Adjustable stride elliptical motion exercise machine and associated methods

• US 7,377,881 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2006
• Issued: 05/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daniel Ross Moon
• Original Assignee: Daniel Ross Moon
• Inventors: Moon, Daniel Ross
• Primary Examiner(s): Crow; Stephen R.
• Application Number:
  US11/458,418
• Publication Number:
  US 20060252604A1
• Time in Patent Office: 678 Days
• Field of Search: 482/51, 482/52, 482/53, 482/57, 482/70
• 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 2071/009 Protective housings covering the working parts of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/005 using electromagnetic or electric force-resisters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/012 using frictional force-resisters electromagnetically-controlled brakes A63B21/0056
• 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 22/0015 with an adjustable movement path of the support elements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0664 performing an elliptic movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/096 automatically adjusted according to anthropometric data of the user

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.

Claims

1. An elliptical exercise machine comprising:

a flame;

a main drive link having a proximal and a distal end;

a crank mechanism, said crank mechanism rotating said distal end of said main drive link through a continuous circular path;

a footskate mounted to said main drive link via a foot track and capable of reciprocating on said main drive link wherein the combination of said reciprocating motion of said footskate on said main drive link and said rotational motion of said distal end of said main drive link moves said footskate through a generally elliptical path; and

an adjustment arm rotating about a first axis of rotation and connected to said footskate, said first axis of rotation being moveable while said exercise machine is in motion;

wherein, when said first axis of rotation is moved, the distance of said reciprocation is altered which in turn alters a horizontal dimension of said elliptical path without correspondingly altering a vertical dimension of said elliptical path.

2. The machine of claim 1 wherein said proximal end of said main drive link reciprocates in a guide track on said frame.

3. The machine of claim 1 wherein said first axis of rotation is moveable relative to said frame.

4. The machine of claim 1 further comprising a pendulum arm, said pendulum arm rotating about a second axis of rotation and said main drive link.

5. The machine of claim 4 wherein said pendulum arm is also attached to said adjustment arm via a coupler.

6. The machine of claim 5 wherein first axis of rotation is located at said coupler.

7. The machine of claim 6 wherein said coupler is moveable on at least one of:

said pendulum arm or said adjustment arm.

8. An elliptical exercise machine comprising:

a frame;

a main drive link having a proximal and a distal end;

crank means for rotating said distal end of said main drive link through a circular path;

a footskate mounted to said main drive link via a foot track and capable of reciprocating on said main drive link wherein the combination of said reciprocating motion of said footskate on said main drive link and said rotational motion of said distal end of said main drive link moves said footskate through a generally elliptical path; and

adjustment means connected to said footskate;

wherein, said adjustment means can alter the distance of said reciprocation while said crank means rotates, said alteration of said distance of said reciprocation resulting in a change in a horizontal dimension of said elliptical path without correspondingly altering a vertical dimension of said elliptical path.

9. The machine of claim 8 wherein said proximal end of said main drive link reciprocates in a guide track on said frame.

10. The machine of claim 8 wherein said first axis of rotation is moveable relative to said flame.

11. The machine of claim 8 further comprising a pendulum arm, said pendulum arm rotating about a second axis of rotation and said main drive link.

12. The machine of claim 11 wherein said pendulum arm is also attached to said adjustment arm via a coupler.

13. The machine of claim 12 wherein first axis of rotation is located at said coupler.

14. The machine of claim 13 wherein said coupler is moveable on at least one of:

said pendulum arm or said adjustment arm.

15. A method for altering the stride of an elliptical exercise machine when said elliptical exercise machine is in use, the method comprising:

providing to a user, an elliptical exercise machine having a footskate on a main drive link, said footskate being capable of reciprocating movement on said main drive link;

said user using said elliptical exercise machine in such a manner so as to have said footskate move in a generally elliptical path, said footskate reciprocating across a distance on said main drive link during said use;

during said step of using, altering said distance said footskate is reciprocating so as to alter a horizontal dimension of said elliptical path without a corresponding alteration to a vertical dimension of said elliptical path, said altering of said horizontal dimension resulting in a stride length of the user being changed.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said altering said distance said footskate is reciprocating is accomplished by moving an axis of rotation of an adjustment arm which is connected to said footskate.