U.S. patent application number 13/273524 was filed with the patent office on 2012-09-20 for adaptive exercise device with independent motion.
Invention is credited to Larry D. Miller.
Application Number | 20120238408 13/273524 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46828912 |
Filed Date | 2012-09-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120238408 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Miller; Larry D. |
September 20, 2012 |
ADAPTIVE EXERCISE DEVICE WITH INDEPENDENT MOTION
Abstract
An adaptive exercise device provides a foot motion in which
horizontal and vertical components thereof are mechanically
decoupled and independent. The device includes a primary guide
assembly, and a secondary guide assembly, and a first and a second
foot link, each having a foot pad portion for receiving and
supporting a user's foot. The primary guide assembly directs the
foot pad portions along a first path of travel having a horizontal
component of motion. The secondary guide assembly directs the foot
pad portions along a second path of travel having a vertical
component of motion. Further disclosed is a method of exercising
through the use of the adaptive exercise device.
Inventors: |
Miller; Larry D.;
(Rochester, MI) |
Family ID: |
46828912 |
Appl. No.: |
13/273524 |
Filed: |
October 14, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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61453751 |
Mar 17, 2011 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
482/52 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 22/0664 20130101;
A63B 22/0007 20130101; A63B 2022/206 20130101; A63B 22/201
20130101; A63B 21/0057 20130101; A63B 22/203 20130101; A63B
2022/0682 20130101; A63B 21/012 20130101; A63B 21/225 20130101;
A63B 21/00058 20130101; A63B 21/4047 20151001 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/52 |
International
Class: |
A63B 22/04 20060101
A63B022/04 |
Claims
1. An adaptive exercise device comprising: a frame configured to be
supported on a floor; a primary guide assembly; a secondary guide
assembly; a first and second foot link, each foot link having a
foot pad portion configured to receive a user's foot, each of said
foot links being disposed so as to engage said primary guide
assembly, which is configured and operable to direct the foot pad
portions of said foot links along a first path of travel having a
horizontal component of motion, each of said foot links being
further disposed so as to engage said secondary guide assembly,
which is configured and operable to direct the foot pad portions of
said foot links along a second path of travel having a vertical
component of motion, wherein the motion of said foot pads along
said first path of travel is mechanically independent of the motion
of said foot pads along said second path of travel.
2. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein said primary guide
assembly includes at least one primary track which is configured
and operative to engage and direct said first and second foot links
along said first path of travel.
3. The exercise device of claim 2, wherein said primary guide
assembly includes two primary tracks, each primary track being
configured to engage a respective one of said foot links.
4. The exercise device of claim 2, wherein when said device is
supported on a horizontal surface, said at least one primary track
is inclined relative to said horizontal surface.
5. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein said primary guide
assembly includes a first and a second swing arm which are
pivotally supported by said frame, each swing arm being engaged in
mechanical communication with a respective one of said foot links,
wherein said swing arms at least partially support their respective
foot links as they move along said first path of travel.
6. The exercise device of claim 5, wherein each swing arm is
pivotally coupled to its respective foot link at a connection
point, whereby when said foot links move along said first path of
travel, said connection points define an arc; and wherein said
secondary guide assembly includes first and second secondary guide
tracks which each engage a respective one of said foot links, and
wherein said secondary tracks are curved so that the curvature of
said secondary tracks corresponds geometrically to the curvature of
the arc defined by said connection points.
7. The exercise device of claim 5, wherein said swing arms are
pivotally supported on said frame so that a first end of said pivot
arms can travel in a reciprocal path relative to said frame, said
first and second pivot arms being mechanically coupled together so
that the reciprocal path of travel of said first swing arm is equal
and opposite to the reciprocal path of travel of said second swing
arm.
8. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein said foot links engage
the primary guide assembly and/or the secondary guide assembly via
a roller.
