Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE: PENDULUM STRIDING EXERCISE APPARATUS
BACKGROUND
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an exercise apparatus. Certain
embodiments relate to exercise
apparatus that may allow exercise such as simulated wallcing, striding,
jogging, and/or climbing.
2. Description of Related Art
Exercise devices have been in use for years. Some typical exercise devices
that simulate walking, jogging,
or climbing include cross country ski machines, stair climbing machines,
elliptical motion machines, and pendulum
motion machines.
In many exercise apparatus, the user's foot is constrained during exercise to
patterns that may not
accurately represent the typical path and/or position of a foot during walking
and/or jogging. For example, cross
country ski machines may not allow a user to lift the front of his/her foot
above a flat plane defmed by the top of the
pedal or footpad. Elliptical machines may provide inertia that assists in
changing directions of the foot pedals,
which may make the exercise smoother and more comfortable. Elliptical machines
may, however, constrain a
user's foot to the mechanically defined elliptical path of the footpads or
foot pedals. The elliptical path may be too
long for shorter users or too short for taller users. Thus, an elliptical
apparatus may not accommodate a variety of
users. In addition, a jogging stride is longer than a walking stride so a
fixed stride length apparatus may not
optimally simulate several different types of exercise activities.
Pendulum motion exercise apparatus may allow variable stride length. The
user's feet, however, may be
constrained to follow the same arcuate path in both forward and rearward
motion. Such motion may not accurately
simulate a walking, striding, jogging, or cliYnbing motion.
Certain pendulum motion exercise apparatus may have a fixed pendulum length. A
fixed pendulum length
may not allow for foot lift or vertical amplitude in the motion of the foot,
and thus, may not provide naturally
accommodating foot motion. Other pendulum motion exercise apparatus may have
relatively short pendulum
lengths that may not properly accommodate the path of motion of the foot or
legs of the human body.
SUMMARY
An exercise apparatus may include a frame. The frame may include at least a
portion that remains
substantially stationary during use. A crank system may be coupled to the
frame. The crank system may include
one or more crank members. A brake/inertia device may be coupled to the crank
system. In certain embodiments,
an exercise apparatus may include a pivotal linkage pendulum system. A pivotal
linkage pendulum system may be
coupled to the crank system. A pivotal linkage pendulum system may include one
or more link members. In
certain embodiments, an upper pivot point of a link member may be coupled to
the crank system. In some
embodiments, the upper pivot point of the link member is coupled to the crank
system through a movable member.
The upper pivot point of the link member may move in a path during use. A foot
member may be coupled to at
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least one of the lnuc members. In some embodiments, a toot member may be
coupled to a lower pivot point of at
least one of the link members. The foot member may include a footpad.
In some embodiments, a pivotal linkage pendulum system may include a movable
member. The movable
member may be coupled to one or more link members. An upper pivot point of at
least one of the link members
may be coupled to a portion of the movable member. In certain embodiments, the
upper pivot point of the at least
one of the link members is at an upper end of the link member. The portion of
the movable member may move in a
back and forth path of motion. In some embodiments, the portion of the movable
member may move in a closed
path of motion.
In an embodiment, a movable member is coupled to and at least partially
supported by the frame at or near
a first end of the movable member. The movable member may be coupled to and at
least partially supported by the
crank system at or near a second end of the movable member. The portion of the
movable member coupled to the
upper pivot point of the at least one of the link members may be between the
first end and the second end of the
movable member. In some embodiments, the portion of the movable member coupled
to the upper pivot point of
the at least one of the link members is near the second end of the movable
member.
In certain embodiments, a pivotal linkage pendulum system may include one or
more link members. An
upper pivot point of at least one of the link members may be coupled to the
crank system such that the upper pivot
point of the link member moves in a closed path. A foot member may be coupled
to one or more of the link
members. The foot member may include a footpad. In certain embodiments, a
majority of a path of motion of the
footpad is below the closed path. In some embodiments, substantially all of a
path of motion of the footpad is
below the closed path.
In certain embodiments, a distance between a footpad and an upper pivot point
of a link member that
moves in a path (e.g., a closed path or a back and forth path) is at least
about 3 times the length of at least one crank
member. In some embodiments, a distance between a footpad and an upper pivot
point of a link member that
moves in a path (e.g., a closed path or a back and forth path) is at least
about 3 times a vertical amplitude of a path
of motion of the footpad. In certain embodiments, a hip of a majority of users
of the apparatus is positioned near at
least a portion of the path of motion of an upper pivot point of a link
member.
In certain embodiments, a majority of the path of an upper pivot point of a
link member is positioned in
front of a footpad plane when the footpad is at a center of its path of
motion. The footpad plane may be located at a
center of a footpad. In certain embodiments, a majority of a crank system is
positioned in front of a footpad plane
when the footpad is at a center of its path of motion. In some embodiments, a
majority of the crank system is
positioned near a footpad plane when the footpad is at a center of its path of
motion. In some embodiments, a
majority of the crank system is positioned behind a footpad plane when the
footpad is at a center of its path of
motion.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Advantages of the present invention may become apparent to those skilled in
the art with the benefit of the
following detailed description and upon reference to the accompanying drawings
in which:
FIG. 1 depicts an embodiment of a human leg moving through a walking,
striding, jogging, or climbing
motion.
FIG. 1A depicts embodiments of paths of a user's foot moving through a
walking, striding, jogging, or
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GillilOIIig II1UL1U11.
FIG. 2 depicts an embodiment of a linkage system with a relatively long
pendulum length compared to a
crank radius.
FIG. 3 depicts an embodiment of a linkage system with a relatively short
pendulum length compared to a
crank radius.
FIG. 4 depicts a side view of an embodiment of an exercise apparatus.
FIG. 5 depicts a path that a user's foot may follow during exercise using an
embodiment of an exercise
apparatus.
FIG. 6 depicts a side view of an embodiment of an exercise apparatus.
FIG. 7 depicts a side view of an embodiment of an exercise apparatus.
FIG. 8 depicts a side view of an embodiment of an exercise apparatus.
FIG. 9 depicts a top view of an embodiment of an exercise apparatus.
FIG. 10 depicts a side view of an embodiment of an exercise apparatus.
FIG. l0A depicts a side view of an embodiment of an exercise apparatus.
FIG. 11 depicts a side view of an embodiment of an exercise apparatus.
FIG. 1 1A depicts a side view of an embodiment of an exercise apparatus.
FIG. 12 depicts a side view of an embodiment of an exercise apparatus.
FIG. 13 depicts a side view of an embodiment of an exercise apparatus.
FIG. 14 depicts a side view of an embodiment of an exercise apparatus.
FIG. 15 depicts a side view of an embodiment of an exercise apparatus.
FIG. 16 depicts a side view of an embodiment of an exercise apparatus.
FIG. 16A depicts a side view of an embodiment of an exercise apparatus.
