Claims
- 1. An exerciser comprising a drive train and two foot supports each pivotally connected to associated linkage members of the drive train, each of the two foot supports having a toe, a center and a heel, the drive train being operative to direct movement of the foot supports so that the toe, center and heel each travel along respective orbital paths of travel that differ from one another in geometric pattern.
- 2. A method of exercising, comprising directing movement of two foot supports with a drive train so that a toe, center and heel of the foot supports travel along respective orbital paths of travel that differ from one another in geometric pattern, each of the foot supports being pivotally connected to associated linkage members of the drive train.
- 3. A method of configuring an exerciser, comprising configuring and arranging a drive train to direct movement of two foot supports so that a toe, center and heel of the foot supports travel along respective orbital paths of travel that differ from one another in geometric pattern, each of the foot supports being pivotally connected to associated linkage members of the drive train.
- 4. An exerciser of claim 1, wherein the orbital path traveled by the center of the foot supports is oblong in shape between opposite ends, further comprising a structure arranged to keep the two foot supports moving without manual intervention while the foot supports pass through dead spots at the opposite ends of the orbital path of travel.
- 5. An exerciser of claim 2, wherein the drive train includes a crank, the linkage members including two linkages each connecting a respective one of the foot supports to the crank, the two linkages being configured to direct the center of the foot supports to move along the orbital path, the structure being selected from a group consisting of a weight, a spring, a resistance mechanism, a bumper with resilient properties, a compressed foam, a lever, and a motor.
- 6. An exerciser of claim 1, wherein the drive train is responsive to movement of the foot supports to exert a resistance.
- 7. An exerciser of claim 6, wherein the drive train includes a variable energy absorber configured and arranged to exert the resistance.
- 8. An exerciser of claim 1, further comprising a grab bar arranged within reach of a user while entering and leaving the seat.
- 9. An exerciser of claim 1, further comprising a frame and two arms, the arms being movable relative to the frame in opposite directions and being pivotally attached to the frame, further comprising a connection assembly that connects the arms with associated ones of the linkage members such that the arms and the foot supports reach respective dead spot positions at ends of their respective paths of travel at different positions and thereby prevent both from becoming locked in their respective dead spots simultaneously.
- 10. An exerciser of claim 1, wherein each of the linkage members include a link that extends between two end portions and an extension that projects from the link, the foot supports being attached to associated ones of the extensions, the drive train being arranged to direct the center of the foot supports to effect an oblong, orbital path of travel as one of the two end portions of each of the link elements effects orbital motion and a further of the two end portions of each of the link elements effects reciprocating motion back and forth.
- 11. An exerciser of claim 1, wherein the drive train is free of any overrunning clutch.
- 12. An exerciser of claim 1, wherein a geometry of the respective orbital path of travel that the center takes is substantially oblong, orbital and symmetric longitudinally.
- 13. An exerciser of claim 1, wherein a geometry of the respective orbital path of travel that the toe takes intersects itself to define two oblong, orbital paths.
- 14. An exerciser of claim 1, wherein a geometry of the respective orbital path of travel that the heel takes is oblong, orbital and asymmetric longitudinally.
- 15. An exerciser of claim 12, wherein the substantially oblong, orbital and symmetric longitudinal path is substantially elliptical.
- 16. An exerciser of claim 13, wherein one of the two oblong, orbital paths is wider in a direction transverse to a direction of elongation than a further of the two oblong, orbital paths.
- 17. An exerciser of claim 13 wherein each of the two oblong, orbital paths have an oblong dimension that shares an end where the two oblong, orbital paths intersect and each has a further end opposite, the further end of one of the two oblong, orbital paths being at a higher elevation than a further of the two oblong, orbital paths.
- 18. An exerciser of claim 17 wherein as the foot supports travel in one of a forward direction and a backward direction, the toe lowers initially faster to where the orbital paths intersect than after and as the foot supports travel in the other of the forward direction and the backward direction rises faster after passing where the orbital paths intersect than before.
- 19. An exerciser of claim 14 wherein the geometry includes two longitudinal portions asymmetric to each other one of which having a steeper curvature than the other of the two longitudinal portions.
- 20. A method of claim 2, wherein the orbital paths traveled by the center of the foot supports is oblong in shape between associated opposite ends, further comprising keeping the two foot supports moving without manual intervention while the centers of the foot supports pass through dead spots at the associated opposite ends of the orbital paths of travel.