9. The exercise device of claim 1, further including a flywheel
and/or a variable resistance device in mechanical communication
with said foot links.
10. The exercise device of claim 9, wherein said flywheel and/or
variable resistance device is in mechanical communication with said
foot links via said primary guide assembly.
11. The exercise device of claim 9, wherein said flywheel and/or
variable resistance device is in mechanical communication with said
foot links via said secondary guide assembly.
12. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein said secondary guide
assembly includes a first and a second secondary track disposed in
a parallel relationship with one another, and a control system
operative to move said first and second secondary tracks along
respective paths of travel having equal and opposite vertical
components of motion while maintaining said secondary tracks in a
parallel relationship; wherein said foot links each engage a
respective one of said first and second secondary tracks so as to
be displaceable along the length thereof wherein when said
secondary control system moves said secondary tracks along their
respective paths of travel having said vertical component of
motion, said vertical component of motion is communicated to a
respective foot link so as to move said foot pad portion along said
second path of travel having said vertical component of motion.
13. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein said secondary guide
assembly includes a first and a second swing arm, said swing arms
each being coupled to a respective one of said foot links, said
secondary guide assembly further including a control system which
is operative to move said first and second swing arms along
respective paths of travel having equal and opposite vertical
components of motion wherein when said secondary control system
moves said swing arms along their respective paths of travel having
said vertical component of motion, said vertical component of
motion is communicated to a respective foot link so as to move said
foot pad portion along said second path of travel.
14. A method of exercising comprising the use of the exercise
device of claim 1.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent
Application No. 61/453,751 filed Mar. 17, 2011, entitled "Adaptive
Exercise Device with Independent Motion", the contents of which are
incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to exercise devices, and more
particularly to exercise devices which simulate a running and
stepping motion. In particular, the invention relates to an
adaptive exercise device configured and operable to mechanically
decouple the vertical and horizontal components of the foot and leg
motion so as to allow a user to independently control them during
the use of the device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] There are a variety of exercise devices which attempt to
simulate a running and stepping motion in which a user's feet and
legs travel along a path having vertical and horizontal components
of motion. One group of such devices is termed "adaptive exercise
devices", and they allow a user to vary the degree of foot and leg
motion while the device is in use. This invention is directed to a
particular type of adaptive exercise device which decouples the
vertical and horizontal components of motion so that the horizontal
component of foot and leg motion is independent of the vertical
component of the motion of the foot and leg.
[0004] As will be explained hereinbelow, the present invention
allows a user to implement a solely vertical foot and leg motion or
a solely horizontal foot and leg motion, or a foot and leg motion
which is a blended ratio of the two components. The system of the
present invention is of simple mechanical construction, and hence
is reliable, easy to maintain, and low in cost. These and other
advantages will be apparent from the drawings, discussion, and
description which follow.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0005] Disclosed is an adaptive exercise device which includes a
frame which is configured to be supported on a floor, a primary
guide assembly, and a second guide assembly. The device further
includes a first and second foot link, each foot link having a foot
pad portion configured to receive a user's foot. Each foot link is
disposed so as to engage the primary guide assembly which in turn
is configured and operable to direct the foot pad portions of the
foot links along a first path of travel having a horizontal
component of motion. The foot links are further disposed so as to
engage the secondary guide assembly which is configured and
operable to direct the foot pad portions of each of said foot links
along a second path of travel having a vertical component of
motion. The device is configured so that the motion of the foot
pads along the first path of travel is mechanically independent of
the motion of the foot pads along the second path of travel. In one
embodiment of the invention, the primary guide assembly includes at
least one primary track which is configured and operable to engage
and direct the first and second foot links along the first path of
travel. The at least one primary track may be inclined relative to
a horizontal support surface upon which the device is resting, and
the degree of inclination may be made to be adjustable.
