Exercise methods and apparatus with elliptical foot motion
First Claim
1. An elliptical motion exercise apparatus, comprising:
- a frame configured to rest on a floor surface;
a left crank and a right crank, wherein each said crank is rotatably mounted on the frame;
a left drive link and a right drive link, wherein each said drive link has a forward end, a rearward end, and an intermediate portion disposed therebetween, and each said forward end is rotatably coupled to a respective said crank;
a left rocker link and a right rocker link, wherein each said rocker link is rotatably mounted on the frame at a common pivot axis;
a left reciprocating link and a right reciprocating link, wherein each said reciprocating link has a forward end rotatably coupled to a lower portion of a respective said rocker link, a rearward end constrained to move in reciprocal fashion relative to the frame, and an intermediate portion rotatably coupled to the intermediate portion of a respective said drive link, and the left reciprocating link and the left drive link cooperate to define a left linkage, and the right reciprocating link and the right drive link cooperate to define a right linkage; and
a left foot link and a right foot link, wherein each said foot link has a forward end rotatably coupled to a lower portion of a respective said rocker link, and a rearward, foot supporting end movably supported on a respective said linkage.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An exercise apparatus includes a frame configured to rest on a floor surface; left and right rocker links pivotally mounted on the frame; left and right reciprocating links having forward ends rotatably coupled to respective rocker links, and rearward ends constrained to move in reciprocal fashion relative to the frame; left and right cranks rotatably mounted on the frame; left and right drive links having forward ends rotatably coupled to respective cranks, and rearward ends rotatably coupled to intermediate portions of respective reciprocating members; and left and right foot links having forward ends rotatably coupled to respective rocker links, and rearward, foot supporting ends supported by respective drive links for both rotational and translational movement relative thereto. The resulting linkage assemblies constrain the foot supporting ends to move through elliptical paths, and the paths may be altered by adjusting various components of the linkage assemblies relative to one another and/or the frame.
-
Citations
24 Claims
-
1. An elliptical motion exercise apparatus, comprising:
-
a frame configured to rest on a floor surface; a left crank and a right crank, wherein each said crank is rotatably mounted on the frame; a left drive link and a right drive link, wherein each said drive link has a forward end, a rearward end, and an intermediate portion disposed therebetween, and each said forward end is rotatably coupled to a respective said crank; a left rocker link and a right rocker link, wherein each said rocker link is rotatably mounted on the frame at a common pivot axis; a left reciprocating link and a right reciprocating link, wherein each said reciprocating link has a forward end rotatably coupled to a lower portion of a respective said rocker link, a rearward end constrained to move in reciprocal fashion relative to the frame, and an intermediate portion rotatably coupled to the intermediate portion of a respective said drive link, and the left reciprocating link and the left drive link cooperate to define a left linkage, and the right reciprocating link and the right drive link cooperate to define a right linkage; and a left foot link and a right foot link, wherein each said foot link has a forward end rotatably coupled to a lower portion of a respective said rocker link, and a rearward, foot supporting end movably supported on a respective said linkage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. An elliptical motion exercise apparatus, comprising:
-
a frame configured to rest on a floor surface; a left crank and a right crank, wherein each said crank is rotatably mounted on the frame; a left drive link and a right drive link, wherein each said drive link has a forward end, a rearward end, and an intermediate portion disposed therebetween, and each said forward end is rotatably coupled to a respective said crank; a left rocker link and a right rocker link, wherein each said rocker link is rotatably mounted on the frame at a common pivot axis; a left reciprocating link and a right reciprocating link, wherein each said reciprocating link has a forward end rotatably coupled to a lower portion of a respective said rocker link, a rearward end constrained to move in reciprocal fashion relative to the frame, and an intermediate portion rotatably coupled to the intermediate portion of a respective said drive link; and a left foot link and a right foot link, wherein each said foot link has a forward end rotatably coupled to a lower portion of a respective said rocker link, and a rearward, foot supporting end movably supported on a respective said drive link. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
Specification