Patent Publication Number: US-10328305-B1

Title: Exercise machine

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/392,879, filed Jun. 13, 2016, and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/496,117, filed Oct. 15, 2016, and is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 15/615,825, filed Jun. 6, 2017, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/392,617, filed Jun. 6, 2016, which applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present invention relates to an exercise machine, more particularly, a stationary exercise machine which provides vertical, lateral and longitudinal foot path motion to exercise lower body muscles. 
     Three popular categories of exercise machines known to exercise various muscle groups in the human body include bicycle machines, stair steppers, and skiing machines. These machines have been successful because they offer an effective form of an aerobic, low impact exercise. 
     Bicycle machines provide resistance to leg motion by causing two foot petals to resistively travel along a circular path, mutually in the same direction, about a coaxial, horizontal axis of rotation, while maintaining the pedals diametrically opposite and with constant lateral distance between them. 
     Stair steppers provide resistance to leg motion such that work is performed during the unbending (or straightening) of each leg as two pedals or foot platforms are continuously and alternatively stepped upon and released. 
     Skiing machines offer resistance to leg motion by allowing two foot platforms to alternately travel rearward with resistance and forward with minimal resistance in a linear side by side manner. During use, dependent upon the specific machine design, the two foot platforms may have to be continuously coordinated and synchronized by the user to be out of phase with each other by half of a cycle. 
     SUMMARY 
     In an exercise machine, foot platform support members, each with their own distinct axis of rotation, may include a foot platform rotatably installed at an outer end. The foot platforms may travel in inclined circular paths to establish the three dimensional operational characteristics. The platform support members may be rotationally synchronized by connected mechanical components such that they are maintained out of phase with each other by one half of a cycle or 180 degrees in counter rotational directions. Inertial characteristics during operation, may be provided by a mechanical flywheel, with its respective driven pulley, installed remote from the platform support members, and belt or chain driven by a drive pulley secured at an inner end to one of the rotatable platform support members. Crank synchronization in an inclined plane at angle β during operation of the exercise machine may provide three-dimensional foot travel in vertical, lateral and longitudinal directions. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       So that the manner in which the above recited features, advantages and objects of the present invention are attained can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to the embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. 
       It is noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exercise machine. 
         FIG. 2  is a rear partial perspective view of the exercise machine shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the exercise machine shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of the exercise machine shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded partial perspective view of the exercise machine shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of an exercise machine. 
         FIG. 7  is another perspective view of the exercise machine shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is a partial perspective side view of the exercise machine shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 9  is a partial perspective front view of the exercise machine shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 10A  is a partial perspective bottom view of the exercise machine shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 10B  is another partial perspective bottom view of the exercise machine shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 11  is perspective of a third embodiment of an exercise machine. 
         FIG. 12  is another perspective view of the exercise machine shown in  FIG. 11   
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of an exercise machine. 
         FIG. 14  is another perspective of the exercise machine shown in  FIG. 13 . 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective of a fifth embodiment of an exercise machine. 
         FIG. 16  is a partial side view of the exercise machine shown in  FIG. 15 . 
         FIGS. 17A, 17B and 17C  are partial side view of the exercise machine shown in  FIG. 15  depicting the exercise machine in various inclined positions. 
         FIG. 18  is an exploded partial perspective of the exercise machine shown in  FIG. 15 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring first to  FIG. 1 , an exercise machine in generally identified by the reference numeral  100 . The exercise machine  100  may include a frame  110  configured to rest on a substantially flat surface, such as but without limitation, a floor surface. The frame  110  may include a base  112  and a stanchion  114  extending angularly upward and forward from proximate a forward end of the base  112 . The stanchion  114  may be inclined in a forward direction at an angle β relative to a horizontal plane defined by the base  112 . The angle β may, for example but without limitation, may be about sixty (60°) degrees. 
     The stanchion  114  may include a pair of stanchion leg members  116  spaced apart from one another. A frame bridge member  118  may extend across the space separating the stanchion leg members  116 . Opposite distal ends of the stanchion bridge member  118  may be fixedly secured to the upper distal ends of the stanchion leg members  116 . Alternatively, the stanchion  114  may be fabricated as a single unitary frame member fixedly secured proximate the forward end of the base  112 . 