[0006] In other embodiments, the primary guide assembly includes a
first and a second swing arm which are pivotally supported by the
frame. Each swing arm is engaged in mechanical communication with a
respective one of the foot links so as to at least partially
support its respective foot links as it moves along the first path
of travel. The swing arms in this embodiment may be pivotally
coupled to their respective foot links at a connection point; and
when the foot links move along the first path of travel, the
connection points define an arc. In this embodiment, the secondary
guide assembly may include a first and a second secondary guide
track which engage respective foot links; and the secondary track
may be curved so that the curvature of those secondary tracks
corresponds geometrically to the curvature of the arc defined by
the connection points between the swing arms and their respective
foot links.
[0007] The secondary guide assembly may, in some embodiments,
include a first and second track disposed in a parallel
relationship with one another, together with a control system which
is operative to move said first and second tracks along respective
paths of travel having equal and opposite vertical components of
motion while maintaining the secondary tracks in a parallel
relationship. In this embodiment, the foot links in turn engage
respective ones of said first and second secondary tracks so as to
be displaceable along the length thereof so that when the secondary
control system moves the secondary tracks along their respective
paths of travel having the vertical component of motion, that
vertical component of motion is communicated to a respective foot
link so as to move the foot pad portion of that foot link along a
second path of travel having the vertical component of motion.
[0008] In yet other embodiments, the secondary guide assembly may
include a first and second swing arm, each being coupled to a
respective one of the foot links. The secondary guide assembly
will, in such embodiments, further include a control system which
is operative to move the first and second swing arms along
respective paths of travel having equal and opposite vertical
components of motion so that when the secondary control system
moves the swing arms along their respective paths of travel having
the vertical component of motion, that vertical component of motion
is communicated to a respective foot link so as to move the foot
pad portion along a second path of travel. In some of such
embodiments, the swing arms of the secondary guide assembly are
each pivotally coupled to their respective foot links at a
connection point whereby when the foot links move along the first
path of travel, the connection point defines an arc. In these
embodiments, the primary guide assembly includes at least one
curved guide track which engages the foot links. This at least one
track is curved so that the curvature thereof corresponds
geometrically to the curvature of the arc defined by the connection
points.
[0009] Also disclosed herein is a method of exercise comprising the
use of the device of the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a side view of a portion of an exercise device in
accord with the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a front view of the device of FIG. 1 better
illustrating the secondary guide assembly thereof;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a side view of a portion of an exercise device as
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrating further components thereof;
[0013] FIG. 4A is a side view of a portion of an exercise device in
accord with the present invention illustrating an alternative
secondary guide assembly;
[0014] FIG. 4B is a top plan view of the device of FIG. 4A
illustrating the secondary guide assembly;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a side view of a portion of another embodiment of
exercise device in accord with the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 6A is a side view of portions of a further embodiment
of exercise device in accord with the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 6B is a side view of an inverted embodiment of the
exercise device of FIG. 6A;
[0018] FIG. 7A is a side view showing a further embodiment of
exercise device of the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 7B is a front view of the exercise device of FIG. 7A
better illustrating the secondary guide assembly thereof; and
[0020] FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration showing various paths of
foot motion which may be achieved through the use of the adaptive
exercise device of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0021] The present invention may be implemented in a number of
different configurations and will be explained with regard to some
specific embodiments. It is to be understood that other
modifications and variations are within the scope of this invention
and will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art in view
of the teaching of this disclosure.
[0022] FIGS. 1 and 2 show portions of one particular embodiment 10
of exercise device of the present invention. It will be noted that
for clarity of illustration, certain portions of the exercise
device 10 are not illustrated in these figures. Referring now to
FIG. 1, there is shown a side view of the device 10. As will be
seen, the device includes a frame 12 which is configured to support
various of the remaining components of the device on a horizontal
support surface such as a floor. The frame 12 is typically
fabricated from a relatively durable material such as a metal.
