Patent Abstract:
An exercise stepper with a fluid resistance system guides stepper treadles angularly downward and outward from the center of the stepper. According to an embodiment bellows that support treadles angle downward and outward.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to exercise devices and methods performed by an exercise apparatuses, and particularly but not exclusively to exercise devices with treadles. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Conventional exercise apparatuses, such as stair climbers and steppers, serve to assist the user in performing a desired motion. For example, the exercise apparatuses allow for the proper positioning of the user and proper completion of the user&#39;s motion so as to isolate work-out of the desired muscles. Further, such machines serve to support the user to a certain degree to minimize impact during use. 
     Some exercise apparatuses include air compression systems that utilize conduits to transfer air between bellows (e.g., from a first support bellow to a second air bellow). That is, movement of a treadle of an apparatus compresses air in a first bellow. The latter then forces air into a second bellow that applies a reciprocal force to a second treadle, to provide support or resistance to the user at a second treadle. 
     Conventional air compression systems, however, provide minimal operational improvement over the mechanical based support systems within other exercise apparatuses. Generally, such air compression systems merely facilitate up and down motion of a user. 
     An object of the invention is to overcome these problems 
     SUMMARY OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     An embodiment of the invention involves an exercise resistance device with depresser plates angled to receive a user&#39;s appendages at targeted angles. 
     A more specific embodiment involves a targeted air support or resistance stepper system with angled treadles that compress bellows connected by air passages. 
     The various features of novelty that characterize the invention are pointed out in the claims appended to and forming a part of this specification. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become evident from the detailed description when read in light of the following drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A further understanding of the present invention and the objectives other than those set forth above can be obtained by reference to the various implementations set forth in the illustrations of the accompanying figures. Although the shown implementations illustrate certain aspects of the present invention, the apparatus and method of use of the invention, in general, together with further objectives and advantages thereof, may be more easily understood by reference to the drawings, examples, and the following description. The examples and figures are not intended to limit the scope of this invention, which is set forth with particularity in the claims as appended or as subsequently amended, but merely to clarify and exemplify the invention. The detailed description makes reference to the accompanying figures wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exercise apparatus having an air support system. 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the exercise apparatus having an air support system. 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of the exercise apparatus having an air support system. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the exercise apparatus having an air support system. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram of an air support system. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram of an air support system having multiple support portions. 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of an exercise apparatus having multiple support bellows. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Overview 
     An embodiment of the exercise apparatus takes the form of a climbing or stepping apparatus, which employs a targeted air support or resistance system. In some implementations, the exercise apparatus includes an air support system configured to provide two-dimensional supporting or resistance forces during use of the exercise apparatus. 
     Depending on the particular embodiment disclosed, a single bellow configured to support a single treadle of the exercise apparatus is positioned and/or attached at various angles. Such configuration serves to facilitate the application of two-dimensional forces to the treadles. 
     In alternate embodiments, two or more bellows configured to support treadles of the exercise apparatus are positioned and/or attached to the treadles. The bellows may be attached next to one another at one section of a treadle, and/or may be attached next to one another along the length of the treadle. This facilitates the application of two-dimensional forces to the treadles. 
     Thus, the present apparatus or device described herein provides targeted support to a user of an exercise apparatus. Such targeted support offers improved or enhanced support to the user during exercise, to assist in exercising certain muscle groups, to adjust or modify a workout. 
     A detailed description of the aforementioned embodiments of the present invention is disclosed herein. However, techniques of manufacture and resulting structures in accordance with the present invention may be embodied in a wide variety of forms and modes, some of which may be quite different from those in the disclosed embodiment. Consequently, the specific structural details disclosed herein are merely representative, yet in that regard, they are deemed to represent suitable implementations for purposes of disclosure and to provide a basis for the claims herein, which define the scope of the present invention. The following presents a detailed description of several examples of the present invention. 
     Moreover, well known methods, procedures, and substances for both carrying out the objectives of the present invention and illustrating the preferred embodiment are incorporated herein but have not been described in detail as not to unnecessarily obscure novel aspects of the present invention. 