     The exercise machine  100  may include a stationary handle bar (not shown in the drawings) for grasping by an operator while exercising. It may be noted that a stationary handle bar may be replaced with handles which move under resistance, if an upper body workout is also desired. Such handles may for example pivot about an axis perpendicular to the side of the exercise machine  100 , and be bent such that the hand grips are located at a comfortable position to operate. Because various designs of upper body workout handles, poles, or cranks or levers are incorporated upon many different categories of exercise machines, the potential for including any one of them upon the exercise machine  100  is considered obvious. 
     Left and right cranks  120 ,  122  may be rotatably secured to the stanchion  114 . A flywheel timing belt  124  may engage a series of timing pulleys  126 ,  128  and  130  in a circuitous manner so that counter rotation of the cranks  120 ,  122  may be established in a manner known in the art. 
     Left and right cranks  120 ,  122  may be rotatably mounted at proximate the upper distal ends of respective stanchion leg members  116  and rigidly secured to respective crank shafts  132 . The crank shafts  132  may extend through respective boreholes  133  in the stanchion leg members  116 . The crank shafts  132  may be keyed to respective timing pulleys  126  by a key and slot  134  connection so that the cranks shafts  120 ,  122  and respective timing pulleys  126  rotate together. 
     The crank shafts  132  may extend through respective fixed timing pulleys  136  disposed between the cranks  120 ,  122  and stanchion leg members  116 . The crank shafts  132  may be rotatably secured to respective fixed timing pulleys  136  by radial and thrust bearings  138 . The fixed timing pulleys  136 , radial and thrust bearings  138  and boreholes  133  may be concentric to one another. 
     The exercise machine  100  may include foot platforms  140  supported by respective cranks  120 ,  122 . Foot platform shafts  142  may rigidly secure the foot platforms  140  to respective timing pulleys  143  by a key and slot  144  connection. The foot platform shafts  142  may be rotatably secured to respective cranks  120 ,  122  by radial thrust bearings  146  concentrically received in a bore  148  of respective cranks  120 ,  122 , best shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , synchronization timing belts  150  may engage respective timing pulleys  143  and fixed timing pulleys  136 . As timing pulleys  143  orbit fixed timing pulleys  136  in an inclined plane while engaging orbital synchronization timing belts  150  the orientation of the foot platforms  140  remains constant while the foot platforms  140  move in three dimensions. Timing belts  124 ,  150  and timing pulleys  126 ,  130 ,  136 ,  143  may cooperatively interconnect to define a synchronization linkage interconnecting the left and right cranks  120 ,  122  for moving the left and right foot platforms  140  in inclined paths defining three-dimensional foot travel. Inertia of the exercise machine  100  due to rotation of the flywheel  152  may be provided while left and right timing pulleys  126  drive timing belt  124 , thereby causing rotation of idler pulley  128  and flywheel pinion pulley  130 . It may be observed that crank synchronization lies in an inclined plane at angle β during operation of the exercise machine  100  while providing three-dimensional foot travel in vertical, lateral and longitudinal directions, more fully described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,595,554 which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     Generally, the three spatial dimensions that an operator may experience include, a first spatial dimension corresponding to the forward and back (longitudinal) motion of the foot pedals traveling along their inclined circular paths. The magnitude of the first dimension is inversely proportional to the angle β to which the plane defining the circular path of the foot pedals has been inclined from horizontal. The second spatial dimension corresponds to the up and down (vertical) motion of the foot platforms traveling along their inclined circular paths. The magnitude of the second dimension is directly proportional to the inclination angle β of the circular path plane, and as follows, would be zero if the path is level. The third spatial dimension corresponds to the side to side (transverse) motion of the foot platforms traveling along their circular path, and, because the path plane has not been inclined transversely, the magnitude of this third dimension is not a function of the degree to which the inclined path of the foot pedals traveling along their circular paths has been inclined. 
     Referring next to  FIG. 6 , a second embodiment of an exercise machine is generally identified by the reference numeral  200 . As will be noted by the use of common reference numerals, the exercise machine  200  is similar to the exercise machine  100  described above. The exercise machine  200  may include a frame  110  configured to rest on a substantially flat surface, such as but without limitation, a floor surface. The frame  110  may include a base  112  and a stanchion  214  extending angularly upward and forward from proximate a forward end of the base  112 . The stanchion  214  may be inclined in a forward direction at an angle β relative to a horizontal plane defined by the base  112 . The angle β may be, for example but without limitation, about sixty (60°) degrees. 