[0023] The device 10 of FIG. 1 further includes a primary guide,
which, as will be explained hereinbelow, engages and supports a
pair of foot links. In this embodiment the primary guide comprises
a track assembly 14 defining at least one primary track member, and
may comprise a single wide ramp or a pair of separate primary
tracks. As shown herein, the primary guide track assembly 14 is
inclined relative to the floor upon which it is supported, although
in other instances it may be parallel to the floor or in particular
instances may even be defined by the surface of the floor. It is to
be noted that the primary guide track assembly may be made
adjustable so that its angular relationship to a support surface
can be varied.
[0024] The device 10 includes a secondary guide assembly 16 which
in this embodiment includes a pair of secondary tracks 18a and 18b
which are disposed in a parallel relationship and are pivotally
supported on the frame 12. The secondary track assembly 16 also
includes a secondary track control system 20 which operates to move
the first and second secondary tracks 18a, 18b along respective
paths of travel having equal and opposite vertical components of
motion while maintaining them in a parallel relationship.
[0025] FIG. 2 is a front view of the device 10 better illustrating
the secondary track control system. As will be seen from FIG. 2,
the system includes a pair of rocker arms 24a, 24b which engage and
support the secondary tracks 18a, 18b. The rocker arms 24a, 24b and
associated tracks 18a, 18b are pivotally supported on the frame 12
by a shaft 26. The control system further includes a flywheel 22
and associated crank arm 28; and as will be seen, this system
allows the tracks 18a, 18b to reciprocate in a primarily vertical
direction of travel. Although the flywheel 22 is not essential to
the operation of the device, it has been found that inclusion of a
flywheel can smooth and stabilize the motion of the device and
enhance its exercise value. Likewise, a variable resistance device
such as a friction brake or an electromagnetic brake may be
included in the device as is known in the art. It will be
understood that the overall path of travel of the tracks will have
a very slight curvature owing to the geometry of this particular
implementation; however, the vertical component of the motion is
predominant and hence this motion is referred to as having a
primarily vertical component as is shown by arrow A in FIGS. 1 and
2.
[0026] Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown further features of
the exercise device 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2. The FIG. 3 illustration
does not depict the frame or details of the secondary track control
system. This is for purposes of clarity, although it is to be
understood that these elements will be included in this embodiment.
The FIG. 3 device does show a track assembly 14 of the primary
guide as well as a secondary track 18 of the secondary guide.
Further shown in FIG. 3 is a foot link 30, it being understood that
an apparatus of this type will include a pair of such foot links.
Foot links are typically fabricated from a durable body of material
such as wood or metal and include a foot pad portion 32 configured
to support a user's foot thereupon.
[0027] In this embodiment, the foot link 30 also includes a first
roller 34 and a second roller 36. The first roller 34 engages a
bottom surface of the secondary track 18, while the second roller
36 engages a top surface of the primary track 14. Other track and
roller configurations may be implemented. As will be appreciated
from the figure, the two rollers 34 and 36 cooperate with the
tracks 14 and 18 and the frame (not shown) to support the foot link
32 so that when a user's foot is placed on the foot pad 32, the
foot link will be stable. As will be seen, the track and roller
arrangement allows for the foot link to move back and forth along a
reciprocating path of travel having a primarily horizontal
component of motion, as shown by arrow B. It will be appreciated
from FIG. 3 that as the secondary track 18 moves in the vertical
direction shown by arrow A, the component of vertical motion
thereof is also transferred to the respective foot link 30 via the
first roller 34 so as to pivot the foot link about the second
roller 36 thereby vertically displacing the foot pad 32a along a
path of travel having a vertical component of motion. In this
manner, vertical foot motion will be achieved; and given the fact
that the secondary track controller (20 in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2)
synchronizes the motion of the secondary tracks, the motion of the
foot pads 32a in a vertical direction will likewise be synchronized
so as to be equal and opposite. It will be appreciated from the
figure that the vertical motion of the foot as shown by arrow A and
the fore and aft, horizontal motion of the foot as shown by arrow B
are mechanically decoupled and hence independent of one another.
