Independent and separately actuated combination fitness machine

Abstract

An exercise apparatus combining a stationary bike and upper body extremity hand cycle, includes an upper hand crank assembly rotatable under a resistance load for upper body conditioning and a lower foot crank assembly rotatable under a resistance load for lower body conditioning. The upper hand crank assembly and lower foot crank assembly are independently connected to the resistance load through respective upper and lower driving belts. Either an upper clutch or lower clutch, communicating with the upper or lower crank assemblies respectively, selectively engages the driving belts to drive the resistance load. The upper and lower crank assemblies are independent of each other, and each is operable to separately engage the resistance load to transfer the resistance load to the respective upper hand crank assembly or lower foot crank assembly.

1 . An exercise apparatus combining a stationary bike and upper body extremity hand cycle, comprising: 
 an upper hand crank assembly rotatable under a resistance load for upper body conditioning;    a lower foot crank assembly rotatable under the resistance load for lower body conditioning;    a resistance means for providing the resistance load, wherein the upper hand crank assembly and lower foot crank assembly are independently connected to the resistance means through respective upper and lower driving belts;    an upper clutch selectively engaging with the upper hand crank assembly upon rotation of the upper hand crank assembly, whereby the selective engagement of the upper clutch provides a first driving force to the resistance means via the upper driving belt; and    a lower clutch selectively engaging with the lower foot crank assembly upon rotation of the lower foot crank assembly, whereby the selective engagement of the lower clutch provides a second driving force to the resistance means via the lower driving belt,    whereby the first and second driving forces are independent of each other, and wherein each is operable to separately engage the resistance means to transfer the resistance load to the respective upper hand crank assembly or lower foot crank assembly.    
     
     
         2 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the upper hand crank assembly and lower foot crank assembly are rotatable in either a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction to selectively engage the resistance means.  
     
     
         3 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the upper and lower clutches are mechanical clutches that engage the resistance means by centrifugal force caused by rotation of the upper hand crank assembly or lower foot crank assembly, respectively.  
     
     
         4 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the resistance means comprises a permanent magnet alternator.  
     
     
         5 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the upper hand crank assembly comprises, 
 a cam having a central axis;    an axle penetrating the cam through a point that is offset a designated distance from the central axis;    first and second adjustable elongated arms connected at a first end to each respective distal end of the axle;    a follower roller positioned at a second end of each rotating arm, the follower roller contacting an outer circumference of the cam;    a pedal means connected at the second end of the respective rotating arms, the pedal means following an elliptical path upon rotation while the follower roller follows a circumferential path around the cam.    
     
     
         6 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the lower foot crank assembly comprises, 
 a cam having a central axis;    an axle penetrating the cam through a point that is offset a designated distance from the central axis;    first and second adjustable elongated arms connected at a first end to each respective distal end of the axle;    a follower roller positioned at a second end of each rotating arm, the follower roller contacting an outer circumference of the cam;    a pedal means connected at the second end of the respective rotating arms, the pedal means following an elliptical path upon rotation while the follower roller follows a circumferential path around the cam.