     The Exercise Apparatus 
       FIGS. 1 to 4  depict an embodiment of an exercise apparatus  100 , such as a stair climber or stepper, having an air support system to assist fluid stepping motion performed by a user. The exercise apparatus  100  includes a housing  110 , one or more treadles  120 , one or more pivots  130 , one or more bellows  140 , one or more knobs  150 , and one or more displays  160 . The housing  110  includes a front section  112 , a back section  116 , and a middle section  114  located between the front section  112  and the back section  116 . The back section  116  contains or partially contains an air support system and/or components of the air support system, such as bellows  140 . Bellows  140  include a top portion  142  and a bottom portion  144 . In the present embodiment of the invention, the back section  116  of the housing  110  is coupled to bottom portion  144  of bellows  140 . 
     In use the bellows  140  deliver pressurized air, or an alternate fluid such as a gas, in a controlled quantity from an air transport pathway to the treadles  120 . In the present embodiment, the bellow  140  includes a deformable container and a nozzle or outlet located at the top portion of the bellow  140 . When a force is applied to a top portion  142  of the bellow  140 , via the vertical motion of the user applied to a treadle  120 , the size of the bellow  140  decreases and air escapes through the outlet. Thereafter the outlet closes, and air transfers between bellows as the user steps on alternate bellows  140 . This fluid transfer provides a supporting force to the treadles  120  attached to the bellow  140 . An inlet is located at a bottom portion  144  of the bellow  140  and coupled to an air transport pathway to facilitate the intake of air into the bellow  140 . The bellows  140  is part of an air support system at least partially contained by the housing  110 . This air transport system is discussed in greater detail herein. 
     The front section  112  of housing  110  contains or partially contains pivots  130 . In the present example, the front portion  112  of the housing  110  serves to couple to pivots  130  to allow for the clockwise and counterclockwise movement of pivots through a predetermined range. This desired movement facilitates a substantially vertical movement of treadles  120 , which are coupled to the pivots  130 . 
     Furthermore, the housing  110  includes and/or contains one or more knobs, such as the knob  150 . Knob  150  serves to allow the apparatus user to adjust and control a valve or valves within the bellows  140  transfer components of the air support system contained, at least in part, within the housing  110 . 
     As shown, the treadles  120  are attached to the pivots  130 . The treadles  120  are configured to receive an appendage of user, in this case a foot, and may be sized or shaped accordingly. In some examples, the treadles include various tread patterns and/or are sized or shaped to accommodate a foot, such as the right foot or left foot of a user of the exercise apparatus  100 . While the present embodiment serves to receive a foot of a user, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize the application of the present invention for use with a hand of a user. In the present embodiment, the treadles  120  include back portions configured to attach to top portions of bellows  140  and front portions configured to attach to pivots  130  or other mechanisms that facilitate a rotation or lateral movement of the treadles  120 . 
     In the present embodiment, the treadles  120  are attached to the pivots  130  and/or the bellows  140  such that they provide an angled reception surface for a foot of the user when the apparatus is in resting position. The angled attachment may be modified by the user based on the desired comfort angle. In one embodiment, the treadles  120  are angled toward the front section  112  of housing  110 , with the rear of treadles  120  at a higher elevation than the front of treadles  120 . According to various embodiments this angled surface is accomplished by attaching treadles  120  to angled pivots  130 , angled bellows  140 , or multiple bellows  140 , or by pressurization of bellows  140 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a top view of the exercise apparatus  100  having an air support system. As appears in  FIG. 1 , the exercise apparatus  100  includes a housing  110 , one or more treadles  120 , one or more pivots  130 , one or more bellows  140 , one or more knobs  150 , and one or more displays  160 . 
     The housing  110 , comprised of front section  112 , a back section  116 , and a middle section  114 , contains a knob  150  or other control mechanism(s), electronic or manual, that control, adjust, modify, and/or otherwise operate one or more valves within an air support system contained within the housing  110 . Knob  150  serves to facilitate controlling a valve to increase an amount of air taken in by a bellow  140 , to decrease an amount of air taken in by a bellow  140 , and to modulate between the two. As shown, knob  150  includes predefined setting increments  200  for establishing a certain pressure calibrated to a desired resistance. While four predefined settings are apparent in the present embodiment, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognized that any series of control mechanisms may be employed through a range for a myriad of resistance settings as is known in the art. 
