Patent ID: 7803089

Claim:
An exercise apparatus comprising: a frame; an actuation assembly secured to said frame; a mounting member operatively connected to said actuation assembly for a reciprocating motion having a substantial vertical component; a foot pedal assembly secured for movement with said mounting member such that said entire foot pedal assembly moves in a substantially vertical direction and has a planar reciprocation motion corresponding to said substantially vertical component and wherein said foot pedal assembly includes: a foot receiving portion having upper and lower surfaces along with a first heel receiving end and a second end such that a user's entire foot moves in said reciprocating motion; a base portion secured to the mounting member; a hinge portion directly connecting said base portion to said first end of said foot receiving portion wherein said second end of said foot receiving portion can move vertically with respect to said base portion; a biasing portion operatively attached to said second end of said foot receiving portion and said base portion effective to provide a biasing force generally normal from said base to said foot receiving portion; and wherein said hinge portion and said biasing portion are effective to reduce transient paresthesia on the user's foot while operating the apparatus resulting from said vertical component of said reciprocating motion.