VARIABLE STRIDE EXERCISE DEVICE WITH RAMP

• US 20080032869A1
• Filed: 08/01/2007
• Published: 02/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Icon-Ip Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Icon-Ip Pty Limited
• Inventors: Butler, Jaremy T., Dalebout, William T., Farbod, Farid, Pacheco, Chad R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,658,698 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/52
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/206 on a curved path
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/157 Ratchet-wheel links; Overrunning clutches; One-way clutches
• 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 22/0023 the inclination of the main axis of the movement path being adjustable, e.g. the inclination of an endless band
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/205 in a substantially vertical plane, e.g. for exercising against gravity exercising for developing or strengthening the muscles or joints of the body by working against a user's body weight A63B21/068; with adjustable inclination A63B22/0023
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/09 Adjustable dimensions

Abstract

A non-impact exercise device comprising a framework, at least one ramp assembly, a pair of foot support assemblies, a foot location control assembly, and means for adjusting the maximum stride length of the foot support assemblies. The foot support assemblies may advantageously be coupled to the foot location control assembly by a flexible cable linkage. The foot support assemblies each include a foot platform for the user to stand on. The foot support assemblies are coupled to the one or more ramp assemblies of the exercise device. The user exercises by putting force into the device through the foot platforms and/or handles. This causes the foot platforms to roll along the ramps while the user is standing upon the foot platforms. The user may readily vary the length and frequency of the reciprocating stride.

Claims

1. An exercise apparatus comprising:

a framework;

at least one ramp assembly mounted to said framework;

a pair of foot support assemblies, each foot support assembly being movably coupled to the at least one ramp assembly;

a resistance assembly coupled to said foot support assemblies so as to provide resistance against movement of said foot support assemblies by a user; and

means for adjusting a maximum stride length of said foot support assemblies, said means for adjusting being selectively operable to adjust a maximum stride length between said foot support assemblies along said at least one ramp assembly.

2. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for adjusting a maximum stride length links the first foot support to the second foot support such that the first and second foot support assemblies move in a reciprocal relationship to one another.

3. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for adjusting a maximum stride length of said foot support assemblies comprises a foot location control assembly.

4. The exercise apparatus of claim 3, wherein said foot location control assembly comprises a cable and pulley system, and an actuator linked thereto.

5. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein each foot support assembly includes a foot support platform and a foot platform bracket, said foot support platform being pivotally connected to said foot platform bracket.

6. The exercise apparatus of claim 5, wherein:

each foot support platform is movably coupled to said at least one ramp assembly by at least one wheel, each wheel being capable of rolling along a surface of a ramp of the at least one ramp assembly; and

wherein each foot platform bracket is movably coupled to a respective guide member said guide member being positioned below a respective ramp of the at least one ramp assembly.

7. The exercise apparatus of claim 5 wherein each foot platform bracket is movably coupled to a respective guide member by an upper bracket wheel mounted to said foot platform bracket and at least one lower bracket wheel mounted below said upper bracket wheel such that said upper bracket wheel rests upon a top surface of said guide member and said lower wheel contacts and rolls along a bottom surface of said guide member.

8. An exercise apparatus comprising:

a framework;

at least one ramp assembly mounted to said framework, said at least one ramp assembly comprising a ramp having a first radius and a guide member having a second radius; and

a pair of foot support assemblies, each foot support assembly being movably coupled to the at least one ramp assembly.

9. The exercise apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first radius is different from the second radius.

10. The exercise apparatus of claim 8, wherein the guide member is positioned below the ramp.

11. The exercise apparatus of claim 8, wherein said at least one ramp assembly comprises a first ramp assembly and a second ramp assembly.

12. The exercise apparatus of claim 11, wherein one of the foot support assemblies is coupled to the first ramp assembly and the other of the foot support assemblies is coupled to the second ramp assembly.

13. The exercise apparatus of claim 8, wherein each foot support assembly includes a foot support platform and a foot platform bracket, said foot platform bracket being pivotally connected to said foot support platform.

14. The exercise apparatus of claim 13, wherein the foot platform bracket comprises at least one wheel for coupling with said ramp or said guide member.

15. The exercise apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first radius of the ramp and the second different radius of the guide member of the at least one ramp assembly are configured to provide an ergonomic articulation to the pair of foot support assemblies.

16. The exercise apparatus of claim 8, wherein each of the foot support assemblies are configured such that an angle of inclination of each respective foot platform changes when said foot support assemblies are moved from one position along the at least one ramp assembly to another position along the at least one ramp assembly.

17. The exercise apparatus of claim 8 wherein the ramp of the ramp assembly has a curved shape such that a distance traveled by said foot platform along said ramp is different from a distance traveled by said foot platform bracket along the guide member so as to impart an ergonomic articulation upon said foot platforms as said foot platforms travel along said at least one ramp assembly.