Thus, through the use of the device of this invention, a user may
independently control the vertical and horizontal components of
foot motion.
[0028] In keeping with a further feature of the present invention,
the fore and aft, generally horizontal, motion of the foot links 30
may be synchronized by a foot link control system which causes the
foot links to move in equal and opposite directions along the
primary track assembly 14. This may be accomplished through various
mechanical arrangements as is known in the art. As is specifically
shown in FIG. 3, control of the foot link motion is achieved by the
use of a pair of swing arms, and one swing arm 40 is shown herein
as being mechanically coupled to the foot link 30. It is to be
understood that a second swing arm will likewise couple to a second
foot link. In this embodiment the swing arms 40 are pivotally
supported by the frame and mechanically coupled together through a
geared joint 42 which is of a "differential" configuration and
which provides equal and opposite motion of the two swing arms.
Coupled swing arms of this type are shown, for example, in U.S.
Pat. No. 7,794,362 the disclosure of which is incorporated herein
by reference. The FIG. 3 embodiment also includes a handgrip
portion 44 which projects from the swing arm and may be gripped by
a user so as to provide for upper body exercise. It is to be noted
that in this embodiment, the inclusion of swing arms is optional,
and synchronization of the foot links may be achieved through other
means or dispensed with. Also, as will be apparent to those of
skill in the art, the FIG. 3 embodiment, like the other embodiments
shown herein, may include a flywheel and/or resistance device in
mechanical communication with the foot links.
[0029] The present invention may be implemented in yet other
embodiments, and one such alternative embodiment is shown in FIGS.
4A and 4B. Specifically shown therein is a partial view of an
exercise device 50 showing specific features thereof. FIG. 4A is a
side view of portions of the device, and as will be seen, it
includes a frame 12 and primary track guide assembly 14 as
generally described with regard to the previous embodiment. Further
shown in FIG. 4A is a secondary guide assembly 52 as operative to
move associated secondary tracks 18a, 18b in a generally vertical
direction. In this regard, the tracks 18a, 18b are supported by a
pair of crankshafts 54a, 54b which are supported by the frame 12.
The crankshaft 54b is also rotatably coupled to a flywheel 56 by a
drive wheel 58 operating through a drive belt 60. FIG. 4B is a top
plan view of the device 50 showing the secondary guide assembly 52.
As will be seen from the figures, rotation of the crankshafts 54a,
54b displaces the guides 18a, 18b along a path of travel having a
substantially vertical component of motion as shown by arrow A. As
in the previous embodiment, foot links are mechanically engaged
with the secondary tracks 18a, 18b so that vertical displacement of
the tracks 18a, 18b reciprocates the foot pad portion of the
associated foot links in a vertical direction.
[0030] Yet another embodiment of exercise device of the present
invention is shown at reference numeral 70 in FIG. 5. This
embodiment is generally similar to the embodiment 10 shown in FIG.
3, except that is of an "inverted" structure. In that regard, the
relative positions of the primary guide and secondary guide are
reversed. Specifically, the device of FIG. 5 includes a frame 12,
shown partially cut away herein for purposes of clarity. The device
70 of FIG. 5 includes a primary guide assembly 14 having a track
portion thereof suspended from the frame 12 in a spaced apart
relationship with the floor. The secondary guide assembly includes
vertically displaceable tracks 18a, 18b as previously described,
and these tracks may be reciprocated in a substantially vertical
path of travel, as shown by arrows A, by a control system which may
be similar to that shown with regard to the embodiment 10 of FIGS.
1-3 or the embodiment 50 of FIGS. 4A and 4B.