     The housing  110  contains a display  160 , such as a digital display  208  that provides information and/or data about an exercise workout sequence performed by a user with the exercise apparatus  100 . The display  160 , and associated computing system, is capable of tracking and presenting information associated with a number of steps taken during a workout, a duration of a workout, a number of calories burned during a workout, an estimated distance traveled during a workout, a range of values associated with a degree of difficulty of a workout, and so on. Display  160  further includes a status button  202 , including an indicator light. Status button  202  serves to perform multiple functions such as the ability to reset the computing system, enter user data, etc. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the exercise apparatus may include other components and/or devices not shown in the present embodiment, such as a body cord attachment component that facilitates attachment of a body cord to the housing  110 . Such body cord attachment, may also allow the transmission of data related to the user exercise regimen to monitor the exercise workout, store data related to the exercise workout, etc. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , each treadle  120  includes an upper reception pedal  206  and a lower support pedal  204  both attached to the pivot  130  for vertical movement of the treadle. In each treadle  120  the upper reception pedal  126  lies in one plane and the lower support pedal  124  lies in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the upper reception pedal. In each treadle  120  one of upper reception pedal  206  and lower support pedal  204  is fixed and the other one of upper reception pedal  206  and lower support pedal  204  is rotatable, relative to the pivot  130 , in its own horizontal or near-horizontal plane. This allows the pedals  204  and  206  to move substantially lateral to each other. In the embodiment shown of  FIG. 2 , the upper reception pedal  206  of a treadle  120  is fixed and the lower support pedal  204  of the same treadle  120  is movable to the right. In another embodiment the upper reception pedal  206  of a treadle  120  is movable and the lower support pedal of the same treadle  120  is fixed. Such substantially horizontal movement of the reception pedals  206  or substantially horizontal movement of the support pedals  204  permits the back ends  124  in each treadle  120  to separate and come together rotationally and thereby to allow for a narrow user stance or a broad user stance as desired by the user for the user&#39;s comfort. Further, such horizontal lateral movement between upper reception pedal  206  and lower support pedal  204  facilitates alternate muscle toning capabilities for the user. 
       FIG. 3  is a front view of the exercise apparatus  100  having an air support system and uses the same reference numerals as in  FIG. 1 . In  FIG. 3  the exercise apparatus  100  includes a housing  110 , one or more treadles  120 , one or more pivots  130 , one or more bellows  140  one or more knobs (not shown), and one or more displays  160 . In the present embodiment, the housing  110  is manufactured of substantially rigid material to sustain the forces applied by a user of various weight ranges. Further, the housing  110  is substantially weighted to control movement of the exercise apparatus  100  while in use. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize, a workout regimen by a user of a “stepping device” places substantial forces at various angles and such a device must be able to withstand such applied forces, and to some degree counter such forces, while minimizing the travel of the housing  110  on the surface on which the exercise apparatus  100  stands. In addition to substantial weighting of the exercise apparatus  100 , an embodiment of the invention involves using appliqués on the bottom of the housing  110  for use on a rough flooring such as a carpeted flooring, and another embodiment involves attaching suctioning devices to the bottom of the housing for use on a smooth surface flooring such as a wooden floor, to increase the static friction of the exercise apparatus  100  depending on the surface on which the exercise apparatus  100  stands. 
       FIG. 4  depicts a side view of the exercise apparatus  100  having an air support system. In the present embodiment, exercise apparatus  100  is shown in an “active state”. Here a first force  410  is applied to a treadle  406  (corresponding to a treadle  120 ) connected to the pivot  130 , for example by a user&#39;s foot (not shown). This force compresses bellow  408  (corresponding to a bellow  140 ) and forces fluid transfer of air through an air support system. The transfer of air from bellow  408  results in an increased pressure in bellow  404  (also corresponding to a bellow  140 ) and produces an upward force, or support force, to raise a treadle  402  (also corresponding to a treadle  120 ) connected to the pivot  130 . This effectively creates an upward force on the user&#39;s other foot (not shown). In turn, once a user of exercise apparatus  100  applies a downward force to treadle  402 , bellow  404  will compress and transfer air through the air support system to bellow  408  thereby raising treadle  406 . Such transfer of force mimics the repetitious “stepping” action desired. 