18. An exercise apparatus comprising:

a framework;

a first ramp assembly mounted to said framework, said first ramp assembly comprising a first ramp having a first curvature and a first guide member having a second curvature, said first ramp being positioned above said first guide member;

a second ramp assembly mounted to said framework, said second ramp assembly comprising a second ramp having a first curvature and a second guide member having a second curvature, said second ramp being positioned above said second guide member; and

a pair of foot support assemblies, one foot support assembly being movably coupled to said first ramp and to said first guide member, and the other of said foot support assemblies being movably coupled to said second ramp and to said second guide member.

19. The exercise apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first ramp assembly comprises a first ramp having a first curvature and a first guide member having a second, different curvature;

and

wherein the second ramp assembly comprises a second ramp having a first curvature and a second guide member having a second, different curvature.

20. The exercise apparatus of claim 18, wherein said first foot support assembly comprises a first foot platform and a first foot support bracket pivotally coupled thereto, and wherein said second foot support assembly comprises a second foot platform and a second foot support bracket pivotally coupled thereto, each of said brackets comprising a plurality of wheels and being movably coupled to a respective guide member.

21. An exercise apparatus comprising:

a framework;

at least one ramp assembly mounted to said framework;

a pair of foot support assemblies, each foot support assembly being movably coupled to the at least one ramp assembly;

a foot location control assembly coupled to said pair of foot support assemblies and configured to selectively adjust a location on said at least one ramp assembly along which said foot support assemblies move.

22. The exercise apparatus of claim 21, wherein the foot location control assembly is configured to be selectively movable to adjust an upper and/or lower terminus of movement of said foot support assemblies along the at least one ramp assembly.

23. The exercise apparatus of claim 21, wherein the foot location control assembly is coupled to the pair of foot support assemblies and configured to selectively adjust the location of said foot support assemblies on the at least one ramp assembly between an upper portion of said ramp assembly, a lower portion of said ramp assembly, and/or any portion of said ramp assembly therebetween.

24. The exercise apparatus of claim 21, wherein the foot location control assembly links the first foot support assembly to the second foot support assembly such that the first and second foot support assemblies move in a reciprocal relationship to one another.

25. The exercise apparatus of claim 21, wherein the foot location control assembly comprises a cable and pulley system and an actuator linked thereto.

26. The exercise apparatus of claim 25, wherein the cable and pulley system comprises at least one cable and at least one pulley, the pulley being mounted on a pulley sled, and wherein the at least one cable is linked to the at least one pulley.

27. The exercise apparatus of claim 26, wherein the pulley sled is movable relative to the framework by the actuator.

28. The exercise apparatus of claim 27, wherein the actuator comprises an actuator bracket and a motor assembly.

29. The exercise apparatus of claim 28, wherein the motor assembly comprises a motor and a lead screw linked to the motor, the actuator bracket being threadedly mounted on said lead screw, said actuator bracket being mounted to the pulley sled.

30. The exercise apparatus of claim 29, wherein the rotation of the lead screw by the motor causes movement of the pulley sled relative to the framework.

31. The exercise apparatus of claim 29, wherein the pulley sled is mounted to the framework by a pair of spaced apart guide rails mounted to a first side panel and a second side panel of said framework.

32. An exercise apparatus comprising:

a framework;

at least one ramp assembly mounted to said framework, said at least one ramp assembly including a curved configuration;

a pair of foot support assemblies, each foot support assembly being movably coupled to the at least one ramp assembly; and

a resistance assembly coupled to said foot support assemblies so as to provide resistance against movement of said foot support assemblies by a user, wherein the resistance assembly is mounted to a cable and pulley system comprising a pulley sled, said pulley sled being adjustable with respect to said framework.

33. The exercise apparatus of claim 32, wherein the resistance assembly comprises:

a capstan mounted on a first shaft, said first shaft being mounted to the pulley sled;

a first one-way clutch mounted upon said first shaft;

a first drive pulley mounted upon said first shaft, said first drive pulley including a second one-way clutch;

a gear mounted upon a second shaft, said second shaft being mounted to the pulley sled, said gear being coupled with said first one-way clutch;

a second drive pulley mounted upon said second shaft;

said first drive pulley and said second drive pulley being coupled to a braking device.

34. The exercise apparatus of claim 33, wherein said braking device comprises a freewheel and/or an eddy brake.

35. An exercise apparatus comprising:

a framework;

at least one ramp assembly mounted to said framework, each ramp assembly including a curved configuration;

first and second foot support assemblies, each foot support assembly being movably coupled to the at least one ramp assembly;

a flexible coupling mechanism being configured to couple said first foot support assembly to said second foot support assembly.

