Patent Publication Number: US-6210305-B1

Title: Variable lift exercise apparatus with curved guide

Description:
This application is a Continuation-in-Part of application Ser. No. 09/361,328 filed Jul. 27, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,042,512. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field 
     The present invention relates to a standup exercise apparatus that simulates walking and jogging with arm exercise. More particularly, the present invention relates to an exercise machine having separately supported pedals for the feet and arm exercise coordinated with the motion of the feet. The pedal lift is controlled separately and can be varied. 
     2. State of the Art 
     The benefits of regular exercise to improve overall health, appearance and longevity are well documented in the literature. For exercise enthusiasts the search continues for safe apparatus that provides full body exercise for maximum benefit in minimum time. 
     Recently, a new category of exercise equipment has appeared on the commercial market called elliptical cross trainers. These cross trainers guide the feet along a generally elliptical shaped curve to simulate the motions of jogging and climbing. Generally they are large exercise machines using long cranks to generate a long foot stride. There is a need for a more compact elliptical exercise machine capable of a similar long stride using a crank linkage. Further, there is a need to adjust lift of the elliptical motion to vary the amount of climb desired by the operator during operation. 
     Standup pedal exercise is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,643,419 (Hyde) and by Jarriel et al. in U.S. Pat. No. D330,236 where pedal platforms move by dual crank motion but remain parallel to the floor. Knudsen in U.S., Pat. No. 5,433,680 shows an elliptical path generating mechanism with pedals having only one pivot allowing the pedal to rotate unconstrained about the pivot as in a bicycle crank. 
     Standup pedal exercise combined with arm levers attached to the pedals is shown in Kummerlin et al. German Pat. No. 2,919,494 and in Geschwender U.S. Pat. No. 4,786,050. Standup pedal exercise coupled with oscillating swing arms is shown in Miller U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,242,343 and 5,383,829 and in Eschenbach U.S. Pat. No. 5,423,729. All of these exercise machines use pedals having two pedal pivots which are guided by a first circular guide path curve generated by a crank which rotates through one full revolution during a pedal cycle and a second arc guide path curve generated by a rocker link or track. 
     Recently, numerous elliptical exercise machines have appeared in the patent literature. Rogers, Jr. in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,527,246, 5,529,555, 5,540,637, 5,549,526, 5,573,480, 5,591,107, 5,593,371, 5,593,372, 5,595,553, 5,611,757, 5,637,058, 5,653,662 and 5,743,834 shows elliptical pedal motion by virtue of various reciprocating members and geared linkage systems. Miller in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,518,473, 5,562,574, 5,611,756, 5,518,473, 5,562,574, 5,577,985, 5,755,642 and 5,788,609 also shows elliptical pedal motion using reciprocating members and various linkage mechanisms along with oscillating guide links with control links to determine pedal angles. Ryan et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,899,833 shows an elliptical cross trainer having a forward crank driving a pedal linkage underneath the operator. 
     Chang in U.S. Pat. No. 5,803,872 and Yu et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,800,315 show a pedal supported by a rocker link and driven with a pair of links located under the pedal pivotally connected to a crank. Maresh et al. in U.S., Pat. No. 5,792,026 show a foot support member supported by a rocker link and driven by a double crank mechanism. Lee in U.S. Pat. No. 5,779,598 and Chen in U.S. Pat. No. 5,823,914 show a pedal link driven by two separate cranks. Lin et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,769,760 offers elliptical foot and hand motion. Sands et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,755,643 shows elliptical foot motion with folding front post. 
     Lee in U.S. Pat. No. 5,746,683 shows a foot support member supported on one end with a compound rocker wherein a slider and handle lever support the rocker. Kuo in U.S. Pat. No. 5,836,854 offers a linear foot support member connected on one end to a crank and guided along an arcuate curve under the pedal by a linkage on the other end. Wang et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,830,112 shows a foot support member sliding on a pivot on one end and attached to a crank on the other that can fold. Chen U.S. Pat. No. 5,823,917 shows a foot support member driven by a crank on one end and supported by a stationary roller on the other. Chen U.S. Pat. No. 5,820,524 offers a slider crank mechanism having a pedal pivotally attached with a control link to articulate the pedal angle. 
     Chen U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,779,599 and 5,762,588 shows an elliptical pedal movement with a roller interface between the foot support member and crank. Chen in U.S. Pat. No. 5,759,136 shows a foot support member with a moving pedal for adjustable elliptical motion wherein a link from the pedal to the crank can be repositioned to change the pedal stroke length. Kuo U.S. Pat. No. 5,846,166 shows a foot support member guided on one end by a roller and driven on the other end by a four bar linkage. Stearns et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,848,954 offers a foot support member pivoted on one end with a lift crank on the other and a pedal moving on the foot support member to generate elliptical type foot motion. 