FIG. 17 depicts a side view of an embodiment of an exercise apparatus.
FIG. 18 depicts a side view of an embodiment of an exercise apparatus.
FIG. 19 depicts a side view of an embodiment of an exercise apparatus.
FIG. 20 depicts examples of embodiments of back and forth paths of motion.
FIG. 21 depicts examples of embodiments of closed paths of motion.
While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative
forms, specific embodiments
thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and may herein be
described in detail. The drawings may not
be to scale. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and detailed
description thereto are not intended to
limit the invention to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the
intention is to cover all modifications,
equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the
present invention as defmed by the appended
claims.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
In the context of this patent, the term "coupled" means either a direct
connection or an indirect connection
(e.g., one or more intervening connections) between one or more objects or
components. The phrase "directly
attached" means a direct connection between objects or components. The term
"support" means a first element,
directly or indirectly, locates or positions a second element by pushing or
pulling on the second element. The first
element may be directly attached or coupled to the second element when
providing support. The first element may
be in compression while pushing or in tension while pulling on the second
element.
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The term "path" means any type of path that an object (e.g., a foot, a
footpad, a link member, a movable
member, or a coupling) or a point in space may undertake during motion. For
example, a path may include a closed
path or a back and forth path.
A "back and forth path of motion" means motion along a curved or straight line
with two end points. The
back and forth motion moves along the same line but in opposite directions.
Back and forth motion may be
substantially horizontal motion, substantially vertical motion, or a
combination of horizontal motion and vertical
motion. Examples of back and forth paths of motion are depicted in FIG. 20.
A "closed path of motion" means motion along a continuous path that encloses
an area. A closed path of
motion has no end points. A closed path of motion may have many different
shapes. The shape of a closed path
may depend on the generating linkage mechanism. For example, a closed path may
be an orbital path, an elliptical
path, a saddle-shaped path, an asymmetrical path (e.g., a closed path with a
smaller radius of curvature on one side
of the path as compared to the other side), or an ovate or egg-shaped path. In
some embodiments, a closed path
may be elliptical, orbital, or oblong. Examples of closed paths of motion are
depicted in FIG. 21.
The term "pendulum" means a body suspended from a pivoting point so that it
swings back and forth. The
term "amplitude" means the magnitude or extent of movement from a specified
location (e.g., a starting position or
an equilibrium position).
The phrase "average height user" means a user that has a height near an
average human height. Mean
height for males is about 5'9" and mean height for females is about 5'4.5"
(data from U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services). Thus, an average height user may be defmed as a user with
a height of about 5'6" or 5'7".
An exemplary image of an average height user is used in one or more of the
drawings described herein. A
"majority of users" may have a height between about 5' and about 6'4". For the
purposes of this patent, "a hip of
an average height user" refers to a location of the hip of an average height
user and "a hip of a majority of users"
refers to a location of the hip of a majority of users. Users with similar
heights may, howeveir, have different torso
and/or leg lengths that vary the position of each user's hip relative to other
parts (e.g., the feet) of the user's body.
Thus, there may be variations in the location of a user's hip between
individuals.
FIG. 1 depicts an embodiment of a human leg moving through a walking,
striding, jogging, or climbing
motion. Leg 80, when fully extended, may act as a pendulum. Hip joint 82 may
be a top of the pendulum about
which leg 80 moves. Articulation of the ankle and knee joints may result in
path 84 of the foot with a foot lift.
FIG. 1A depicts several embodiments of path 84 that a user's foot may move
through using an exercise apparatus as
described herein. Path 84 may have a vertical amplitude "h" at a center of the
path. Path 84 may have several
different shapes due to variations in a horizontal amplitude of the path, as
shown in FIG. 1A. The vertical
amplitude "h", however, may remain substantially the same for the various
embodiments of path 84 for an exercise
apparatus with a fixed geometry. At or near walking or jogging speeds, "h" may
be a relatively small percentage of
extended leg length "L". Thus, a mechanical system that more accurately
accommodates the natural path of motion
of a user's leg and foot may include a pendulum system having a pendulum
length that is relatively long compared
to vertical amplitude "h".
A vertical amplitude of a foot path of motion may be defined by a geometry of
a crank system (e.g., a
crank radius) and a linkage system (e.g., a pivotal linkage pendulum system).
FIG. 2 depicts an embodiment of a
linkage system with a relatively long pendulum length compared to a crank
radius. FIG. 3 depicts an embodiment
of a linkage system with a relatively short pendulum length compared to a
crank radius. As shown in FIG. 2,
pendulum angle 86 may be relatively small with pendulum length "P" relatively
long compared to crank radius 88.
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A resultant horizontal force as a user steps on a foot member (e.g., a foot
pedal) is equal to the stepping force
multiplied by the tangent of pendulum angle 86. A resultant horizontal force
in the embodiment depicted in FIG. 2
may be a relatively small portion (e.g., approximately 10%) of the stepping
force. In FIG. 3, pendulum length "P"
is relatively short compared to crank radius 88. A resultant horizontal force
in the embodiment depicted in FIG. 3
may be a relatively large portion (e.g., approximately 100%) of the stepping
force. Therefore, an exercise apparatus
with a relatively long pendulum length "P" compared to crank radius 88 (e.g.,
a pendulum length at least about 3
times the crank radius) may provide a smaller resultant horizontal force.
Thus, such an exercise apparatus may
provide a smoother, a more comfortable, and a more accommodating motion for a
user of the apparatus.
In certain embodiments, a pendulum motion exercise apparatus may include a
brake/inertia system or
device. Brake/inertia systems may receive energy, store energy, and deliver
energy in an exercise apparatus. For
example, a brake/inertia system may receive energy as a user steps downward at
the beginning of a stride. The
brake/inertia system may store the received energy. The stored energy may be
delivered back to the exercise
apparatus or the user to assist in lifting a linkage assembly or a portion of
a linkage assembly (e.g., a foot member)
over the top of a step or a stride. This energy transfer may assist in
providing a more natural and a more
comfortable walking, striding, jogging, and/or climbing motion for a user of
an exercise apparatus.
In certain embodiments, an exercise apparatus may include a brake/inertia
system and provide for a foot
path of motion in which a vertical amplitude of the foot path of motion is
relatively small compared to a pendulum
length of the foot path of motion. Such an exercise apparatus may provide more
natural, smoother, more
comfortable, and more accommodating function and path of motion for a user of
the exercise apparatus.
FIG. 4 depicts a side view of an embodiment of an exercise apparatus. Frame
100 may include a basic
supporting framework and an upper stalk. Frame 100 may be any structure that
provides support for one or more
components of an exercise apparatus. In certain embodiments, all or a portion
of frame 100 may remain
substantially stationary during use. For example, all or a portion of frame
100 may remain substantially stationary
relative to a floor on which the exercise apparatus is used. "Stationary"
generally means that an object (or a portion
of the object) has little or no movement during use. For example, an exercise
apparatus would be "stationary" if the
apparatus is operated in one location (in contrast to a movable exercise
apparatus such as an ordinary bicycle), even
if the apparatus wobbles or vibrates during use.
