Adjustable stride elliptical motion exercise machine and associated methods
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An elliptical exercise machine comprising:
- a frame;
a crank arm rotationally connected to said flame at a crank pivot;
a linear guide track attached to said frame;
a main drive link attached at a distal end to said crank arm at a position spaced from said crank pivot;
said main drive link attached at a proximal end so that said proximal end will linearly reciprocate in said guide track;
a pendulum arm, connected at a first rotational axis to said frame, the distal end of said pendulum arm being rotationally connected to the proximal end of said main drive link via an interface having two independent rotation points;
a footskate, said footskate capable of reciprocating movement on said main drive link;
an adjustment arm, said adjustment arm connected at a second rotational axis, spaced from said first rotational axis, to said frame, the distal end of said adjustment arm being rotationally attached to said footskate via an interface having two independent rotation points; and
a coupling connecting said adjustment arm to said pendulum arm so that when said pendulum arm moves about said first pivot axis, said adjustment arm also moves about said second pivot axis.
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Abstract
An elliptical exercise machine and methods for using the machine where the horizontal length of the stride of the ellipse can be adjusted by the user without the user having to alter the vertical dimension of the ellipse by an equivalent amount.
80 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An elliptical exercise machine comprising:
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a frame; a crank arm rotationally connected to said flame at a crank pivot; a linear guide track attached to said frame; a main drive link attached at a distal end to said crank arm at a position spaced from said crank pivot;
said main drive link attached at a proximal end so that said proximal end will linearly reciprocate in said guide track;a pendulum arm, connected at a first rotational axis to said frame, the distal end of said pendulum arm being rotationally connected to the proximal end of said main drive link via an interface having two independent rotation points; a footskate, said footskate capable of reciprocating movement on said main drive link; an adjustment arm, said adjustment arm connected at a second rotational axis, spaced from said first rotational axis, to said frame, the distal end of said adjustment arm being rotationally attached to said footskate via an interface having two independent rotation points; and a coupling connecting said adjustment arm to said pendulum arm so that when said pendulum arm moves about said first pivot axis, said adjustment arm also moves about said second pivot axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of altering the stride length of an elliptical exercise machine during an exercise, the method comprising:
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providing an elliptical exercise machine including; a frame; a crank arm rotationally connected to said frame at a crank pivot; a linear guide track attached to said frame; a main drive link attached at a distal end to said crank arm at a position spaced from said crank pivot;
said main drive link attached at a proximal end so that said proximal end will linearly reciprocate in said guide track;a pendulum arm, connected at a first rotational axis to said frame, the distal end of said pendulum arm being rotationally connected to the proximal end of said main drive link via an interface having two independent rotation points; a footskate, said footskate capable of reciprocating movement on said main drive link; an adjustment arm, said adjustment arm connected at a second rotational axis, spaced a first length from said first rotational axis, to said frame, the distal end of said adjustment arm being rotationally attached to said footskate via an interface having two independent rotation points; and a coupling connecting said adjustment arm to said pendulum arm so that when said pendulum arm moves about said first pivot axis, said adjustment arm also moves about said second pivot axis; having a user on said exercise machine move their feet so that during said exercise said footskate reciprocate on said main drive link a first distance; and altering a position of said second rotational axis so that said second rotational axis is spaced a second length from said first rotational axis, said second length being greater than said first length.
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Specification