Striding simulators

Abstract

An exercise apparatus may include a frame that remains substantially stationary during use. The apparatus may include movable members that move relative to a portion of the frame. Foot members may be coupled to the movable members. Arm links may be coupled to the movable members. A drive system may be coupled to the frame. An apparatus may include a linkage assembly directly attached to the drive system and to the arm links.

1 . An exercise apparatus, comprising: 
 a frame, wherein the frame is configured such that at least a portion of the apparatus remains substantially stationary during use;    a left movable member configured to move relative to at least a portion of the frame;    a right movable member configured to move relative to at least a portion of the frame;    a left foot member coupled to the left movable member;    a right foot member coupled to the right movable member;    a left arm link coupled to the left movable member;    a right arm link coupled to the right movable member;    a drive system coupled to the frame; and    a linkage assembly directly attached to the drive system and to the left and right arm links.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the linkage assembly comprises one or more members directly attaching the left and right arm links to the drive system.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the left and right foot members are coupled to foot suspension systems.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the drive system comprises at least one pulley, at least one belt, and at least one crank.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the left and right movable members are configured to move relative to a fixed point on the frame.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the left and right movable members are configured to move along rails on at least a portion of the frame.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the left and right movable members comprise rear ends, and wherein the rear ends of each of the left and right movable members are configured to move in a reciprocating motion.  
     
     
         8 . An exercise apparatus, comprising: 
 a frame, wherein the frame is configured such that at least a portion of the apparatus remains substantially stationary during use;    a left movable member configured to move relative to at least a portion of the frame;    a right movable member configured to move relative to at least a portion of the frame;    a left foot member coupled to the left movable member;    a right foot member coupled to the right movable member;    a left arm link coupled to the left movable member;    a right arm link coupled to the right movable member; and    a belt system comprising a belt and at least one brake/inertia device, wherein the belt system is coupled to the left and right movable members.    
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the left and right foot members are coupled to foot suspension systems.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the belt system is configured to provide inertial forces to a user during use of the apparatus.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the belt system is configured to store at least some energy provided by a user during use and to provide at least a portion of the stored energy back to the user during use of the apparatus.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the belt system is directly attached to the left and right movable members.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the belt system is directly attached to axles on the left and right movable members.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the belt system comprises one or more pulleys and at least one belt.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the belt system comprises one or more pulleys and at least one belt, and wherein the pulleys are coupled to clutches.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the left and right movable members are configured to move along rails on at least a portion of the frame.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the left and right movable members comprise rear ends, and wherein the rear ends of each of the left and right movable members are configured to move in a reciprocating motion.  
     
     
         18 . An exercise apparatus, comprising: 
 a frame, wherein the frame is configured such that at least a portion of the apparatus remains substantially stationary during use;    a left movable member configured to move relative to at least a portion of the frame;    a right movable member configured to move relative to at least a portion of the frame;    a left foot member coupled to the left movable member;    a right foot member coupled to the right movable member;    a left arm link coupled to the left movable member;    a right arm link coupled to the right movable member;    a drive system coupled to the frame; and    a linkage assembly coupled to the drive system and to the left and right arm links, wherein the linkage assembly comprises a user adjustable slider assembly configured to allow the user to adjust the user's stride length during use of the apparatus.    
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the linkage assembly is directly attached to the drive system and to the left and right arm links.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the linkage assembly comprises one or more members directly attaching the left and right arm links to the drive system.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the user adjustable slider assembly is configured to allow the user to adjust the user's stride length by varying a position of the slider assembly in the linkage assembly.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the user adjustable slider assembly comprises a device for varying a position of the slider assembly.  
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the device comprises a servomotor.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the left and right foot members are coupled to foot suspension systems.  
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the drive system comprises at least one pulley, at least one belt, and at least one crank.  
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the left and right movable members are configured to move relative to a fixed point on the frame.  
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the left and right movable members are configured to move along rails on at least a portion of the frame.  
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the left and right movable members comprise rear ends, and wherein the rear ends of each of the left and right movable members are configured to move in a reciprocating motion.  
     
     
         29 . An exercise apparatus, comprising: 
 a frame, wherein the frame is configured such that at least a portion of the apparatus remains substantially stationary during use;    a left movable member configured to move relative to at least a portion of the frame;    a right movable member configured to move relative to at least a portion of the frame;    a left foot member coupled to the left movable member;    a right foot member coupled to the right movable member;    a left arm link coupled to the left movable member;    a right arm link coupled to the right movable member;    a drive system coupled to the frame; and    a linkage assembly coupled to the drive system and to the left and right arm links, wherein a length in the linkage assembly can be adjusted by a user of the apparatus to vary the angle of rotation of the left and/or right arm links.    
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the linkage assembly is directly attached to the drive system and to the left and right arm links.  
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the linkage assembly comprises one or more members directly attaching the left and right arm links to the drive system.  
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the linkage assembly is configured to allow the user to adjust the user's stride length by changing the length in the linkage assembly using a user adjustable slider assembly and varying the angle of rotation of the left and right arm links.  
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the linkage assembly comprises a device for adjusting the length in the linkage assembly.  
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein the device comprises a servomotor.  
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the left and right foot members are coupled to foot suspension systems.  
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the drive system comprises at least one pulley, at least one belt, and at least one crank.  
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the left and right movable members are configured to move relative to a fixed point on the frame.  
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the left and right movable members are configured to move along rails on at least a portion of the frame.  
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the left and right movable members comprise rear ends, and wherein the rear ends of each of the left and right movable members are configured to move in a reciprocating motion.  
     