Foot members 122 may have footpads 124 or any other surface on which a user
may stand. Footpad 124 is
typically any surface or location on which a user's foot resides during use of
an exercise apparatus (e.g., the footpad
may be a pad or a pedal on which the user's foot resides during use). In some
embodiments, footpad 124 may be a
portion of foot member 122. Footpad plane 125 is a plane that intercepts
footpad 124 at a right angle approximately
near a center of the footpad, as shown in FIG. 4. Footpad plane 125, as
depicted in FIG. 4, may be used in any of
the embodiments and drawings described herein.
Link members 152a, 152b, 152c, 152d may be components of a multibar linkage
system (e.g., a pivotal
linkage pendulum system). In certain embodiments, a pivotal linkage pendulum
system may include one or more
pendulum members (e.g., link members 152a, 152b, 152c, 152d), foot members
(e.g., foot members 122), and
footpads (e.g., footpads 124). A pivotal linkage pendulum system may include
left and right portions that are
mirror images of each other. In certain embodiments, the left and right
portions of a pivotal linkage pendulum
system may move in opposition to each other. In an embodiment, link members
152a, 152d are coupled to (e.g.,
pivotally coupled to) foot members 122. Link members 152a may be coupled to
(e.g., pivotally coupled to) frame
100 at point 130. Link members 152a may be supported by frame 100 at point
130. Point 130 is a location on
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frame 100 that may include an elongated axis perpendicular to the plane of
FIG. 4 (i.e., the axis projects in or out of
the two dimensional plane depicted in FIG. 4) for coupling members (e.g., link
members 152a) to the frame. For
example, point 130 may be a location with an axis or a shaft that couples the
frame to both right and left side link
members. In certain embodiments, link members 152a may support an end of foot
members 122 coupled to the link
members. Link members 152d may also support foot members 122. Foot members 122
may be coupled to a lower
end of a pivotal linkage pendulum system. For example, foot members 122 may be
coupled to link members 152d,
which are in a lower end of the pivotal linkage pendulum system.
Link member 152c may be coupled to and supported by movable member 104 at
point 132. An "upper
pivot point" of link member 152c may be coupled to movable member 104 at point
132. In certain embodiments,
the upper end of link member 152c may be the upper pivot point coupled to
movable member 104 at point 132. In
some embodiments, another portion of link member 152c may be coupled to
movable member 104 at point 132
(e.g., the upper pivot point on the link member may be near the upper end of
the link member). Point 132 is a
location that may include an elongated axis perpendicular to the plane of FIG.
4 (i.e., the axis projects in or out of
the two dimensional plane depicted in FIG. 4) for coupling two or more members
together (e.g., link members 152c
and movable members 104). For example, point 132 may be a location with an
axis or a shaft that couples a right
side movable member to a right side link member. A similar point or location
may be on a left side of the exercise
apparatus for coupling a left side movable member to a left side link member.
Link member 152c may act as a pendulum moving about an upper pivot point of
the link member, which is
coupled to movable member 104. The upper pivot point of link member 152c
represents a top of the pendulum.
Thus, link member 152c acts as a pendulum supported by movable member 104 at
point 132, which is the point of
coupling between the movable member and the upper pivot point of the link
member.
In certain embodiments, movable member 104 may be a member of a pivotal
linkage pendulum system. In
some embodiments, movable members 104 may be motion generating members.
Movable members 104 may be
supported by frame 100 at point 130. Movable members 104 may rotate or pivot
about point 130. Crank members
114 may engage movable members 104 with rollers 106. During use, as crank
members 114 rotate, the crank
members may displace movable members 104 and cause an end of the movable
members to move in a back and
forth path of motion at point 132 centered about point 130, which is
approximately represented by arrow 134 in
FIG. 4. The back and forth path of motion of movable member 104 may cause the
upper pivot point of link
member 152c coupled to the movable member at point 132 to move in a back and
forth path of motion. The back
and forth path of motion of the upper pivot point of link member 152c may
include at least some vertical
component. In certain embodiments, a hip of a majority of users may be
positioned near at least a portion of the
back and forth path of motion of the upper pivot points of link members 152c.
In some embodiments, a hip of an
average height user may be positioned near at least a portion of the back and
forth path of motion of the upper pivot
points of link members 152c. In certain embodiments, an exercise apparatus
with movable members that move in a
back and forth path of motion may be easier to use and learn than certain
embodiments of other exercise apparatus
because there is no preferred direction of movement for the movable members,
as there may for an exercise
apparatus with movable members that move in a closed path of motion.
Crank members 114 may cause right and left movable members 104 to move in
opposition to each other
(i.e., the right movable member moves downwards as the left movable member
moves upwards, and vice versa).
Crank members 114 may be coupled to pulley device 116. Pulley device 116 may
be coupled to brake/inertia
device 118 by belt 120. Thus, rotation of pulley device 116 may cause rotation
of brake/inertia device 118.
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In certain embodiments, a "crank system" may include, in a generic case, crank
member 114 coupled
(either directly attached or indirectly attached) to pulley device 116. In
some embodiments, a crank system may be
formed from other types of devices that generally convert reciprocation or
motion of a member to rotation. For
example, a crank system may include a ring (e.g., a metal ring) supported by
one or more rollers. Another example
is a crank system with multiple crank members. In certain embodiments, a crank
drive may include one or more
intermediate components between the crank member and the pulley (e.g., an axle
or connectors). In certain
embodiments, a crank system may be directly attached to frame 100. In some
embodiments, a crank system may be
indirectly coupled to frame 100 with one or more components coupling the crank
system to the frame. In certain
embodiments, a majority of a crank system may be positioned in front of
footpad plane 125 when footpad 124 is at
a center of its path of motion, as depicted in the embodiment of FIG. 4. In
some embodiments, a majority of a
crank system may be positioned near footpad plane 125 when footpad 124 is at a
center of its path of motion, as
depicted in the embodiment of FIG. 11. In some embodiments, a majority of a
crank system may be positioned
behind footpad plane 125 when footpad 124 is at a center of its path of
motion, as depicted in the embodiment of
FIG. 7.
A brake/inertia device (e.g., brake/inertia device 118) may provide a load to
affect the intensity of a
cardiovascular workout. A brake/inertia device may include an energy-storing
member (e.g., a flywheel) that is
coupled to a linkage or crank system to increase inertia of the system. In
some embodiments, a brake/inertia device
may provide for a variable load. In some embodiments, a brake/inertia device
may store energy provided by a user
during a portion of an exercise motion and then may provide at least a portion
of such stored energy back to the user
during another portion of the exercise motion.
