Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02299979 2000-03-06
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FLEXIBLY COORDINATED STATIONARY EXERCISE DEVICE
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to exercise equipment, and more specifically to
a
stationary exercise device that resiliently links upper and lower body
movements in
flexibly coordinated motion.
Background of the Invention
The benefits of regular aerobic exercise have been well established and
accepted. However, due to time constraints, inclement weather, and other
reasons,
many people are prevented from aerobic activities such as walking, jogging,
running,
and swimming. In response, a variety of exercise equipment have been developed
for
aerobic activity. It is generally desirable to exercise a large number of
different
1 S muscles over a significantly large range of motion so as to provide for
balanced
physical development, to maximize muscle length and flexibility, and to
achieve
optimum levels of aerobic exercise. A firrther advantageous characteristic of
exercise
equipment, is the ability to provide smooth and natural motion, thus avoiding
significant jarring and straining that can damage both muscles and joints.
While various exercise systems are known in the prior art, these systems
suffer
from a variety of shortcomings that limit their benefits and/or include
unnecessary
risks and undesirable features. For example, stationary bicycles are a popular
exercise
system in the prior art, however this machine employs a sitting position which
utilizes
only a relatively small number of muscles, throughout a fairly limited range
of motion.
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Cross-country skiing devices are also utilized by many people to simulate the
gliding
motion of cross-country skiing. While this device exercises more muscles than
a
stationary bicycle, the substantially flat shuffling foot motion provided
thereby, limits
the range of motion of some of the muscles being exercised. Another type of
exercise
device simulates stair climbing. These devices also exercise more muscles than
do
stationary bicycles, however, the rather limited range of up-and-down motion
utilized
does not exercise the user's leg muscles through a large range of motion.
Treadmills
are still a further type of exercise device in the prior art, and allow
natural walking or
jogging motions in a relatively limited area. A drawback of the treadmill,
however, is
that significant jarring of the hip, knee, ankle and other joints of the body
may occur
through use of this device.
A further limitation of a majority of exercise systems in the prior art, is
that the
systems are limited in the types of motions that they can produce, such as not
being
capable of producing elliptical motion. Exercise systems create elliptical
motion, as
referred to herein, when the path traveled by a user's feet while using the
exercise
system follows an arcuate or ellipse-shaped path of travel. Elliptical motion
is much
more natural and analogous to running, jogging, walking, etc., than the linear-
type,
back and forth motions produced by some prior art exercise equipment.
Exercise devices are also desirable which provide the additional advantage of
being configured to provide arm and shoulder motions, as well as arcuate foot
motions. Prior art devices utilizing arm and shoulder motions that are linked
to foot
motions incorporate forced coordinated motion, where the motions of a user's
feet are
linked to the motions of a user's arms and shoulders, so that one's feet are
forced to
move in response to the movement of one's arms and shoulders (in substantially
an
equal and opposite amount), and vice versa. Still other prior art devices
limit the
range of motions utilized by their systems, which can result in detrimental
effects on a
user's muscle flexibility and coordination due to the continued reliance on
the small
range motion produced by these exercise devices, as opposed to the wide range
of
natural motions that are experienced in activities such as nmning, walking,
etc.
Despite the large number of exercise devices known in the prior art there is
still a need for an exercise device which produces elliptical foot movement,
and
incorporates substantially related arm, shoulder, and rotational motions that
are linked
to the foot movements in a flexible and resilient manner. Exercise devices are
desired
that provides for a smooth stepping-running motion that prevents trauma to
joints and
muscles, while exercising a user's legs more fully than cycling or skiing
devices.
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There is a continuing need for an exercise device that provides for smooth
natural
action, exercises a relatively large number of muscles through a large range
of
elliptical motion, employs arm, shoulder, and rotational movement, and allows
for
flexibly coordinated motion between the upper and lower body, i.e., motion
that is
substantially coordinated but still allows for some independent. or
uncoordinated
motion between the movement of the use's feet.
Summary of the Invention
The present invention is directed towards an exercise device that allows
flexibly coordinated motion to be produced between a user's hands and feet.
The
exercise device utilizes a frame to which a transverse axis is mounted.