- 21. A method of claim 3, wherein the orbital paths traveled by the center of the foot supports is oblong in shape between associated opposite ends, further comprising configuring and arranging a structure to keep the two foot supports moving without manual intervention while the centers of the foot supports pass through dead spots at the associated opposite ends of the orbital paths of travel.
- 22. An exerciser, comprising a foot support, a drive train that includes a linkage member having a link element that extends between two end portions, the linkage member having an extension that extends from the link element, the foot support being secured to the extension, the drive train being configured and arranged to direct a center of the foot support to travel along an oblong, orbital path of motion relative to a frame as one of the two end portions of the link element effects orbital motion and a further of the two end portions of the link element effects reciprocating motion back and forth, the link element and the extension being integrally formed or in rigid connection with each other to prevent movement relative to each other.
- 23. A method of exercising, comprising directing a center of a foot support to travel along an oblong, orbital path of motion relative to a frame as one of the two end portions of a link element of the drive train effects orbital motion and a further of the two end portions of the link element effects reciprocating motion back and forth; the link element extending between the two end portions, the linkage member having an extension that extends from the link element, securing the foot support to the extension, and preventing movement of the link element and the extension relative to each other by integrally forming or rigidly connecting the link element and the extension to each other.
- 24. A method of configuring an exerciser, comprising configuring and arranging a drive train to direct a center of a foot support to travel along an oblong, orbital path of motion relative to a frame as one of two end portions of a link element of the drive train effects orbital motion and a further of two end portions of the link element effects reciprocating motion back and forth; extending the link element between the two end portions, extending an extension of the linkage member from the link element, securing the foot support to the extension, and preventing movement of the link element and the extension relative to each other by integrally forming or rigidly connecting the link element and the extension to each other.
- 25. An exerciser of claim 22, further comprising a seat arranged so that a user may place a foot on the foot support while seated.
- 26. An exerciser of claim 22, wherein the foot support is pivotally connected to the extension.
- 27. An exerciser of claim 22, wherein the foot support is at a higher elevation than where the link element effects the reciprocating movement back and forth.
- 28. An exerciser of claim 22, further comprising a further linkage member that has a further extension; a further foot support connected to the further extension; two arms movable back and forth in opposite directions from each other, and connecting linkages that link the arms to respective ones of the extensions.
- 29. An exerciser of clam 28, wherein the arms and the linkage members are arranged such that the arms and the foot supports reach respective dead spot positions at ends of their respective paths of travel at different positions and thereby prevent both from becoming locked in their respective dead spots simultaneously.
- 30. An exerciser of claim 22, wherein the extension extends from the link element at a location that is spaced from the end portions of the link element.
- 31. A method of claim 23, wherein the orbital paths traveled by the center of the foot supports are each oblong in shape between associated opposite ends, further comprising keeping the two foot supports moving without manual intervention while the centers of the foot supports pass through dead spots at the associated opposite ends of the orbital paths of travel.
- 32. A method of claim 24, further comprising configuring and arranging a structure to keep the two foot supports moving without manual intervention while the centers of the foot supports pass through dead spots at the associated opposite ends of the orbital paths of travel.
- 33. An exerciser, comprising a frame, two pivot connections spaced from each other and secured to the frame, a foot linkage member, an arm, and a connection linkage in pivotal connection with each of the foot linkage member, the arm and one of the two pivot connections, the arm being pivotally connected to pivot about a further of the two pivot connections.
- 34. A method of exercising, comprising pivoting a connection linkage relative to each of a foot linkage member and an arm and about one of two pivot connections that are spaced from each other, pivoting the arm about a further of the two pivot connections.
- 35. A method of configuring an exerciser, comprising configuring and arranging a connection linkage to pivot relative to each of a foot linkage member and an arm and about one of two pivot connections that are spaced from each other, configuring and arranging the arm to pivot about a further of the two pivot connections.
- 36. An exerciser of claim 33, further comprising a foot support attached to the foot linkage member, and a seat arranged so that a user may place a foot on the foot support while seated.
- 37. An exerciser of claim 33, wherein the foot linkage member includes an extension, further comprising a foot support pivotally connected to the extension.
- 38. An exerciser of claim 33, wherein the linkage member includes an element and an extension projecting from the element, further comprising a foot support pivotally connected to the extension, and a drive train arranged to direct the foot support to follow an oblong orbital path as one portion of the element effects an orbital motion and a further portion of the element effects a reciprocating back and forth motion.