As shown in FIG. 4, movable member 104 may be straight and foot member 122 may
be bent. In some
embodiments, however, movable members 104 and/or foot members 122 may be
straight, bent in one or more
places, and/or curved. In certain embodiments, movable member 104 and/or foot
members 122 are made of a solid
or unitary construction. In some embodiments, movable member 104 and/or foot
members 122 may include
multiple components coupled or fastened to achieve a desired performance.
Similarly, arm link members 108
and/or other link members may be straight, bent, or curved. Arm link members
108 and/or other link members may
be unitary or may include multiple components.
In an embodiment, as a user ascends the exercise apparatus, the user stands on
footpads 124 and initiates a
walking, striding, jogging, or climbing motion. The weight of the user on
footpads 124 combined with motion of
the footpads and foot members 122 may cause a force to be transmitted to
movable members 104. This transmitted
force may cause rotation of crank members 114, pulley device 116, and
brake/inertia device 118. As movable
members 104 move, footpads 124 may alternately rise and fall. This rising and
falling path of motion may simulate
the rising and falling motion of a foot of a user during actual walking,
striding, jogging, or climbing.
As a user steps downward at a front of a step or stride, a force may be
transmitted through the pivotal
linkage pendulum system to brake/inertia device 118. Brake/inertia device 118
may receive and store at least some
of this transmitted energy. Brake/inertia device may deliver at least some of
the stored energy back to the exercise
apparatus to assist in lifting the pivotal linkage pendulum system over the
top of a step or a stride.
Arm link members 108 may be coupled to link members 152a. In some embodiments,
arni link members
108 may be included as a portion of link members 152a (i.e., arm link members
108 and link members 152a are
made of a unitary construction). Arm link members 108 may include handles or
other devices that may be grasped
by a user of the exercise apparatus.
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In certain embodiments, the right and left portions of a pivotal linkage
pendulum system may be cross
coupled. Cross coupling may cause the right and left portions to move in
opposition. As shown in FIG. 4, a cross
coupling system may include belt 182, pulley 186r, a mirror image pulley on a
left side of the exercise apparatus,
and idler pulleys 184u and 1841. Idler pulleys 184u and 1841 may be coupled to
pulley 186r and its mirror image
pulley by belt 182. Pulley 186r and its mirror image pulley may be directly
attached (e.g., rigidly attached) to link
members 152a. Belt 182 may be a continuous belt that causes pulley 186r and
its mirror image pulley to rotate in
direct opposition to one another so that the right and left side portions of
the pivotal linkage pendulum system are
cross coupled.
FIG. 5 depicts a path that a footpad (i.e., a user's foot) may follow during
exercise using an embodiment of
an exercise apparatus (e.g., the embodiment depicted in FIG. 4). A vertical
amplitude "h" of the path may be
determined by a geometry of the crank system (e.g., a length of a crank
member) and/or a geometry of the pivotal
linkage pendulum system. The geometry of the crank system and/or the geometry
of the pivotal linkage pendulum
system may determine a vertical amplitude of the back and forth path of motion
of movable member 104, depicted
in FIG. 4. The back and forth path of motion of movable member 104 causes the
upper pivot point of link member
152c to move in a back and forth path of motion. This back and forth path of
motion may include at least some
vertical component. The vertical amplitude of the back and forth path of
motion of the upper pivot point of link
member 152c may determine the vertical amplitude "h" of the path of footpad
124. In certain embodiments, a
vertical amplitude "h" of the path of a footpad (e.g., footpad 124) may be
similar in magnitude to a vertical
amplitude of a back and forth path of motion of an upper pivot point of a link
member (e.g., link member 152c). In
certain embodiments, a vertical amplitude of the back and forth path of motion
of an upper pivot point of a link
member (e.g., link member 152c) may be similar in magnitude to a length of a
crank member (e.g., crank member
114). Thus, a vertical amplitude "h" of the path of a footpad (e.g., footpad
124) may be similar in magnitude to a
length of a crank member (e.g., crank member 114).
In FIG. 5, a horizontal amplitude "d" of the path may be determined by an
amount of force applied by a
user to a footpad. A user may undertake an arcuate, substantially vertical
climbing motion by limiting the
horizontal amplitude of the path. A vertical climbing motion may be
approximated when a vertical amplitude of a
path of motion of a footpad is greater than a horizontal amplitude of the path
of motion of the footpad. In certain
embodiments, a user may be allowed to "instantaneously" or "dynamically"
adjust his/her stride length (e.g., a
horizontal amplitude of a path). The user may essentially be allowed to
instantaneously or dynamically change
his/her stride length by imparting variable forces to foot members 122 or
footpads 124, depicted in FIG. 4. The user
may selectively impart forces that vary the stride length and allow more
accurate simulation of a walking, striding,
jogging, and/or climbing motion.
An exercise apparatus may have a pendulum length that is relatively long
compared to a vertical amplitude
of a path of motion of a footpad (e.g., footpad 124 depicted in FIG. 4) or to
a length of a crank member (e.g., crank
member 114 depicted in FIG. 4). In certain embodiments, a pendulum length may
approximate the length of a
majority of users' legs. For example, a pendulum length may be within about
10% of the length of a majority of
users legs. In some embodiments, a pendulum length may approximate the length
of an average height user's legs.
A footpad may be located at or near an end of a pendulum member (e.g., at or
near an end of a link member such as
link member 152c). Thus, a distance between a footpad (e.g., footpad 124) and
a top of a pendulum (e.g., the upper
pivot point of link member 152c (i.e., point 132) depicted in FIG. 4) may be
representative of a pendulum length of
an apparatus.
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In certain embodiments, the distance between a footpad (e.g., footpad 124) and
a top of a pendulum (e.g.,
the upper pivot point of link member 152c) may be at least 3 times a vertical
amplitude of a path of motion of the
footpad. In some embodiments, the distance between a footpad (e.g., footpad
124) and a top of a pendulum (e.g.,
the upper pivot point of link member 152c) may be at least 4 times, or at
least 5 times, a vertical amplitude of a path
of motion of the footpad. In certain embodiments, the distance between a
footpad (e.g., footpad 124) and a top of a
pendulum (e.g., the upper pivot point of link member 152c) may be at least 3
times a length of a crank member
(e.g., crank member 114). In some embodiments, the distance between a footpad
(e.g., footpad 124) and a top of a
pendulum (e.g., the upper pivot point of link member 152c) may be at least 4
times, or at least 5 times, a length of a
crank member (e.g., crank member 114).
In an embodiment, the distance between a footpad (e.g., footpad 124) and a top
of a pendulum (e.g., the
upper pivot point of link member 152c) is greater than about 2 feet. In some
embodiments, the distance between a
footpad (e.g., footpad 124) and a top of a pendulum (e:g., the upper pivot
point of link member 152c) is greater than
about 1 foot, or greater than about 1'/a feet. In certain embodiments, the
distance between a footpad (e.g., footpad
124) and a top of a pendulum (e.g., the upper pivot point of link member 152c)
is between about 1 foot and about 5
feet, or between about 2 feet and about 4 feet.
