Exercise Equipment With Automatic Adjustment Of Stride Length And/Or Stride Height Based Upon Direction Of Foot Support Rotation

Abstract

An exercise device comprising (a) a frame, (b) first and second foot supports, (c) first and second connecting systems, each having at least two members pivotally attached to one another at a pivot point and interconnecting a respective foot support to the frame for moving the foot support along a closed loop path, (d) a means effective for sensing the speed of travel of the foot supports along the closed loop path, and (e) a means for automatically adjusting the stride length and/or stride height of the closed loop path traveled by the foot supports based upon the sensed speed of travel of the foot supports. The stride adjustment means includes (i) a means for adjusting the pivot point along the length of at least one member of the connecting system, and (ii) a control unit effective for receiving a signal from the sensor indicting the speed of travel of the foot supports along the closed loop path and automatically adjusting the pivot point along the length of at least one member of the connecting system based upon the received signal.

1 . An exercise device comprising: (a) a frame defining a transverse axis, (b) first and second foot supports, (c) first and second connecting systems, each having at least two members pivotally attached to one another at a pivot point and interconnecting a respective foot support to the frame for moving the foot support along a closed loop path relative to the transverse axis, wherein the closed loop path defines a stride length, (d) a means effective for sensing the speed of travel of the foot supports along the closed loop path, and (e) a means for automatically adjusting the stride length of the closed loop path traveled by the foot supports based upon the sensed speed of travel of the foot supports, comprising (i) a means for adjusting the pivot point along the length of at least one member of the connecting system, and (ii) a control unit in communication with the speed sensor and the stride length adjustment means for receiving a signal from the sensor indicting the speed of travel of the foot supports along the closed loop path and automatically adjusting the pivot point along the length of at least one member of the connecting system based upon the received signal.  
     
     
         2 . An exercise device comprising: (a) a frame defining a transverse axis, (b) first and second foot supports, (c) first and second connecting systems, each having at least two members pivotally attached to one another at a pivot point and interconnecting a respective foot support to the frame for moving the foot support along a closed loop path relative to the transverse axis, wherein the closed loop path defines a stride height, (d) a means effective for sensing the speed of travel of the foot supports along the closed loop path, and (e) a means for automatically adjusting the stride height of the closed loop path traveled by the foot supports based upon the sensed speed of travel of the foot supports, comprising (i) a means for adjusting the pivot point along the length of at least one member of the connecting system, and (ii) a control unit in communication with the speed sensor and the stride height adjustment means for receiving a signal from the sensor indicting the speed of travel of the foot supports along the closed loop path and automatically adjusting the pivot point along the length of at least one member of the connecting system based upon the received signal.  
     
     
         3 . The exercise device of  claim 1  wherein the closed loop path further defines a stride height and the means for automatically adjusting the stride length is effective for concurrently adjusting the stride height of the closed loop path traveled by the foot supports based upon the sensed speed of travel of the foot supports.  
     
     
         4 . The exercise device of  claim 1  wherein the closed loop path is an elliptical path.  
     
     
         5 . The exercise device of  claim 1  wherein the connecting system includes (i) first and second foot links each having a first end and supporting one of the foot supports, (ii) first and second connector links each having a first end and a second end, with each connector link pivotally attached proximate the first end to one of the foot links proximate the first end of the foot link at a foot link pivot point, (iii) first and second rocker arms each having a first end and a second end, with each rocker arm pivotally attached proximate the first end to the frame and pivotally attached proximate the second end to one of the connector links proximate the second end of the connector link at a rocker pivot point, (iv) a drive shaft rotatably attached to the frame, and (v) first and second crank arms having first and second ends, with each crank arm attached proximate the first end to the drive shaft and pivotally attached proximate the second end to the connector link at a crank pivot point which is positioned intermediate the foot support pivot point and the rocker pivot point.  
     
     
         6 . The exercise device of  claim 2  wherein the connecting system includes (i) first and second foot links each having a first end and supporting one of the foot supports, (ii) first and second connector links each having a first end and a second end, with each connector link pivotally attached proximate the first end to one of the foot links proximate the first end of the foot link at a foot link pivot point, (iii) first and second rocker arms each having a first end and a second end, with each rocker arm pivotally attached proximate the first end to the frame and pivotally attached proximate the second end to one of the connector links proximate the second end of the connector link at a rocker pivot point, (iv) a drive shaft rotatably attached to the frame, and (v) first and second crank arms having first and second ends, with each crank arm attached proximate the first end to the drive shaft and pivotally attached proximate the second end to the connector link at a crank pivot point which is positioned intermediate the foot support pivot point and the rocker pivot point.  
     
     
         7 . The exercise device of  claim 3  wherein the connecting system includes (i) first and second foot links each having a first end and supporting one of the foot supports, (ii) first and second connector links each having a first end and a second end, with each connector link pivotally attached proximate the first end to one of the foot links proximate the first end of the foot link at a foot link pivot point, (iii) first and second rocker arms each having a first end and a second end, with each rocker arm pivotally attached proximate the first end to the frame and pivotally attached proximate the second end to one of the connector links proximate the second end of the connector link at a rocker pivot point, (iv) a drive shaft rotatably attached to the frame, and (v) first and second crank arms having first and second ends, with each crank arm attached proximate the first end to the drive shaft and pivotally attached proximate the second end to the connector link at a crank pivot point which is positioned intermediate the foot support pivot point and the rocker pivot point.  
     
