Exercise methods and apparatus with elliptical foot motion
First Claim
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1. An exercise device, comprising:
- a frame configured to rest on a floor surface;
first and second left rails pivotally mounted on the frame;
a left floating link pivotally interconnected between the left rails to define a left four bar linkage that maintains the left floating link in a fixed orientation relative to the frame;
a left foot support movably mounted on the left rails for movement along the left rails without changing orientation relative to the frame;
first and second right rails pivotally mounted on the frame;
a right floating link pivotally interconnected between the right rails to define a right four bar linkage that maintains the right floating link in a fixed orientation relative to the frame;
a right foot support movably mounted on the right rails for movement along the right rails without changing orientation relative to the frame;
a left crank and a right crank, wherein each said crank is rotatably mounted on the frame;
left and right first moving means interconnected between a respective said crank and a portion of a respective said four bar linkage that moves relative to the frame, for moving respective said rails relative to the frame; and
left and right second moving means interconnected between a respective said crank and a respective said foot support, for moving said foot support relative to respective said rails.
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Abstract
An exercise device has left and right foot supports that are supported on respective pairs of pivoting rails that are constrained to remain parallel to one another. Left and right cranks move the rails relative to a frame, and move the foot supports along the rails in a manner that defines adjacent paths of generally elliptical foot motion, while maintaining the foot supports in a fixed orientation relative to the frame.
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Citations
3 Claims
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1. An exercise device, comprising:
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a frame configured to rest on a floor surface; first and second left rails pivotally mounted on the frame; a left floating link pivotally interconnected between the left rails to define a left four bar linkage that maintains the left floating link in a fixed orientation relative to the frame; a left foot support movably mounted on the left rails for movement along the left rails without changing orientation relative to the frame; first and second right rails pivotally mounted on the frame; a right floating link pivotally interconnected between the right rails to define a right four bar linkage that maintains the right floating link in a fixed orientation relative to the frame; a right foot support movably mounted on the right rails for movement along the right rails without changing orientation relative to the frame; a left crank and a right crank, wherein each said crank is rotatably mounted on the frame; left and right first moving means interconnected between a respective said crank and a portion of a respective said four bar linkage that moves relative to the frame, for moving respective said rails relative to the frame; and left and right second moving means interconnected between a respective said crank and a respective said foot support, for moving said foot support relative to respective said rails. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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Specification