     Maresh et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,893,820 shows an adjustable lift elliptical cross trainer wherein the operator must interrupt exercise to relocate various pins to alter the pedal motion. Kuo U.S. Pat. No. 5,836,854 shows a foot support member driven by a crank and guided on one end by a linkage hanging from a “Z” shaped bar that may be adjusted. Whan-Tong et al. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,685,804 shows a foot support member driven by a simple crank having an adjustable ramp to vary pedal lift. Eschenbach in U.S. Pat. No. 5,916,064 shows handles for arm exercise coupled to a foot support member at one end with a connecting link. 
     There is a need for a pedal operated exercise machine that can be safely operated in the standup position whereby the arms and legs can be exercised with the feet moving through a generally elliptical path wherein pedal lift is variable during operation. 
     It is one objective of this invention to provide an elliptical pedal movement that can be changed by adjustment of a guide in the back and forth direction. Another object of this invention is to provide arm exercise that is coordinated with the pedal movement which allows the pedal motion to be adjusted during operation. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the kinematic motion control of pedals which simulate walking and jogging during operation. More particularly, apparatus is provided that offers variable intensity exercise through a leg operated cyclic motion in which the pedal supporting each foot is guided through successive positions during the motion cycle while a load resistance acts upon the mechanism. 
     The pedals are guided through an oblong or elongate curve motion while pedal angles are controlled to vary about the horizontal during the pedal cycle. Arm exercise is by arm handles coordinated with the foot pedals. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes a separate pedal for each foot, each pedal is supported by a foot support member which is pivotally attached on one end to a roller in contact with a guide. The guide is supported by the framework to allow movement of the guide in a back and forth direction. The guide is curved with an arcuate portion intermediate linear portions on each end. 
     The foot support member is driven on the other end by a crank linkage consisting of a pair of crank arms, each having a crank roller rotatably connected to the crank arm for support of one end of the foot support member and an intermediate coupling link connecting the foot support member to an offset in the crank arm. The crank linkage reduces the pedal angles during upper portions of the elliptical motion because the crank end of the foot support member follows an oval instead of an arcuate curve. A crank completes one full revolution during a pedal cycle and is phased generally opposite the crank for the other foot support link through a bearing journal attached to the framework. 
     An actuator is connected to the framework and to the curved guide to allow the curved guide to be moved horizontally without changing the elevation or angular orientation. A control system, not disclosed but well recognized in the art, operates the actuator to allow the pedal motion to be changed during operation of the exercise machine. 
     A pair of handles for arm exercise are attached to rocker links pivoted to the framework. The rocker links are coupled to the foot support members with connecting links that allow one end of the foot support member to be raised or lowered during operation. It is understood that the handles for arm exercise could be coupled to the foot support member by another means and remain within the scope of the present invention. 
     In an alternate embodiment, the crank rollers supporting the foot support member on the crank are replaced with control coupling links pivoted to the crank arms and to the foot support member. This crank linkage consisting of a pair of crank arms, each with control coupling link and intermediate coupling link produces an elliptical pedal motion similar to the preferred embodiment with less severe pedal angles. The remainder of apparatus is similar to the preferred embodiment. 
     In another alternate embodiment, the foot support member is pivotally connected to the crank arms. This simple crank coupling to the foot support member causes the pedal angles to increase in the uppermost positions of the crank arms. The remainder of the apparatus is similar to the preferred embodiment. 
     Load resistance is applied to the crank in each embodiment by a pulley which drives a belt to a smaller pulley attached to an alternator and flywheel supported by the framework. In each embodiment, the flywheel must overcome the torque provided by the alternator. Adjustment of the alternator electronics provides variable intensity exercise for the operator. 
     In summary, this invention provides the operator with stable foot pedal support having adjustable pedal motion during operation that simulate walking, jogging and climbing with very low joint impact and coordinated upper body exercise. The curved guide is simply moved back and forth to change the pedal motion. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a right side elevation view of the preferred embodiment of an exercise machine with the curved guide adjusted to a stride position constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a plan view of the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1 without handles and load resistance; 
     FIG. 3 is a right side elevation view of the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1 with the ramp adjusted to the climb position; 
     FIG. 4 is a front view of the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is a right side elevation of an alternate embodiment with the curved ramp adjusted to the cross train position; 
     FIG. 6 is a right side elevation of another alternate embodiment with the curved ramp adjusted to the cross train position. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to the drawings in detail, pedals  14  and  16  are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in the most forward and rearward positions of the preferred embodiment. Pedals  14  and  16  are attached to foot support members  10 , 12  which have rollers  34 , 36  rotatably attached to a second end at  29 , 31 . The first end of foot support members  10 , 12  rest on crank rollers  62 , 64  which are rotatably attached to crank arms  18 , 20  at crank pins  23 , 25 . 