Coupling
mechanisms are configured to operatively associate with foot links for
associating the
foot links to the transverse axis such that the foot support portion of each
foot link
travels in a reciprocal path as the transverse axis rotates. Each foot link
includes a
first end portion, a second end portion and a foot support portion
therebetween.
I S Swing arm mechanisms, which include a gripping portion, a pivot point, and
a
coupling region, operatively associate the coupling region of each swing arm
mechanism with the respective first end portion of each foot link. Flexibly
coordinating members substantially and resiliently link the movement of the
foot
support portions to the movement of the hand gripping portions of the swing
arm
mechanisms, while permitting some degree of uncoordinated motion between the
foot
support portions and the hand gripping portions.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the coupling mechanisms
comprise rotational crank arms that pivotally associate the transverse axis
with the
foot links. Preferably, at least a portion of the coupling mechanisms rotate
about the
transverse axis. The exercise device may firrther include a flywheel disposed
for
rotation in operative connection with the transverse axis. A resistance
system,
configured in operatively associated with the transverse axis, may also be
included in
the device to thereby increase the level of exercise required from the user.
In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the swing arm
mechanisms themselves act as the flexibly coordinating members. In this
embodiment
a substantial portion of the swing arm mechanisms are constructed of a
material that is
sufficiently flexible and resilient to substantially link the movement of the
foot links to
the movement of the hand gripping portions of the swing arm mechanisms.
tn another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the swing arm
mechanisms include spring link members that act as the flexibly coordinating
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members. Preferably, the spring link members of the swing arm mechanisms are
located substantially adjacent to the pivot points of the swing arm
mechanisms. In
still another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the swing arm
mechanisms include elastomeric torsion members that are located substantially
adjacent to the pivot points, and which act as the flexibly coordinating
members that
flexibility connect the gripping portions to the coupling regions of the swing
arm
mechanisms.
Further, in yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the
flexibly coordinating members operatively connect the second end portion of
the foot
links with coupling region of the swing arm mechanisms. In this embodiment the
flexibly coordinating members comprise spring members. Elastomeric members may
also be employed instead of spring members to operatively associate the second
end
portion of the foot links with coupling region of the swing arm mechanisms,
and
thereby act as the flexibly coordinating members.
In another aspect of a preferred embodiment, the exercise device comprises at
least one flexibly coordinating mechanism in operative association between the
foot
links that substantially relates the movement of the first and second foot
links to each
other, while permitting some degree of uncoordinated motion between the foot
links.
Flexibly coordinating mechanisms may be incorporated between each foot link
and its
respective coupling mechanism. In another embodiment, flexibly coordinating
mechanisms may be incorporated between each coupling mechanism and the
transverse axis. In still another embodiment, the flexibly coordinating
mechanism may
be configured as a flexibly coordinated, bifurcated transverse axis which
substantially
relates the movement of the first and second foot links to each other, while
permitting
some degree of uncoordinated motion between the foot links.
An exercise device constructed in accordance with the present invention
implements flexibly coordinated motion between a user's hands and feet to
simulate
natural walking and running motions and exercise a large number of muscles.
Increased muscle flexibility and coordination can also be derived through the
smooth,
natural, flexibly coordinated motion of the present invention, as opposed to
the
unforgiving forced coordinated motions produced between a user's hands and
feet in
some prior art exercise equipment. This device provides the above stated
benefits
without imparting the shock to the user's body joints in the manner of prior
art
exercise treadmills.
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Brief Description of the Drawings
The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention
will become more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by
reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction
with the
accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIGURE 1 illustrates a side view of an flexibly coordinated stationary
exerciser of the present invention, that utilizes the swing arm mechanisms as
flexibly
coordinating members;
FIGURE 2 illustrates a close-up side view of a portion of the flexibly
coordinated exerciser of the present invention, that utilizes spring link
members in the
swing arm mechanisms adjacent the pivot points as flexibly coordinating
members;
FIGURE 3 illustrates a close-up perspective view of a portion of the flexibly
coordinated exerciser of the present invention, that utilizes elastomeric
torsion
members at pivot connection points between upper handle bars and lower swing
arms
I S as flexibly coordinating members;
FIGURE 4 illustrates a side view of the flexibly coordinated exerciser of the
present invention, that utilizes elastomeric members at the connections
between the
swing arms and the foot links as flexibly coordinating members; and
FIGURE 5 illustrates a side view of the flexibly coordinated exerciser of the
present invention, that utilizes spring members at the connections between the
swing
arms and the foot links as flexibly coordinating members.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment
FIGURE 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of a flexibly coordinated
stationary exercise device 10 constructed in accordance with the present
invention.
