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Cross training exercise deviceRelated Patent Categories: Exercise Devices, Involving User Translation Or Physical Simulation ThereofCross training exercise device description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060281604, Cross training exercise device. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to exercise equipment. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The benefits of regular aerobic exercise have been well established and accepted. However, due to time constraints, inclement weather, and other reasons, many people are prevented from aerobic activities such as walking, jogging, running, and swimming. As a result, a variety of exercise equipment has been developed for aerobic activity. It is generally desirable to exercise a large number of different muscles over a significantly large range of motion so as to provide for balanced physical development, to maximize muscle length and flexibility, and to achieve optimum levels of aerobic exercise. It is further advantageous for exercise equipment to provide smooth and natural motion, thus avoiding significant jarring and strain that can damage both muscles and joints. [0003] While various exercise systems are known in the prior art, these systems suffer from a variety of shortcomings that limit their benefits and/or include unnecessary risks and undesirable features. For example, stationary bicycles are a popular exercise system in the prior art; however, these machines employ a sitting position that utilizes only a relatively small number of muscles, through a fairly limited range of motion. Cross-country skiing exercise devices are also utilized to simulate the gliding motion of cross-country skiing. While cross-country skiing devices exercise more muscles than stationary bicycles, the substantially flat shuffling foot motion provided by the ski devices limits the range of motion of some of the muscles being exercised. Treadmills are still a further type of exercise device in the prior art. Treadmills allow natural walking or jogging motions in a relatively limited area. A drawback of the treadmill, however, is that significant jarring of the hip, knee, ankle, and other joints of the body may occur through use of this device. [0004] Another type of exercise device simulates stair climbing. Such devices can be composed of foot levers that are pivotally mounted to a frame at their forward ends and have foot-receiving pads at their rearward ends. The user pushes his/her feet down against the foot levers to simulate stair climbing. Resistance to the downward movement of the foot levers is provided by springs, fluid shock absorbers and/or other elements. These devices exercise more muscles than stationary bicycles; however, the rather limited range of up-and-down motion utilized does not exercise the user's leg muscles through a large range of motion. The substantially vertical reciprocating motion of such stair climbing exercise machines results in substantial impact load on the hip, knee and ankle. Further, the up and down reciprocating motion can induce a hyperextension of the knee. Some attempts to reduce such impact loads in the prior art have added cushioning to the pedals of the stair climbing exercise machines. [0005] A further limitation of a majority of exercise systems in the prior art lies in the limits in the types of motions that they can produce. A relatively new class of exercise devices is capable of producing elliptical motion that simulated the natural stride of a person. Exercise systems create elliptical motion, as referred to herein, when the path traveled by a user's feet while using the exercise system follows an arcuate or ellipse-shaped path of travel. Elliptical motion is much more natural and analogous to running, jogging, and walking than the linear-type, back and forth motions produced by some prior art exercise equipment. However, these devices that create an elliptical motion are limited to analogizing to running, jogging, and walking motions. [0006] What would thus be desirable is an exercise device that provides for smooth natural action, exercises a relatively large number of muscles through a large range of motion. What would thus be desirable is an exercise device that produces a user selectable raised, or highly angled, elliptical motion that simulates natural climbing or stepping motion. It would be further desirable for an exercise device to exercise muscles that are not exercised by elliptical machines of the prior art. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0007] An exercise device in accordance with the principles of the present invention provides for smooth natural action, exercises a relatively large number of muscles through a large range of motion. An exercise device in accordance with the principles of the present invention provides a smooth exercise device that produces a user selectable raised, or highly angled, elliptical motion that simulates natural climbing or stepping motion. An exercise device in accordance with the principles of the present invention exercises muscles that are not exercised by elliptical machines of the prior art. [0008] An exercise device in accordance with the principles of the present invention includes a frame, foot links, a coupling system and a guide. The frame defines a pivot axis and is configured to be supported on a floor. First and second foot links each include a first portion and a second portion. A foot-supporting portion supported by the first and second foot links receives the feet of the user while in standing position. Each foot support portion has a forward portion and a rear portion, the rear portion extending from the foot link a distance greater than the forward portion necessitated by the generally vertical orientation of the foot links. The coupling system is associated with the first portion of each foot link and couples the first portion of each foot link to the pivot axis so that the first portion of each foot link travels in a closed path relative to the pivot axis. [0009] The guide is associated with the frame and operates to engage and direct the second portions of the foot links along preselected reciprocating paths of travel as the first portions of the respective foot links travel along their paths of travel. When the exercise device is in use, the foot support portion moves along a generally elliptical path of travel. The guide is at an angle from horizontal of about 45 degrees to about 75 degrees, such that when the exercise device is in use the foot support portion moves along a generally vertically inclined, generally elliptical path of travel. In a further preferred embodiment, the guide is at an angle from horizontal of about 50 degrees to about 75 degrees; in a further preferred embodiment, the guide is at an angle from horizontal of about 60 degrees to about 75 degrees. The guide system further includes gliders pivotally mounted to the second portions of the foot links that ride along corresponding tracks and which provide structural support in opposed directions which is necessitated by the generally vertical orientation of the foot links. Thus, an exercise device in accordance with the principles of the present invention simulates various types of climbing motions. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0010] The foregoing aspects and many of the advantages of the present invention will be more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: [0011] FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of an exercise device in accordance with the principles of the present invention. [0012] FIG. 2 is an elevated side view of the device of FIG. 1 with the left footpad elevated. [0013] FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, showing the device of FIG. 1 with the right footpad elevated. [0014] FIG. 4 is an elevated view of the device of FIG. 1 at a less severe vertical orientation relative to FIGS. 1-3. [0015] FIG. 5 is a close-up view of a guide assembly of the device of FIG. 1. [0016] FIG. 6 is a close-up view of another guide assembly of the device of FIG. 1. [0017] FIG. 7 is an elevated side view of another exercise device in accordance with the principles of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT [0018] In the conventional prior art devices designed to simulate walking, jogging or running activity, the cyclical or closed path of the user's foot is typically oriented at about a zero degree to 40 degree angle from horizontal, which results in an angle of the major axis of the ellipse being about five degrees to 30 degrees. This orientation provides for acceptable walking, jogging and running simulation; however, a user interested in simulating climbing is limited to utilizing an exercise device that simulates stair climbing but is limited in the range of up-and-down motion utilized and thus does not exercise the user's leg muscles through a large range of motion or is limited to a reciprocating motion that does not adequately simulate the natural foot path. An exercise device in accordance with the principles of the present invention simulates climbing but is not so limited in the range of up-and-down motion utilized and thus exercises the user's leg muscles through a larger range of motion. Also, the substantially vertical reciprocating motion of prior art stair climbing devices produces substantial impact loads on the hips, knees and ankles of the user. Further, an exercise device in accordance with the present invention substantially reduces the impact loads placed on the joints of a user. [0019] Referring initially to FIGS. 1-3, an exercise device 18 in accordance with the principles of the present invention is seen. The exercise device 18 of the present invention can include a floor engaging frame 20 incorporating a forward post 22 extending upwardly and diagonally forwardly. A main pulley 24 can be located on the frame 20 for rotation about a horizontal, transverse axis 26. The main pulley 24 is connected to a step-up pulley 90. The step-up pulley 90 is connected to a braking system 40, as described in detail below. The main pulley 24, the step-up pulley 90, and the braking assembly 40 may be covered by a rear hood (not shown). Continue reading about Cross training exercise device... Full patent description for Cross training exercise device Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Cross training exercise device patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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