- 39. An exerciser of claim 33, further comprising a foot support attached to the foot linkage member, wherein the connection linkage includes a solid link that effects the pivotal connection to the linkage member, an angular orientation of the foot support being controlled by pivotal movement of solid link.
- 40. An exerciser of claim 33, further comprising a foot support attached to the foot linkage member, and spring elements arranged to bias the foot support and being mounted to a shaft, the shaft being secured to the connection linkage and to the foot support.
- 41. An exerciser of claim 40, wherein the linkage member includes an extension, further comprising a foot support pivotally connected to the extension, the shaft being secured to the connection linkage and to the foot support, the spring elements defining an angular orientation of the foot support with respect to the extension.
- 42. A method of claim 34, further comprising biasing a foot support that is attached to the foot linkage member.
- 43. A method of claim 35, further comprising configuring and arranging a foot support to bias and attaching the foot support to the foot linkage member.
- 44. An exerciser, comprising a guide having a bottom, two sides and a top, the top including two top portions separated from each other, the bottom including at least one configuration of a curved track that faces opposite one of the two top portions and a further configuration of a further track that faces opposite the other of the two top portions, the at least one curved track having a curvature.
- 45. An exerciser of claim 44, wherein the further track is a flat track spaced from the at least one curved track and facing opposite the other of the two top portions, the flat track having a substantially flat configuration.
- 46. An exerciser of claim 45, wherein the sides each have inner facing surfaces that are substantially flat in configuration.
- 47. An exerciser of claim 46, wherein the top portions each have an inner facing surface that is substantially flat in configuration.
- 48. An exerciser of claim 44, further comprising a linkage member having two wheels, one of the wheels being on the at least one curved track and the other of the wheels being on the further track, the guide being configured with the two sides and top portions arranged so that while the wheels are rolling upon their respective tracks, the wheels are spaced out of contact from the top portions and adjacent one of the two sides and, in response to forces that tend to lift at least one of the wheels off the curved or further track as applicable, the wheels shift accordingly but without both top and bottom of the wheels contacting the guide simultaneously.
- 49. An exerciser of claim 44, further comprising a linkage member having two wheels, one of the wheels being predominantly on the at least one curved track and the other of the wheels being predominantly on the flat track, the guide being configured to allow the wheels to roll back and forth without ever sliding.
- 50. An exerciser of claim 49, further comprising a drive train that directs movement of the linkage member and thereby the wheels back and forth; and foot supports, the linkage member moving in response to movement of the foot supports.
- 51. An exerciser of claim 50, wherein the drive train is free of an overrunning clutch.
- 52. An exerciser, comprising two foot supports; two linkage members each connected to respective ones of the foot supports; each of the linkage members having wheels, the foot supports being movable under direction of the linkage members along an oblong orbital path having two end positions that constitute dead spots; a guide along which the wheels engage to roll; at least one of the linkage members having a ramp; a lever arm having a follower positioned to move along the ramp; and a force element responsive to forces exerted by the lever arm from the follower moving along the ramp to tension so as to compel the follower to continue moving along the ramp at least until the foot supports pass through the dead spots.
- 53. An exercise device comprising:
a frame having a pivot axis defined thereon, said frame configured to be supported on a floor; a first and a second link, each having a foot engaging portion; a first and second coupling member, each associated with and pivotally coupling a respective one of said links to said pivot axis at a predetermined distance therefrom so that a first end of said foot link travels in an arcuate path about said axis; a guide supported by said frame and operative to engage said links and to direct a second end of each link along a preselected, reciprocating path of travel as the first end of each said link travels along said arcuate path; so that when said exercise device is in use, and when the second end of said link travels rearward along said reciprocating path of travel from a forward end thereof, the toe of the foot engaging portion initially lowers at a faster rate than the heel, and so that the heel of said foot engaging portion travels in a path which does not encompass said pivot axis.
- 54. An exerciser, comprising a drive train that includes a linkage member arranged to effect back and forth motion, the linkage member having an end with wheels, and a guide configured to guide the end of the linkage member that has the wheels so that the wheels roll along a track of the guide in a reciprocating manner, the track being configured so that even in response to forces that lift the wheels off the track to cause the wheels to engage a further surface of the guide, the wheels roll along the further surface without sliding.
