Patent ID: 7520839

Claim:
An exercise apparatus, comprising: a frame configured such that at least a portion of the apparatus remains substantially stationary during use; a crank system coupled to the frame; a brake device coupled to the crank system and adapted to provide resistance to rotation of the crank system; said apparatus having right and left sides, each such side comprising: a pivotal linkage pendulum system comprising a movable member pivotally coupled to the frame at a first coupling location, a pendulum link member pivotally coupled proximate its upper end to the movable member at a second coupling location so that the pendulum link member may swing forward and rearward in a pendulum manner while the crank system remains stationary and not rotating, wherein the movable member is coupled to the crank system so that during crank system rotation the second coupling location moves in a path having two end points, the first end point being the highest point on the path and the second end point being the lowest point on the path; and a foot member comprising a foot pad, said foot member coupled to the pendulum link member proximate the lower end of the pendulum link member so that a vertical force applied to the foot pad by the user during a substantially vertical stepping motion causes continuous rotation of the crank system; wherein a horizontal force applied by the user to the foot pad during a substantially vertical stepping motion causes a transition to a closed path walking, striding, or jogging motion having instantaneously variable horizontal amplitude.