     The stanchion  214  may include a pair of stanchion leg members  216  spaced apart from one another. A frame bridge member  218  may extend across the space separating the stanchion leg members  216 . Opposite distal ends of the stanchion bridge member  218  may be fixedly secured to the upper distal ends of the stanchion leg members  216 . Alternatively, the stanchion  214  may be fabricated as a single unitary frame member fixedly secured proximate the forward end of the base  112 . 
     Left and right cranks  120 ,  122  may be rotatably secured to the stanchion  214  proximate the upper distal ends of respective stanchion leg members  216  and rigidly secured to respective crank shafts  132 . The crank shafts  132  may extend through respective boreholes in the stanchion leg members  216 . The crank shafts  132  may be keyed to respective timing pulleys  126  by a key and slot connection so that the cranks shafts  120 ,  122  and timing pulleys  126  rotate together. The crank shafts  132  may extend through respective fixed timing pulleys  136  disposed between the cranks  120 ,  122  and stanchion leg members  216 . The crank shafts  132  may be rotatably secured to respective fixed timing pulleys  136  by radial and thrust bearings  138 . The fixed timing pulleys  136  and radial and thrust bearings  138  may be concentric to one another. 
     The exercise machine  200  may include foot support members  139  supported by respective cranks  120 ,  122 . Shafts  142  may rigidly secure the foot support members  139  to respective timing pulleys  143  by a key and slot connection. The shafts  142  may be rotatably secured to respective cranks  120 ,  122  by radial and thrust bearings  146  concentrically received in a bore  148  of respective cranks  120 ,  122 . 
     Left and right inclined counter rotating gears  248  may be rotatably secured to the stanchion  214  proximate the upper distal ends of respective stanchion leg members  216  and rigidly secured to respective crank shafts  132  by a key and slot connection or other means known in the art. Fixed timing pulleys  136  and respective timing pulleys  143  may be engaged by a synchronous belt  150 , thereby causing the orientation of the foot platforms  140  to remain constant as the foot platforms  140  move in a non-vertical plane. 
     Foot platforms  140  may be rotatably connected to respective foot support members  139  about a pivot shaft  250  defining a generally vertical axis S, shown in  FIG. 7 . The foot platforms  140  may be biased toward a straight or in-line orientation over respective foot support members  139 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . For example, but without limitation, the foot platforms  140  may be biased to a straight orientation by a urethane spring  252  captured between a spring seat  254  fixedly secured to the foot support members  139  and a foot platform spring seat  256 , more clearly shown in  FIGS. 10A and 10B . Alternative spring designs, such as but without limitation, coiled compression or extension springs may be employed to bias the foot platforms  140  to the straight orientation. The spring  252  applies an outward force that tends to rotate the foot platforms  140  about pivot shaft  250 . A stop member  258  extending downward from the bottom of the foot platforms  140  is forced into contact with the foot support members  139 , thereby positioning the foot platforms  140  in a straight orientation, as shown in  FIG. 10B . 
     During use, movement of the forward region of a foot platform  140  laterally outward generally about vertical pivot shaft  250  compresses the biasing spring  252 . Typically, a user will push downward while pushing the toe portion of the user&#39;s foot laterally outward in a manner typically experienced with “toe out pushing” while skating and the like, although those skilled in the art will recognize that an alternate arrangement may be provided such that the foot platform  140  may be biased in any direction and/or where the foot platform  140  may be rotatably secured to forward region of the foot platform  140  such that “heel in or out” movement may be accomplished. A lock pin  260  mounted proximate a forward end of the foot platforms  140  may be pushed into a receiving hole  262  in the foot support members  139  to prevent lateral movement of the foot platforms  140 . 
     Referring again to  FIG. 6 , the exercise machine  200  may include a generally vertical stanchion extension  264 . Left and right frame journals  266  extend outwardly from proximate the upper end of the stanchion extension  246 . Left and right handlebars  268  may be rotatably secured to the frame journals  266  at bearing shaft  267 . Hand grips  270  may be rigidly secured to the upper distal ends of the handlebars  268 . 