Briefly described, the exerciser 10 includes a frame 12 which has a forward
upright
member 20 that extends upward from a substantially horizontal, longitudinal
central
member 14 of the frame 12. Towards the rear region of the frame 12 are
upwardly
extending left and right axle mounts 30 and 32. The axle mounts 30 and 32
support a
transverse axle 36 which is preferably operatively connected to a flywheel 38.
The
left and right ends of the transverse axle 36 rotatably engage left and right
crank arm
assemblies SO and 52. Left and right foot links 60 and 70 have rearward ends
64 and
74 which engage the crank arm assemblies 50 and 52 such that the rear ends of
the
foot links travel in an arcuate reciprocal path as the transverse axle 36
rotates.
The foot links 60 and 70 have forward ends 62 and 72 that are operatively
connected to the coupling regions 86 and 96 of left and right swing arm
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mechanisms 80 and 90, respectively. The swing arm mechanisms 80 and 90 are
rotatably connected to the forward upright member 20 of the frame 12 at their
respective pivot points 84 and 94. The swing arm mechanisms 80 and 90 further
contain left and right hand-gripping portions 82 and 92, and the foot links 60
and 70
further contain left and right foot support portions 66 and 76. Flexibly
coordinating
members 100 are incorporated in the linkage of the exercise device 10 between
each
respective hand-gripping portion 82 and 92, and foot support portion 66 and
76. The
flexibly coordinating members substantially and resiliently link the movement
of the
foot support portions 66 and 76 to the movement of the hand-gripping portions
82
and 92, while permitting some degree of uncoordinated motion between the foot
support portions and the hand-gripping portions.
The embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIGURE 1 will now be
described in more detail. The frame 12 includes a longitudinal central member
14 that
terminates at front and rear, relatively shorter transverse members 16 and 18.
Ideally,
but not essentially, the frame 12 is composed of rectangular tubular members
that are
relatively light in weight but that provide substantial strength and rigidity.
When
tubular members are utilized end caps (not shown) are preferably securably
connected
to the open ends of the front and rear transverse members 16 and 18 to close
off ends
of these members. The frame 12 may also be composed of solid members that
provide the requisite strength and rigidity while maintaining a relatively
light weight.
The forward upright member 20 extends upwardly from the forward region of
the floor engaging frame 12. Preferably, the upright member 20 is
substantially
vertical. However, the forward member 20 may be configured at an upward
angulation without departing from the scope of the present invention. Ideally,
but not
essentially, the forward upright member 20 is also composed of a rectangular
tubular
material, as described above. Preferably, a view screen 24 is securably
connected to
the upper end of the forward upright member 20, at an orientation easily
viewable to a
user of the device 10. Instructions for operating the device may be located on
the
view screen 24 in an exemplary embodiment. In some embodiments of the present
invention, electronic devices may be incorporated into the exerciser device 10
such as
timers, odometers, speedometers, heart rate indicators, energy expenditure
recorders,
etc. This information may be routed to the view screen 24 for ease of viewing
for a
user of the device 10.
In the exemplary preferred embodiment shown in FIGURE 1, the axle
mounts 30 and 32 are located toward the rear of the frame 12. The axle mounts
30
CA 02299979 2000-03-06
_'J_
and 32 are attached to the frame 12 and extend approximately upward from the
substantially horizontal, longitudinal central member 14. The transverse axle
36 is
rotatably housed in the upper region of the axle mounts 30 and 32. These
regions of
the axle mounts 30 and 32 which house the ends of the transverse axle 36
contain low
fi-iction engaging systems (not shown), such as bearing systems, to allow the
transverse axle 36 to rotate with tittle resistance within the housing in the
axle
mounts 30 and 32.