[0031] The device 70 of FIG. 5 further includes a first and a
second foot link 30a, 30b, and each foot link includes a foot pad
portion 32a, 32b as previously described. As in the FIG. 3
embodiment, the foot links have swing arms associated therewith;
and will be seen in FIG. 5, swing arm 40b is associated with foot
link 30b. A corresponding swing arm is associated with foot link
30a; however, it is hidden from view behind swing arm 40b. As
mentioned with regard to the FIG. 3 embodiment, the swing arms 40
are not essential to this embodiment but their inclusion does
provide for upper body exercise and can serve to synchronize the
motion of the foot links.
[0032] In the FIG. 5 embodiment 70, a first roller 34b is disposed
at a front end of the foot link 30b and it engages the first guide
track member 14. A corresponding first roller is associated with
foot link 30a but is not visible in this drawing. A second roller
36b associated with the foot link 30b engages the secondary track
18b while a corresponding second roller 36a associated with the
first foot link 30a engages the secondary track 18a. As in the
previous embodiments, this combination of tracks and rollers
provides for a fore-aft, generally horizontal path of travel B of
the foot links 30 and their associated foot pads 32.
[0033] In the various embodiments of FIGS. 1-5, the primary guide
includes one or more tracks 14, and the secondary guide includes
two tracks 18a and 18b. As will be seen from these figures, the
primary tracks 14 are straight tracks and are in a generally
parallel relationship with the secondary tracks 18a and 18b which
are also generally straight. It has been found that this parallel
relationship assures that the fore-aft motion of the foot pads 32,
has a primarily horizontal component. An equivalent motion may be
achieved through the use of geometrically corresponding curved
tracks as will be discussed herinbelow. This parallel and/or
geometrically corresponding relationship is not essential to the
operation of the devices of the present invention, and may be
deviated from in some other embodiments so as to modify the foot
action in the for-aft direction by adding some vertical component
thereto, while still allowing the user to independently augment, or
subtract from the net vertical motion of the foot pads 32.
[0034] Referring now to FIG. 6A, there is shown yet another
embodiment 80 of exercise device in accord with the present
invention. In this embodiment, the primary guide does not include
any type of track member but is comprised of a pair of swing arms
40 of which one arm 40b is shown herein, the other arm being
disposed there behind. The swing arms 40 support their respective
foot links 30a, 30b at a front end thereof, and reciprocation of
the swing arms 40 moves these front ends in a reciprocal, slightly
curved path of travel as shown by arrow B, which path of travel has
a substantially horizontal component of motion. The second ends of
each foot link are supported by curved track members 18a, 18b
associated with a secondary guide assembly. As in the previous
embodiments, these tracks are reciprocated along a substantially
vertical path of travel as shown by arrow A by a control system,
not shown. It is to be understood that this control system will
typically be supported by the frame 12 of the exercise device and
may be in accord with secondary control systems previously
described or other secondary control systems as may be apparent to
those of skill in the art.
[0035] Referring now to FIG. 6B, there is shown another embodiment
90 of exercise device of the present invention. This embodiment
corresponds generally to the embodiment of FIG. 6A insofar as the
primary guide assembly is constituted by swing arms, such as swing
arm 40b; however, the structure of the FIG. 6B device 90 is
"inverted" with respect to that of FIG. 6A. Specifically, the
secondary guide assembly is moved to the front of the device so
that the curved tracks 18a, 18b thereof are engaged by first
rollers 34a, 34b associated with corresponding foot links 30a, 30b.
The geometry of the FIG. 6B embodiment 90, like that of the FIG. 6A
embodiment 80, provides for independent horizontal and vertical
motion of the user's feet.
