Patent ID: 8702571

Claim:
A stair exerciser apparatus for simulating stair climbing, comprising: a frame having a base resting on a substantially horizontal support surface; a pair of shafts rotatably mounted to the frame, the pair of shafts including a lower shaft located toward the rear of the apparatus and an upper shaft located above the lower shaft and toward the front of the apparatus; a pair of chain assemblies synchronously revolvably disposed about the pair of shafts to constitute an endless chain conveyor, at least an upper run of the endless chain conveyor supported by the frame; a plurality of steps disposed across the endless chain conveyor and capable of moving cyclically following the revolving endless chain conveyor; a braking mechanism to adjust and control the resistance to rotation of at least one of the pair of shafts, and thereby to adjust and control the downwardly running speed of the steps; a sensor for determining the position of at least one of the plurality of steps along its cyclical movement; a locking mechanism for preventing motion of the plurality of steps when the locking mechanism is engaged; and and a controller communicatively engaged with the sensor, the locking mechanism, and the braking mechanism, the controller adjusting and controlling the braking mechanism for adjusting the resistance of the apparatus, the controller also adjusting and controlling the braking mechanism and the locking mechanism for bringing the plurality of steps to a controlled stop in a predetermined location based on the position determined by the sensor, thereby to provide a stair landing position proximate the lower shaft that enables easy ingress onto and egress from the apparatus.