Referring again to the exemplary preferred embodiment shown in FIGURE 1,
the transverse axle 36 connects to a flywheel 38 contained within a center
housing 40.
Such flywheels are known in the art. However, in other preferred embodiments,
the
transverse axle 36 may not incorporate a flywheel 38 and central housing 40,
without
departing from the scope of the present invention (provided that the foot
links 60 and
70 are coupled to one another in some fashion, albeit directly or indirectly).
The
transverse axle 36 may also be operatively connected to a capstan-type drive
(not
shown) in some embodiments, to allow the axle 36 to rotate in only one
direction.
The elliptical motion exerciser 10 firrther contains longitudinally extending
left
and right foot links 60 and 70. As shown in FIGURE 1, the foot links are
illustrated
in the shape of elongated, relatively thin beams. The foot links 60 and 70 are
of a
width substantial enough to accommodate the width of an individual user's
foot. The
foot links 60 and 70 are aligned in approximately parallel relationship with
the
longitudinal central member 14 of the frame 12. The foot support portions 66
and 76
are positioned near the center to front region of the foot links 60 and 70,
and
comprise engagement pads, to assist in providing stable foot placement
locations for
an individual user. In some exemplary embodiments the foot support portions 66
and
76 are configured to form toe straps and/or toe and heel cups (not shown)
which aid
in forward motion recovery at the end of a rearward or forward striding motion
of a
user's foot.
Left and right crank arm assemblies SO and 52 connect the rearward ends 64
and 74 of the foot links 60 and 70 to the ends of the transverse axle 36. In a
preferred
embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGURE 1, the crank arm
assemblies 50 and 52 are comprised of only a single left and right crank arm
member.
In this exemplary embodiment the proximal ends of the crank arm members 50 and
52
engage the ends of the transverse axle 36, while the distal ends of the crank
arm
members 50 and 52 are rotatably connected to the rearward ends 64 and 74 of
the
foot links 60 and 70. In this configuration, the rearward ends 64 and 74 of
the foot
CA 02299979 2000-03-06
_g_
links 60 and 70 rotate about the transverse axle 36 as the axle rotates, and
the foot
support portions 66 and 76 of the foot links 60 and 70 travel in a reciprocal,
elliptical
path of motion. However, the elliptical path of the foot support portions 66
and 76,
and indeed the motion of the entire foot links 60 and 70 can be altered into
any
S number of configurations by changing the composition or dimensions of the
crank arm
assemblies 50 and 52. For example, the length of the single left and right
crank arms
shown in FIGURE 1 can be lengthened or shortened to modify the path of the
foot
links 60 and 70. Further, the left and right crank arm assemblies 50 and 52
can be
composed of multiple crank arm member linkages to alter the path of travel of
the
foot links 60 and 70 in a wide variety of aspects.
In an alternate embodiment of the present invention the rearward end 64 and
74 of the foot links 60 and 70 are rotationally connected directly to a
flywheel which
functions to couple the foot links 60 and 70 to a pivot axis (equivalent to
the axis of
the transverse axle 36) and permit rotation thereabout. In this embodiment,
the
flywheel is preferably a double flywheel that supports rotation about a
central axis. It
will also be appreciated that various mechanical arrangements may be employed
to
embody the crank arm assemblies 50 and 52 in operatively connecting the foot
links 60 and 70 to each other. Such variations may include a larger flywheel,
a
smaller flywheel or may eliminate the flywheel entirely and incorporate a cam
system
with connecting linkage, provided that the foot links are coupled so as to
permit an
arcuate path of travel by the foot support portions 66 and 76 of the foot
links 60 and
70.
