TRANSLATING SUPPORT ASSEMBLY SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR USE THEREOF

Abstract

An exercise apparatus comprises: a frame; a crank system comprising first and second crank coupling locations, the crank system being supported by the frame; a right foot support member comprising a first right guide element; a left foot support member comprising a first left guide element; a right movable member comprising a second right guide element; a left movable member comprising a second left guide element; a first flexible support system comprising a first flexible element, the first flexible element coupled to the frame and the first and second right guide elements and operative to move the first crank coupling location when the right foot support member moves; and a second flexible support system comprising a second flexible element, the second flexible element coupled to the frame and the first and second left guide elements and operative to move the second crank coupling location when the left foot support member moves.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 depicts a side view of an example embodiment of an exercise device adapted according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 depicts a top view of an example embodiment of an exercise device adapted according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3A depicts an example embodiment of an arcuate motion member path;

FIG. 3B depicts an example embodiment of a foot support member path;

FIG. 4 depicts a side view of an example embodiment of an exercise device adapted according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 depicts a side view of an example embodiment of an exercise device adapted according to an embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 6 depicts an example method for using a machine adapted according to an embodiment of the invention.

Claims

1. An exercise apparatus comprising: a frame;a crank system comprising first and second crank coupling locations, the crank system being supported by the frame;a right foot support member comprising a first right guide element;a left foot support member comprising a first left guide element;a right movable member comprising a second right guide element;a left movable member comprising a second left guide element;a first flexible support system comprising a first flexible element, the first flexible element coupled to the frame and the first and second right guide elements and operative to move the first crank coupling location when a vertical force is applied to the right foot support member; anda second flexible support system comprising a second flexible element, the second flexible element coupled to the frame and the first and second left guide elements and operative to move the second crank coupling location when a vertical force is applied to the left foot support member.

2. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the left and right foot support members move in an alternating lifting and lowering motion.

3. The exercise apparatus of claim 2, wherein the left and right foot support members further move in a forward and rearward motion, creating a substantially closed path striding motion.

4. The exercise apparatus of claim 3, wherein a change in a force applied to the foot support members causes an instantaneous change in a length of the substantially closed path striding motion.

5. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the crank system is associated with a brake device providing resistance to rotation of the crank system.

6. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the crank system is associated with an inertia device that stores and delivers energy during rotation of the crank system.

7. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a right arcuate motion member pivotally coupled to the frame and coupled to the right movable member and the right foot member; anda left arcuate motion member pivotally coupled to the frame and coupled to the left movable member and the left foot member.

8. The exercise apparatus of claim 7, wherein the left and right arcuate motion members, the left and right foot support members, and the left and right movable members form a translating support assembly wherein the respective left and right sides are cross-coupled by a cross coupling system to provide alternating motion.

9. The exercise apparatus of claim 8, wherein said cross coupling system is coupled to a brake.

10. The exercise apparatus of claim 8, wherein the cross-coupling is provided by a belt system coupled to the right and left moveable members.

11. The exercise apparatus of claim 8, wherein the cross-coupling is provided by a rocker mechanism coupled to the right and left moveable members.

12. The exercise apparatus of claim 7, the right arcuate motion member comprising: a first handle portion; andthe left arcuate motion member comprising a second handle portion.

13. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a right curved track section supporting the right moveable member; anda left curved track section supporting the left moveable member.

14. The exercise apparatus of claim 13 wherein the right and left curved track sections are portions of the frame.

15. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a first support link coupling the right moveable member to the frame; anda second support link coupling the left moveable member to the frame.

16. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the crank system is mounted near the front of the apparatus.

17. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the crank system is mounted near the rear of the apparatus.

18. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the crank system is coupled to the flexible elements using an intermediate linkage system.

19. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the crank system comprises: right and left pulley elements coupling the crank system to the flexible elements.

20. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 wherein the crank system comprises a counterweight.

21. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of said guide elements is coupled to a brake.

