Elliptical exercise equipment with stowable arms

• US 7,731,634 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2005
• Issued: 06/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Precor Incorporated (Peloton Interactive, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Precor Incorporated (Peloton Interactive, Inc.)
• Inventors: Silbernagel, Robert, Stewart, Jonathan M., Dyer, David E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thanh; Loan H
• Assistant Examiner(s): GINSBERG, OREN ISAAC
• Application Number:
  US11/054,376
• Publication Number:
  US 20060189445A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,945 Days
• Field of Search: 482 51- 53, 482/57, 482/62, 482 70- 71, 482/139, 482/908, 292/194, 292/202, 292/210, 292/216, 292/229, 292/237, 292/280, 403/322.1, 4033223-3224, 403/325, 745/005, 745/016, 745021-5022, 745/024, 745/026, 745/19, 745/23, 745/27, 745/512, 745/517
• 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 22/0007 by alternatively exercising arms or legs, e.g. with a single set of support elements driven either by the upper or the lower limbs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0664 performing an elliptic movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/201 for moving a support element in reciprocating translation, i.e. for sliding back and forth on a guide track
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/908 Adjustable

Abstract

An exercise device includes a frame defining a longitudinal axis. A foot link includes a rearward portion that is constrained to move in an orbital path approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis and a forward portion that reciprocally engages the guide track. A swing arm is a pivotally connected to the frame, the swing arm having an upper portion extending above the pivotal connection and a lower portion disposed below the pivotal connection. An engagement mechanism having a first portion coupled to the lower portion and a second portion coupled to the forward portion of the foot link, such that a rearward force applied to the upper portion will produce a force on the forward portion having a downward component. An arm enabling/disabling mechanism is positioned on the elongate swing arm below the pivotal connection. The arm enabling/disabling mechanism can be effectuated by a user without the user interrupting exercise.

Claims

1. An exercise device, comprising:

a frame;

a foot link having a rearward portion that is constrained to move in an orbital path and a forward portion;

a swing arm having a pivotal connection to the frame, the swing arm including a hand gripping portion;

an engagement mechanism having a first portion coupled to the swing arm and a second portion coupled to the foot link; and

an arm enabling/disabling mechanism operatively engaged with the swing arm, the arm enabling/disabling mechanism including an enabled position in which the swing arm is coupled to the foot link by the enabling/disabling mechanism such that the swing arm is fixed with respect to the foot link so that a force applied to the swing arm will produce a corresponding force on the forward portion of the foot link, and the arm enabling/disabling mechanism including a disabled position in which at least a portion of the swing arm is disengaged from the foot link and fixed with respect to the frame, the enabling/disabling mechanism comprising;

a latching member rotatable between (1) an engaged state in which the latching member latches the swing arm to either the foot link for the enabled position or the frame for the disabled position and (2) a disengaged state in which the swing arm is not fixed with respect to either the foot link or the frame;

a bias member applying a torque to the latching member to bias the latching member towards the engaged state; and

a manual actuator configured to rotate the latching member against biasing of the bias member from the engaged state to the disengaged state in response to being manipulated by a user'"'"'s hand while the user'"'"'s hand remains in contact with the hand gripping portion;

wherein the latching member comprises a latching plate defining an enable slot and disable slot, and the exercise device further including an enable pin and a disable pin, such that when the enable pin is secured in the enable slot the swing arm is enabled and when the disable pin is secured in the disable slot the swing arm is disabled; and

wherein the enable slot and the disable slot face both face in a same direction about a rotational axis of the latching plate, either a clockwise direction or a counter-clockwise direction.

2. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the arm enabling/disabling mechanism is positioned on the swing arm.

3. The exercise device of claim 1, further including a left swing arm and a right swing arm, a left foot link and a right foot link, a left engagement mechanism and a right engagement mechanism, and a left arm enabling/disabling mechanism and a right arm enabling/disabling mechanism.

4. The exercise device of claim 1 further including a guide track, wherein the foot link includes at least one roller, and the guide track has an upper surface that is adapted to rollably receive the foot link roller and that reciprocally engages the guide track.

5. The exercise device of claim 1, further wherein the frame comprises a longitudinal member, an upright member extending upwardly from the longitudinal member and a transverse member extending outwardly transversely from the upright member and wherein the swing arm is pivotally connected to opposite portions of the transverse member.

6. The exercise device of claim 1, further comprising a flywheel, wherein the foot link is rotationally coupled to the flywheel with a crank arm assembly.

7. The exercise device of claim 1, further wherein the arm enabling/disabling mechanism can be effectuated by a user without the user interrupting exercise.

8. The exercise device of claim 1, further wherein in the disabled position the swing arm acts as a stationary arm grip.

9. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the latching plate is carried by the swing arm and pivots relative to the frame when the latching member is in the disengaged state.

10. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the latching plate is carried by the swing arm and pivots relative to the frame when the latching member is in the disengaged state.

11. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the bias member comprises a spring.

12. An arm enabling/disabling mechanism for use with an elliptical exercise device having an arm mechanism, comprising:

a latching mechanism alternatively engaging and disengaging the arm mechanism; and

an actuator contained proximate to a user using the exercise equipment, the actuator controlling the latching mechanism;

whereby the arm enabling/disabling mechanism can be effectuated by a user without the user interrupting exercise, wherein the elliptical exercise device includes a foot link and the latching mechanism in an engaged position couples the arm mechanism to the foot link and wherein in a disengaged position the arm mechanism is not coupled to the foot link and wherein a latching plate of the latching mechanism is biased around a pivot point in opposition to the actuator, thereby providing biasing resistance to the actuator, wherein the latching mechanism includes;

an enable pin extending from the arm enabling mechanism;

a disable pin extending from the exercise device; and

a latching plate including a first slot and a second slot facing in a same direction about a rotational axis of the latching plate, either a clockwise direction or a counter-clockwise direction, wherein the first slot and the second slot receive the enable pin and the disable pin to selectively enable movement of the arm mechanism and disable movement of the arm mechanism, respectively.

13. The arm enabling/disabling mechanism of claim 12, further wherein the arm enabling/disabling mechanism is pivotally connected to the elliptical exercise device.

14. The arm enabling/disabling mechanism of claim 13, further wherein the arm enabling/disabling mechanism comprises a double pivotal connection to the elliptical exercise device.

15. The arm enabling/disabling mechanism of claim 12, further wherein the disabled position comprises a second slot in the latching mechanism engaging an outwardly extending pin extending from the exercise device.

16. The arm enabling/disabling mechanism of claim 12, further wherein the actuator is connected to the latching mechanism by a cable.

17. The arm enabling/disabling mechanism of claim 12, further wherein the actuator is contained on the arm mechanism proximal to a hand-gripping portion such that the actuator controls the latching mechanism in response to manual manipulation by a person'"'"'s hand while a person'"'"'s hand remains in contact with the hand gripping portion.

18. The arm enabling/disabling mechanism of claim 12, further comprising a cable extending between the actuator and the latching mechanism, wherein actuator is a lever along a hand gripping portion of the arm mechanism.

19. The arm enabling/disabling mechanism of claim 12 further comprising a spring resiliently biasing the latching plate around a pivot point in opposition to the actuator.

20. The arm enabling such disabling mechanism of claim 12, wherein the latching mechanism is movable to a second engaged position in which the latching mechanism fixes the arm mechanism to a frame against any movement.