Referring again to FIGURE I, the exerciser device 10 further contains left and
right swing arm mechanisms 80 and 90. Respectively, each swing arm mechanism
80
and 90 contains a hand-gripping portion 82 and 92, a pivot point 84 and 94,
and a
coupling region 86 and 96. The coupling regions 86 and 96 of the swing arm
mechanisms 80 and 90 rotatably connect to the forward ends 62 and 72 of the
foot
links 60 and 70. The pivot points 84 and 94 rotatably secure the swing arm
mechanisms 80 and 90 to the forward upright member 20 of the frame 12. The
hand-
gripping portions 82 and 92 of the swing arm mechanisms 80 and 90 are grasped
by
the hands of the individual user, and allow upper body arm and shoulder
exercising
motions to be incorporated in conjunction with the reciprocal, elliptical
exercising
motion traced out by the user's feet. As can be more readily understood with
reference to FIGURE 1, the linking of the swing arm mechanisms 80 and 90 to
the
foot links 60 and 70, and the rotational securement of the swing arm
mechanisms 80
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and 90 to the forward upright member 20 of the frame 12 at the pivot points 84
and
94, results in generally rearward, arcuate motion of a hand-gripping portion
being
correspondingly linking to generally forward, arcuate motion of a respective
foot
support portion, and vice versa.
Importantly, the exercise device 10 of the present invention incorporates
flexible coordinating members 100. These flexibly coordinating members 100 are
incorporated in the linkage between the left hand-gripping portion 82 and foot
support portion 66 and the linkage between the right hand-gripping portion 92
and
foot support portion 76. The flexibly coordinating members 100 are
sufficiently
flexible and resilient to substantially link the movement of the foot support
portions 66 and 76 to the movement of the hand-gripping portions 82 and 92,
while
permitting some degree of uncoordinated motion between the foot support
portions 66 and 76, and the hand-gripping portions 82 and 92. This flexibly
coordinated linkage between a user's upper body and lower body provides
significant
advantages over unforgivingly forcing exact coordination between a user's
upper and
lower body. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention illustrated in
FIGURE I, a substantial portion of the swing arm mechanisms 80 and 90
themselves
comprise the flexibly coordinating members 100, by being constructed of a
material
that is sufficiently flexible and resilient to substantially (but not totally)
link the
movement of the foot support portions 66 and 76 to the movement of the hand-
gripping portions 82 and 92 (i.e., permitting some degree of uncoordinated
motion
between the foot support portions and the hand-gripping portions). Thus, in
this
embodiment, substantially the entire upper and lower portions of the swing arm
mechanisms 80 and 90 are flexors (e.g., fiberglass/graphite rods or members).
To use the present invention, the user stands on the foot support portions 66
and 76 and grasps the hand-gripping portions 82 and 92. The user imparts a
rearward
stepping motion on one of the foot support portions and a forward stepping
motion
on the other foot support portion, thereby causing the transverse axle 36 to
rotate in a
clockwise direction (when viewed from the right side as shown in FIGURE 1),
due to
the crank arm assemblies SO and 52 coupling the motion of the foot links 60
and 70 to
the rotation of the transverse axle 36. In conjunction with the lower body
action, the
user also imparts a substantially forward pushing motion on one of the hand-
gripping
portions and a substantially rearward pulling motion on the other hand-
gripping
portion. Due to the rotatable connection of the coupling regions 86 and 96 of
the
swing arm mechanisms 80 and 90 to the forward ends 62 and 72 of the foot links
60
CA 02299979 2000-03-06
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and 70, and the rotational securement of the swing arm mechanisms 80 and 90 to
the
forward upright member 20 of the frame 12 at their pivot points 84 and 94,
each
hand-gripping portion moves forward as its respective foot support portion
moves
rearward, and vice versa.
The foot links 60 and 70 are attached to the transverse axle 36 by the crank
arm assemblies 50 and 52 such that one foot support portion moves
substantially
forward as the other foot support portion moves substantially rearward. In
this same
fashion one hand-gripping portion moves forward as the other hand-gripping
portion
moves rearward (e.g., when the left hand-gripping portion 82 moves forward,
the left
foot support portion 66 moves rearward, while the right foot support portion
76
moves forward and the right hand-gripping portion 92 moves rearward).
Therefore,
the user can begin movement of the entire foot link and swing arm mechanism
linkage
by moving any foot support portion or hand-gripping portion, or preferably by
moving all of them together.
