Abstract:
An elliptical exercise machine features a pair of translating members to which a pair of foot members is axially secured. The foot members each pivots with respect to the associated translating member. The generated motion allows a user to lock a knee before beginning downward movement and allows a user to bend the same knee before beginning forward movement such that the motion is more natural for the user.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     The present application claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/700245, which was filed on Jul. 18, 2005 and which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention generally relates to exercise machines. More particularly, the present invention relates to exercise machines that are configured to generate elliptical foot motions.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     Cardiovascular exercise is a popular form of exercise in most fitness facilities. To provide a suitable cardiovascular workout, a user often exercises for extended periods of time. As such, exercise machines that allow an extended cardiovascular workout while cushioning knee joints and ankle joints from pounding are desired. Moreover, exercise machines that allow users to simulate normal body movements without undue stress being placed upon the user&#39;s body parts are desired.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     In view of the desire to provide exercise equipment that cushions the movement of user&#39;s body parts, an elliptical exercise machine has been created that allows a user to more closely simulate normal walking and running movement without the attendant pounding that results from running on treadmills or road surfaces. In particular, the elliptical exercise machine is designed to allow knee joints to be locked before the leg begins a generally downward motion, which is similar to that experienced during running and walking under normal conditions. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]     These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will be described with reference to the following figures, which figures comprise five pictures.  
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a rear, right side perspective view of an exercise machine that is arranged and configured in accordance with certain features, aspects and advantages of an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of the exercise machine of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is a rear elevation view of the exercise machine of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  is a front elevation view of the exercise machine of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0012]     An exercise machine  10  is designed and configured to drive an elliptical or elongated footpath movement for use by an exercising individual. The exercise machine  10  generally comprises a frame assembly  12  and a movement linkage assembly  14 .  
         [0013]     The frame assembly  12  can have any suitable configuration. In the illustrated arrangement, the frame assembly  12  generally comprises a forward upright member  16  and a base member  18 . The forward upright member  16  can be secured to the base member  18  in any suitable manner. In one arrangement, the forward upright member  16  can be bolted to the base member  18  using a flange or the like. In other arrangements, the forward upright member  16  can be secured to the base member  18  by welding or the two members  16 ,  18  can be integrally formed.  
         [0014]     Wing members  22  extend laterally outward from the base member  18 . The wing members  22  provide a location to which leveling feet  24  can be mounted. The leveling feet  24  can have any suitable construction. The leveling feet  24  allow the exercise device  10  to be placed on somewhat uneven surfaces and to be leveled to provide an adequate support base for exercise. While leveling feet  24  are used in the illustrated configuration, the leveling fee  24  can be omitted in other configurations.  
         [0015]     In the illustrated arrangement, forward rollers  26  are provided on the frame. The rollers  26  are positioned such that the wheels  28  of the rollers  26  are suspended above the ground. In this manner, the exercise machine  10  would need to be raised at the rear to place the wheels  28  in contact with the floor. With the wheels  28  of the rollers  26  in contact with the floor and the rear of the exercise machine  10  elevated, the exercise machine  10  can be relocated quickly and easily by rolling the exercise machine  10  on the wheels  28 .  
         [0016]     The illustrated exercise machine  10  also comprises a rearward upright member  30 . The rearward upright member  30  preferably is significantly shorter than the forward upright member  16 . In addition, the rearward upright member  30  preferably is connected to the forward upright member  16  by a brace member  32 .  
         [0017]     Collectively, the forward upright member  16 , the rearward upright member  30 , and the brace number  32  define a drive chamber  34 . Mounting struts  36  are provided within the drive chamber  34  and are used to mount various components used in the movement linkage assembly  14 . The mounting struts  36  also provide mounting locations for electronics and other control components. Other suitable mounting arrangements can be used.  
         [0018]     At an upper end of the forward upright member  16 , a display assembly  40  is connected to the frame assembly  12 . The display assembly  40  can be any suitable display assembly known to those of ordinary skill in the art. For instance, in some arrangements, the display assembly  40  can provide feedback information and can also provide controls and operator inputs.  
