainer as claimed in claim 25 wherein:

the controls for said motor and the seat height are on a panel of said exerciser.

27. The exercise trainer as claimed in claim 26 wherein:

said seat is mounted for pivoting on its axis to the side of said trainer.