As previously described, a flexibly coordinating member 100 is incorporated
between each hand-gripping portion 82 and 92 and its respective foot support
portion 66 and 76 to induce flexibly coordinated motion between the hand-
gripping
portions and the foot support portions, such that when one of the hand-
gripping
portions moves rearward the flexibly coordinating member 100 forces its
respective
foot support portion to move forward a substantially related percentage
amount, and
vice versa. This flexibly coordinated motion does however, allow a certain
amount
(depending upon the flexibility of the flexibly coordinating member 100) of
uncoordinated motion between each respective hand-gripping portion and foot
link.
The relative movement between the hand-gripping portions and the foot support
portions can be varied by modifying the location of the pivot points 84 and 94
along
the length of the swing arm mechanisms 80 and 90. However, the flexible
coordination provided by the flexibly coordinated members 100 does allow some
degree of variation in the relative motion between the hand gripping portions
82 and
92 and the foot support portions 66 and 76.
As previously stated, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention
illustrated in FIGURE 1, the flexibly coordinating members comprise
substantially the
entire length of the swing arm mechanisms 80 and 90, which are constructed of
a
material that is sufficiently flexible and resilient to provide the above-
described
flexibly coordinating motion. In another preferred embodiment of the present
invention the flexibly coordinating members 100 may represent a smaller
percentage
CA 02299979 2000-03-06
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-.
~i
of the swing arm mechanisms 80 and 90. Reducing the portion of the swing arm
mechanisms 80 and 90 that act as the flexibly coordinating members 100, and
thus are
composed of a flexible and resilient material, will likely increase the
flexibility and
resilience required of the material.
S A preferred embodiment of the present invention may further include a
friction
break or other resistance adjustable mechanism (not shown). Preferably, the
resistance adjustment mechanism would be associated with the flywheel 38 or
the
transverse axle 36 for the purpose of imposing drag on the wheel or the axle
so as to
increase the amount of exercise provided by the exercise device 10. The
resistance
adjustment mechanism may be adjusted by an adjustment knob (not shown)
operating
through a flexible cable (not shown) upon some type of frictional pad assembly
(not
shown). These types of resistance adjustment mechanisms and their associated
assemblies are well-known to those skilled in the art. Other types of braking
devices
such as a magnetic brake and the like may also be similarly employed.
FIGURE 2 represents a partial view of another preferred embodiment exercise
device 1 l0 constructed in accordance with the present invention. The
alternate
flexibly coordinated exercise device 110 partially shown in FIGURE 2 is
constructed
and functions similarly to the exercise device 10 shown in FIGURE 1.
Accordingly,
the exercise device 110 will be described only with respect to those
components that
differ from the components of the exercise device 10. In the alternate
exercise
device 110, the left and right swing arm mechanisms 80 and 90 each include
spring
link members 114 and 116 that act as the flexibly coordinating members of the
device.
Ideally, but not essentially, the spring link members 114 and 116 of the swing
arm
mechanism 80 and 90 are located substantially adjacent to the pivot points 84
and 94
(just below). The spring link members 114 and 116 could be located at other
positions along the length of the swing arm mechanisms 80 and 90 without
departing
from the scope of the present invention. The degree of flexibly coordinated
motion
(i.e., the amount of uncoordinated motion that is allowed) can be varied by
selection
of the size, thickness, and spring constant of the spring link members 114 and
116.
Referring now to FIGURE 3, another preferred embodiment flexibly
coordinating exercise device 120 is illustrated. The exerciser 120 shown in
FIGURE 3 is constructed and functions similarly to the exercise devices l0 and
110
shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 respectively. Accordingly, the alternate preferred
embodiment exerciser 120 will be described only with respect to those
components
that differ from the components of the exercise devices 10 and I 10. In the
exercise
CA 02299979 2000-03-06
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device 120 the swing arm mechanism 90 is replaced by a right swing arm
assembly 136 which includes an elastomeric torsion spring 124. It is to be
understood
the swing arm mechanism 80 is likewise replaced by a swing arm assembly
similar to
assembly 13b. Swing arm assembly 136 contains an upper swing arm 138, a lower
swing arm 140, an upper connector collar 142, a lower connector hub 144, and a
connecting elastomeric torsion spring 124.
The elastomeric torsion spring 124 connects the upper swing arm 138 to the
lower swing arm 140 by linking the upper connector collar 142 to the lower
connector hub 144 of the lower swing arm in flexibly coordinated motion. The
hub 144 is fixedly connected to the upper knuckle 141 of lower swing arm 140.
