| Exercising apparatus with varying length arms -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
 
Exercising apparatus with varying length armsRelated Patent Categories: Exercise Devices, Involving User Translation Or Physical Simulation Thereof, Stair ClimbingExercising apparatus with varying length arms description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070117683, Exercising apparatus with varying length arms. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates generally to stationary exercise equipment. More specifically, the present invention relates to front end and upright elliptical trainers that coordinate the elliptical foot motion normally associated with walking and running with a back and forth hand motion. In other words, the present invention permits a user to exercise both their upper body and lower body in a coordinated fashion. Of course, this invention may be applied to other types of exercise equipment. [0002] Generally, elliptical trainers are exercise machines where a user's feet travel in diametrically opposed elliptical paths that roughly simulates the natural path the user's feet would follow while running or walking. Elliptical trainers provide the advantage of permitting a user to exercise their lower body without the jarring effects normally associated with running and walking. [0003] Typically, elliptical trainers provide resistance to the motion of the user via a drive mechanism. Elliptical trainers are generally classified into three general categories according to where the drive mechanism is located in relation to a user actuating the exercise apparatus. For example, back end or rear elliptical trainers have their drive mechanism positioned in back of the user. Conversely, front end and upright elliptical trainers have the drive mechanism positioned in front of the user. The front end and upright elliptical trainers provide the advantage of appearing to occupy less room than comparable rear elliptical trainers. Additionally, front end and upright elliptical trainers may be easier to store and move. [0004] The front end and upright elliptical trainers also provide an added measure of safety because many of the moving parts of the elliptical trainer are placed within the view of a user and thus, the user is more aware of the moving parts. Consequently, the user of a front end or upright elliptical trainer is better able to prevent children or pets from becoming entangled in or harmed by the moving parts of the elliptical trainer. [0005] However, not all of the moving parts of currently available elliptical trainers are positioned in front of the user. For example, the reciprocating supports of the reciprocating members are disposed beneath or behind the footpad and move back and forth on a track that may pinch the fingers of curious children. Consequently, a need exists for an elliptical trainer that has fewer moving parts positioned outside of the view of the user, in order to prevent accidental injury to curious children and pets that may be caught in pinch points. [0006] The inputs of the drive mechanism of an elliptical trainer travel in a circular path. Two reciprocating members, which each include a footpad, are connected to the drive mechanism at diametrically opposed positions on the circular path and on opposite sides of the drive mechanism. The reciprocating members are used to convert the circular motion of the drive mechanism into the elliptical path that is followed by the footpads. Thus, as a user moves his or her feet about an elliptical path, the drive mechanism rotates and provides resistance to the movement of the user. This resistance helps to strengthen the user. [0007] The drive mechanism also conserves the momentum of the user's movements. Specifically, as a person runs or walks, their body has a certain momentum. The drive mechanism of an elliptical trainer may use a flywheel to imitate the effects of a person's running or walking momentum to provide a more natural exercise experience. [0008] Additionally, to provide a more natural exercise experience, various devices have been developed which permit a user to exercise their upper body while using an elliptical trainer. However, because of the circular motion of the drive mechanism, these devices use complicated linkages to convert the circular motion of the drive mechanism into a back and forth hand motion. Additionally, these linkages do not coordinate well with the elliptical motion of the footpads. Furthermore, these linkages may have catch points and may not effectively coordinate the exertion of the upper body with the exertion of the lower body of the user to actuate the drive mechanism. These linkages may also be unattractive and costly to manufacture and assemble because of the plurality of parts and time required to assemble each part into the linkages. [0009] In other currently available elliptical trainers, the handles are directly linked to the elliptical motion of the feet, causing the user's hands to follow an elliptical path. However, elliptical hand motion may feel uncomfortable and unnatural to many users. Additionally, users tend to move their feet further than their hands so that the elliptical hand motion is too long and thus, may cause muscle strain. [0010] Therefore, a need exists for an elliptical trainer that efficiently and more naturally coordinates a user's back and forth hand movements with his or her foot movements to impel the drive mechanism. A need also exists for an elliptical trainer that provides for back and forth hand movements through mechanisms that are more aesthetically pleasing, include fewer parts, and are less expensive to manufacture. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0011] The apparatus and system of the present invention has been developed in response to the present state of the art, and in particular, in response to the problems and needs in the art that have not been fully solved by currently available exercise equipment. Thus, the present invention provides an exercise apparatus that coordinates the exercise of the lower body with the upper body. Specifically, the exercise apparatus of the present invention better imitates the natural motion of both the upper body and lower body while walking and running. [0012] In accordance with the invention as embodied and broadly described herein, an exercise apparatus is provided. In one embodiment of the exercise apparatus of the present invention is an elliptical trainer. The elliptical trainer includes a frame shaped to stably rest on a surface such as the floor of a building. [0013] The elliptical trainer also includes a drive mechanism known in the art that is mounted to the frame. The drive mechanism provides resistance to the movement of the user and conserves the momentum generated by the movement of the user. The drive mechanism may comprise a belt, a flywheel, a crank, an axle, a frictional element, a motor or any other component known in the art that may be used in a drive mechanism for an exercise machine. [0014] Two spaced reciprocating members are connected to the drive mechanism so that they move out of phase with each other to actuate the drive mechanism. The reciprocating members include footpads that travel in an elliptical path. Each footpad is shaped to receive and grip a user's shoe or foot to prevent the user from slipping off of the reciprocating member as it moves about an elliptical path. Typically, the footpad is disposed at an angle so that the heel kick that normally accompanies walking or running is accommodated by the foot pad as it travels about the elliptical path. [0015] Additionally, the reciprocating members include a reciprocating support that helps the reciprocating member convert the circular motion of the drive mechanism into the elliptical motion of the footpad. As the reciprocating member is actuated by a user, the reciprocating support moves back and forth on a track of the frame of the exercise apparatus. [0016] Because the reciprocating support moves back and forth on a track, a potential pinch point is created. Thus, to help prevent accidents and in accordance with the invention, the reciprocating support is positioned in front of the footpad. By positioning the reciprocating support between the drive mechanism and the footpad, a user can better monitor this pinch point and prevent related accidents from occurring. [0017] To exercise the upper body in a coordinated fashion with the lower body, the exercise apparatus of the invention includes arm members that are directly connected to the drive mechanism. Specifically, the arm members are attached to the crank so that they are diametrically opposed about the circular output path of the drive mechanism. The arm members include handles and are designed to convert the circular motion of the drive mechanism into a back and forth motion of the handles. [0018] Each arm member includes a first portion having a fixed length. In other words, the length of the first portion does not change as the exercise apparatus is actuated. The first portion includes the handle of the arm member and is pivotally attached to the frame at a first connection point. [0019] To convert the circular motion of the drive mechanism into the back and forth motion of the handles, each arm member also includes a second portion having an effective variable length. An effective variable length is the length of the arm member that actually varies as the exercise apparatus is actuated or a component of the arm that permits the arm to act as if its length actually varies. For example, the second portion of the arm members may include telescoping parts that slide within each other so that the length of the second portion actually varies as the exercise apparatus is actuated. [0020] Alternatively, the second portion of the arm members may include a slot in which an engagement member moves back and forth to permit the second portion of the arm member to act as if it actually varies in length. Thus, the engagement member may be attached to the drive mechanism so that as the crank of the drive mechanism rotates, the engagement member slides within the slot causing the first portion of the arm member to travel in a back and forth path. [0021] These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS Continue reading about Exercising apparatus with varying length arms... Full patent description for Exercising apparatus with varying length arms Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Exercising apparatus with varying length arms 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. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Exercising apparatus with varying length arms or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Ball exerciser and method of using the same Next Patent Application: Stationary exercise apparatus Industry Class: Exercise devices ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Exercising apparatus with varying length arms patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.11875 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Computers: Graphics , I/O , Processors , Dyn. Storage , Static Storage , Printers 174 |
 * Protect your Inventions * US Patent Office filing 
PATENT INFO |
|
