Cushioned elliptical exerciser

• US 7,169,087 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2003
• Issued: 01/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ICON Health & Fitness Incorporated (HF HOLDINGS INC)
• Original Assignee: ICON Health & Fitness Incorporated (HF HOLDINGS INC)
• Inventors: Dalebout, William T., Zaugg, Darren, Finlayson, Kurt, Ercanbrack, Gaylen
• Primary Examiner(s): Donnelly; Jerome
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAM M
• Application Number:
  US10/369,207
• Publication Number:
  US 20040162191A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,441 Days
• Field of Search: 482/51, 482/52, 482/57, 482/70, 482/79, 482/80
• 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 2071/0063 Shock absorbers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/02 using resilient force-resisters
• 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 22/0046 Details of the support elements or their connection to the exercising apparatus, e.g. adjustment of size or orientation attachments of resisters or weights to the body of the user A63B21/4001; using rollers, wheels, castors or gliding means to be moved over the floor or guide tracks A63B22/20
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0664 performing an elliptic movement

Abstract

An exercise device having a cushioning mechanism assembly configured to absorb energy during exercise is provided. According to one aspect of the present invention, the cushioning mechanism assembly comprises a first and second biasing apparatus having a spring element configured to absorb energy by undergoing elastic deformation. According to another aspect of the present invention, a lever cushioning apparatus is provided. In one embodiment, the lever cushioning apparatus includes a lever arm and a cushioning element that functions as a fulcrum of the lever arm. In another embodiment, the cushioning element is movable along the length of the elongate member to change the amount of cushioning provided by the cushioning element. By being movable, the cushioning element allows the user to select a desired amount of cushioning during exercise.

Claims

1. A cushioned elliptical exercise device comprising:

a frame;

first and second elongate members linked to the frame; and

a cushioning mechanism assembly linked to at least one of the first or second elongate members, the cushioning mechanism assembly comprising a cushioning element linked to and movable along a length of at least one of the first or second elongate members, wherein the elongate members each engage in an elliptical movement and the cushioning mechanism assembly absorbs energy exerted on at least one of the first or second elongate members during exercise.

2. The cushioning elliptical exercise device of claim 1, further comprising a second cushioning mechanism assembly comprising a second cushioning element.

3. The cushioned elliptical exercise device of claim 2, wherein the first cushioning apparatus is linked to the first elongate member and the first cushioning element is movably counted to the first elongate member, and wherein the second cushioning member is linked to the second elongate member and the second cushioning element is movably coupled to the second elongate member.

4. The cushioned elliptical exercise device of claim 3, wherein each of the first and second biasing apparatuses comprise a resilient member.

5. The cushioned elliptical exercise device of claim 1, wherein the cushioning mechanism assembly comprises first and second lever cushioning apparatuses.

6. The cushioned elliptical exercise device of claim 5, wherein the first lever cushioning apparatus is coupled to the first elongate member and the second lever cushioning apparatus is coupled to the second elongate member.

7. A cushioned elliptical exercise device comprising:

a frame;

first and second elongate members movably linked to the frame such that flue elongate members each engage in a elliptical movement; and

first and second lever cushioning apparatuses linked to respective first and second elongate members, wherein the first lever cushioning apparatus comprises a cushioning element movable along at least a part of a length of the first elongate member, and wherein the first and second lever cushioning apparatuses alleviate pressure on a user'"'"'s joints during exercise.

8. The cushioned elliptical exercise device of claim 7, wherein the lever cushioning apparatuses are coupled to at least one of (i) respective arm support assemblies;

or (ii) respective elongate members.

9. The cushioned elliptical exercise device of claim 8, wherein each of the first and second lever cushioning apparatuses comprise a lever arm and a cushioning element.

11. The cushioned elliptical exercise device of claim 9, wherein the cushioning element function as a fulcrum of the lever arm.

12. The cushioned elliptical exercise device of claim 11, wherein at least one of the first and second lever cushioning apparatuses is pivotally coupled to one or more elongate members utilizing a lever pivot.

13. The cushioned elliptical exercise device of claim 11, wherein the cushioning element is positioned adjacent one or more elongate members.

10. A cushioned elliptical exercise device comprising:

a frame;

first and second elongate members movably linked to the frame such that the elongate members each engage in a elliptical movement; and

first and second lever cushioning apparatuses linked to respective first and second elongate members, wherein the first lever cushioning apparatus comprises a cushioning element movable along at least a part of a length of the first lever cushioning apparatus, and wherein the first and second lever cushioning apparatuses alleviate pressure on a user'"'"'s joints during exercise,

wherein the lever cushioning apparatuses are coupled to at least one of (i) respective arm support assemblies;

or (ii) respective elongate members,

wherein each of the first and second lever cushioning apparatuses comprise a lever arm and a cushioning element, and wherein each of the first and second lever cushioning apparatuses includes a foot support for accommodating a user'"'"'s foot.

14. A cushioned elliptical exercise device comprising:

a frame;

first and second elongate members movably linked to the frame such that the elongate members each engage in a elliptical movement; and

first and second lever cushioning apparatuses linked to respective first and second elongate members, wherein the first and second lever cushioning apparatuses alleviate pressure on a user'"'"'s joints during exercise, wherein the lever cushioning apparatuses are coupled to at least one of (i) respective arm support assemblies;

or (ii) respective elongate members, wherein each of the first and second lever cushioning apparatuses comprise a lever arm and a cushioning clement, wherein each cushioning element functions as a fulcrum of the respective lever arm, wherein the cushioning element is positioned adjacent one or more elongate members, and wherein the cushioning element is movable along at least part of a length of the elongate member.

