Elliptical skier exercise apparatus

• US 7,425,189 B1
• Filed: 03/09/2007
• Issued: 09/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Paul William Eschenbach
• Original Assignee: Paul William Eschenbach
• Inventors: Eschenbach, Paul William
• Primary Examiner(s): Thanh; LoAn H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Roland; Daniel F
• Application Number:
  US11/716,064
• Publication Number:
  US 20080220943A1
• Time in Patent Office: 557 Days
• Field of Search: 482/51, 482/52, 482/70, 482/71, 482/114, 482/115, 482/53, 482/57, 482/907
• US Class Current: 482/52
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/003 the movement path being perpendicular to the body-symmetrical-plane
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0033 Lower limbs performing together the same movement, e.g. on a single support element
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/005 using electromagnetic or electric force-resisters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/008 using hydraulic or pneumatic 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 22/0056 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 22/0664 performing an elliptic movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/03575 Apparatus used for exercising upper and lower limbs simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0405 involving a bending of the knee and hip joints simultaneously A63B23/0476 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0488 by spreading the legs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/18 for skiing

Abstract

The present invention relates to a standup exercise apparatus that simulates downhill skiing with arm exercise. More particularly, the present invention relates to an exercise machine having separately supported pedals for the feet and arm exercise coordinated with the motion of the feet. Each pedal follows an separate elongate curve with lateral movement. As one pedal moves downward on the inside portion of one pedal curve, the other pedal moves sideways upward following the outer portion of the other pedal curve. A pair of cranks rotate in opposite directions when driven by the pedal movement. The orientation of the pedal curves is adjustable to exercise leg muscles differently. Arm exercise is coordinated with the foot pedal movements.

Claims

1. An exercise apparatus comprising:

a framework, said framework configured to be supported by a horizontal surface;

a pair of cranks, each said crank rotatably connected to said framework at a respective separate pivot axis and configured to rotate through continuous full rotations during operation of said exercise apparatus;

a coupling device, said coupling device configured to cause said cranks to have operably associated opposing rotation about each separate said pivot axis;

a pair of foot supports, each said foot support pivotally connected to a respective said crank and having a foot engaging pedal positioned at one end of said foot support to follow a closed loop elongate curve;

a pair of guides, each said guide operably associated with a respective said foot support and said framework to cause a portion of said foot support to have a generally up and down movement, and wherein said guides remain located vertically above said foot engaging pedals with respect to said horizontal surface during use of the apparatus;

said pedals configured to move relative to said framework when the foot of the operator is rotating said crank whereby said pedals follow laterally displaced separate said closed loop elongate curves with movement that is lateral to said operator.

2. The exercise apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said coupling device causes one said crank to rotate about said respective separate pivot axis in a direction opposite to the rotation of the other said crank about said respective separate pivot axis.

3. The exercise apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising arm exercise, said arm exercise operably associated with said foot supports and configured to reciprocate while said cranks continuously rotate.

4. The exercise apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said arm exercise comprises a pair of handles, each said handle operably associated with a corresponding said foot support.

5. The exercise apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a flywheel, said flywheel rotatably connected to said framework and operably associated with said cranks to rotate with continuous rotation.

6. The exercise apparatus according to claim 5 further comprising a load resistance, said load resistance operably associated with said flywheel, a means for adjustment of said load resistance and, a control system, said control system positioned within reach of the operator whereby said load resistance can be varied during operation of said exercise apparatus.

7. The exercise apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said coupling device is a pair of gears, each said gear attached to a respective said crank to rotate about said pivot axis whereby one said crank rotates opposite to the other said crank and each said gear having teeth directly meshed with the other said gear.

8. The exercise apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said guides are operably associated with an adjustment device, said adjustment device configured to change the orientation of said closed loop elongate curve for said pedal.

9. The exercise apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said adjustment device is an actuator, said actuator operably associated with said guides and a control system such that said control system can change the position of said guides in opposing angular directions relative to said framework during operation of said exercise apparatus.

10. The exercise apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said guide comprises a rocker link, said rocker link pivotally connected to said foot support and said framework.

11. The exercise apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said guide comprises a roller and track, said roller pivotally connected to said foot support and in rollable contact with said track, said track connected to said framework.

12. An exercise apparatus comprising:

a framework, said framework configured to be supported by a horizontal surface;

a pair of cranks, each said crank rotatably connected to said framework at a respective separate pivot axis and configured to rotate through continuous full rotations during operation of said exercise apparatus;

a pair of gears, each said gear attached to a respective said crank to rotate about a respective separate said pivot axis and each said gear having teeth directly meshed with the other said gear;

a pair of foot supports, each said foot support pivotally connected to a respective said crank;

a pair of pedals, each said pedal attached to a respective foot support at one end protruding outwardly thereof and following a separate laterally displaced closed loop elongate curve;

a pair of guides, each said guide operably associated with a respective said foot support and said framework;

said pedals configured to move relative to said framework when the foot of the operator is rotating said cranks whereby one said pedal follows one said closed loop elongate curve moving lateral to one side of the operator while the other said pedal is moving lateral to the other side of said user along the other said closed loop elongate curve.

13. The exercise apparatus according to claim 12 further comprising arm exercise, said arm exercise operably associated with said foot support and configured to reciprocate while said cranks continuously rotate.

14. The exercise apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said guides are operably associated with an adjustment device, said adjustment device configured to change the orientation of said closed loop elongate curves for said pedals.

15. The exercise apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said guide comprises a rocker link, said rocker link pivotally connected to said foot support and said framework.

16. The exercise apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said guide comprises a roller and track, said roller pivotally connected to said foot support and in rollable contact with said track, said track connected to said framework.

17. An exercise apparatus comprising:

a framework, said framework configured to be supported by a horizontal surface;

a pair of cranks, each said crank rotatably connected to said framework at a respective separate pivot axis and configured to rotate through continuous full rotations during operation of said exercise apparatus;

a coupling device, said coupling device configured to cause said cranks to have operably associated opposing rotation about each separate said pivot axis;

a pair of foot supports, each said foot support pivotally connected to a respective said crank and having a foot engaging pedal positioned at one end of said foot support;

a pair of guides, each said guide operably associated with a respective said foot support and said framework to cause a portion of said foot support to have a generally up and down movement, and wherein said guides remain located vertically above said foot engaging pedals with respect to said horizontal surface during use of the apparatus;

an adjustment device, said adjustment device operably associated with said guides and said framework to change the position of said guides in opposing angular directions during operation of said exercise apparatus;

said pedals configured to move relative to said framework when the foot of the operator is rotating said cranks whereby each said pedal follows a separate closed loop elongate curve with movement that is sideways to an operator and said adjustment device can laterally change the position of each said closed loop elongate curve.

18. The exercise apparatus according to claim 17 further comprising a control system, said control system operably associated with said adjustment device and positioned within reach of the operator whereby the position of said guides can be varied during operation of said exercise apparatus to cause said pedals to operate laterally closer together or further apart.

19. The exercise apparatus according to claim 17 further comprising arm exercise, said arm exercise operably associated with said foot supports and configured to reciprocate while said cranks continuously rotate.

20. The exercise apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said coupling device is a pair of gears, each gear attached to a respective said crank to rotate about said pivot axis whereby one said crank rotates opposite to the other said crank and each said gear having teeth directly meshed with the other said gear.