     
         40 . An exercise apparatus, comprising: 
 a frame, wherein the frame is configured such that at least a portion of the apparatus remains substantially stationary during use;    a left movable member configured to move relative to at least a portion of the frame;    a right movable member configured to move relative to at least a portion of the frame;    a left foot member coupled to the left movable member;    a right foot member coupled to the right movable member;    a left arm link coupled to the left movable member;    a right arm link coupled to the right movable member;    a drive system coupled to the frame; and    a linkage assembly comprising left and right linkage assemblies, wherein the left linkage assembly is directly attached to the drive system at a first left end of the linkage assembly and directly attached to the left arm link at a second left end of the linkage assembly, wherein the right linkage assembly is directly attached to the drive system at a first right end of the linkage assembly and directly attached to the right arm link at a second right end of the linkage assembly, and wherein the linkage assembly comprises at least one device configured to allow variation in a length of the linkage assembly between at least one first end of the linkage assembly and at least one second end of the linkage assembly during use of the apparatus.    
     
     
         41 . The apparatus of  claim 40 , wherein at least one of the devices allows instantaneous variation in the length of the linkage assembly to allow a user to instantaneously vary the user's stride length during use of the apparatus.  
     
     
         42 . The apparatus of  claim 40 , wherein variation in the length of the linkage assembly allows a user to vary the user's stride length during use of the apparatus.  
     
     
         43 . The apparatus of  claim 40 , wherein at least one of the devices configured to allow variation in the length of the linkage assembly comprises a lever arm coupling between two members of the linkage assembly and a spring coupled between one of the members and the lever arm.  
     
     
         44 . The apparatus of  claim 40 , wherein at least one of the devices configured to allow variation in the length of the linkage assembly comprises at least one variable length linkage assembly member and a resistive element coupled to the variable length member.  
     
     
         45 . The apparatus of  claim 40 , wherein the left and right foot members are coupled to foot suspension systems.  
     
     
         46 . The apparatus of  claim 40 , wherein the drive system comprises at least one pulley, at least one belt, and at least one crank.  
     
     
         47 . The apparatus of  claim 40 , wherein the left and right movable members are configured to move relative to a fixed point on the frame.  
     
     
         48 . The apparatus of  claim 40 , wherein the left and right movable members are configured to move along rails on at least a portion of the frame.  
     
     
         49 . The apparatus of  claim 40 , wherein the left and right movable members comprise rear ends, and wherein the rear ends of each of the left and right movable members are configured to move in a reciprocating motion.  
     
     
         50 . The apparatus of  claim 40 , wherein the left movable member and the right movable member are cross coupled so that the left movable member moves in opposition to the right movable member.  
     
     
         51 . An exercise apparatus, comprising: 
 a frame, wherein the frame is configured such that at least a portion of the apparatus remains substantially stationary during use;    a left movable member configured to move relative to at least a portion of the frame;    a right movable member configured to move relative to at least a portion of the frame;    a left foot member coupled to the left movable member;    a right foot member coupled to the right movable member;    a left arm link coupled to the left movable member;    a right arm link coupled to the right movable member;    a drive system coupled to the frame; and    a linkage assembly coupled to the drive system and the left and right arm links, wherein the linkage assembly is configured to provide a varying resistive force to allow a user of the apparatus to vary the user's stride length during use of the apparatus.    
     
     
         52 . The apparatus of  claim 5   1 , wherein the linkage assembly is configured to allow the user to instantaneously vary the user's stride length during use of the apparatus.  
     
     
         53 . The apparatus of  claim 5   1 , wherein the varying resistive force in the linkage assembly is provided by a lever arm coupled between at least two members of the linkage assembly and a spring coupled between one of the members and the lever arm.  
     
     
         54 . The apparatus of  claim 5   1 , wherein the linkage assembly comprises one or more members, and wherein the varying resistive force in the linkage assembly is provided by at least one of the linkage assembly members configured to vary its length and a resistive element coupled to the varied length member.  
     
     
         55 . The apparatus of  claim 5   1 , wherein the left and right foot members are coupled to foot suspension systems.  
     
     
         56 . The apparatus of  claim 5   1 , wherein the drive system comprises at least one pulley, at least one belt, and at least one crank.  
     
     
         57 . The apparatus of  claim 5   1 , wherein the left and right movable members are configured to move relative to a fixed point on the frame.  
     
     
         58 . The apparatus of  claim 5   1 , wherein the left and right movable members are configured to move along rails on at least a portion of the frame.  
     
     
         59 . The apparatus of  claim 5   1 , wherein the left and right movable members comprise rear ends, and wherein the rear ends of each of the left and right movable members are configured to move in a reciprocating motion.  
     
     
         60 . The apparatus of  claim 51 , wherein the left movable member and the right movable member are cross coupled so that the left movable member moves in opposition to the right movable member.