Patent ID: 7419459

Claim:
An exercise machine comprising: a floor engaging base provided with a hub; a cross-piece that extends horizontally and is mounted to the hub for pivotal movement about a vertical main axis; an upwardly extending handle mounted to the base coincident with, and locked to, the hub; first and second carriages which are mounted to the cross-piece, respectively on opposite sides of the handle, and which are reciprocally movable on the cross-piece; and first and second substantially co-planar foot pads which are mounted to the first and second carriages, respectively and which are pivotally movable about vertically extending axes, respectively, wherein a user, with feet engaged with the foot pads, can exercise in a mode selected, at least, from the following modes: a first mode in which the cross-piece is rotationally movable, to and fro, about the vertical main axis with each foot pad pivoting about its respective vertical axis; a second mode in which the foot pads are movable along the cross-piece towards the vertical axis and then apart; and a third mode which is a combination of the first and second modes so that the foot pads are movable, to and fro, in straight parallel lines which are on opposing sides of the vertical main axis and which are a user-determined distance apart.