Patent ID: 7455628

Claim:
An exercise apparatus, comprising: a frame configured to rest on a floor surface; a left crank rotatably mounted on a left side of the frame; a right crank rotatably mounted on an opposite, right side of the frame; a rigid bar rigidly interconnected between the right crank and the left crank, wherein the rigid bar constrains the left crank and the right crank to remain diametrically opposed to one another and to revolve together about a common crank axis; a left roller rotatably mounted on the left crank for rotation relative to the left crank and revolution about the crank axis together with the left crank; a right roller rotatably mounted on the right crank for rotation relative to the right crank and revolution about the crank axis together with the right crank; a triangular left pivot plate having a first corner pivotally mounted on the left side of the frame; a triangular right pivot plate having a first corner pivotally mounted on the right side of the frame; a left rocker link pivotally mounted on the left side of the frame; a right rocker link pivotally mounted on the right side of the frame; a left foot support having a first portion supported on the left roller and a second portion pivotally connected to the left rocker link; a right foot support having a first portion supported on the right roller and a second portion pivotally connected to the right rocker link; a left drawbar link pivotally interconnected between the left crank and a second corner of the left pivot plate; a right drawbar link pivotally interconnected between the right crank and a second corner of the right pivot plate; a left connector link pivotally interconnected between the left rocker link and a third corner of the left pivot plate, thereby constraining at least a portion of the left foot support to move through a generally elliptical path of motion; and a right connector link pivotally interconnected between the right rocker link and a third corner of the right pivot plate, thereby constraining at least a portion of the right foot support to move through a generally elliptical path of motion.