Free path elliptical exercise apparatus

[0001] 1. Field

[0002] The present invention relates to a standup exercise apparatus that simulates walking and jogging with arm exercise. More particularly, the present invention relates to an exercise machine having separately supported pedals for the feet and arm exercise coordinated with the motion of the feet where the pedal stride length is determined by the movements of an operator.

[0003] 2. State of the Art

[0004] The benefits of regular exercise to improve overall health, appearance and longevity are well documented in the literature. For exercise enthusiasts the search continues for safe apparatus that provides full body exercise for maximum benefit in minimum time.

[0005] Recently, a new category of exercise equipment has appeared on the commercial market called varying stride elliptical cross trainers. These cross trainers guide the feet along a closed loop shaped curve to simulate the motions of jogging and climbing with varying stride lengths. The shorter stride lengths have pedals which follow closed loop curves that are generally elliptical in shape. However, the longer stride lengths have pedals which follow closed loop curves having more of a banana shape than elliptical. There is a need for a variable stride exercise apparatus capable of long, medium and shorter stride lengths where the pedals always follow generally elliptical curve paths.

[0006] Varying stride elliptical cross trainers are shown without cams in Rodgers, Jr. US Patent Applications 2009/0181828 and 2009/0156369 as well as U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,520,839 and 7,530,626 which show a pendulum striding exercise apparatus having a foot support members hung from a generally horizontal beam pivoted to achieve the varying stride length pedal curves. Rodgers, Jr. in US Patent Application 2009/0156370 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,507,184 show exercise apparatus with flexible support elements having varying stride lengths. Miller in US Patent Application 2009/0105049 also shows an exercise apparatus having varying stride lengths.

[0007] It is an objective of this invention to provide an exercise apparatus having varying stride lengths determined by the movement of an operator. A further objective is an exercise apparatus having varying stride lengths where the pedals follow elliptical curves for short, medium and long stride lengths.

[0008] The present invention relates to the kinematic motion control of pedals which simulate walking and jogging during operation. More particularly, apparatus is provided that offers variable intensity exercise through a leg operated cyclic motion in which the pedal supporting each foot is guided through successive positions during the motion cycle while a load resistance acts upon the mechanism.

[0009] The pedals are guided through an oblong curve motion while pedal angles are controlled to vary about the horizontal during the pedal cycle. Arm exercise is by handles coordinated with the mechanism guiding the foot pedals. The range of handle movement determines the pedal stride length.

[0010] In the preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes a separate pedal for each foot attached to a foot support member. A pair of crank arms rotate about a pivot axis positioned on the framework. A pair of first support links are pivotally connected to the crank arms and to foot support members. A pair of second support links are pivotally connected to the framework and to the foot support members. A pair of handles are pivotally connected to the framework. A pair of connector links are pivotally connected to the handles and to the first support links. A cross member is pivotally connected to the framework. A pair of crossing links are pivotally connected to the cross member and to each handle. The crossover member and crossing links form a crossover assembly to cause one handle to move forward while the other handle moves rearward.

[0011] The stride length of the pedal is determined by the range of movement of the handle. The shortest stride length occurs with no movement of the handles while the longest stride length of the pedals occurs with the longest range of movement of the handles.

[0012] Load resistance is applied to the crank in this embodiment by a pulley which drives a belt to a smaller pulley attached to a flywheel supported by the framework. A tension belt covers the circumference of the flywheel to provide friction for load resistance on the intensity of exercise. A control system can adjust the tension on the tension belt through an actuator to vary the intensity of exercise. It should be understood that other forms of load resistance such as magnetic, alternator, air fan or others may be applied to the crank.

[0013] In summary, this invention provides the operator with varying elliptical stride lengths having stable foot pedal support that simulate walking and jogging with very low joint impact with variable range arm exercise. Pedal curves remain elliptical in shape throughout the range of variation.

[0016] Referring to the drawings in detail, pedals 46 and 48 are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in forward and rearward positions of the preferred embodiment. Crank arms 4,6 rotate about pivot axis 7 on framework 70. Foot support members 14,16 have pedals 46,48 attached. First support links 8,10 are connected to crank arms 6,4 at pivots 11,9 and to foot support members 14,16 at pivots 13,15. Second support links 40,44 are connected to framework 70 at pivot 45 and to foot support members 14,16 at pivots 41,43.

[0017] Handles 36,38 are connected to framework 70 at pivot 39 and have handle extensions 80,84. Connector links 30,34 are connected to handle extensions 80,84 at pivots 33,37 and to first support links 8,10 at pivots 31,35. Crossover member 36 is connected to framework 70 at pivot 55. Crossing links 50,54 are connected to crossover member 56 at pivots 53,59 and to handle extensions 84,80 at pivots 51,57. Crossover member 56 and crossing links 50,54 form a crossover assembly as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 that cause handle 36 to move forward when handle 38 moves rearward.

[0018] Load resistance is imposed upon cranks 4,6 by pulley 49 which drives flywheel 63 by belt 69 coupled to pulley 61 which is supported by the framework 70 at shaft 71. Tension belt 64 encompasses flywheel 63 with actuator 66 connected for adjustment to vary the intensity of exercise on the exercise apparatus. Control system 68 is connected to actuator 66 with wires 67,65 using conventional means. Control system 68 can be programmed to adjust tension belt 64 to vary the intensity of exercise during operation. Framework 70 is attached to longitudinal frame members 74 which are attached to cross members 73,75 that are supported by a generally horizontal surface.

[0019] Operation begins when an operator places the feet upon the pedals 46,48 in the default side by side position of pedals 46,48. Holding handles 36,38 generally still as denoted by 1′, pedals 46,48 move through a relatively short pedal curve 1 shown in FIG. 1. Allowing the handles 36,38 to move through handle range 3′ causes pedals 46,48 to move along pedal curve 3. Allowing handles 36,38 to move through handle range 5′ results in pedal curve 5. Note that all pedal curves 1,3,5 are generally elliptical in shape.

[0020] In summary, the present invention has distinct advantages over prior art because the back and forth elliptical stride movement of the pedals 46,48 can be changed by the range of movement 1′,3′,5′ of the handles 36,38 while maintaining a generally elliptical pedal curves 1,3,5 even for the longest pedal stride.

[0021] The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative, and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the claims, rather than by foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.