FIG. 6 depicts a side view of an embodiment of an exercise apparatus. Right
side link member 152R and
left side link member 152L may be coupled to (e.g., pivotally coupled to)
right side sprocket 162R and a
corresponding left side sprocket, respectively. In certain embodiments, link
member 152R and left side link
member 152L may be coupled to right side sprocket 162R and a corresponding
left side sprocket at right side offset
point 164R and left side offset point 164L, respectively. Right side offset
point 164R and left side offset point 164L
may be 180 out of phase so that as right link member 152R rises, left link
member 152L falls, and vice versa. Link
members 152R, 152L may act as pendulums with a top of the pendulums being
located at right side offset point
164R and left side offset point 164L, respectively.
Sprocket 162R may be coupled to sprocket 166R by chain 168R. Left side
sprockets may be coupled
accordingly. Sprocket 166R and a corresponding left side sprocket may be
coupled to brake/inertia device 118
using belt 120. Belt 120 may be coupled to an axle or shaft of sprocket 166R
and its corresponding left side
sprocket. In some embodiments, devices may be used to operate similarly to
sprocket 162, sprocket 166, and chain
168. For example, a pulley and belt system may operate similarly to sprocket
162, sprocket 166, and chain 168.
In an embodiment, as a user ascends the exercise apparatus, the user stands on
footpads 124R, 124L and
initiates a walking, striding, or jogging motion. The weight of the user on
footpads 124R, 124L combined with
motion of the footpads and link members 152R, 152L may cause a force to be
transmitted to sprocket 162R and its
corresponding left side sprocket. This transmitted force may cause rotation of
sprocket 162R and its corresponding
left side sprocket. The rotation of sprocket 162R and its corresponding left
side sprocket may cause a rising and
falling path of motion of footpads 124R, 124L. This rising and falling path of
motion may simulate the rising and
falling motion of a foot of a user during actual walking, striding, or
jogging. The rotation of sprocket 162R and its
corresponding left side sprocket may cause rotation of sprocket 166R, its
corresponding left side sprocket, and
brake/inertia device 118. In certain embodiments, a hip of a majority of users
may be positioned near at least a
portion of the path of motion of the sprocket 162R and its corresponding left
side sprocket.
Right and left link members 152R, 152L may be cross coupled using belt 182 and
idler pulleys 184. Right
and left link members 152R, 152L may be coupled to belt 182 so that the right
and left link members move in
opposition to each other. Belt 182 may be supported and guided by idler
pulleys 184.
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FIG. 7 depicts a side view of an embodiment of an exercise apparatus. Link
members 190 may be coupled
to (e.g., pivotally coupled to) foot members 122. Link members 190 may be
coupled to (e.g., pivotally coupled to)
frame 100 at point 130. Link members 190 may be supported by frame 100 at
point 130 and may support an end of
foot members 122 coupled to the link members. Foot members 122 may be coupled
to link members 152 at a lower
pivot point (e.g., a lower end) of the link members. In some embodiments, a
lower pivot point of link members 152
may be at another portion of the link members (e.g., a portion near a lower
end of the link members). Link
members 152 may support an end of foot members 122 opposite from link members
190. In certain embodiments,
link members 152 are members of a pivotal linkage pendulum system (e.g.,
pendulum members). In certain
embodiments, a pivotal linkage pendulum system may include one or more
pendulum members (e.g., link members
152), foot members (e.g., foot members 122), and footpads (e.g., footpads
124). A pivotal linkage pendulum
system may include left and right portions that are mirror images of each
other. In certain embodiments, the left
and right portions of a pivotal linkage pendulum system may move in opposition
to each other.
Link members 152 may be coupled to (e.g., pivotally coupled to) crank members
114 at upper pivot points
of the link members (e.g., points 132). Link members 152 may act as pendulums
with a top of the pendulums being
located at points 132. During use, as crank members 114 rotate, the crank
members may displace link members
152. Crank members 114 may cause right and left link members 152 to move in
opposition to each other. Crank
members 114 may be coupled to pulley device 116. Pulley device 116 may be
coupled to brake/inertia device 118
by belt 120. Thus, rotation of pulley device 116 may cause rotation of
brake/inertia device 118.
In an embodiment, as a user ascends the exercise apparatus, the user stands on
footpads 124 and initiates a
walking, striding, or jogging motion. The weight of the user on footpads 124
combined with motion of the footpads
and foot members 122 may cause a force to be transmitted to crank members 114
through link members 152. This
transmitted force may cause rotation of crank members 114, pulley device 116,
and brake/inertia device 118. As
crank members 114, pulley device 116, and brake/inertia device 118 rotate, the
upper pivot points of link members
152 coupled to the crank members may move in a closed path (e.g., an orbital
path approximately represented by
arrow 216 in FIG. 7). This closed path motion causes footpads 124 to rise and
fall as foot members 122 move
forwards and backwards during exercise. The rising and falling path of motion
of footpads 124 may simulate the
rising and falling motion of a foot of a user during actual walking, striding,
or jogging.
In certain embodiments, a majority of a path of motion of footpad 124 may be
below the closed path of
motion of the ends of link members 152 coupled to crank members 114. In some
embodiments, substantially all of
a path of motion of footpad 124 may be below the closed path of motion of the
ends of link members 152 coupled
to crank members 114. In certain embodiments, a hip of a majority of users may
be positioned near at least a
portion of the closed path of motion of the upper pivot points of link members
152 coupled to crank members 114.
A user's foot may follow a path similar to the path shown in FIG. 5 during
exercise.
As a user steps downward at a front of a step or stride, a force may be
transmitted through the pivotal
linkage pendulum system to brake/inertia device 118. Brake/inertia device 118
may receive and store at least some
of this transmitted energy. Brake/inertia device may deliver at least some of
the stored energy back to the exercise
apparatus to assist in lifting the pivotal linkage pendulum system over the
top of a step or a stride.
As shown in FIG. 7, arm link members 108 may be coupled to link members 190.
In some embodiments,
arm link members 108 may be included as a portion of link members 190 (e.g.,
arm link members 108 and link
members 190 are made of a unitary construction). Ann link members 108 may
include handles or other devices
that may be grasped by a user of the exercise apparatus.
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In certain embodiments, the right and left portions of a pivotal linkage
pendulum system may be cross
coupled. Cross coupling may cause the right and left portions to move in
opposition. As shown in FIG. 7, a cross
coupling system may include belt 182, pulley 186r, a mirror image pulley on a
left side of the exercise apparatus,
and idler pulleys 184u and 1841. Idler pulleys 184u and 1841 may be coupled to
pulley 186r and its minror image
pulley by belt 182. Pulley 186r and its mirror image pulley may be directly
attached (e.g., rigidly attached) to link
members 190. Belt 182 may be a continuous belt that causes pulley 186r and its
mirror image pulley to rotate in
direct opposition to one another so that the right and left side portions of
the pivotal linkage pendulum system are
cross coupled.
