Abstract:
An exercise apparatus includes left and right rigid connector links having first portions rotatably connected to respective cranks, second portions constrained to move in reciprocating fashion, and third portions connected to respective foot supports. Intermediate links are also interconnected between respective cranks and respective foot supports. The resulting assembly links rotation of the cranks to movement of the foot supports through generally elliptical stepping paths. The connection points may be moved relative to one another and/or a supporting frame to adjust the size, shape, and/or orientation of the paths.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/634,136, filed Aug. 4, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,855,094, which in turn, (1) is a continuation-in-part of (a) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/066,029, filed Jan. 31, 2002; now U.S. Pat. No. 6,786,851, and (b) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/065,308, filed Apr. 23, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,086,993, which in turn, discloses subject matter entitled to the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/044,957, filed on Apr. 26, 1997; and (2) discloses subject matter entitled to the filing date of U.S. Provisional Ser. No. 60/489,196, filed Jul. 21, 2003. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to exercise methods and apparatus and more particularly, to exercise equipment that facilitates a generally elliptical foot motion. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Exercise equipment has been designed to facilitate a variety of exercise motions. For example, treadmills allow a person to walk or run in place; stepper machines allow a person to climb in place; bicycle machines allow a person to pedal in place; and other machines allow a person to skate and/or stride in place. Still another type of exercise equipment has been designed to facilitate generally elliptical exercise motion. 
     A variety of elliptical motion exercise machines have been disclosed in patents, including U.S. Pat. No. 4,185,622 to Swenson, the position that these Miller patents (one of which was the subject of a reexamination proceeding) cover any elliptical motion machine that generates more heel rise than toe rise as a person&#39;s foot begins moving forward on the machine. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an elliptical motion exercise machine that guides a person&#39;s feet in a way that falls outside the “heel rise” language in the Miller claims. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention may be described in terms of novel linkage assemblies and corresponding exercise apparatus suitable for generating generally elliptical foot motion. On each side of certain exemplary embodiments, a first portion of a connector link is rotatably connected to a crank; a second portion of the connector link is rotatably connected to a rocker link; and a third portion of the connector link is rotatably connected to a foot support. Also, an intermediate link or orientation controlling means is movably interconnected between the foot support and the crank to control the orientation of the foot support so there is not more heel rise than toe rise during the transition from rearward foot travel to forward foot travel. 
     On one depicted embodiment, the orientation controlling means is a floating crank link, and the foot support is pivotally connected to a distal end of the connector link. On another depicted embodiment, the orientation controlling means is a roller, and the foot support is pivotally connected to an intermediate portion of the connector link. Many features and/or advantages of the present invention may become more apparent from the more detailed description set forth below. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
       With reference to the Figures of the Drawing, wherein like numerals represent like parts and assemblies throughout the several views, 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of first exercise apparatus constructed according to the principles of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of a portion of the exercise apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIGS. 3A-3L  are side views of a second exercise apparatus constructed according to the principles of the present invention, showing one side of the second exercise apparatus at different points during an exercise cycle; and 
         FIGS. 4A-4L  are side views of a third exercise apparatus constructed according to the principles of the present invention, showing one side of the third exercise apparatus at different points during an exercise cycle. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       FIGS. 1-2  show a first exercise apparatus  2100  constructed according to the principles of the present invention. The exercise apparatus  2100  includes left and right cranks  2120  rotatably connected to a frame by means of a crank shaft and bearing assemblies  2102 . A larger diameter pulley  2122  is keyed to the crank shaft and rotates together with the cranks  2120  about a common crank axis. A belt  2124  connects the pulley  2122  to a smaller diameter pulley  2126  which is rigidly secured to a flywheel  2128 . The pulley  2126  and the flywheel  2128  are rotatably connected to the frame by means of a flywheel shaft and bearing assemblies  2103 . As a result, the pulley  2126  and the flywheel  2128  rotate at a relative faster rotational velocity than the cranks  2120  and pulley  2122 . A conventional resistance device may be connected to the flywheel  2128  to resist rotation thereof. 
     Left and right connector links  2130  have intermediate portions which are rotatably connected to radially displaced portions of respective cranks  2120 . The connector links  2130  have first ends which are rotatably connected to first ends of respective rocker links  2140 , and second, opposite ends which are connected to respective foot supporting members or foot links  2150 . The rocker links  2140  have second, opposite ends which are rotatably connected to the frame by means of frame member  2104 . 