22. An exercise apparatus comprising: a frame;a crank system with first and second crank coupling locations, the crank system supported by the frame;first flexible element coupled to the frame at a first frame coupling location and to the crank system at the first crank coupling location;second flexible element coupled to the frame at a second frame coupling location and to the crank system at the second crank coupling location;a right foot support member comprising a first right guide element that is coupled to the first flexible element;a left foot support member comprising a first left guide element that is coupled to the second flexible element;a right movable member comprising a second right guide element that is coupled to the first flexible element;a left movable member comprising a second left guide element that is coupled to the second flexible element; andwherein vertical displacement of the right foot support member changes the distance between the first crank coupling location and the first frame coupling location thereby causing rotation of the crank system; andwherein vertical displacement of the left foot support member changes the distance between the second crank coupling location and the second frame coupling location thereby causing rotation of the crank system.

23. The exercise apparatus of claim 22 wherein the displacement comprises alternating lifting and lowering motion of the right and left foot support members.

24. The exercise apparatus of claim 23, wherein the displacement further includes frontward and rearward motion, creating a substantially closed path striding motion.

25. The exercise apparatus of claim 24, wherein a change in a force applied to the foot support members causes an instantaneous change in a length of the substantially closed path.

26. The exercise apparatus of claim 22, wherein the crank system is associated with a brake device providing resistance to rotation of the crank system.

27. The exercise apparatus of claim 22, wherein the crank system is associated with an inertia device that stores and delivers energy during rotation of the crank system.

28. The exercise apparatus of claim 22 further comprising: a right arcuate motion member pivotally coupled to the frame and coupled to the right movable member and the right foot member; anda left arcuate motion member pivotally coupled to the frame and coupled to the left movable member and the left foot member.

29. The exercise apparatus of claim 28, wherein the left and right arcuate motion members, the left and right foot support members, and the left and right movable members form a translating support assembly wherein the respective left and right sides are cross-coupled by a cross coupling system to provide alternating motion.

30. The exercise apparatus of claim 29, wherein said cross coupling system is coupled to a brake.

31. The exercise apparatus of claim 29, wherein the cross-coupling is provided by a belt system coupled to the right and left moveable members.

32. The exercise apparatus of claim 29, wherein the cross-coupling is provided by a rocker mechanism coupled to the right and left moveable members.

33. The exercise apparatus of claim 28, the right arcuate motion member comprising: a first handle portion; andthe left arcuate motion member comprising a second handle portion.

34. The exercise apparatus of claim 22, further comprising: a right curved track section supporting the right moveable member; anda left curved track section supporting the left moveable member.

35. The exercise apparatus of claim 34 wherein the right and left curved track sections are portions of the frame.

36. The exercise apparatus of claim 22, further comprising: a first support link coupling the right moveable member to the frame; anda second support link coupling the left moveable member to the frame.

37. The exercise apparatus of claim 22, wherein the crank system is mounted near the front of the apparatus.

38. The exercise apparatus of claim 22, wherein the crank system is mounted near the rear of the apparatus.

39. The exercise apparatus of claim 22, wherein the crank system is coupled to the flexible elements using an intermediate linkage system.

40. The exercise apparatus of claim 22, wherein the crank system comprises: right and left guide elements coupling the crank system to the flexible elements.

41. The exercise apparatus of claim 22 wherein the crank system comprises a counterweight.

42. The exercise apparatus of claim 22, wherein at least one of said guide elements is coupled to a brake.

43. A method for operating an exercise system, the exercise system including a frame, a crank system supported by the frame and including first and second crank coupling locations, a first flexible element coupled to the frame at a first frame coupling location and to the crank system at the first crank coupling location, a second flexible element coupled to the frame at a second frame coupling location and to the crank system at the second crank coupling location, a right foot support member comprising a first right guide element that is coupled to the first flexible element, a left foot support member comprising a first left guide element that is coupled to the second flexible element, a right movable member comprising a second right guide element that is coupled to the first flexible element, and a left movable member comprising a second left guide element that is coupled to the second flexible element, the method comprising: applying alternating vertical forces to the right and left foot support members, changing the distance from the first frame coupling location to the first crank coupling location and changing the distance from the second frame coupling location to the second crank coupling location thereby rotating the crank system; andapplying alternating front-to-back forces to the foot support members, so that the right and left foot support members trace substantially closed paths.

44. The method of claim 43 further comprising: changing one or more of the forces, thereby varying a length of the substantially closed paths.

45. The method of claim 43, further comprising: alternatingly moving left and right arcuate motion members, the arcuate motion members respectively coupled to the left and right movable members.

46. The method of claim 43 further comprising: restoring the right and left foot members and the right and left moveable members to a neutral position in response to weight applied to one or both of the right and left foot support members.