In certain embodiments, an exercise apparatus (e.g., the exercise apparatus
shown in FIG. 7) may be
constructed in a compact and economical manner. An exercise apparatus with a
pendulum arm (e.g., link member
152) that is relatively long compared to a crank member (e.g., crank member
114) may allow the placement of a
crank system in an elevated position. As shown in FIG. 7, crank member 114,
pulley device 116, belt 120, and
brake/inertia device 118 may be placed in an elevated position. Elevating the
crank system may allow for a
relatively long user stride compared to a length of the exercise apparatus
because the user's feet may move back and
forth into an area below the crank system, as represented by hatched area 191.
A user's stride length would be
shortened if a crank system were placed in a lowered position (e.g., by
shortening a length of a pendulum arm (e.g.,
link member 152)) so that the crank system inhibits or restricts the user's
stride. A longer stride length may be
obtained with a crank system placed in a lowered position, but only by
substantially increasing an overall length of
the exercise apparatus. Thus, an exercise apparatus with a relatively long
pendulum arm compared to a relatively
short crank member may allow longer stride lengths to be obtained in a more
compact and economical exercise
apparatus.
FIG. 8 depicts a side view of an embodiment of an exercise apparatus. FIG. 9
depicts a top view of the
embodiment depicted in FIG. 8. Foot members 122 may be coupled to link members
152, link members 190, link
members 192, and movable members 104. Foot members 122, link members 152, link
members 190, link members
192, and movable members 104 may be members of a pivotal linkage pendulum
system.
Link members 152 may be coupled to and supported by movable members 104. An
upper pivot point of
link member 152 may be coupled to movable member 104 at point 132. Link member
152 may act as a pendulum
with a top of the pendulum being located at point 132. In certain embodiments,
movable members 104 may be
motion generating members. Movable members 104 may be supported by frame 100
at point 130. Movable
members 104 may rotate or pivot about point 130.
Crank members 114 may engage movable members 104 through link members 192 and
slider assembly
168. The crank system (e.g., crank members 114 and pulley device 116) may
provide at least some support to
movable members 104 and the pivotal linkage pendulum system (e.g., link
members 152) through link members
192. During use, as crank members 114 rotate, the crank members may displace
movable members 104 and cause
an end of the movable members to move in a back and forth path of motion
centered about point 130, as
approximately represented by arrow 134 in FIG. 8. The back and forth path of
motion of movable members 104
may cause the upper pivot points of link members 152 to move in a back and
forth path of motion. This back and
forth path of motion may have at least some vertical component. In certain
embodiments, a hip of a-majority of
users may be positioned near at least a portion of the back and forth path of
motion of the upper pivot points of link
members 152.
Crank members 114 may cause right and left movable members 104 to move in
opposition to each other
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(i.e., the right movable member moves downwards as the left movable member
moves upwards, and vice versa).
Crank members 114 may be coupled to pulley device 116. Pulley device 116 may
be coupled to brake/inertia
device 118 by belt 120. Thus, rotation of pulley device 116 may cause rotation
of brake/inertia device 118.
In an embodiment, as a user ascends the exercise apparatus, the user stands on
footpads 124 and initiates a
walking, striding, jogging, or climbing motion. The weight of the user on
footpads 124 combined with motion of
the footpads and foot members 122 may cause a force to be transmitted to
movable members 104. This transmitted
force may cause rotation of crank members 114, pulley device 116, and
brake/inertia device 118. As movable
members 104 move, footpads 124 may alternately rise and fall. This rising and
falling path of motion may simulate
the rising and falling motion of a foot of a user during actual walking,
striding, jogging, or climbing. A user's foot
may follow a path similar to the path shown in FIG. 5 during exercise.
As a user steps downward at a front of a step or stride, a force may be
transmitted through the pivotal
linkage pendulum system to brake/inertia device 118. Brake/inertia device 118
may receive and store at least some
of this transmitted energy. Brake/inertia device 118 may deliver at least some
of the stored energy back to the
exercise apparatus to assist in lifting the pivotal linkage pendulum system
over the top of a step or a stride.
Arm link members 108 may be coupled to link members 190. In some embodiments,
arm link members
108 may be included as a portion of link members 190 (i.e., arm link members
108 and link members 190 are made
of a unitary construction). Arm link members 108 may include handles or other
devices that may be grasped by a
user of the exercise apparatus. In certain embodiments, arm link members 108
may move in an arcuate pattern
during use.
In certain embodiments, left and right arm link members 108 may be cross
coupled. Cross coupling may
cause the right and left portions of the exercise apparatus to move in
opposition to each other. Elements 194 may
be coupled (e.g., rigidly attached) to arm link members 108 through tubes 196.
Thus, each element 194 may move
in unison with each respective arm link member 108 (e.g., the right element
194 may move in unison with the right
arm link member 108). Connectors 198 may couple each of elements 194 (e.g.,
the right and left elements) to
rocker ann 200. Connectors 198 may be connector rods. Rocker arm 200 may be
pivotally coupled to an upper
portion of frame 100 at point 202. In an embodiment, as arm link members 108
move, connectors 198 may cause
rocking motion of rocker arm 200. This rocking motion may cause the right and
left arm link members to move in
opposition to each other (i.e., the rocking motion may cross couple the left
and right arm link members).
During use of the apparatus depicted in FIGS. 8 and 9, slider assembly 168 may
be located at a fixed
position along movable member 104 so that the slider assembly moves along with
the movable member at the fixed
position. In certain embodiments, slider assembly 168 is movable back and
forth (i.e., adjustable) along a length of
movable member 104. The moving of the location of slider assembly 168 along a
length of movable member 104
allows the slider assembly to be selectively positioned along the length of
the movable member to determine a
vertical amplitude of the path of motion of foot members 122 and/or footpads
124. Thus, adjusting the position of
slider assembly 168 allows for varying the vertical amplitude of the path of
motion of foot members 122 and/or
footpads 124. Adjusting the position of slider assembly 168 varies the
vertical amplitude of the path of motion of
foot members 122 and/or footpads 124 by adjusting the geometry of the pivotal
linkage pendulum system. For
example, a vertical amplitude of a path, such as the path shown in FIG. 5, may
be adjusted by adjusting a position
of slider assembly 168, thus adjusting the vertical amplitude of the path of
motion of foot members 122 and/or
footpads 124.
In certain embodiments, movement (e.g., sliding movement) of slider assembly
168 may be controllable.
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For example, servomotor 170 and lead screw 172 may be used to control the
movement of slider assembly 168. In
some embodiments, servomotor 170 and lead screw 172 may be electrically
coupled to controller 174. Controller
174 may be used to control servomotor 170 and to control a position of slider
assembly 168. Controller 174 may
include user-operated controls and/or a display for the user of the apparatus.