     One end of each foot supporting member  2150  is rotatably connected to a respective connector link  2130 , and an opposite end of each foot supporting member  2150  is rotatably connected to an end of a respective floating crank or intermediate link  2160 . An opposite end of each floating crank  2160  is rotatably connected to a distal end of a respective crank  2120 . Left and right foot platforms  2155  are mounted on respective foot supporting members  2150  proximate their pivotal connections with respective connector links  2130 . The floating cranks  2160  and pivoting foot supporting members  2150  cooperate to maintain the foot platforms  2155  in relatively favorable orientations throughout an exercise cycle. 
     Optional left and right dampers  2170  are rotatably interconnected between frame member  2105  and intermediate portions of respective foot supporting members  2150 . The arrangement is such that the dampers  2170  tend to resist vertical movement of the foot platforms  2155  without unduly interfering with “over center” rotation of the cranks  2120 . 
       FIGS. 3A-3L  show a second exercise apparatus  2200  which is constructed according to the principles of the present invention, and which is similar in many respects to the first exercise apparatus  2100 . For ease of illustration and discussion, only one side of the exercise apparatus  2200  is shown (with the understanding that opposite side counterparts function in similar fashion, but typically one hundred and eighty degrees out of phase with the depicted parts). The side of the apparatus  2200  shown in  FIGS. 3A-3L  is the right side of the apparatus  2200 , meaning that a user will be encouraged to mount the machine  2200  with his toes extending toward the rocker links  2240 . 
     The exercise apparatus  2200  includes left and right cranks rotatably connected to a frame  2210  by means of a crank shaft and bearing assemblies. As shown in  FIGS. 3B and 3C , each crank includes (1) a first crank arm  2223  having a first end rotatably connected to the frame  2210  at crank axis C, and an opposite, second end rotatably connected to a respective connector link  2230  at a respective connector link axis M; and (2) a second crank arm  2226  having a first end rotatably connected to the frame  2210  at crank axis C (via a rigid connection to the second end of the first crank segment  2223 ), and an opposite second end rotatably connected to a respective floating link or intermediate link  2260  at a respective floating crank axis F. Various conventional inertial devices and/or resistance devices many be connected to the cranks (directly or indirectly) by means known in the art. 
     The left and right connector links  2230  have intermediate portions that are rotatably connected to the distal ends of respective crank arms  2223 . The connector links  2230  have first ends that are rotatably connected to first ends of respective rocker links  2240 , and second, opposite ends that are rotatably connected to respective foot supporting members or foot links  2250 . The rocker links  2240  have second, opposite ends that are rotatably connected to the frame  2210 . Those skilled in the art will recognize that the rocker links  2240  may be described as guides that direct the first ends of the connector links  2230  through respective reciprocal paths, and that this function may alternatively be performed by rollers rotatably mounted on the first ends of the connector links  2230  and rollable along a portion of the frame  2210 . 
     A first portion of each foot supporting member  2250  is rotatably connected to a respective connector link  2230 , and a second portion of each foot supporting member  2250  is rotatably connected to an end of a respective floating crank  2260 . As noted above, an opposite end of each floating crank  2260  is rotatably connected to a distal end of a respective crank arm  2226 . Left and right foot platforms  2255  are provided on respective foot supporting members  2250 , and are configured to support a person&#39;s respective feet. 
     The machine  2200  operates in the same general manner as the machine  2100  shown in  FIGS. 1-2 . However, the linkage assembly components on the machine  2200  are configured in a somewhat different manner in order to move the foot platforms  2255  in a manner inconsistent with the “heel rise” limitation recited in the claims of the aforementioned Miller patents. In this regard,  FIGS. 3A-3L  show the right side of the machine  2200  as the right crank  2220  is rotated in thirty degree intervals throughout an exercise cycle. The axis M reaches a rearwardmost, 9:00 position in  FIG. 3J ; the axis F reaches a rearwardmost position as the axis M rotates clockwise beyond its 10:00 orientation shown in  FIG. 3K ; and the right rocker link  2240  pivots to a rearwardmost position as the axis M rotates clockwise beyond the 10:00 position shown in  FIG. 3K . As suggested by the reference lines and associated angular measurements (where H is horizontal or parallel to the floor, and the other dashed line is parallel to the foot supporting surface on the right foot platform  2255 ), the right foot platform  2255  is not experiencing faster heel rise than toe rise at any time between the 8:00 position shown in  FIG. 3I  and the 1:00 position shown in  FIG. 3B . In other words, the heel portion of the foot platform  2255  does not rise faster than the toe portion of the foot platform  2255  as the forward end of the connector link  2230  begins moving forward from a point at a rearward end of its path. 
