Exercise equipment with automatic adjustment of stride length and/or stride height based upon the heart rate of a person exercising on the exercise equipment

• US 7,448,986 B1
• Filed: 02/18/2004
• Issued: 11/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Octane Fitness LLC (True Fitness Technology Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Octane Fitness LLC (True Fitness Technology Incorporated)
• Inventors: Porth, Timothy J.
• Primary Examiner(s): CROW, STEPHEN R
• Application Number:
  US10/781,038
• Time in Patent Office: 1,728 Days
• Field of Search: 482/51, 482/52, 482/53, 482/57, 482/70, 482 79- 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 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 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 21/06 User-manipulated weights
• 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 22/0017 the adjustment being controlled by movement of the user
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/062 used as a control parameter for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/00 Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of preceding groups; Controlling or monitoring of exercises, sportive games, training or athletic performances

Abstract

The invention is an exercise device comprising (i) a frame, (ii) first and second foot supports operably associated with the frame for traveling along a closed loop path relative to a transverse axis defined by the frame, (iii) a heart rate monitor, and (iv) a means for automatically adjusting the stride length and/or stride height of the closed loop path traveled by the foot supports based upon the sensed heart rate of person exercising on the exercise device.

Claims

1. An exercise device comprising (a) a frame defining a transverse axis, (b) first and second foot supports operably associated with the frame for traveling along a closed loop path relative to the transverse axis wherein the closed loop path defines a stride length, (c) a heart rate monitor, (d) a means for automatically adjusting the stride length of the closed loop path traveled by the foot supports based upon a heart rate sensed by the heart rate monitor, (e) a guide arm pivotally attached to the frame, (f) a transversely extending drive shaft rotatably attached to the frame and extending along the transverse axis, (g) an extension element extending away from the transverse axis and fixedly attached to the drive shaft for unitary rotation with the drive shaft, and (h) first and second foot links each supporting a foot support and having (i) first and second ends, (ii) a first end portion pivotally attached to the extension element at a point spaced from the transverse axis for travel along a closed loop path relative to the transverse axis, and (iii) a second end portion pivotally supported by the guide arm for longitudinal travel of the second end portion of the foot link along an arcuate reciprocating path.

2. The exercise device of claim 1 wherein the closed loop path is an elliptical path.

3. The exercise device of claim 1 wherein the extension element is a drive pulley.

4. The exercise device of claim 1 wherein the extension element is a crank shaft.

5. The exercise device of claim 1 wherein the first end portion of each foot link is directly pivotally attached to the extension element.

6. The exercise device of claim 1 wherein the first end portion of each foot link is indirectly pivotally attached to the extension element.

7. The exercise device of claim 1 wherein the first end portion of each foot link is indirectly pivotally attached to the extension element via an intermediate linkage system wherein the intermediate linkage system is (i) pivotally attached at a proximal point to the foot link, (ii) pivotally attached at a distal point to the frame, and (iii) pivotally attached to the extension element intermediate the proximal and distal points of attachment.

8. The exercise device of claim 7 wherein the first end of each foot link travels along a non-circular arcuate path relative to the transverse axis.

9. An exercise device comprising (a) a frame defining a transverse axis, (b) first and second foot supports operably associated with the frame for traveling along a closed loop path relative to the transverse axis wherein the closed loop path defines a stride height, (c) a heart rate monitor, (d) a means for automatically adjusting the stride height of the closed loop path traveled by the foot supports based upon a heart rate sensed by the heart rate monitor, (e) a guide arm pivotally attached to the frame, (f) a transversely extending drive shaft rotatably attached to the frame and extending along the transverse axis, (g) an extension element extending away from the transverse axis and fixedly attached to the drive shaft for unitary rotation with the drive shaft, and (h) first and second foot links each supporting a foot support and having (i) first and second ends, (ii) a first end portion pivotally attached to the extension element at a point spaced from the transverse axis for travel along a closed loop path relative to the transverse axis, and (iii) a second end portion pivotally supported by the guide arm for longitudinal travel of the second end portion of the foot link along an arcuate reciprocating path.

10. The exercise device of claim 9 wherein the closed loop path is an elliptical path.

11. The exercise device of claim 9 wherein the means for automatically adjusting the stride height of the closed loop path traveled by the foot supports comprises a means for adjusting the distance between the point at which the guide arm is pivotally attached to the frame and the point at which the guide arm is pivotally attached to the second end portion of each foot link.

12. The exercise device of claim 9 wherein the extension element is a drive pulley.

13. The exercise device of claim 9 wherein the extension element is a crank shaft.

14. The exercise device of claim 9 wherein the first end portion of each foot link is directly pivotally attached to the extension element.

15. The exercise device of claim 9 wherein the first end portion of each foot link is indirectly pivotally attached to the extension element.

16. The exercise device of claim 9 wherein the first end portion of each foot link is indirectly pivotally attached to the extension element via an intermediate linkage system wherein the intermediate linkage system is (i) pivotally attached at a proximal point to the foot link, (ii) pivotally attached at a distal point to the frame, and (iii) pivotally attached to the extension element intermediate the proximal and distal points of attachment.

17. The exercise device of claim 16 wherein the first end of each foot link travels along a non-circular arcuate path relative to the transverse axis.

18. An exercise device comprising (a) a frame defining a transverse axis, (b) first and second foot supports operably associated with the frame for traveling along a closed loop path relative to the transverse axis wherein the closed loop path defines a stride length and a stride height, (c) a heart rate monitor, (d) a means for automatically adjusting the stride length and stride height of the closed loop path traveled by the foot supports based upon a heart rate sensed by the heart rate monitor, (e) a guide arm pivotally attached to the frame (f) a transversely extending drive shaft rotatable attached to the frame and extending along the transverse axis, (g) an extension element extending away from the transverse axis and fixedly attached to the drive shaft for unitary rotation with the drive shaft, and (h) first and second foot links each supporting a foot support and having (i) first and second ends (ii) a first end portion pivotally attached to the extension element at a point spaced from the transverse axis for travel along a closed loop path relative to the transverse axis, and (iii) a second end portion pivotally supported by the guide arm for longitudinal travel of the second end portion of the foot link along an arcuate reciprocating path.

19. The exercise device of claim 18 wherein the closed loop path is an elliptical path.

20. The exercise device of claim 18 wherein the means for automatically adjusting the stride length and stride height of the closed loop path traveled by the foot supports comprises a means for adjusting the distance between the point at which the guide arm is pivotally attached to the frame and the point at which the guide arm is pivotally attached to the second end portion of each foot link.

21. The exercise device of claim 18 wherein the first end portion of each foot link is indirectly pivotally attached to the extension element via an intermediate linkage system wherein the intermediate linkage system is (i) pivotally attached at a proximal point to the foot link, (ii) pivotally attached at a distal point to the frame, and (iii) pivotally attached to the extension element intermediate the proximal and distal points of attachment.

22. The exercise device of claim 21 wherein the first end of each foot link travels along a non-circular arcuate path relative to the transverse axis.