Patent ID: 7625317
Filing Date: 2009-12-01
Classification: A63B

Abstract:
1. Exercise apparatus comprising a coupled dual four-bar mechanism comprising first and second four-bar mechanisms, said first four-bar mechanism comprising first, second, third, and fourth links connected respectively by first, second, third and fourth pivot joints, said first link being connected to said second link at said first pivot joint, said second link being connected to said third link at said second pivot joint, said third link being connected to said fourth link at said third pivot joint, said fourth link being connected to said first link at said fourth pivot joint, said first and second links pivoting relative to each other about a first pivot axis at said first pivot joint, said second and third links pivoting relative to each other about a second pivot axis at said second pivot joint, said third and fourth links pivoting relative to each other about a third pivot axis at said third pivot joint, said fourth and first links pivoting relative to each other about a fourth pivot axis at said fourth pivot joint, said second four-bar mechanism comprising fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth links connected respectively by fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth pivot joints, said fifth link being connected to said sixth link at said fifth pivot joint, said sixth link being connected to said seventh link at said sixth pivot joint, said seventh link being connected to said eighth link at said seventh pivot joint, said eighth link being connected to said fifth link at said eighth pivot joint, said fifth and sixth links pivoting relative to each other about a fifth pivot axis at said fifth pivot joint, said sixth and seventh links pivoting relative to each other about a sixth pivot axis at said sixth pivot joint, said seventh and eighth links pivoting relative to each other about a seventh pivot axis at said seventh pivot joint, said eighth and fifth links pivoting relative to each other about an eighth pivot axis at said eighth pivot joint, one of said links of said first four-bar mechanism having a first user-engagement surface guiding movement of a first body part of a user, one of said links of said second four-bar mechanism having a second user-engagement surface guiding movement of a second body part of said user, a given link of said first four-bar mechanism being connected to a given link of said second four-bar mechanism at a common connection, wherein said first user-engagement surface guides movement of said first body part of said user in three dimensional motion via the first, second, third, and fourth links pivoting about their respective pivot axes, and said second user-engagement surface guides movement of said second body part of said user in three dimensional motion via the fifth, six, seventh, and eighth links pivoting about their respective pivot axes.