       FIGS. 4A-4L  show a third exercise apparatus  2300  which is constructed according to the principles of the present invention, and which also accommodates foot motion that is inconsistent with the “heel rise” limitation recited in the claims of the aforementioned Miller patents. For ease of illustration and discussion, only one side of the exercise apparatus  2300  is shown (with the understanding that opposite side counterparts function in similar fashion, but typically one hundred and eighty degrees out of phase with the depicted parts). The side of the apparatus  2300  shown in  FIGS. 4A-4L  is the right side of the apparatus  2300 , meaning that a user will be encouraged to mount the machine  2300  with his toes extending toward the rocker links  2340 . 
     The exercise apparatus  2300  includes left and right cranks rotatably connected to a frame  2210  by means of a crank shaft and bearing assemblies. The cranks rotate about a crank axis D relative to the frame  2310 . Each crank includes (1) a first crank arm having a distal end that is rotatably connected to a respective connector link  2330  at a connector link axis N; and (2) a second crank arm  2326  having a distal end that rotatably supports a respective roller or intermediate link  2360  at a roller axis R. A crank extension  2329  is rigidly interconnected between the distal end of the second crank arm  2326  and the distal end of the first crank arm to prevent interference between the parts during operation of the machine  2300 . Various conventional inertial devices and/or resistance devices many be connected to the cranks (directly or indirectly) by means known in the art. 
     The left and right connector links  2330  have rearward ends that are rotatably connected to the distal ends of respective crank extensions  2329 . The connector links  2330  have opposite, forward ends that are rotatably connected to lower ends of respective rocker links  2340 , and intermediate portions that are rotatably connected to respective foot supporting members or foot links  2350 . The rocker links  2340  have opposite, upper ends that are rotatably connected to the frame  2310 . Those skilled in the art will recognize that the rocker links  2340  may be described as guides that direct the first ends of the connector links  2330  through respective reciprocal paths, and that this function may alternatively be performed by rollers rotatably mounted on the first ends of the connector links  2330  and rollable along a portion of the frame  2310 . Those skilled in the art will also recognize that the rocker links  2340  may be extended upward beyond their pivot axis, in which case, the upper distal ends of the extended rocker links may be configured for use as handlebars to facilitate upper body exercise together with the lower body exercise. 
     A forward portion of each foot supporting member  2350  is rotatably connected to the intermediate portion of a respective connector link  2330 , and a rearward portion of each foot supporting member  2250  is rotatably supported on a respective roller  2360 . As noted above, each roller  2360  is mounted on a respective crank at the distal end of a respective crank arm  2326 . Those skilled in the art will recognize that low friction bearing surfaces and/or telescoping assemblies may be substituted for the rollers  2360  without departing from the scope of the present invention. In any event, each foot supporting member  2350  is provided with a foot platform  2355  configured to support a person&#39;s foot. 
       FIGS. 4A-4L  show the right side of the machine  2300  as the right crank  2320  is rotated in thirty degree intervals throughout an exercise cycle. The axes N and R reach a rearwardmost, 9:00 position, in  FIG. 4J ; and the right rocker link  2340  pivots to a rearwardmost position as the axes N and R rotate from the 9:00 position in  FIG. 4J  to the 10:00 position in  FIG. 4K . As suggested by the reference lines and associated angular measurements (where I is horizontal or parallel to the floor, and the other dashed line is parallel to the foot supporting surface on the right foot platform  2355 ), the right foot platform  2355  is not experiencing faster heel rise than toe rise at any time between the 7:00 position shown in  FIG. 4H  and the 3:00 position shown in  FIG. 4D . In other words, the heel portion of the foot platform  2355  does not rise faster than the toe portion of the foot platform  2355  as the forward end of the connector link  2330  begins moving forward from a point at a rearward end of its path. 
     The foregoing disclosure is directed toward specific embodiments and a particular application with the understanding that persons skilled in the art will be able to derive additional embodiments, modifications, and/or features that nonetheless fall within the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention is to be limited only to the extent of the claims which follow.