Total body elliptical exercise equipment with upper body monitoring

Abstract

An exercise device in accordance with the present invention includes a frame defining a longitudinal axis, with the frame having a rearward portion and a forward portion. A guide track and a foot link are provided. The foot link includes a rearward portion that is constrained to move in an orbital path approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis and a forward portion that reciprocally engages the guide track. A swing arm is provided having a pivotal connection to the frame. The swing arm includes an upper portion extending above the pivotal connection and a lower portion disposed below the pivotal connection. An engagement mechanism includes a first portion coupled to the lower portion of the swing arm and a second portion coupled to the forward portion of the foot link. A rearward force applied to the upper portion of the swing arm produces a force on the forward portion of the foot link having a downward component. A load monitoring mechanism is positioned to monitor the load applied to the swing arm.

1 . An elliptical exercise device, comprising: 
 a frame;    a foot link having a rearward portion that is constrained to move in an orbital path and a forward portion;    a swing arm having a pivotal connection to the frame, the swing arm having an upper portion extending above the pivotal connection and a lower portion disposed below the pivotal connection;    an engagement mechanism having a first portion coupled to the lower portion of the swing arm and a second portion coupled to the forward portion of the foot link, such that a force applied to the upper portion of the swing arm will produce a force on the forward portion of the foot link; and    a monitoring mechanism positioned to monitor the load applied to the swing arm by a user.    
     
     
         2 . The elliptical exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein the monitoring mechanism is positioned at the junction of the elongate swing arm and the foot link.  
     
     
         3 . The elliptical exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein the monitoring mechanism comprises contactless position sensing technology.  
     
     
         4 . The elliptical exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein the monitoring mechanism comprises a load cell.  
     
     
         5 . The elliptical exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein the engagement mechanism comprises a flexible member and the monitoring mechanism is positioned to monitor the deflections on the flexible member.  
     
     
         6 . The elliptical exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein the engagement mechanism comprises a rigid member and the monitoring mechanism is positioned to monitor the load on the rigid member.  
     
     
         7 . The elliptical exercise device of  claim 1 , further including a left swing arm and right swing arm, a left foot link and right foot link, a left engagement mechanism and right engagement mechanism, and a left monitoring device and a right monitoring device.  
     
     
         8 . The elliptical exercise device of  claim 1  further including a guide track, wherein the foot link includes at least one roller, and the guide track has an upper surface that is adapted to rollably receive the foot link roller and that reciprocally engages the guide track.  
     
     
         9 . The elliptical exercise device of  claim 8 , wherein the guide track includes an elevated forward portion.  
     
     
         10 . The elliptical exercise device of  claim 8 , wherein the swing arm lower portion is disposed lower than the elevated forward portion of the guide track.  
     
     
         11 . The elliptical exercise device of  claim 8 , wherein the guide tracks are mounted at an angled of inclination from horizontal.  
     
     
         12 . The elliptical exercise device of  claim 1 , further including a frame comprising a longitudinal member, an upright member extending upwardly from the longitudinal member and a transverse member extending outwardly transversely from the upright member and wherein the swing arm is pivotally connected to opposite portions of the transverse member.  
     
     
         13 . The elliptical exercise device of  claim 12 , wherein the frame further comprises a plurality of balance arms depending downwardly from the transverse member to provide support for the elliptical exercise device.  
     
     
         14 . The elliptical exercise device of  claim 12  further comprising an electronic view screen attached to the upright member for displaying exercise information.  
     
     
         15 . The elliptical exercise device of  claim 14  further wherein information from the load monitoring mechanism is displayed on the electronic view screen.  
     
     
         16 . The elliptical exercise device of  claim 1 , further comprising a rearwardly disposed flywheel, wherein the foot link is rotationally coupled to the flywheel with a crank arm assembly.  
     
     
         17 . The elliptical exercise device of  claim 1  further wherein inherent inertial loads of the machine are calculated and then subtracted from load measured at the arm link to more accurately monitor the load being applied by the user.  
     
     
         18 . An elliptical exercise device, comprising: 
 a frame;    a foot link;    a swing arm having a pivotal connection to the frame, the swing arm having an upper portion extending above the pivotal connection and a lower portion disposed below the pivotal connection;    an engagement mechanism having a first portion coupled to the lower portion of the swing arm and a second portion coupled to the foot link;    a monitoring mechanism positioned to monitor the load applied to the swing arm; and    an electronic view screen attached to the frame for displaying exercise information, including information from the monitoring mechanism.    
     
     
         19 . The elliptical exercise device of  claim 18 , wherein the monitoring mechanism is positioned at the junction of the elongate swing arm and the foot link.  
     
     
         20 . The elliptical exercise device of  claim 18 , wherein the monitoring mechanism comprises contactless position sensing technology.  
     
     
         21 . The elliptical exercise device of  claim 18 , wherein the monitoring mechanism comprises a load cell.  
     
     
         22 . The elliptical exercise device of  claim 18 , wherein the engagement mechanism comprises a flexible member and the monitoring mechanism is positioned to monitor the deflections on the flexible member.  
     
     
         23 . The elliptical exercise device of  claim 18 , wherein the engagement mechanism comprises a rigid member and the monitoring mechanism is positioned to monitor the load on the rigid member.  
     
     
         24 . The elliptical exercise device of  claim 18 , wherein the foot link includes a rearward portion that is constrained to move in an orbital path.  
     
     
         25 . The elliptical exercise device of  claim 18 , further including a left swing arm and right swing arm, a left foot link and right foot link, a left engagement mechanism and right engagement mechanism, and a left load monitoring device and a right load monitoring device.  
     
     
         26 . The elliptical exercise device of  claim 18 , further including a guide track, wherein the foot link includes at least one roller, and the guide track has an upper surface that is adapted to rollably receive the foot link roller and that reciprocally engages the guide track.  
     
     
         27 . The elliptical exercise device of  claim 25 , wherein the guide track includes an elevated forward portion.  
     
     
         28 . The elliptical exercise device of  claim 25 , wherein the swing arm lower portion is disposed lower than the elevated forward portion of the guide track.  
     
     
         29 . The elliptical exercise device of  claim 25 , wherein the guide tracks are mounted at an angled of inclination from horizontal.  
     
     
         30 . The elliptical exercise device of  claim 18 , further including a frame comprising a longitudinal member, an upright member extending upwardly from the longitudinal member and a transverse member extending outwardly transversely from the upright member and wherein the swing arm is pivotally connected to opposite portions of the transverse member.  
     
     
         31 . The elliptical exercise device of  claim 29 , wherein the frame further comprises a plurality of balance arms depending downwardly from the transverse member to provide support for the elliptical exercise device.  
     
     
         32 . The elliptical exercise device of  claim 18 , further comprising a rearwardly disposed flywheel, wherein the foot link is rotationally coupled to the flywheel with a crank arm assembly.  
     
     
         33 . The elliptical exercise device of  claim 18 , further wherein a processor cancels out an inertial load caused by the leg movement.  
     
     
         34 . The elliptical exercise device of  claim 18  further wherein inherent inertial loads of the machine are calculated and then subtracted from load measured at the arm link to more accurately monitor the load being applied by the user.