- 55. A method of exercising, comprising driving an end of a linkage member of a drive train in a reciprocating manner, guiding the end of the linkage member within a guide so that wheels at the end of the linkage member roll along a track, lifting the wheels off the track in response to forces to cause the wheels to engage a further surface of the guide, and rolling the wheels along the further surface without sliding.
- 56. A method of configuring an exerciser, comprising configuring and arranging an end of a linkage member of a drive train to be driven in a reciprocating manner, configuring and arranging a guide to guide the end of the linkage member so that wheels at the end of the linkage member roll along a track, and configuring and arranging the track so that even in response to forces that lift the wheels off the track and cause the wheels to engage a further surface of the guide, the wheels roll along the further surface without sliding.
- 57. An exerciser, comprising a drive train configured and arranged to guide centers of foot supports to move back and forth in an oblong, orbital pattern and to guide extensions of linkage members to move in unison with the foot supports, the drive train being configured and arranged to direct one of two portions of each of the linkage members to reciprocate back and forth and direct a further of the two portions of each of the linkage members to move in an orbital manner, the extensions being configured and arranged to project from a region intermediate of associated ones of the two portions to an elevation higher than the one of the two portions that reciprocates back and forth.
- 58. A method of exercising, comprising moving centers of foot supports back and forth in an oblong, orbital pattern, moving extensions of linkage members in unison with the foot supports, directing one of two portions of each of the linkage members to reciprocate back and forth and directing a further of the two portions of each of the linkage members to move in an orbital manner, projecting the extensions from a region intermediate of associated ones of the two portions to an elevation higher than the one of the two portions that reciprocates back and forth.
- 59. A method of configuring an exerciser, comprising configuring and arranging a drive train to guide centers of foot supports to move back and forth in an oblong, orbital pattern and to guide extensions of linkage members to move in unison with the foot supports, configuring and arranging the drive train to direct one of two portions of each of the linkage members to reciprocate back and forth and direct a further of the two portions of each of the linkage members to move in an orbital manner, configuring and arranging the extensions to project from a region intermediate of associated ones of the two portions to an elevation higher than the one of the two portions that reciprocates back and forth.
- 60. An exerciser, comprising arms configured and arranged to move back and forth relative to a frame between dead spots at ends of a path, foot supports configured and arranged to move back and forth relative to the frame in an oblong, orbital path between dead spots at ends of the path, and a force mechanism configured and arranged to exert a force to prevent the arms and the foot supports from remaining locked in their respective dead spots independent of any manual intervention.
- 61. A method of exercising, comprising moving arms back and forth between dead spots at ends of a path, moving foot supports in an oblong, orbital path between dead spots at ends of the path, exerting a force to prevent the arms and the foot supports from remaining locked in their respective dead spots independent of any manual intervention.
- 62. A method of configuring an exerciser, comprising configuring and arranging arms to move back and forth relative to a frame between dead spots at ends of a path, configuring and arranging foot supports to move back and forth relative to the frame in an oblong, orbital path between dead spots at ends of the path, and configuring and arranging a force mechanism to exert a force to prevent the arms and the foot supports from remaining locked in their respective dead spots independent of any manual intervention.
- 63. An exerciser, comprising arms configured and arranged to move back and forth relative to a frame to traverse an arm traveling distance defined between ends of a path of motion of the arms, foot supports configured and arranged to move back and forth relative to the frame to traverse a foot traveling distance defined between ends of a path of motion of the foot supports, the arm traveling distance and the foot traveling distance being substantially identical in dimension.
- 64. A method of exercising, comprising moving arms back and forth relative to a frame to traverse an arm traveling distance defined between ends of a path of motion of the arms, moving foot supports back and forth relative to the frame to traverse a foot traveling distance defined between ends of a path of motion of the foot supports, the arm traveling distance and the foot traveling distance being substantially identical in dimension.
- 65. A method of configuring an exerciser, comprising configuring and arranging arms to move back and forth relative to a frame to traverse an arm traveling distance defined between ends of a path of motion of the arms, configuring and arranging foot supports to move back and forth relative to the frame to traverse a foot traveling distance defined between ends of a path of motion of the foot supports, the arm traveling distance and the foot traveling distance being substantially identical in dimension.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS
[0001] This is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 10/462,952, filed Jun. 17, 2003, now abandoned.
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
10462952 |
Jun 2003 |
US |
Child |
10843788 |
May 2004 |
US |