     Crank arms  18 , 20  are joined inside bearing housing and frame member  57  protruding outwardly in generally opposing directions to comprise a crank. Further, crank arms  18 , 20  continue offset in length after pins  23 , 25  as crank extensions  22 , 24  terminating with pivots  15 , 17 . Intermediate coupling links  30 , 32  are pivoted to foot support members  10 , 12  at pivots  11 , 13  and to crank arms  18 , 20  at pivots  15 , 17 . Crank arms  18 , 20 , crank rollers  62 , 64  and intermediate links  30 , 32 , form a pair of crank linkage which causes the first end of each foot support member to follow the oval path  6 . The oval path  6  allows less severe pedal  14 , 16  angles during the upper portion of the pedal ellipse  5 . 
     Rollers  34 , 36  are in rollable contact with curved guides  80 , 82 . Guides  80 , 82  are supported by lateral supports  88 , 90  attached to framework  53  and crossover member  91 . Angle sections  84 , 86  attach to lateral supports  88 , 90  allowing the curved guides  80 , 82  to move back and forth. 
     Actuator  54  is connected to lateral support  91  at pivot  39  and to guides  80 , 82  at pivot  41  at actuator extension  52 . Actuator  54  will move actuator extension  52  with linear movement by electric motor which move the curved guides  80 , 82  back and forth. The curved guides  80 , 82  provide different pedal  14 , 16  motion depending only upon the horizontal position of the curved guide  80 , 82  and do not require either the elevation or angular orientation of the guides  80 , 82  to be changed for different pedal  14 , 16  motion. 
     Handles  46 , 48  for arm exercise are attached to rockers  42 ,  44  which are attached to frame member  63  at pivots  37 . Connecting links  38 , 40  couple rockers  42 , 44  at pivots  33 , 35  to foot support members  10 , 12  at pivots  59 , 61 . Connecting links  38 , 40  are of sufficient length to allow the second ends of foot support members  10 , 12  to follow the guides  80 , 82  in all adjustments of guides  80 , 82 . 
     Frame members  53  connect cross members  47 , 49  which contact the floor for support of the exercise machine. Frame member  63  attaches to frame member  51  which together with frame member  57  are attached to frame members  53 . Load resistance is imposed upon cranks  18 , 20  by pulley  56  which drives flywheel/alternator  60  by belt  58  coupled to pulley  66 . The flywheel/alternator  60  is supported by the frame member  53  at shaft  45 . Other forms of load resistance such as magnetic, air, belt friction, etc. may also be used. 
     Application of body weight on the pedals  14 , 16  causes the pedals  14 , 16  to follow the oblong stride curve  5  shown in FIG.  1  and together with force applied at the arm handles  46 , 48  cause the linkage to rotate the flywheel  60  for a gain in momentum. This flywheel  60  momentum will carry the linkage system through any dead center positions of the crank  18 , 20 . The pedals  14 , 16  and arm handles  46 , 48  can be operated to drive the flywheel  60  in either direction of rotation. 
     FIGS. 3 and 4 show the preferred embodiment with the pedals  14 , 16  in the most forward and rearward positions. Curved guides  80 , 82  are in the most rearward horizontal position with actuator extension  52  nearly extended from actuator  54 . The pedal  14 , 16  path is a steeper oblong curve  7  having more pedal lift for a climbing motion because the rollers  34 , 36  traverse the steeper portion of curved guides  80 , 82 . 
     An alternate embodiment is shown in FIG. 5 with pedals  14 , 16  in the lowermost and highest positions. Crank rollers  62 , 64  have been replaced with control coupling links  26 , 28  which are attached to crank arms  18 , 20  at pivots  23 , 25  and to foot support members  10 , 12  at pivots  19 , 21 . Crank arms  18 , 20 , intermediate coupling links  30 , 32  and control coupling links  26 , 28  form a pair of alternate crank linkage wherein pivots  19 , 21  follow oval path  4 . Pivots  19 , 21  are located at the first end of foot support members  10 , 12  but could also be relocated elsewhere along foot support members  10 , 12  within the scope of this invention. 
     With curved guides  80 , 82  in an intermediate horizontal position, pedals  14 , 16  follow the oblong curve  2  which is oriented in a cross train mode. The remainder of the alternate embodiment is the same as the preferred embodiment in FIG.  1 . 
     Another alternate embodiment is shown in FIG. 6 with pedals  14 , 16  in their uppermost and lowermost positions. Foot support members  10 , 12  are connected to crank arms  70 , 72  at pivots  71 , 73  which follow the circular path  1 . Curved guides  80 , 82  are positioned in an intermediate horizontal position where rollers  34 , 34  traverse mostly the arcuate portion of guides  80 , 82  causing the pedals  14 , 16  to move through the oblong curve  3  for a cross train motion. The remainder of the alternate embodiment is similar to the preferred embodiment of FIG.  1 . 
     In summary, the present invention has distinct advantages over prior art because the curved guides  80 , 82  only need to be moved back and forth to change the pedal  14 , 16  movement. Further, the connecting links between the handle movement and the foot support member movement allow the guides to be adjusted over a large range to provide a significant range of pedal lift with arm exercise. 
     The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative, and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the claims, rather than by foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.