Stationary exercise apparatus

• US 7,682,290 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2006
• Issued: 03/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson Health Tech Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Johnson Health Tech Company Limited
• Inventors: Chang, Shu-Wei, Liao, Hung-Mao
• Primary Examiner(s): CROW, STEPHEN R
• Application Number:
  US11/434,541
• Publication Number:
  US 20070117684A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,408 Days
• Field of Search: 482 51- 53, 482/57, 482/70
• 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 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 22/0664 performing an elliptic movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 heartbeat rate only

Abstract

A stationary exercise device with adjustable members for varying the stride path and the exercise intensity of a user.

Claims

1. A stationary exercise apparatus, comprising:

(a) a frame having a base, a side portion, a front, and a back;

(b) first and second supporting members, each supporting member having a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portions of the first and second supporting members respectively coupled to the frame to rotate about a first axis;

(c) first and second swing members, each swing member having an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portions of the first and second swing members respectively pivotally joined to the second end portions of the first and second supporting members, the upper portions of the first and second swing members respectively pivotally connected to the side portion of the frame at points that define a swing axis;

(d) first and second control links respectively pivotally connected to the first and second supporting members, each control link having a first end portion, a second end portion, and a central portion, wherein the first end portions of the first and second control links are movably coupled to the frame, the central portions of the first and second control links are respectively joined to the first and second supporting members so that the second end portion of each control link extends upwardly above the supporting members; and

(e) first and second pedals respectively coupled to the second end portions of the first and second control links, the first and second pedals moving along a closed path while the first ends of the first and second supporting members are being rotated about the first axis and the second ends of the first and second supporting members are reciprocating with the lower portions of the first and second swing members.

2. The stationary exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second end portions of the first and second supporting members define a reciprocating path having a front end, a middle point, and a rear end wherein the swing axis is positioned farther from the front of the frame than the middle point of the reciprocating path.

3. The stationary exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second end portions of the first and second supporting members define a reciprocating path having a front end, a middle point, and a rear end wherein the swing axis is positioned farther from the front of the frame than the rear end of the reciprocating path.

4. The stationary exercise apparatus of claim 1, further comprising first and second handle links, each handle link having upper and lower end portions, the lower end portions of the first and second handle links respectively pivoted to the first end portions of the first and second control links, the upper end portions of the first and second handle links respectively pivoted to the frame.

5. The stationary exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second end portions of the first and second supporting members define a reciprocating path having a front end, a middle point, and a rear end wherein the swing axis is disposed at substantially the same distance from the front end of the frame as the center point of the reciprocating path.

6. The stationary exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the swing axis is movable toward and away from the front of the frame.

7. A stationary exercise apparatus, comprising:

(a) a frame having a base, a side portion, a front, and a back;

(b) first and second supporting members, each supporting member having a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portions of the first and second supporting members respectively coupled to the frame to rotate along a first closed path about a first axis;

(c) first and second swing members, each swing member having an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portions of the first and second swing members respectively connected to the second end portions of the first and second supporting members, the upper portions of the first and second swing members being adjustably coupled to the side portion of the frame and defining a swing axis;

(d) first and second pedals respectively pivotally coupled to the first and second supporting members, the first and second pedals moving along a second closed path and a third closed path while the first ends of the first and second supporting members are being rotated about the first axis wherein at least one geometry parameter of the second closed path could be varied while the swing axis is being adjusted relative to the frame; and

(e) first and second moving members respectively pivotally coupled to the frame, each moving member having an upper end portion, the upper end potions of the first and second moving members respectively coupled to the upper portions of the first and second swing members.

8. The stationary exercise apparatus of claim 7, wherein the geometry parameter is the incline level of the second closed path and the incline level of the second closed path could be increased while the swing axis is being adjusted rearwardly.

9. The stationary exercise apparatus of claim 7, and further comprising an adjustable assembly, one end of the adjustable assembly coupled to one of the first and second moving members, the other end of the adjustable assembly coupled to the frame.

10. The stationary exercise apparatus of claim 9, wherein the frame further comprises:

third and fourth moving members slidably coupled to the frame, the third and fourth moving members respectively pivoted to the upper portions of the first and second swing members.

11. The stationary exercise apparatus of claim 10, wherein the frame further comprises at least an adjustable assembly coupled to one of the third and fourth moving members.

12. A stationary exercise apparatus, comprising:

(a) a frame having a base, a side portion, a front, and a back;

(b) first and second supporting members, each supporting member having a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portions of the first and second supporting members respectively coupled to the frame to rotate along a first closed path about a first axis;

(c) first and second swing members, each swing member having an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portions of the first and second swing members respectively connected to the second end portions of the first and second supporting members, the upper portions of the first and second swing members being adjustably coupled to the side portion of the frame and defining a swing axis;

(d) first and second control links respectively pivotally joined to the first and second supporting members, each control link having a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portions of the first and second control links movably coupled to the frame; and

(e) first and second pedals respectively coupled to the second end portions of the first and second control links, the first and second pedals moving along a second closed path and a third closed path while the first ends of the first and second supporting members are being rotated about the first axis wherein at least one geometry parameter of the second closed path could be varied while the swing axis is being adjusted relative to the frame and wherein the incline level of the second closed loop path is increased more than the incline level of the third closed loop path while the swing axis is being adjusted backwardly.

13. A stationary exercise apparatus, comprising:

(a) a frame having a base, a side portion, a front, and a back;

(b) first and second supporting members, each supporting member having a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portions of the first and second supporting members respectively coupled to the frame to rotate along a first closed path about a first axis;

(c) first and second swing members, each swing member having an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portions of the first and second swing members being respectively pivotally coupled to the second end portions of the first and second supporting members, the upper portions of the first and second swing members being adjustably coupled to the frame and defining a swing axis;

(d) first and second pedals; and

(e) first and second control links respectively pivoted to the first and second supporting members, each control link having a first end and a second end, the first ends of the first and second control links movably coupled to the frame, the second ends of the first and second control links respectively coupled to the first and second pedals, the first and second pedals moving along a second closed loop path and a third closed loop path while the first ends of the first and second supporting members are being rotated about the first axis wherein at least one geometry parameter of the second closed loop path is increased while the swing axis is being adjusted rearwardly, the geometry parameter being selected from the group consisting of a stride length and pedal orientation steepness.

14. The stationary exercise apparatus of claim 13, the frame, and further comprising first and second moving members pivoted to the frame, each moving member having an upper end portion, the upper ends of the first and second moving members respectively coupled to the upper portions of the first and second swing members.

15. The stationary exercise apparatus of claim 14, and further comprising an adjustable assembly, one end of the adjustable assembly coupled to one of the first and second moving members and the other end of the adjustable assembly coupled to the frame.

16. The stationary exercise apparatus of claim 15, and further comprising first and second handle links, each handle link having an upper end and a lower end, the low ends of the first and second handle links respectively pivoted to the first end portions of the first and second control links, the up ends of the first and second handle link respectively pivoted to the frame.

17. The stationary exercise apparatus of claim 13, wherein the frame further comprises third and fourth moving members slidably coupled to the frame, the third and fourth moving members respectively pivoted to the upper portions of the first and second swing members.

18. The stationary exercise apparatus of claim 13, wherein the stride length of the second closed path is increased more than the stride length of the third closed path while the swing axis is being adjusted rearwardly.