Elliptical exercise device and methods of use

• US 20080051258A1
• Filed: 08/22/2006
• Published: 02/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SJS Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: SJS Holdings LLC
• Inventors: Schmehl, Jacob Stewart, Schmehl, Stewart Jacob
• Granted Patent: US 7,695,408 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/52
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/002 electronically, e.g. by using a program
• 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 2023/0441 cantilevered about two horizontal axes, e.g. parallelogram systems
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0051 using eddy currents induced in moved elements, e.g. by permanent magnets
• 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 22/0015 with an adjustable movement path of the support elements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0664 performing an elliptic movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0429 with guided foot supports moving parallel to the body-symmetrical-plane by being cantilevered about a horizontal axis

Abstract

An exercise device can include a pair of pedal members, each of which can be rotatably connected on at least one end to a planet gear that is rotatable about a sun gear on each side of the device. The pedal members and the planet gears can be rotated to provide an elliptical exercise motion. The device can include a mechanism for simultaneously rotating each of the sun gears together to change the orientation of the elliptical exercise motion relative to a user. The orientation of an elliptical exercise motion can be changed dynamically from one orientation to another, for example, from horizontal to uphill or downhill, during a particular workout period. The exercise device can change the orientation of an elliptical exercise motion while maintaining a user'"'"'s ankles at a substantially constant angle during the exercise cycle.

Claims

1. An exercise device, comprising:

a pair of pedal members, each of which is rotatably connected on one end to a pair of gears and connected on the other end to a pivot mechanism,

the pair of gears comprising a sun gear on each side of the device, an axle rotatably disposed through the sun gears, and a planet gear rigidly connected near each end of the axle for rotating about one of the sun gears,

each of the pedal members rotatably connected to at least one of the planet gears,

the pedal members and the planet gears rotatable to provide an elliptical exercise motion; and

a mechanism adapted to simultaneous rotate each of the sun gears together to change the orientation of the elliptical exercise motion relative to a user.

2. The exercise device of claim 1, further comprising a first link rotatably connecting each planet gear to at least one of the sun gears and a second link rotatably connecting one end of each pedal member to at least one of the planet gears.

3. The exercise device of claim 2, the first link and the second link each comprising a length, wherein a stride length of the elliptical exercise motion comprises twice the combined lengths of the first and second links, and a rise height of the elliptical exercise motion comprises twice the difference between the lengths of the first and second links.

4. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the mechanism for simultaneously rotating each of the sun gears comprises an arm rigidly connected to each of the sun gears, a threaded nut pivotally connected to the arm and threaded about an elevation rod, and an actuator operably connected to the elevation rod for pivoting the elevation rod forward and rearward by rotating the elevation rod within the nut.

5. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the pivot mechanism comprises an upright support and a pair of swing arms, each swing arm pivotally connected on one end on a side of the upright support and on the opposite end to one of the pedal members.

6. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the planet gear near one end of the axle is positioned on the axle at 180 degrees from the planet gear near the opposite end of the axle.

7. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the mechanism for simultaneously rotating each of the sun gears is adapted to rotate each of the sun gears within a 135 degree range.

8. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the orientation of the elliptical exercise motion comprises an elliptical exercise motion orientation that is horizontal, uphill, or downhill relative to the user.

9. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the mechanism for simultaneously rotating each of the sun gears is adapted to maintain the pedal members in a substantially horizontal plane when the sun gears are rotated.

10. The exercise device of claim 1, further comprising a handle pivotally connected to a forward end of each of the pedal members.

11. A exercise device, comprising:

a pair of pedal members, each of which is rotatably connected on a forward end of the pedal members to a first pair of gears and on a rearward end of the pedal members to a second pair of gears,

each of the pairs of gears comprising a sun gear on each side of the device, an axle rotatably disposed through the sun gears in each pair of gears, and a planet gear rigidly connected near each end of each axle for rotating about one of the sun gears,

each of the pedal members rotatably connected to at least one of the planet gears in each pair of gears,

the pedal members and the planet gears rotatable to provide an elliptical exercise motion; and

a mechanism adapted to simultaneous rotate each of the sun gears together to change the orientation of the elliptical exercise motion relative to a user.

12. The exercise device of claim 11, further comprising a first link rotatably connecting each planet gear to one of the sun gears and a second link rotatably connecting one end of each pedal member to one of the planet gears.

13. The exercise device of claim 12, the first link and the second link each comprising a length, wherein a stride length of the elliptical exercise motion comprises twice the combined lengths of the first and second links, and a rise height of the elliptical exercise motion comprises twice the difference between the lengths of the first and second links.

14. The exercise device of claim 11, wherein the mechanism for simultaneously rotating each of the sun gears comprises a sun gear connector rigidly connected to each of the sun gears in at least one of the pairs of sun gears and pivotally connected to a threaded collar, the threaded collar engaged with and movable longitudinally about a threaded rod by rotating the threaded rod.

15. The exercise device of claim 11, wherein the planet gear at each end of one of the pedal members is positioned on the axle at 180 degrees from the opposite planet gear at each end of the other of the pedal members.

16. The exercise device of claim 11, wherein the mechanism for simultaneously rotating each of the sun gears is adapted to rotate each of the sun gears within a 135 degree range.

17. The exercise device of claim 11, wherein the orientation of the elliptical exercise motion comprises an elliptical exercise motion orientation that is horizontal, uphill, or downhill relative to the user.

18. The exercise device of claim 11, wherein the mechanism for simultaneously rotating each of the sun gears is adapted to maintain the pedal members is a substantially horizontal plane when the sun gears are rotated.

19. The exercise device of claim 11, further comprising a control mechanism for controlling rotation of the sun gears and the orientation of the elliptical exercise motion.

20. The exercise device of claim 11, further comprising an elongated member rigidly connecting the pair of sun gears on the forward end of the pedal members with the pair of sun gears on the rearward end of the pedal members.

21. The exercise device of claim 11, further comprising a front gear pulley and a rear gear pulley, each pulley rigidly connected to one of the axles, and a timing belt operably connecting the front and rear gear pulleys.

22. A method of exercising, comprising:

accessing an exercise device comprising a pair of pedal members, at least one end of each of which is rotatably connected to a planet gear on each side of the device, each planet gear rigidly connected near each end of an axle, the axle rotatably disposed through a sun gear on each side of the device, each the planet gear rotatable about one of the sun gears, and the pedal members and the planet gears rotatable to provide an elliptical exercise motion; and

simultaneously rotating each of the sun gears together to change the orientation of the elliptical exercise motion relative to a user.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein simultaneously rotating each of the sun gears together further comprises simultaneously rotating each of the sun gears together within a 135 degree range.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein simultaneously rotating each of the sun gears together further comprises changing the orientation of the elliptical exercise motion to an elliptical exercise motion orientation that is horizontal, uphill, or downhill relative to the user.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein simultaneously rotating each of the sun gears together further comprises maintaining the pedal members in a substantially horizontal plane when the sun gears are rotated.