Patent ID: 7811208

Claim:
A stationary exercise apparatus comprising: a frame having a base portion adapted to be supported by the floor; a crank system comprising first and second crank coupling locations, the crank system coupled to the frame; a brake system coupled to the crank system and adapted to provide resistance to rotation of the crank system; a right arcuate motion member pivotally coupled to the frame and a right foot support member pivotally coupled to the right arcuate motion member; a left arcuate motion member pivotally coupled to the frame and a left foot support member pivotally coupled to the left arcuate motion member; first coupling system comprising first and second flexible element portions, said first flexible element portion indirectly coupled to said second flexible element portion, the first coupling system coupling the first crank coupling location to the right foot support member; and second coupling system comprising third and fourth flexible element portions, said third flexible element portion indirectly coupled to said fourth flexible element portion, the second coupling system coupling the second crank coupling location to the left foot support member, wherein the first flexible element portion is coupled to the second flexible element portion through a first coupler and the third flexible element portion is coupled to the fourth flexible element portion through a second coupler, wherein the first and second couplers comprise a spool, and wherein a user may apply force to the foot support members so as to undertake a walking, striding, jogging, or climbing motion and may instantaneously alter the length of the walking, striding, or jogging motion by altering the forward and rearward force applied to the foot support members, while resistance is applied to the crank system by the brake system.