Elliptical exerciser

• US 7,871,356 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2008
• Issued: 01/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Appareils D'Exercice Bodyguard Inc.
• Original Assignee: Appareils D'Exercice Bodyguard Inc.
• Inventors: Smith, Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): CROW, STEPHEN R
• Application Number:
  US12/143,271
• Publication Number:
  US 20080318736A1
• Time in Patent Office: 942 Days
• Field of Search: 482 51- 53, 482/57, 482/62
• US Class Current: 482/52
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0676 with crank and handles being on the same side of the exercising apparatus with respect to the frontal body-plane of the user, e.g. crank and handles are in front of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/225 with flywheels
• 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 22/001 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 22/0046 Details of the support elements or their connection to the exercising apparatus, e.g. adjustment of size or orientation attachments of resisters or weights to the body of the user A63B21/4001; using rollers, wheels, castors or gliding means to be moved over the floor or guide tracks A63B22/20
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0664 performing an elliptic movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/17 Counting, e.g. counting periodical movements, revolutions or cycles, or including further data processing to determine distances or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/34 Angular speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/093 Height

Abstract

An arm mechanism for an elliptical exerciser comprises a linkage having a first end pivotally mounted to a frame of the elliptical exerciser, and a second end receiving a reciprocating movement from a foot pedal of the elliptical exerciser. An arm member has a handling portion to be handled by a user of the elliptical exerciser, and a coupling portion to be coupled to the first end of the linkage. A coupling mechanism releasably couples the linkage to the arm member such that the linkage and the arm member rotate jointly about the frame upon the linkage receiving the reciprocating movement from the foot pedal in a coupled position of the coupling mechanism, and for decoupling the arm member from the linkage in a decoupled position of the coupling mechanism to prevent rotation of the arm member while the linkage rotates.

Claims

1. An arm mechanism for an elliptical exerciser comprising:

a linkage having a first end pivotally mounted to a frame of the elliptical exerciser, and a second end receiving a reciprocating movement from a foot pedal of the elliptical exerciser;

an arm member having a handling portion to be handled by a user of the elliptical exerciser, and a coupling portion to be coupled to the first end of the linkage;

a coupling mechanism for releasably coupling the linkage to the arm member, the coupling mechanism having cylinders on the arm member and on the linkage, the cylinders being axially aligned and having matching serrated surfaces for coupling engagement such that the linkage and the arm member rotate jointly about the frame upon the linkage receiving the reciprocating movement from the foot pedal in a coupled position of the coupling mechanism, and for decoupling the arm member from the linkage in a decoupled position of the coupling mechanism to prevent rotation of the arm member while the linkage rotates.

2. The arm mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the arm member is biased away from the user of the elliptical exerciser in the decoupled position of the coupling mechanism.

3. The arm mechanism according to claim 2, further comprising an actuated endless screw to switch the coupling mechanism between the coupled position and the decoupled position.

4. The arm mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the arm member has a height-adjustment mechanism for the adjustment of the length of the arm member between the handling portion and the coupling portion.

5. The arm mechanism according to claim 4, wherein the height-adjustment mechanism has at least one quick-connect collar.

6. The arm mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the linkage has an intermediary member and an end member interconnected by a rotational joint, the intermediary member being releasably coupled to the arm member by the coupling mechanism, and the end member adapted to be connected to a foot pedal.