[0036] In embodiments of the type, shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the
secondary tracks 18a, 18b are preferably curved and in the depicted
embodiments, the curvature of these tracks 18a, 18b corresponds,
geometrically, to the curved path of travel B of the front ends of
the foot links 30a, 30b. The geometrically corresponding paths of
travel need not be congruent; but, they will have the same overall
shape and curvature even though their sizes may differ. By
maintaining such corresponding curvatures, the fore-aft motion of
the foot pads 32a, 32b and a user's foot associated therewith is
generally horizontal as is the case when a system of guides based
wholly on tracks is utilized as discussed with regard to FIGS. 1-5
above. And, it should be noted that in view of the teaching of
FIGS. 1-5, it will be apparent to one of skill in the art that the
tracks of the FIGS. 6A and 6B embodiments need not correspond
geometrically and/or be curved.
[0037] Referring now to FIGS. 7A and 7B, there is shown yet another
embodiment 100 of exercise device in accord with the present
invention. In this embodiment, the primary guide assembly includes
a track member 14 which as previously described may be a single or
a double track. In this embodiment, the secondary guide assembly
provides vertical motion to the foot links 30a, 30b by means of
associated swing arms 40a, 40b coupled thereto.
[0038] FIG. 7B shows a front view of a portion of the device 100
illustrating swing arms 40a, 40b which are coupled to a rocker arm
102 by ball-and-socket connectors 104a, 104b, although it is to be
understood that other types of universal joint couplings may be
similarly employed. The rocker arm 102 is pivotally supported on
the frame 12, and is reciprocated by a flywheel 20/crank arm 28
arrangement coupled thereto. As will be seen, reciprocation of the
rocker arm 102 will cause the associated swing arms in to
reciprocate along a path of travel having a significant vertical
component of motion as shown by arrow A.
[0039] Referring back to FIG. 7A, it will be seen that
reciprocation of the swing arms 40 in the vertical direction of
arrow A raises and lowers the front end of the foot link 30. The
foot link 30 is in turn supported on the track 14 by a roller 32 so
that the vertical reciprocation of the front end of the foot link
30 causes the associated foot pad 32 to likewise move in a
reciprocal, vertical path A. It will be further seen from FIG. 7A
that the foot link 30 is also capable of moving along the track 14
so as to provide substantially horizontal motion to the user's
foot.
[0040] In the embodiment of FIGS. 7A and 7B, the track 14 is
curved, and in specific embodiments, the curvature of the track may
correspond geometrically to an arc defined by the pivotal
connection of the swing arm 40 to the foot link 30. And, as with
regard to the previous embodiments, other arrangements, such as the
use of a straight track, or a non-geometrically corresponding track
may be alternatively employed.
[0041] In all of the embodiments of the present invention, vertical
and horizontal components of foot motion are mechanically
decoupled, and FIG. 8 illustrates some paths of foor travel which
can be achieved as a result of that decoupling. For example, a user
may employ an exercise device of the present invention so as to
move his or her foot in a path of travel which is substantially
vertical, as is shown by arrow A in FIG. 8, without necessarily
moving his or her foot in a substantially horizontal path of
travel, as is shown by arrow B in FIG. 8. Likewise, horizontal
motion may be implemented without utilizing any vertical motion.
Through the use of the devices of the present invention, it is also
possible to generate a foot action which is a blend of the
horizontal and vertical components as further shown in FIG. 8 by
arrows C, D, E and F.
[0042] The fact that the vertical and horizontal components of foot
motion are mechanically decoupled also allows for a user to make
changes to the foot path while the device is in use. For example,
in a typical exercise regimen, a user may initially elect to employ
a strictly vertical, up and down foot motion akin to that achieved
by the use of a stair stepper device. Subsequently the user may add
a horizontal component of motion so as to elongate the stride,
eventually achieving an elliptical path. The user may then decrease
the vertical component so as to implement a strictly horizontal
motion akin to that achieved through a cross country skiing
simulator.
[0043] The present invention may be implemented in a number of
other embodiments which will be apparent to those of skill in the
art in view of the teaching presented herein. The foregoing
drawings, discussion, and description are illustrative of specific
embodiments of the invention but are not meant to be limitations
upon the practice thereof. It is the following claims, including
all equivalents, which define the scope of the invention.
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