15. A cushioned elliptical exercise device comprising:

a frame;

first and second elongate members movably linked to the frame such that the elongate members each engage in a elliptical movement; and

first and second lever cushioning apparatuses linked to respective first and second elongate members, wherein the first and second lever cushioning apparatuses alleviate pressure on a user'"'"'s joints during exercise, wherein the lever cushioning apparatuses are coupled to at least one of (i) respective arm support assemblies;

or (ii) respective elongate members, wherein each of the first and second lever cushioning apparatuses comprise a lever arm and a cushioning element, wherein each cushioning element functions as a fulcrum of the respective lever arm, wherein the cushioning element is positioned adjacent one or more elongate members, wherein the cushioning element is movable along at least part of a length of the elongate member, and wherein the amount of cushioning provided, and the amount of energy absorbed by, the cushioning element is dependent on the position of the cushioning element along the length of the one or more elongate members.

16. A cushioned elliptical exercise device comprising;

a frame;

first and second elongate members movably linked to the frame such tat the elongate members each engage in a elliptical movement; and

first and second lever cushioning apparatuses linked to respective first and second elongate members, wherein the first and second lever cushioning apparatuses alleviate pressure on a user'"'"'s joints during exercise, wherein the lever cushioning apparatuses are coupled to at least one of (i) respective arm support assemblies;

or (ii) respective elongate members, wherein each of the first and second lever cushioning apparatuses comprise a lever arm and a cushioning element, wherein each cushioning element functions as a fulcrum of the respective lever arm, wherein the cushioning element is positioned adjacent one or more elongate members, wherein the cushioning element is movable along at least part of a length of the elongate member, wherein the amount of cushioning provided, and the amount of energy absorbed by, the cushioning element is dependent on the position of the cushioning element along the length of the one or more elongate members, end wherein the cushioning element allows a user to select a greater or lesser amount of cushioning to achieve a desired amount of cushioning.

17. A cushioned elliptical exercise device comprising:

a frame;

a rotating mechanism coupled to the frame;

first and second elongate members coupled to the rotating mechanism; and

first and second cushioning apparatuses linked to the respective first and second elongate members and to the frame, the elongate members each engaging in an elliptical movement, wherein each of the first and second cushioning apparatuses comprise a cushioning member movable along at least a part of a length of the respective elongate member to alleviate pressure on a user'"'"'s joints during exercise, wherein the amount of cushioning provided is dependent upon the position of the movable cushioning member.

18. The cushioned elliptical exercise device of claim 17, wherein each of the first and second elongate members comprise a front end and an cmprising rear end, wherein the rotating mechanism is coupled to rear ends of the respective first and second elongate members.

19. The cushioned elliptical exercise device of claim 17, wherein the elongate members each include foot supports to maintain the position of the user'"'"'s feet during exercise.

20. The cushioned elliptical exercise device of claim 17, further comprising first and second arm supports.

21. A cushioned elliptical exercise device comprising:

a frame;

a rotating mechanism coupled to the frame;

first and second arm supports pivotally coupled to the frame;

first and second elongate members movably coupled to respective first and second arm supports and to the rotating mechanism such that the elongate members each engage in a elliptical movement, wherein each of the first and second elongate members comprise a front end and an opposing rear end; and

first and second lever cushioning apparatuses pivotally coupled to at least one of (i) respective first and second elongate members;

or (ii) respective first and second arm supports, wherein the first lever cushioning apparatus comprises a first lever arm and a movable cushioning element positioned between the first lever arm and the first elongate member allowing a user to select a greater or lesser amount of cushioning, and wherein the first and second lever cushioning apparatuses alleviate pressure on a user'"'"'s joints during exercise.

22. The cushioned elliptical exercise device of claim 21, wherein the rotating mechanism is coupled to rear ends of the respective first and second elongate members.

23. The cushioned elliptical exercise device of claim 21, wherein the first and second arm supports are coupled to front cads of the respective first and second elongate members and the first and second lever cushioning apparatuses are pivotally coupled to respective first and second elongate members.

24. A cushioned elliptical exercise device comprising:

a frame;

a rotating member coupled to the frame;

first and second arm supports pivotally coupled to the frame;

first and second elongate members movably coupled to respective first and second arm supports and to the rotating member, wherein each of the first and second elongate members comprise a front end and an opposing rear end; and

first and second biasing apparatuses linked to the front ends of the respective first and second elongate members and to the respective first and second arm supports, the elongate members each engaging in an elliptical movement, wherein the first and second biasing apparatuses each comprise a cushioning member movable along at least a part of a length of the respective first and second elongate members to alleviate pressure on a user'"'"'s joints during exercise.

25. The cushioned elliptical exercise device of claim 24 wherein the rotating member is coupled to rear ends of the respective first and second elongate members.

26. The cushioned elliptical exercise device of claim 25, wherein the first and second biasing apparatuses are coupled to the front ends of the respective first and second elongate members.

27. A cushioned elliptical exercise device comprising:

a frame;

first and second elongate members linked to the frame; and

a cushioning mechanism assembly linked to at least one of the first or second elongate members, the cushioning mechanism assembly comprising a cushioning element movable along at least a part of a length of the at least one of the first or second elongate members, wherein the elongate members each engage in an elliptical movement and the cushioning mechanism assembly absorbs energy exerted on at least one of the first or second elongate members during exercise.

28. The cushioned elliptical exercise device of claim 27, further comprising a rotating mechanism coupled to the frame.

29. The cushioned elliptical exercise device of claim 28, wherein the first and second elongate members are coupled to the rotating mechanism.

30. The cushioned elliptical exercise device of claim 27, wherein each of the first and second elongate members include a foot support to maintain the position of the user'"'"'s feet during exercise.