     Left and right handlebar drives  272  may be secured to respective left and right handlebars  268  at ball joint bearings  274 . The lower distal ends of the left and right handlebar drivers  272  may be secured to forward distal ends of the foot support members  139  at ball joint bearings  276 . The linkage arrangement of the handlebars  268  and the handlebar drivers  272  between the frame  110  and the foot support members  139  links movement of the handlebars  268  and foot support members  139  in closed paths relative to the frame  110  in response to forces a user applies to the handlebars  268  and foot support members  139  for exercising the upper and lower body of a user. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , a third embodiment of an exercise machine is generally identified by the reference numeral  300 . The exercise machine  300  is similar to the exercise machine  200  described in greater detail above with the exception that the exercise machine  300  may include frame journals  366  directed upward and forward. First hand grips  370  may be rigidly secure to the upper distal ends of the handlebars  268 . Second hand grips  372  may be fixedly secured to the handlebars  268  at bearing shaft  267  to provide the user with different hand orientations while exercising. A flywheel  380  may be rigidly secured by a small pinion pulley concentric with a first gear  248  and independently rotatably secured and driven by a relatively large pulley rigidly secured with a second gear  248 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 13 and 14 , a fourth embodiment of an exercise machine is generally identified by the reference numeral  400 . The exercise machine  400  may be defined as a recumbent exercise machine which generally includes the elements of the aforementioned embodiments as noted by the use of common reference numerals. The exercise machine  400  may include foot platforms  140  that move in a non-vertical plane inclined at an angle β while a user is seated in a seat  410  and the user&#39;s feet may move in vertical, longitudinal and lateral directions. The frame  412  is stationary configured to rest upon a flat surface, such as but without limitation a floor. Inclined and engaged counter rotating gears  248  maintain the foot platforms  140  one hundred eighty (180°) degrees out of phase between left and right foot platforms  140 . An inclined flywheel  152  may provide inertia for the exercise machine  400 . A first distal end of handlebar drivers  272  may be spherically connected to foot support members  139 , and a second distal end of the handlebar drivers  272  may be spherically connected to handlebars  268  by ball joints and the like. Handlebars  268  may be rotatably secured to the frame  412  in such a manner oppositional movement occurs between the user&#39;s arms versus the user&#39;s legs at a given side of the user&#39;s body. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 15-18 , a fifth embodiment of an exercise machine is generally identified by the reference numeral  500 . The exercise machine is similar to the exercise machines described above, as may be observed by the use of common reference numerals, with the exception that inclination of the foot path of the exercise machine  500  may be adjusted from a generally vertical foot path to a foot path that may be inclined at an angle of about up to forty-five (45°) degrees. The exercise machine  500  may include a frame  110  configured to rest on a substantially flat surface, such as but without limitation, a floor surface. The frame  110  may include a base  112  and a stanchion  114  extending upwardly from proximate a forward end of the base  112 . A subframe  510  may be rotatably connected to the base  112  at pivot pins  512 . The subframe  510  may include a lower portion  514  and an upper portion  516  extending angularly upward and forward from the lower portion  514 . An actuator  520  is rotatably secured to the base  112  at journal  522  and an opposite end of the actuator  520  is rotatably secured to the upper portion  516  of the subframe  510  at journal  523 . 
     The foot platform  140  may hang from a distal end of the foot support member  524 . Due to gravity, the foot platform  140  generally remains level front to rear because pivot shaft  526 , which connects the foot platform  140  to the foot support member  524 , is oriented generally above a user&#39;s foot path. The front to rear or transverse orientation of the foot platforms  140  may be further maintained by low velocity rate dampers  528  connected to the foot platforms  140  at a pivot shaft  530  and to the foot support member  524  at a pivot shaft  532 . Typically, the dampers  528  may cause change in the front to back orientation of the foot platforms  140  of about one or two degrees per second, corresponding to a change in the angular incline of the subframe  510  of about forty-five (45°) degrees over a period of 30 seconds operation of the actuator  520 , thereby adjusting a generally vertical foot path to a foot path that may be inclined at an angle of about up to forty-five (45°) degrees. 
     While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims which follow.