| Variable stride exercise apparatus -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
 
Variable stride exercise apparatusRelated Patent Categories: Exercise Devices, Involving User Translation Or Physical Simulation Thereof, Stair ClimbingVariable stride exercise apparatus description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070087906, Variable stride exercise apparatus. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
PRIORITY CLAIM [0001] This application claims the benefits of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/476,548 entitled "Variable Stride Elliptic Exercise Device" to Robert E. Rodgers, Jr., filed on Jun. 6, 2003; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/486,333 entitled "Variable Stride Exercise Device" to Robert E. Rodgers, Jr., filed on Jul. 11, 2003; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/490,154 entitled "Variable Stride Exercise Device" to Robert E. Rodgers, Jr., filed on Jul. 25, 2003; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/491,382 entitled "Variable Stride Exercise Device" to Robert E. Rodgers, Jr., filed on Jul. 31, 2003; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/494,308 entitled "Variable Stride Exercise Device" to Robert E. Rodgers, Jr., filed on Aug. 11, 2003; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. entitled "Variable Stride Exercise Device" to Robert E. Rodgers, Jr., filed on Sep. 19, 2003; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/511,190 entitled "Variable Stride Apparatus" to Robert E. Rodgers, Jr., filed on Oct. 14, 2003; and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. entitled "Variable Stride Exercise Device" to Robert E. Rodgers, Jr., filed on Oct. 29, 2003. BACKGROUND [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates generally to an exercise apparatus. Certain embodiments relate to variable motion exercise apparatus that may allow exercise such as simulated climbing, walking, striding, and/or jogging. [0004] 2. Description of Related Art [0005] Exercise devices have been in use for years. Some typical exercise devices that simulate walking or jogging include cross country ski machines, elliptical motion machines, and pendulum motion machines. [0006] Elliptical motion exercise apparatus in many cases provide inertia that assists in direction change of the pedals, making the exercise smooth and comfortable (e.g., see U.S. Pat. No. 5,242,343 to Miller; U.S. Pat. No. 5,383,829 to Miller; U.S. Pat. No. 5,518,473 to Miller; U.S. Pat. No. 5,755,642 to Miller; U.S. Pat. No. 5,577,985 to Miller; U.S. Pat. No. 5,611,756 to Miller; 5,911,649 to Miller; U.S. Pat. No. 6,045,487 to Miller; U.S. Pat. No. 6,398,695 to Miller; U.S. Pat. No. 5,913,751 to Eschenbach; U.S. Pat. No. 5,916,064 to Eschenbach; U.S. Pat. No. 5,921,894 to Eschenbach; U.S. Pat. No. 5,993,359 to Eschenbach; U.S. Pat. No. 6,024,676 to Eschenbach; U.S. Pat. No. 6,042,512 to Eschenbach; U.S. Pat. No. 6,045,488 to Eschenbach; U.S. Pat. No. 6,077,196 to Eschenbach; U.S. Pat. No. 6,077,198 to Eschenbach; U.S. Pat. No. 6,090,013 to Eschenbach; U.S. Pat. No. 6,090,014 to Eschenbach; U.S. Pat. No. 6,142,915 to Eschenbach; U.S. Pat. No. 6,168,552 to Eschenbach; U.S. Pat. No. 6,210,305 to Eschenbach; U.S. Pat. No. 6,361,476 to Eschenbach; U.S. Pat. No. 6,409,632 to Eschenbach; U.S. Pat. No. 6,422,976 to Eschenbach; U.S. Pat. No. 6,422,977 to Eschenbach; U.S. Pat. No. 6,436,007 to Eschenbach; U.S. Pat. No. 6,440,042 to Eschenbach; U.S. Pat. No. 6,482,132 to Eschenbach; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,612,969 to Eschenbach). [0007] Elliptical motion exercise apparatus are also described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,573,480 to Rodgers, Jr.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,683,333 to Rodgers, Jr.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,738,614 to Rodgers, Jr.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,924,962 to Rodgers, Jr.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,938,567 to Rodgers, Jr.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,549,526 to Rodgers, Jr.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,593,371 to Rodgers, Jr.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,595,553 to Rodgers, Jr.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,637,058 to Rodgers, Jr.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,772,558 to Rodgers, Jr.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,540,637 to Rodgers, Jr.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,593,372 to Rodgers, Jr.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,766,113 to Rodgers, Jr.; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,813,949 to Rodgers, Jr.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,690,589 to Rodgers, Jr.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,743,834 to Rodgers, Jr.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,611,758 to Rodgers, Jr.