Both
the hub 144 and knuckle 141 have a central through hole for engaging over the
distal
end of pivot shaft 146. The elastomeric torsion spring 124 is bonded to the
inside
diameter of collar 142 and to the outside diameter of hub 144, thereby to
substantially
relate the motion of the upper swing arm 138 to the motion of the lower swing
arm 140 while permitting some degree of uncoordinated motion between the upper
swing arm and the lower swing arm. The swing arm assembly 136 rotates about
the
pivot shaft 146, which is supported by upright member 20. The degree of
flexibly
coordinated motion provided by the elastomeric torsion spring 124 (i.e., the
amount
of uncoordinated motion that the elastomeric torsion springs allow) can be
varied by
selection of the elastomeric material used to comprise the elastomeric torsion
spring 124 (i.e., the flexibility and resilience of the material).
FIGURE 4 illustrates another preferred embodiment of the present invention
composed of a flexibly coordinated exercise device 150. The exerciser 150
shown in
FIGURE 4 is constructed and functions similarly to the exercise devices 10,
110,
and 120 shown in FIGURES 1-3, respectively. Accordingly, the exerciser 150
will be
described only with respect to those components that differ from the
components of
the exercise devices 10, 110, and 120.
In the exercise device 150, left and right elastomeric members 152 and 154
connect the coupling regions 86 and 96 of the swing arm mechanisms 80 and 90
to
the forward ends 62 and 72 of the foot links 60 and 70. The elastomeric
members 152 and 154 provide flexibly coordinated motion between the hand
gripping
portions 82 and 92 and the foot support portions 66 and 76. The elastomeric
members 152 and l54 are constructed of a material that is sufficiently
flexible and
resilient to substantially relate the movement of the foot support portions to
the
movement of the hand gripping portions, while permitting some degree of
CA 02299979 2000-03-06
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uncoordinated motion between the foot support portions and the hand gripping
portions. Alternatively, the members 1S2 and 154 may be rigid and have a
torsion
spring interposed between the members 152 and 1 S4, and the forward ends 62
and 72
of the foot links 60 and 70. In still an additional embodiment, the members
1S2 and
S 1 S4 may be rigid and have a torsion spring interposed between the members 1
S2 and
1 S4, and the coupling regions 86 and 96 of the swing arms 80 and 90.
As shown in FIGURE S, in another preferred embodiment of the present
invention, spring links 1S6 and 1S8 could also be used in place of elastomeric
members 1 S2 and 1 S4 and would provide the same type of flexibly coordinated
motion between the hand gripping portions 82 and 92 and the foot support
portions 66 and 76 in the exercise device 1 S0.
In another aspect of the present invention, any of the above-described
preferred embodiments may further contain flexibly coordinated mechanisms in
the
linkage between the left and right foot support portions 66 and 76 of the left
and right
1S foot links 60 and 70 that substantially relate the movement of the foot
links to each
other while permitting some degree of uncoordinated motion between the foot
links.
Specifically, flexibly coordinating mechanisms 104 similar to those described
above
(e.g., such as the elastomeric torsion spring 124) may be incorporated between
each
foot link 60 and 70 and their respective crank arm assembly SO and S2. In
another
preferred embodiment, the flexibly coordinating mechanisms 106 (e.g., such as
elastomeric torsion springs) may be incorporated between each coupling
mechanism SO and S2 and the transverse axle 36. In still another preferred
embodiment, the flexibly coordinating mechanism may be configured as a
flexibly
coordinated, bifurcated transverse axle (not shown), that substantially
relates the
2S movement of the foot links to each other, while permitting some degree of
uncoordinated motion between the foot links, and which replaces the transverse
axle 36.
The present invention has been described in relation to a preferred
embodiment and several preferred alternate embodiments. One of ordinary skill
after
reading the foregoing specification, may be able to effect various other
changes,
alterations, and substitutions or equivalents thereof without departing from
the
concepts disclosed. It is therefore intended that the scope of the letters
patent granted
hereon will be limited only by the definitions contained in the appended
claims and
equivalents thereof.
