Patent ID: 7452309
Filing Date: 2008-11-18
Classification: A63B

Abstract:
1. A method of facilitating exercise involving elliptical foot motion, comprising the steps of: providing a frame; rotatably mounting left and right cranks on the frame for rotation about a common crank axis; rotatably mounting left and right rollers on respective said cranks; pivotally mounting left and right rocker links on a forward portion of the frame; providing left and right foot supporting links having rearward foot supporting platforms sized and configured to support respective left and right feet of a person; movably connecting forward ends of the foot supporting links to respective said rocker links; supporting intermediate portions of the foot supporting links on respective said rollers in such manner that said foot supporting platform are cantilevered relative to respective said rollers and movable to respective locations disposed rearward of the common crank axis; moveably interconnecting left and right drawbar links between respective said rocker links and respective said cranks in a manner that constrains respective said foot supporting platforms to move through respective elliptical paths disposed rearward of the common crank axis; and accommodating selective adjustment of the elliptical path between a stepping motion having a relatively greater vertical component, and a striding motion having a relatively greater horizontal component.