     While two bellows integrated as part of an air compression system are disclosed, it is readily apparent that independent bellows may be employed. 
     The Air Support System 
     Further detail of the air support system of the exercise apparatus appears in  FIG. 5 . This figure shows a schematic diagram of an air support system  500  having angled support bellows. The air support system  500  includes bellows  140  having top portions attached to treadles  120  of an exercise apparatus and bottom portions attached to the housing  110  of the exercise apparatus  100 . The air support system  500  supports movement of treadles  120  of the exercise apparatus, providing a one- or two-dimensional support force to a treadle as the treadle moves down towards the housing  110  of the exercise apparatus. That is, the air support system may receive a force at a first treadle of the exercise apparatus; and transfer the received force to a second treadle of the exercise apparatus, such as via an angled bellow or multiple bellows, thereby facilitating application of a targeted and/or two-dimensional force on a treadle moving downwards or upwards during operation of the exercise apparatus. The air support system  500  also includes a sealed air transfer pathway, conduit, or component  510  that contains air  525  and a valve  520  that controls the flow of air within the air transfer pathway  510 . 
     In the present embodiment, the air transfer pathway  510  is coupled to an inlet component of a bellow  140 , which facilitates the input of air  525  from the air transfer pathway  510  to the bellow  140 . In some embodiments, the air pressure within the bellows  140  and/or air transfer pathway  510  are controlled by the valve  520 , which is connected to a knob to regulate resistance and calibrate the exercise apparatus, or other component of the housing  110 . This enables a user to adjust the valve  520  and the air pressure within the bellows  140 . 
     In the present embodiment, the air transfer pathway  510  facilitates the transfer of forces between treadles  120 , such as between a right treadle and a left treadle. That is, a downward force received at a right treadle, such as a force caused by a foot of a user stepping down on the right treadle, may cause air  525  to leave an associate bellow  140 , travel through the air transfer pathway  510 , and apply a support force, such as a two-dimensional force, to the left treadle. 
     In some embodiments, the bellows  140  are configured and/or positioned at an angle θ i  with respect to a vertical axis V of the housing  110  of the exercise apparatus. That is, a bellow or bellows  140  are positioned such that an angle θ formed between a longitudinal axis L of a bellow  140  and the plane of the housing  110  of the exercise apparatus  100  is less than 90 degrees. In some cases, the angle θ is an acute angle, such as an angle between 90 and 60 degrees. 
     In these embodiments, the bellows  140  are configured such that a longitudinal axis L of the right bellow and a longitudinal axis L of the left bellow intersect one another. In one embodiment of the present invention, the intersection of inner angle θ i  is 45 degrees or less. 
     The angled bellows  140  provide various targeted support forces to treadles  120 , such as support forces having vertical and horizontal components. For example, an angled bellow facilitates application of a first dimensional component of a support force and a second dimensional component of the support force to a treadle, among other things. 
     Although shown in  FIG. 5  as being at a fixed angle, according to an embodiment, the angle of attachment of the bellows  140  is adjustable. For example, the treadle  120  includes a coupling component that facilitates user adjustment of the angle θ of one or both bellows  140 . Thus, a user may wish to make adjustments during a workout, by changing the angle of one or both bellows  140  to enhance comfort, target certain muscles. 
     Additionally and/or alternatively, in some embodiments the air support system may support treadles of an exercise apparatus via two or more bellows, such as bellows  140 . 
       FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram of an air support system  600  having multiple support bellows. The air support system  600  includes outer bellows  610  coupled to outer portions of treadles  120  and inner bellows  620  coupled to inner portions of the treadles  120 . The outer bellows  610  are coupled to a first air transfer pathway  630  that contains a valve  632  and compressed air  635 . Similarly, the inner bellows  620  are coupled to a second air transfer pathway  640  that contains a valve  642  and compressed air  645 . 