36. The exercise apparatus of claim 35, wherein a resistance assembly is coupled to the first and the second foot support assemblies by the flexible coupling mechanism so as to provide resistance against movement of the said first and the said second foot support assemblies by a user.

37. The exercise apparatus of claim 36, wherein the flexible coupling mechanism comprises:

a pair of front cables, each front cable being attached at one end to a respective one of said first and second foot support assemblies, and an opposite end of each of said front cables being attached to a respective drive pulley of a pair of drive pulleys; and

a capstan cable attached at one end to one of said drive pulleys, said capstan cable being coupled to a capstan, and an opposite end of said capstan cable being attached to the other of said pair of drive pulleys.

38. The exercise apparatus of claim 35, wherein the effective length of the flexible coupling mechanism is adjustable so as to adjust a maximum stride length of said foot support assemblies.

39. The exercise apparatus of claim 38, wherein a foot location control assembly adjusts the effective length of the flexible coupling mechanism.

40. The exercise apparatus of claim 39, wherein the termini of movement of each foot support assembly is determined by the position of the foot location control assembly such that a user may select a position for said foot location control assembly corresponding to a substantially vertical portion of said at least one ramp assembly, a substantially horizontal portion of said ramp assembly, or any position therebetween.

41. The exercise apparatus of claim 39, wherein each foot support assembly includes a foot support platform, a foot platform bracket pivotally connected to said foot support platform, and a spring loaded drum pulley configured to maintain tension within the at least one cable so as to draw in any cable slack.

42. The exercise apparatus of claim 37, further comprising a lower cable attached at one end to a respective one of said first and second foot support assemblies, and an opposite end of said lower cable being attached to the other of said foot support assemblies so as to maintain tension within the flexible coupling mechanism.

43. The exercise apparatus of claim 35, further comprising a pair of spaced apart handles, each handle being fixedly attached at a first end to a respective upper pulley, each of said upper pulleys being coupled to a respective one of the first and the second foot support assemblies by the flexible coupling mechanism.

44. The exercise apparatus of claim 35, wherein the at least one ramp assembly, the flexible coupling mechanism, and the foot support assemblies are configured to provide a stride length of at least about 30 inches.

45. The exercise apparatus of claim 35, wherein the flexible coupling mechanism connects the first foot support assembly to the second foot support assembly such that movement of said first or said second foot support assembly causes a reciprocal movement of the other of said first and second foot support assemblies.

46. An exercise apparatus comprising:

a framework;

at least one ramp assembly mounted to said framework, said at least one ramp assembly including an upper ramp defining a first curve and a lower guide member defining a second curve;

a pair of foot support assemblies movably mounted to said at least one ramp assembly;

wherein a maximum length of the movement of said foot support assemblies is substantially the entire length of said at least one ramp assembly; and

wherein a shape of the movement of said foot support assemblies is substantially the shape of said first curve.

47. An exercise apparatus comprising:

a framework;

at least one ramp assembly mounted to said framework, said at least one ramp assembly including a curved configuration;

first and second foot support assemblies, each foot support assembly comprising a foot support platform and a foot platform bracket pivotally connected to said foot support platform, each foot support assembly being movably coupled to the at least one ramp assembly;

a resistance assembly coupled to said foot support assemblies so as to provide resistance against movement of said foot support assemblies by a user; and

a flexible coupling mechanism configured to couple said first foot support assembly to said second foot support assembly, said flexible coupling mechanism comprising a cable linked at one end to a respective one of said foot platforms, and an opposite end of said cable being linked to the other of said foot platforms.

48. The exercise apparatus of claim 47, wherein the resistance assembly is fixed with respect to the framework.

49. The exercise apparatus of claim 47, wherein each end of the cable is attached to a respective foot support bracket such that the cable is linked at each end to a respective foot support platform via the respective foot support bracket.

50. An exercise apparatus comprising:

a framework comprising a frame and a ramp assembly, said ramp assembly comprising at least one ramp, said at least one ramp having a first end and an opposing second end;

a pair of foot support assemblies each foot support assembly being movably coupled to the at least one ramp assembly; and

means for adjusting the neutral body position of the user with respect to the support surface.

51. The exercise apparatus of claim 50, wherein said means for adjusting the neutral body position of the user with respect to the support surface comprises an adjustable pulley system coupled to said framework.

52. The exercise apparatus of claim 50, wherein said means for adjusting the neutral body position of the user with respect to the support surface comprises a lead screw.

53. An exercise apparatus comprising:

a framework comprising a frame and a ramp assembly, said ramp assembly comprising at least one ramp, said at least one ramp having a first end and an opposing second end;

a pair of foot support assemblies, each foot support assembly being movably coupled to the ramp assembly; and

an adjustment assembly configured to selectively alter the neutral body position of the user with respect to the support surface.