In certain embodiments, a user may
adjust a vertical amplitude of the user's stride by using controller 174 to
activate servomotor 170. Activation of
servomotor 170 rotates lead screw 172, which repositions slider assembly 168
along a length of movable member
104 and adjusts a vertical amplitude of the user's stride.
In certain embodiments, spring 204 may be coupled to slider assembly 168 and
link member 192. Spring
204 may be used to assist in startup of an exercise if crank member 114 is in
either a top dead center position or a
bottom dead center position. Spring 204 may exert a greater force on one side
(e.g., the left side or the right side) of
the apparatus to displace crank member 114 slightly off either a top dead
center position or a bottom dead center
position.
FIG. 10 depicts an alternate embodiment of a cross coupling system that may be
used in the embodiment
depicted in FIGS. 8 and 9. Pulley 186r and its mirror image pulley may be
coupled to idler pulleys 184F, 184R
with belt 182 so that the pulleys and the idler pulleys work in conjunction
with each other. Belt 182 may be a
continuous belt that is affixed to pulley 186r and its mirror image pulley.
Pulley 186r and its mirror image pulley
may be rigidly coupled to link members 190. Belt 182 may cause pulley 186r and
its mirror image pulley to rotate
in direct opposition to each other to cross couple the right and the left
sides of the pivotal linkage pendulum system.
In certain embodiments, idler pulleys 184F, 184R may be drive pulleys with
overrunning clutches in their hubs.
Overrunning clutches may cause unidirectional rotation of shaft 188 when idler
pulleys 184F, 184R oscillate. In
some embodiments, a bi-directional brake may be coupled to idler pulleys 184F,
184R so that overrunning clutches
are not needed. A bi-directional brake may be, for example, a friction disc
brake, a band brake, or an
electromechanical brake.
In certain embodiments, pulley device 206 may be coupled to shaft 188. Belt
208 may couple pulley
device 206 to brake/inertia device 210. Brake/inertia device 210 may be a
second brake/inertia device on the
exercise apparatus. Brake/inertia device 210 may receive and store energy from
horizontal motion of foot members
122. In some embodiments, brake/inertia device 210 may resist horizontal
motion of foot members 122.
In some embodiments, arm link members 108 may be coupled to link members 152,
as shown in FIG.
10A. Thus, arm link members 108 may extend a length of link members 152. The
upper pivot point of link
members 152 may be coupled to movable member 104 at point 132. In some
embodiments, arm link members 108
may be included as a portion of link members 152 (i.e., arm link members 108
and link members 152 are made of a
unitary construction). Arm link members 108 may include handles or other
devices that may be grasped by a user
of the exercise apparatus.
FIGS. 11-17 depict schematic representations of various embodiments of
exercise apparatus that may
allow motion of a user's feet similar to motion allowed by the embodiments
depicted in FIGS. 4, and 6-10. Several
embodiments are depicted herein as schematics to simplify discussion of
pertinent features. Such depictions may
not include one or more features that may be present in a fully functioning
exercise apparatus. For example, only
the right side foot member, right side footpad, right side movable member,
right side link member, right side arm
link member, and/or other right side selected components of the apparatus may
be shown. In some embodiments,
no pulley, belt, and/or brake/inertia system may be shown. In some
embodiments, no right and left side cross
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coupling system may be shown. In some embodiments, one or more members in an
apparatus may be straight, may
be curved, may be unitary, or may be composed of multiple pieces.
FIG. 11 depicts a side view of an embodiment of an exercise apparatus. Slider
assembly 168 may be
positioned on movable member 104. Movable member 104 may be coupled to point
130 and extend towards a rear
end of frame 100. In certain embodiments, link member 152 is coupled to
movable member 104 at a location
between point 130 and slider assembly 168 on the movable member. In some
embodiments, link member 152 is
coupled to movable member 104 at point 132, which is at or near slider
assembly 168, as shown in FIG. 11A. An
upper pivot point of link member 152 may be coupled to movable member 104 at
point 132. Link member 152 may
act as a pendulum with a top of the pendulum being located at point 132. The
embodiments depicted in FIGS. 11
and 1 1A may operate similarly to the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 8 and 9. In
the embodiments depicted in
FIGS. 11 and 11A, link member 192 may push movable member 104 upward to lift
link member 152 and foot
member 122 rather than pulling downwards to lift the link member and the foot
member. Movable member 104
may be supported by the crank system through link 192 and slider assembly 168
and supported by the frame at
point 130. Providing support to movable member 104 at these two locations
provides structural support both in
front of and behind a user that stands on footpad 124. In such an exercise
apparatus, bearings or other coupling
components located at, for example, point 130 and/or the coupling between link
member 192 and movable member
104 may be subject to lighter loads than found in other embodiments of
exercise apparatus in which large loads are
placed on couplings in the apparatus. Thus, less expensive bearings or other
coupling components may be used for
certain exercise apparatus embodiments such as those depicted in FIGS. 11 and
11A.
FIG. 12 depicts a side view of an embodiment of an exercise apparatus. Link
member 152 may be coupled
to an end of movable member 104. An upper pivot point of link member 152 may
be coupled to movable member
104 at point 132. Link member 152 may act as a pendulum with a top of the
pendulum being located at point 132.
Movable member 104 may be directly attached to crank member 114 at a forward
end of the movable member.
Movable member 104 may be coupled to support link inember 212. Support link
member 212 may be pivotally
coupled to frame 100 at point 214. Support link member 212 may constrain the
motion of movable member 104.
In certain embodiments, motion of crank member 114 may cause an end of movable
member 104 opposite the
coupling to the crank member to move in a closed path (e.g., an orbital path)
of motion in space, which is
approximately represented by arrow 216. This closed path of motion may be
controlled by a geometry of the crank
system, a geometry of the pivotal linkage pendulum system, and/or a position
of slider assembly 168 along movable
member 104. In certain embodiments, a majority of a path of motion of footpad
124 may be below this closed path
of motion. In some embodiments, substantially all of a path of motion of
footpad 124 may be below this closed
path of motion. In certain embodiments, a hip of a majority of users may be
positioned near at least a portion of the
closed path of motion.
FIG. 13 depicts a side view of an embodiment of an exercise apparatus. Link
member 152 may be coupled
to movable member 104 at point 132. An upper pivot point of link member 152
may be coupled to movable
member 104 at point 132. Link member 152 may act as a pendulum with a top of
the pendulum being located at
point 132. Link member 152 may be coupled to and provide at least some support
to member 218. Member 218
may be supported by whee1220, which engages the base of frame 100. A portion
of member 218 may move in a
back and forth path of motion along frame 100. In certain embodiments, a hip
of a majority of users may be
positioned near at least a portion of the back and forth path of motion at
point 132. Member 218 may be pivotally
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coupled to foot member 122. Member 218 and wheel 220 may provide at least some
support for a user's weight on
foot member 122.
