Compact variable path exercise apparatus

• US 7,169,088 B2
• Filed: 11/26/2003
• Issued: 01/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert E Rodgers Jr (Robert E. Rodgers)
• Original Assignee: Robert E Rodgers Jr (Robert E. Rodgers)
• Inventors: Rodgers, Robert E. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crow; Stephen R.
• Application Number:
  US10/723,546
• Publication Number:
  US 20040248704A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,161 Days
• Field of Search: 482/51, 482/52, 482/57, 482/70, 482 79- 80
• US Class Current: 482/52
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/002 electronically, e.g. by using a program
• 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 22/001 by simultaneously exercising arms and legs, e.g. diagonally in anti-phase A63B22/0076 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0017 the adjustment being controlled by movement of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0056 the pivoting movement being in a vertical plane, e.g. steppers with a horizontal axis platforms for rocking motion about a horizontal axis A63B22/16
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/06 with support elements performing a rotating cycling movement, i.e. a closed path movementsupport stands for bicycles A63B69/16; unicycles B62K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0664 performing an elliptic movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/208 On a track which is itself moving during exercise

Abstract

A variable stride exercise apparatus is described. A variable stride exercise apparatus may include a frame. A crank system may be coupled to the frame. A movable member may be coupled to the crank system. The movable member may travel in a substantially curvilinear path during use of the apparatus. A foot member may be coupled to the movable member. The foot member and the movable member may allow a user of the apparatus to selectively control the path of the foot member. The foot of the user may travel in a substantially curvilinear path during use of the apparatus. At least a portion of the apparatus may remain substantially stationary during use.

Claims

1. A stationary exercise apparatus comprising:

a frame;

a crank system coupled to the frame;

a left arm link member coupled to the frame;

a right arm link member coupled to the frame;

a left foot member having a left foot pad and coupled to the left arm link member;

a right foot member having a right foot pad and coupled to the right arm link member;

a left articulating cam system comprising a left pivotal cam member having a left cam surface, said left articulating cam system operatively associated with the left foot member and the crank system so that said left cam surface is proximal to said left foot pad during operation of the apparatus allowing the left foot of the user to impart a force on the left foot member in cooperation with the left cam surface to vary the stride substantially instantaneously; and

a right articulating cam system comprising a right pivotal cam member having a right cam surface, said right articulating cam system operatively associated with the right foot member and the crank system so that said right cam surface is proximal to said right foot pad during operation of the apparatus allowing the right foot of the user to impart a force on the right foot member in cooperation with the right cam surface to vary the stride substantially instantaneously,

wherein the apparatus is configured such that the feet of the user may travel in a substantially closed path and the angular relationships between the left foot pad and the left cam member and between the right foot pad and the right cam member may vary during operation of the apparatus.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the feet of the user may travel in a substantially closed elliptical path.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the feet of the user may travel in a closed orbital path.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a brake/inertia device coupled to the crank system.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the brake/inertia device is coupled to a portion of the frame in front of the user.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the left foot member and the right foot member are cross-coupled.

7. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising a housing, wherein the housing encloses at least a portion of the brake/inertia device.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the left and right cam surfaces are nonsymmetrical.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the left and right cam surfaces are symmetrical.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus has a maximum stride length that is at least about 40% of the overall length of the apparatus.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the crank system comprises a pulley.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the crank system comprises a left crank and a right crank coupled to the pulley.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the length of each left and right cam surface is at least two times the length of either left or right crank.

14. A stationary exercise apparatus comprising:

a frame;

a crank system coupled to the frame;

a left arm link member coupled to the frame;

a right arm link member coupled to the frame;

a left movable member coupled to the crank system;

a right movable member coupled to the crank system;

a left pivotal member having a left cam surface and pivotally connected to the left movable member;

a right pivotal member having a right cam surface and pivotally connected to the right movable member;

a left foot member having a left cam follower wherein the left cam follower moves along the left cam surface during operation of the apparatus; and

a right foot member having a right cam follower wherein the right cam follower moves along the right cam surface during operation of the apparatus,

wherein the left and right cam members and the left and right movable members are configured so as to allow the feet of the user to impart forces on the left and right foot members to cooperate with the left and right cam members to vary the stride substantially instantaneously, and wherein the left and right portions of the apparatus are cross coupled so that the left foot member moves in opposition to the right foot member and the feet of the user may travel in a substantially closed path.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the crank system comprises a pulley.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the crank system comprises a left crank and a right crank coupled to the pulley.

17. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the feet of the user may travel in a substantially closed elliptical path.

18. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the feet of the user may travel in a closed orbital path.

19. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising a brake/inertia device coupled to the crank system.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising a housing, wherein the housing encloses at least a portion of the brake/inertia device.

21. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the left and right cam surfaces are nonsymmetrical.

22. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the left and right cam surfaces are symmetrical.

23. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein at least a portion of the left movable member and the right movable member generally distal each such end coupled to the crank system moves in a substantially closed path.

24. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the left and right foot members and the left and right cam systems are configured to provide a force that restores the users feet to a substantially neutral position during use of the apparatus.

25. A stationary exercise apparatus comprising:

a frame;

a crank system coupled to the frame;

a left arm link member coupled to the frame;

a right arm link member coupled to the frame;

a left foot member having a left foot pad and coupled to the left arm link member;

a right foot member having a right foot pad and coupled to the right arm link member;

a left cam member having a left cam surface, said left cam member pivotally connected to the left foot member and coupled to the crank system so that said left cam surface is proximal said left foot pad during operation of the apparatus so as to allow the left foot of the user to impart a force on the left foot member in cooperation with the left cam surface to vary the stride substantially instantaneously; and

a right cam member having a right cam surface, said right cam member pivotally connected to the right foot member and coupled to the crank system so that said right cam surface is proximal said right foot pad during operation of the apparatus so as to allow the right foot of the user to impart a force on the right foot member in cooperation with the right cam surface to vary the stride substantially instantaneously,

wherein the apparatus is configured such that the feet of the user may travel in a substantially closed path, and the angular relationships between the left foot pad and the left cam member and between the right foot pad and the right cam member may vary during operation of the apparatus.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the crank system comprises a pulley.

27. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the crank system comprises a left crank and a right crank coupled to the pulley.

28. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the feet of the user may travel in a substantially closed elliptical path.

29. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the feet of the user may travel in a closed orbital path.

30. The apparatus of claim 25 further comprising a brake/inertia device coupled to the crank system.

31. The apparatus of claim 30 further comprising a housing, wherein the housing encloses at least a portion of the brake/inertia device.

32. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the left and right cam surfaces are nonsymmetrical.

33. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the left and right cam surfaces are symmetrical.

34. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein at least a portion of the left movable member and the right movable member generally distal each such end coupled to the crank system moves in a substantially closed path.

35. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the left and right foot members and the left and right cam systems are configured to provide a force that restores the users feet to a substantially neutral position during use of the apparatus.