     In an embodiment, the outer bellows  610  are taller and expand to a greater degree than the inner bellows  620 . This allows an attached treadle  120  to provide an angled support surface, among other benefits. In some embodiments, the first air transfer pathway  630  is set at a higher pressure than the second air transfer pathway  640 . In some embodiments, the first air transfer pathway  630  is set at a lower pressure than the second air transfer pathway  640 . A knob of the housing  110  controls valve  635  and/or valve  645 , in order to adjust the air pressure within one or both air transfer pathways  630 ,  640 . 
     Thus, in alternate embodiments, use of two or more bellows  610 ,  620  facilitates the application of targeted support forces, such as a first force at an outer portion of a treadle and a second, optionally different, force at an inner portion of the treadle. These targeted support forces provide enhanced support and/or comfort for a user of an exercise apparatus, and provide a modified or targeted workout, among other benefits. 
     In some embodiments, two or more bellows are positioned to provide support at various locations along a treadle.  FIG. 7  shows a side view of an exercise apparatus  700  having multiple support bellows. The exercise apparatus  700  includes a back bellow  710  located at a back portion  116  of a housing  110  and a middle bellow  720  located at a middle portion  114  of the housing  110 . As discussed with the air support system  600 , the exercise apparatus  700  may include two or more air transfer pathways, each associated with a set of bellows, such as back bellows  710  and/or middle bellows  720 . 
     During use of the exercise apparatus  700 , the back bellows  710  provide a first support force to treadles, and the middle bellows  720  provide a second, and different, support force to the treadles. For example, the back bellows  710  may provide a support force that is lower than a support force provided by the middle bellows  720 . The variable support forces may provide enhanced comfort to a user, may provide a workout targeted to specific muscle groups, such as muscle groups within a user&#39;s legs, among other benefits. 
     In some embodiments, an exercise apparatus, such as exercise apparatus  100  or  700 , utilizes a support system that relies on fluids other than air to provide support to a user of the exercise apparatus. In one embodiment a fluid support system includes a hydraulic fluid and/or other compressible or incompressible fluids. 
     Various embodiments of an exercise apparatus having an air support system are described. In some embodiments, the exercise apparatus provides targeted support to a user of the exercise apparatus via angled bellows and/or multiple bellows, among other things. 
     While certain aspects of the device are presented below in certain claim forms, the inventor contemplates the various aspects of the system in any number of claim forms. Accordingly, the inventor reserves the right to add additional claims after filing the application to pursue such additional claim forms for other aspects of the system. 
     Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words “comprise,” “comprising,” and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense, as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of “including, but not limited to.” As used herein, the terms “connected,” “coupled,” or any variant thereof, means any connection or coupling, either direct or indirect, between two or more elements; the coupling of connection between the elements can be physical, logical, or a combination thereof. Additionally, the words “herein,” “above,” “below,” and words of similar import, when used in this application, shall refer to this application as a whole and not to any particular portions of this application. Where the context permits, words in the Detailed Description using the singular or plural number may also include the plural or singular number respectively. The word “or,” in reference to a list of two or more items, covers all of the following interpretations of the word: any of the items in the list, all of the items in the list, and any combination of the items in the list. The term “air” as used herein is intended to include not just air but any gas. 
     Thus, there has been summarized and outlined, generally in broad form, a plurality of the most important features of the present invention. While this summary is presented so that the novelty of the present contribution to the related art may be better appreciated, it will further be apparent that additional features of the invention described hereinafter (which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto) will further define the scope, novelty, and in certain instances the improvements upon any existing art. The following description provides specific details for a thorough understanding of, and enabling description for, various examples of the technology. One skilled in the art will understand that the technology may be practiced without many of these details and it is to be readily understood that the invention presented herein is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the various figures integrated and categorized herein. For example, in some instances, well-known structures and functions have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the examples of the technology. It is intended that the terminology used in the description presented below be interpreted in its broadest reasonable manner, even though it is being used in conjunction with a detailed description of certain examples of the technology. Although certain terms may be emphasized below, any terminology intended to be interpreted in any restricted manner will be overtly and specifically defined as such in this Detailed Description section. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the disclosure of the present invention may readily be utilized as a basis for forming other similar structures, methods and systems for carrying out the various purposes and objectives of the present invention. Thus, the claims as set forth shall allow for such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention as described herein.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0