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,653,662 to Rodgers, Jr.; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,989,163 to Rodgers, Jr., each of which is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. [0008] In many exercise apparatus, rigid coupling to a crank generally confines the elliptical path to a fixed stride or path length. The fixed elliptical path length may either be too long for shorter users or too short for taller users. [0009] Adjustable stride elliptical exercise apparatus have been disclosed in previous patents (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,743,834 to Rodgers, Jr.). Although some of these exercise apparatus have addressed the issue of a fixed path length, the stride adjustment is made through changes or adjustments to the crank geometry. Mechanisms for adjustment in such apparatus may add significant cost, may require input by a user to a control system, and/or may not react relatively quickly to user input. [0010] Pivoting foot pedal systems have been disclosed in previous patents (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,690,589 to Rodgers, Jr.). Pivoting foot pedal systems may be configured such that the pivotal connection to the pedal is located above the pedal surface and a pendulum action may occur during pedal pivoting. This pendulum action may slightly increase the stride length. Such increases in stride length, however, are generally a small percentage of stride length and are not generally perceived by a user of the apparatus. [0011] Published U.S. Pat. Appl. No. 2002/0142890 to Ohrt et al., which is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein, discloses a user defined, dynamically variable stride exercise apparatus. A crank based system with a link that engages a roller at the end of a crank is disclosed. The link may have springs or cams to control and limit stride length. The cams, however, are placed away from the user and directly engage the crank. The resultant forces created by the cam are limited because the full weight of the user may not be applied to the cam. A housing to cover the crank and cam system may be large, thus adding to manufacturing cost. In addition, the overall length of the system may be relatively high. The foot/ankle articulation patterns are determined by the angular motion of the links engaging the crank, which may not desirable for all users of the system. SUMMARY [0012] In certain embodiments, a variable stride exercise apparatus may provide a variable range of motion controlled by a user of the apparatus. In an embodiment, an exercise apparatus may include a frame. A crank system may be coupled to the frame. A pivotal linkage assembly may be coupled to the crank system. In certain embodiments, a pivotal linkage assembly may include a foot member and/or an arm link. The foot member may include or be coupled to a footpad. In some embodiments, a movable member may be coupled to the pivotal linkage assembly or be a part of the pivotal linkage assembly. The movable member may be coupled to the crank system. In certain embodiments, the apparatus may be designed such that the foot of the user can travel in a substantially closed path during use of the apparatus. In some embodiments, the apparatus may be designed such that the foot of the user can travel in a curvilinear path during use of the apparatus. In some embodiments, the apparatus may be designed such that the foot of the user can travel in a relatively linear path during use of the apparatus. [0013] In certain embodiments, a variable stride system may be coupled to the pivotal linkage assembly. In some embodiments, a variable stride system may include a cam device. In certain embodiments, a variable stride system may include a spring device and/or a damper device. A variable stride system may be coupled to a foot member and/or a movable member. In certain embodiments, the foot member may be coupled to the movable member through the variable stride system. The variable stride system may allow a user of the apparatus to vary the length of the user's stride during use of the apparatus. Varying the length of the user's stride may allow a user to selectively vary the path of the user's foot (e.g., by varying the path of the foot member or footpad). [0014] In certain embodiments, an exercise apparatus has a maximum stride length that is at least about 40% of an overall length of the apparatus. In some embodiments, a variable stride system may be coupled to a foot member within about 24 inches of an end of a footpad. In certain embodiments, the variable stride system may be coupled to the foot member such that at least a portion of the variable stride system is located under at least a portion of the footpad. In some embodiments, the variable stride system may be coupled to the foot member at a location between the footpad and the crank system. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0015] Advantages of the present invention may become apparent to those skilled in the art with the benefit of the following detailed description and upon reference to the accompanying drawings in which: [0016] FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1D, 1E, and 1F depict embodiments of closed paths. [0017] FIG. 1C depicts an embodiment of a curvilinear path. [0018] FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D depict embodiments of cam type resistive/restoring devices that may provide a variable range of motion in a closed path. [0019] FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D depict embodiments of spring and/or damper devices that may provide a variable range of motion in a closed path. [0020] FIG. 4 depicts a side view of an embodiment of an exercise apparatus. Continue reading about Variable stride exercise apparatus... Full patent description for Variable stride exercise apparatus Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Variable stride exercise apparatus 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 Variable stride exercise apparatus or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Oval track stepper Next Patent Application: Variable stride exercise device using spring damper assembly Industry Class: Exercise devices ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Variable stride exercise apparatus patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.12688 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 |
|