         [0019]     As illustrated, the movement linkage assembly  14  comprises a leg movement portion  50 , an arm movement portion  52 , and a generator portion  54 . The generator portion  54  generally comprises a drive wheel  60  and a generator  62 . In the illustrated arrangement, the drive wheel  60  is connected to the generator  62  by a belt  64 . The belt  64  preferably is tensioned by an idler pulley  66 . Thus, as illustrated, the drive wheel  60  rotates an input pulley  68  that is connected to the generator  62  while the idler pulley  66  applies a tension to the belt  64  to reduce the likelihood of slippage. Other suitable connection arrangements also can be used, such as, for example, but without limitation, chains, ribbed belts and pulleys, and the like. In some arrangements, a gear drive arrangement can be used in place of endless transmitters, pulleys and sprockets.  
         [0020]     Crank arms  70  are connected to the drive wheel  60 . Thus, one crank arm  70  is positioned on each side of the drive wheel  60 . In the illustrated arrangement, pillow block bearings are placed on each side of the drive wheel  60 . The bearings journal the drive wheel  60  for rotation about a central axis A. The crank arms  70  are positioned on each lateral side of the drive wheel  60  and preferably are positioned at about 180° out of phase relative to each other.  
         [0021]     For ease of reference, the term “proximal” will describe the end of each crank arm  70  that is connected to the drive wheel  60 , and the term “distal” will be used to refer to the end of each crank arm  70  that is positioned further away from the central axis A. Connecting links  72  are rotationally connected to the distal end of the crank arms  70 . In other words, each crank arm  70  is connected to a corresponding connecting link  72 .  
         [0022]     The connecting links  72  can be secured to the crank arms in any suitable manner. In the illustrated arrangement, a stub shaft  74  extends laterally outward from the distal end of the respective crank arm  70 . A mounting fixture  76  is connected to the stub shaft  74  with an outer sleeve  78  that substantially encases the stub shaft  74 . In other words, the outer sleeve  78  does not rotate with the movement of the crank arms while the stub shaft  74 , which is secured to the crank arm  70 , rotates as the crank arm rotates. The outer sleeve  78  and the mounting fixture  76  can be joined to the connecting link  72  in any suitable manner. In one arrangement, the connecting link  72  is bolted to the mounting fixture  76  and movement of the mounting fixture  76  and the outer sleeve  78 , collectively, relative to the axis about which the outer sleeve  78  is connected to the crank arm  70  is dictated by the translating movement of the connecting link  72 .  
         [0023]     For ease of reference, with respect to each connecting link  72 , the term “proximal” will mean the end that is closest to the crank arm  70 , and the term “distal” will mean the end that is farther away from the crank arm  70 . The illustrated connecting link  72  comprises a downturned portion  80  at its distal end. The downturned portion  80  is connected to a pair of rollers  82 . While a pair of rollers is used in the illustrated arrangement, other suitable configurations also are possible. In some configurations, a single roller can be used. In other configurations, more than two rollers can be used.  
         [0024]     The rollers  82  are mounted to rotate relative to a common shaft  84 . The exterior surfaces of the rollers  82  preferably have a recessed central region. The recessed central region  86  corresponds to rails  90  on which the rollers  82  translate. In some configurations, the rails can be replaced by ramps, planes or any other suitable structure.  
         [0025]     The rails  90  are secured to the base member  18  in any suitable manner. In the illustrated arrangement, the rails  90  are formed of tubing and are spaced from one another laterally. The rails  90  are secured to mounting flanges  92  in any suitable manner. In the illustrated arrangement, the rails  90  are welded to the mounting flanges  92 . The rails preferably comprise an arcuate configuration. In other words, the central portion of each of the rails preferably is depressed downward such that both ends of the rails  90  are elevated above the central portion. In the illustrated arrangement, the rear portions, or the portions further away from the crank arms  70 , are elevated above the forward portions, which are the portions closer to the crank arms  70 .  
         [0026]     Foot members  100  are secured to the connecting links  72  in any suitable manner. In the illustrated arrangement, the foot members comprise an enlarged footpad  102 , which is bolted through a base plate. In one configuration, four bolts are used to secure the footpad  102  to the base plate. Other suitable configurations also can be used.  
         [0027]     The base plate preferably is pivotally connected to the connecting links  72 . In the illustrated arrangement, a downward extending boss or protrusion depends from the bottom of the base plate and the boss is pivotally secured to a pair of stays  108  such as with an axle or fastener or the like. The illustrated stays  108  are secured to each lateral side of an intermediate portion of the illustrated connecting links  72 . The stays  108  preferably comprise an opening through which a bolt  110  is used to secure the boss relative to the stays  108  for pivotal movement.  
         [0028]     In the illustrated configuration, an extension member  112  depends downward from the base plate  104 . The extension member  112  can have any suitable configuration and is used to space a pivotal mounting point vertically downward relative to the base plate  104 .  