     
         8 . The exercise device of  claim 1  further comprising (i) a guide rail, (ii) a transversely extending drive shaft rotatably attached to the frame and extending along the transverse axis, (iii) first and second extension elements extending away from the transverse axis and fixedly attached to opposite transverse ends of the drive shaft for unitary rotation with the drive shaft, and (iv) first and second foot links each supporting a foot support and having (A) first and second ends, (B) a first end portion pivotally attached to one of the extension elements at a point spaced from the transverse axis for travel along a closed loop path relative to the transverse axis, and (C) a second end portion supported by the guide rail for longitudinal travel of the second end portion of the foot link along a reciprocating path.  
     
     
         9 . The exercise device of  claim 2  further comprising (i) a guide rail, (ii) a transversely extending drive shaft rotatably attached to the frame and extending along the transverse axis, (iii) first and second extension elements extending away from the transverse axis and fixedly attached to opposite transverse ends of the drive shaft for unitary rotation with the drive shaft, and (iv) first and second foot links each supporting a foot support and having (A) first and second ends, (B) a first end portion pivotally attached to one of the extension elements at a point spaced from the transverse axis for travel along a closed loop path relative to the transverse axis, and (C) a second end portion supported by the guide rail for longitudinal travel of the second end portion of the foot link along a reciprocating path.  
     
     
         10 . The exercise device of  claim 3  further comprising (i) a guide rail, (ii) a transversely extending drive shaft rotatably attached to the frame and extending along the transverse axis, (iii) first and second extension elements extending away from the transverse axis and fixedly attached to opposite transverse ends of the drive shaft for unitary rotation with the drive shaft, and (iv) first and second foot links each supporting a foot support and having (A) first and second ends, (B) a first end portion pivotally attached to one of the extension elements at a point spaced from the transverse axis for travel along a closed loop path relative to the transverse axis, and (C) a second end portion supported by the guide rail for longitudinal travel of the second end portion of the foot link along a reciprocating path.  
     
     
         11 . The exercise device of  claim 1  further comprising (i) first and second guide arms, (ii) a transversely extending drive shaft rotatably attached to the frame and extending along the transverse axis, (iii) first and second extension elements extending away from the transverse axis and fixedly attached to opposite transverse ends of the drive shaft for unitary rotation with the drive shaft, and (iv) first and second foot links each supporting a foot support and having (A) first and second ends, (B) a first end portion pivotally attached to one of the extension elements at a point spaced from the transverse axis for travel along a closed loop path relative to the transverse axis, and (C) a second end portion supported by one of the guide arms for longitudinal travel of the second end portion of the foot link along a reciprocating path.  
     
     
         12 . The exercise device of  claim 2  further comprising (i) first and second guide arms, (ii) a transversely extending drive shaft rotatably attached to the frame and extending along the transverse axis, (iii) first and second extension elements extending away from the transverse axis and fixedly attached to opposite transverse ends of the drive shaft for unitary rotation with the drive shaft, and (iv) first and second foot links each supporting a foot support and having (A) first and second ends, (B) a first end portion pivotally attached to one of the extension elements at a point spaced from the transverse axis for travel along a closed loop path relative to the transverse axis, and (C) a second end portion supported by one of the guide arms for longitudinal travel of the second end portion of the foot link along a reciprocating path.  
     
     
         13 . The exercise device of  claim 3  further comprising (i) first and second guide arms, (ii) a transversely extending drive shaft rotatably attached to the frame and extending along the transverse axis, (iii) first and second extension elements extending away from the transverse axis and fixedly attached to opposite transverse ends of the drive shaft for unitary rotation with the drive shaft, and (iv) first and second foot links each supporting a foot support and having (A) first and second ends, (B) a first end portion pivotally attached to one of the extension elements at a point spaced from the transverse axis for travel along a closed loop path relative to the transverse axis, and (C) a second end portion supported by one of the guide arms for longitudinal travel of the second end portion of the foot link along a reciprocating path.  
     
     
         14 . The exercise device of  claim 8  wherein the extension elements are embodied in a single drive pulley.  
     
     
         15 . The exercise device of  claim 8  wherein the extension elements are crank shafts.  
     
     
         16 . The exercise device of  claim 8  wherein the first end portion of each foot link is directly pivotally attached to the extension elements.  
     
     
         17 . The exercise device of  claim 8  wherein the first end portion of each foot link is indirectly pivotally attached to the extension elements.  
     
     
         18 . The exercise device of  claim 17  wherein the first end portion of each foot link is indirectly pivotally attached to one of the extension elements via an intermediate linkage system wherein the intermediate linkage system is (i) pivotally attached at a proximal point to the foot link, (ii) pivotally attached at a distal point to the frame, and (iii) pivotally attached to the extension element intermediate the proximal and distal points of attachment.  
     
     
         19 . The exercise device of  claim 8  wherein (i) the first end of each foot link is longitudinal spaced in a first longitudinal direction from the second end of the foot link, (ii) the second end of each foot link is longitudinal spaced in a second longitudinal direction from the first end of the foot link, and (iii) the foot supports are supported by the foot links at a position longitudinally spaced in the second longitudinal direction from the point at which the foot links are supported by the guide rail ( 120 ).  
     
     
         20 . The exercise device of  claim 1  wherein the exercise device further comprises (i) right and left longitudinally extending foot links each slidably supporting one of the foot support and having (A) a first longitudinal end portion pivotally attached to the frame for travel along a first closed loop path about a first transverse axis, and (B) a second longitudinal end portion pivotally attached to the frame for travel along a second closed loop path about a second transverse axis, (ii) right and left rocker links each having a first portion operatively connected to a respective foot support and a second portion pivotally mounted on the frame, and (iii) right and left drawbars each having a first portion constrained to travel in association with the respective foot link relative to the first and second closed loop paths and a second portion connected to a respective rocker link, wherein the combination of a rocker link and associated drawbar cooperate to transfer and link travel of the foot link along the first and second closed loop paths to longitudinal sliding of the respective foot support along the respective foot link.