Elliptical walking exercice machine

Abstract

An elliptical walking exercise machine, an apparatus comprising: a base assembly standing on a floor and having a base frame which supports a base upper pivot and a base crank pivot. An embodiment further comprises a right crank arm, a left crank arm, and a main pulley pivotally engaged to the base frame at the base crank pivot. The right crank arm and the left crank arm each having a mechanical engagement point, a roller, for respective links, a right second link and a left second link that are parts of respectively a right pedal linkage and a left pedal linkage. The rollers are attached over a right crank step of the right crank arm and a left crank step of the left crank arm. Both the right and left crank arms are fixed to each other to maintain their relative position of about 180 degree offset angle from each other, and both arms are fixedly attached to the main pulley to rotate together at the base crank pivot of the base assembly. The main pulley, also called a main wheel, transfers the user's power to a force unit through a belt. The force unit can be a simple flywheel with a brake mechanism to provide a resistance to the exercise.

1 . An elliptical walking exercise machine comprising:
 a. a base assembly for supporting the elliptical walking exercise machine on a floor;   b. a base upper pivot connecting a right handle and a left handle to the base assembly, wherein the base upper pivot provides a pendulum like motion for the right handle and left handle, wherein the right handle and left handle are above the base upper pivot;   c. a right third link connected below the right handle and a left third link connected below the left handle, wherein the right third link and the left third link are substantially upright and are provided a pendulum like motion about the base upper pivot, the right third link having a right bottom end and the left third link having a left bottom end;   d. a right second pivot connected at the right bottom end and a left second pivot connected a left bottom end;   e. a right second link connected to the right second pivot, and a left second link connected to the left second pivot, wherein the right second link and the left second link are somewhat horizontally oriented and also received a pendulum like motion relative to the base;   f. a left pedal connected to the left second link and a right pedal the right second link;   g. a main wheel receiving force from user movement of the left third link, the right third link, the left second link and the right second link;   h. a base crank pivot for mounting the main wheel, wherein the main wheel rotates about the base crank pivot;   i. a right crank arm fixed to the main wheel, and a left crank arm fixed to the main wheel, wherein the right crank arm and the left crank arm are fixed to have the same angular position as the main wheel, wherein the right crank arm and the left crank arm are mounted at an offset of each other of approximately 180°;   j. a right first link connected to the right crank arm at a right crank pivot and a left first link connected to the left crank arm at a left crank pivot;   k. a force unit providing resistance to the main wheel;   l. an elliptical movement mechanism comprising:
 i. a right first link connected to the right first pedal, and a left first link connected to a left first pedal, wherein the right first pedal is mounted to slide along a length of the right second link, and wherein the left first pedal is mounted to slide along a length of the left second link; 
 ii. a right crank step connected to a forward end of the right second link, and a left crank step connected to a forward end of the left second link, wherein the right crank step is located between the base crank pivot and the right crank pivot; 
 iii. wherein a rear end of the right second link and a rear end of the left second link have substantially circular motion while the left first pedal and the right first pedal have substantially elliptical motion. 
   
     
     
         2 . The elliptical walking exercise machine of  claim 1 , further comprising: a belt connected between the force unit and the main wheel for transmitting force between the force unit and the main wheel, wherein the surface of the main wheel forms a pulley for engaging with the belt. 
     
     
         3 . The elliptical walking exercise machine of  claim 1 , further comprising: a chain connected between the force unit and the main wheel for transmitting force between the force unit and the main wheel, wherein the surface of the main wheel forms a pulley for engaging with the chain. 
     
     
         4 . An elliptical walking exercise machine comprising:
 a. a base assembly for supporting the elliptical walking exercise machine on a floor;   b. a base upper pivot connecting a right handle and a left handle to the base assembly, wherein the base upper pivot provides a pendulum like motion for the right handle and left handle, wherein the right handle and left handle are above the base upper pivot;   c. a right third link connected below the right handle and a left third link connected below the left handle, wherein the right third link and the left third link are substantially upright and are provided a pendulum like motion about the base upper pivot, the right third link having a right bottom end and the left third link having a left bottom end;   d. a right second pivot connected at the right bottom end and a left second pivot connected a left bottom end;   e. a right second link connected to the right second pivot, and a left second link connected to the left second pivot, wherein the right second link and the left second link are somewhat horizontally oriented and also received a pendulum like motion relative to the base;   f. a left pedal connected to the left second link and a right pedal the right second link;   g. a main wheel receiving force from user movement of the left third link, the right third link, the left second link and the right second link;   h. a base crank pivot for mounting the main wheel, wherein the main wheel rotates about the base crank pivot;   i. a right crank arm fixed to the main wheel, and a left crank arm fixed to the main wheel, wherein the right crank arm and the left crank arm are fixed to have the same angular position as the main wheel, wherein the right crank arm and the left crank arm are mounted at an offset of each other of approximately 180°;   j. a right first link connected to the right crank arm at a right crank pivot and a left first link connected to the left crank arm at a left crank pivot;   k. a force unit providing resistance to the main wheel;   l. an elliptical movement mechanism comprising:
 i. a right first link connected to the right first pivot, and a left first link connected to the left first pivot, wherein the right first pivot is located on the right second link behind the right second pivot and wherein the left first pivot is located on the left second link behind the left second pivot, a forward end of the right first link connecting to the right crank pivot, and a forward end of the left first link; wherein the right first pedal is mounted not to slide along a length of the right second link, and wherein the left first pedal is mounted not to slide along a length of the left second link; 
 ii. a left roller mounted on a left crank step and a right roller mounted on a right crank step, wherein the right second link has a right contact surface and the left second link as a left contact surface, wherein the right contact surface is adapted to engage the right roller, and wherein the left contact surface is adapted to engage the left roller; 
 iii. wherein a rear end of the right second link and a rear end of the left second link have substantially elliptical motion while the left first pedal and the right first pedal have substantially elliptical motion. 
   
     
     
         5 . The elliptical walking exercise machine of  claim 4 , further comprising: a belt connected between the force unit and the main wheel for transmitting force between the force unit and the main wheel, wherein the surface of the main wheel forms a pulley for engaging with the belt. 
     
     
         6 . The elliptical walking exercise machine of  claim 4 , further comprising: a chain connected between the force unit and the main wheel for transmitting force between the force unit and the main wheel, wherein the surface of the main wheel forms a pulley for engaging with the chain.