FIG. 14 depicts a side view of an embodiment of an exercise apparatus. Link
member 152 may be coupled
to movable member 104 at point 132. An upper pivot point of link member 152
may be coupled to movable
member 104 at point 132. Link member 152 may act as a pendulum with a top of
the pendulum being located at
point 132. Movable member 104 may be directly attached to crank member 114 at
a forward end of the movable
member. Movable member 104 may be supported by and translate along an upper
portion of frame 100. Link
member 190 may be coupled to an upper portion of frame 100 at point 130.
Whee1220 may be coupled to slider
assembly 168. Thus, whee1220 is coupled to movable member 104 at a position
determined by a position of slider
assembly 168. Wheel 220 engages an upper portion of frame 100 to allow movable
member 104 to translate along
the upper portion of the frame. In certain embodiments, motion of crank member
114 causes an end of movable
member 104 opposite the coupling to the crank member to move in a closed path
(e.g., an orbital path) of motion in
space approximately represented by arrow 216. This closed path of motion may
be controlled by a geometry of the
crank system, a geometry of the pivotal linkage pendulum system, and/or a
position of slider assembly 168 along
movable member 104. In certain embodiments, a majority of a path of motion of
footpad 124 may be below this
closed path of motion. In some embodiments, substantially all of a path of
motion of footpad 124 may be below
this closed path of motion. In certain embodiments, a hip of a majority of
users may be positioned near at least a
portion of the closed path of motion.
FIG. 15 depicts a side view of an embodiment of an exercise apparatus. Member
218 may be coupled to
crank member 114 at one end and whee1220 at another end. Whee1220 engages the
base of frame 100 and support
member 218. Member 218 may be pivotally coupled to link member 152 at point
132. An upper pivot point of link
member 152 may be coupled to member 218 at point 132. Link member 152 may act
as a pendulum with a top of
the pendulum being located at point 132. As crank member 114 rotates, point
132 moves in a closed path (e.g., an
orbital path) of motion in space approximately represented by arrow 216. In
certain embodiments, a majority of a
path of motion of footpad 124 may be below this closed path of motion. In some
embodiments, substantially all of
a path of motion of footpad 124 may be below this closed path of motion. In
certain embodiments, a hip of a
majority of users may be positioned near at least a portion of the closed path
of motion.
FIG. 16 depicts a side view of an embodiment of an exercise apparatus. Link
meniber 190 may be
pivotally coupled to crank member 114 at point 132. An upper pivot point of
link member 190 may be coupled to
crank member 114 at point 132. Link member 190 may act as a pendulum with a
top of the pendulum being located
at point 132. Foot member 122 may be pivotally coupled to link member 190 at
or near a front end of the foot
member. Link member 152 may be pivotally coupled to foot member 122 at point
224. In certain embodiments,
link member 152 is slidably coupled to foot member 122 using slider assembly
168, as shown in FIG. 16A. Link
member 152 may be coupled to frame 100 at point 130. An upper pivot point of
link member 152 may be coupled
to frame 100 at point 130. Link member 152 may act as a pendulum with a top of
the pendulum being located at
point 130. In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 16 and 16A, as crank member 114
rotates, the crank member causes
the front end of foot member 122 to rise and fall. Thus, footpads 124 may rise
and fall as crank member 114
rotates.
FIG. 17 depicts a side view of an embodiment of an exercise apparatus. Link
member 152 may be coupled
to movable member 104 at point 132. An upper pivot point of link member 152
may be coupled to movable
member 104 at point 132. Link member 152 may act as a pendulum with a top of
the pendulum being located at
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point 132. Link member 152 may be coupled to foot member 122 at or near a rear
end of the foot member.
Movable member 104, link member 192, and the crank system may be located at or
near a rear of the exercise
apparatus. Movable member 104 may be pivotally coupled to frame 100 at point
226. Movable member 104 may
rotate or pivot about point 226. The embodiment depicted in FIG. 17 may
operate similarly to the embodiment
depicted in FIGS. 8 and 9.
FIG. 18 depicts a side view of an embodiment of an exercise apparatus. Foot
member 122 may be coupled
to link member 152, link member 190, link member 192, and movable member 104.
Foot member 122, link
member 152, link member 190, link member 192, and movable member 104 may be
members of a pivotal linkage
pendulum system.
Link member 152 may be supported by movable member 104. Link member 152 may be
coupled to
movable member 104 at point 132. An upper pivot point of link member 152 may
be coupled to movable member
104 at point 132. Link member 152 may act as a pendulum with a top of the
pendulum being located at point 132.
Movable member 104 may be an angled member, as shown in FIG. 18. Movable
member 104 may be coupled to
and supported by frame 100 at point 136. Movable member 104 may be coupled to
crank member 114. During
use, as crank member 114 rotates, the crank member may displace movable member
104 and cause an end of the
movable member to move in a back and forth motion at point 132. The back and
forth path of motion of movable
member 104 at point 132 may cause an upper pivot point of link member 152 to
move in a back and forth path of
motion. In certain embodiments, a hip of a majority of users may be positioned
near at least a portion of the back
and forth path of motion.
FIG. 19 depicts a side view of an embodiment of an exercise apparatus. Movable
member 104 may move
up and down a vertical portion of frame 100. For example, movable member 104
may slidably or rollably engage
the vertical portion of frame 100. Link member 152 may be coupled to movable
member 104 at point 132. An
upper pivot point of link member 152 may be coupled to movable member 104 at
point 132. Link member 152 may
act as a pendulum with a top of the pendulum being located at point 132.
Movable member 104 may be coupled to
crank member 114 through link member 192. During use, as crank member 114
rotates, the crank member may
displace movable member 104 and cause an end of the movable member to move up
and down along a vertical
portion of frame 100. The up and down motion of movable member 104 may be a
linear back and forth motion
approximately represented by arrow 134. The linear back and forth path of
motion of movable member 104 at point
132 may cause an upper pivot point of link member 152 to move in a linear back
and forth path of motion. In
certain embodiments, a hip of a majority of users may be positioned near at
least a portion of the linear back and
forth path of motion.
Further modifications and alternative embodiments of various aspects of the
invention will be apparent to
those skilled in the art in view of this description. Accordingly, this
description is to be construed as illustrative
only and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the general
manner of carrying out the invention. It is
to be understood that the forms of the invention shown and described herein
are to be taken as the presently
preferred embodiments. Elements and materials may be substituted for those
illustrated and described herein, parts
and processes may be reversed, and certain features of the invention may be
utilized independently, all as would be
apparent to one skilled in the art after having the benefit of this
description of the invention. Changes may be made
in the elements described herein without departing from the spirit and scope
of the invention as described in the
following claims.
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