         [0029]     A connecting rod  114  extends forward from the extension member  112  and the forward end of the connecting rod is joined to the stub shaft  74  by an offset link  116 . The connecting rod  114  can have its length adjusted to properly account for the distance between the offset link  116  and the mounting portion of the extension member  112 . Alteration of the relative rotational position or orientation of the offset link  116  and the crank arm  70  can be used to alter the movement of the foot members  100  such that the orientation of the heel and toe can be varied during the range of movement of the connecting links  72 . In one advantageous configuration, the offset link  116  is positioned at about 85° relative to the crank arm  72 .  
         [0030]     As illustrated, the exercise machine  10  also comprises an arm movement portion  52 . The arm movement portion  52  preferably provides movement of arm supports  120  that generally corresponds to movement of the leg movement portion  50 .  
         [0031]     The arm supports  120  in the illustrated arrangement are secured to the rearward upright member  30  by a mounting bracket  122 . In the illustrated arrangement, the mounting bracket  122  is bolted to the brace member  32 , but in other configurations, the mounting bracket  122  can be secured to the rearward upright member  30  directly, or can be formed of a portion of the rear upright member  30 .  
         [0032]     A pair of fixed shafts  124  extends laterally outward from the mounting bracket  122 . Barrels  126  are provided about the ends of the fixed shafts  124  and are supported for rotation relative to the fixed shafts  124  by suitable bearing assemblies. The illustrated arm supports  120  are secured to the barrels  126  in any suitable manner. In the illustrated arrangement, the arm supports  120  are provided with flanges that are bolted to the barrels  126 . In other configurations, the arm supports  120  can be directly welded or otherwise suitably secured to the barrels  126 . In one advantageous configuration, the arm supports  120  can be provided with a lockout mechanism to secure the arm supports  120  from movement relative to the display member  40 .  
         [0033]     As illustrated, a connecting extension  128  extends downward from the barrel  126 . In some configurations, the connecting extension  128  can be integrally formed with the arm supports  120 . In the illustrated arrangement, the connecting extension  128  extends downward from the barrel and is coupled thereto by a flange and bolt configuration. In other configurations, the connecting extension  128  can be welded to, or otherwise suitable secured to, the barrel  126 . The illustrated connecting extensions  128  advantageously comprise a bend approximately in the middle by which the lower portion of the connecting extensions  128  are laterally offset in an inward direction relative to the upper ends. In this manner, the connecting extensions  128  are not likely to interfere with the connecting links  72 .  
         [0034]     A lower portion of the connecting extension  128  carries a trunnion  130  or the like. The trunnion  130  provides a suitable connection to the connecting extension  128  of a connecting rod  132 . In the illustrated arrangement, the connecting rod  132  is provided with two bends to define a wide U-shape when viewed from the side view of the machine  20 , which bends provide a suitable geometry to the connecting rod  132 . In other arrangements, the connecting rod  132  can comprise a bent member or a straight member. The illustrated bent connecting rod  132  advantageously reduces the likelihood of interference between the connecting rod  132  and the foot member  100 .  
         [0035]     The forward portion of the connecting rod  132  is connected to the trunnion  130 . A rearward end of the connecting rod  132  is secured to the connecting link  72  in any suitable configuration. In the illustrated arrangement, a mounting boss  134  is secured to the connection link  72  and provides a mounting location to which a rod end of the connecting rod  132  can be secured. Through the use of the connecting rod  132 , the trunnion  130  and the relative placements of the barrels  126 , the arm movement can be driven such that as the foot member  100  moves forward, an upper end of the arm supports  120  swings rearward.  
         [0036]     The illustrated exercise machine  10  advantageously generates a generally elliptical movement with corresponding movement of the arm supports  120 . The movement provides a user with a locked knee at approximately the initiation of the downward portion of the elliptical movement. In this manner, the user can place his or her weight upon the locked leg and generate the downward and rearward movement of the elliptical motion. At approximately its rearward most point, the user&#39;s leg will then forced to bend at the knee to generate suitable movement for generating the elliptical motion.  
         [0037]     Although the present invention has been described in terms of a certain embodiment, other embodiments apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art also are within the scope of this invention. Thus, various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For instance, various components may be repositioned as desired. Moreover, not all of the features, aspects and advantages are necessarily required to practice the present invention. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is intended to be defined only by the claims that follow.