Cross trainer exercise apparatus

Abstract

Apparatus and method for simulating a back and forth leg or foot movement, the apparatus comprising: a pair of pivotable support mechanisms supported on a frame, a pair of foot pedals mounted on the support mechanisms for back and forth movement along an arcuate path of translation movement, the foot pedals being adjustable to a selected segment of an overall arcuate path of translation movement. The apparatus includes handles or arms interconnected or interlinked to the foot pedals for upper body pushing or pulling energy input. The handles or arms pivot together with and in the same back or forth direction as the pedals to which they are interlinked.

1 .- 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . Exercise apparatus for performing a back to front, front to back foot motion exercise by a subject, the apparatus comprising:
 a frame having a front region, a back region and an upper support linkage;   a front linkage having a top end pivotally mounted to and supported on the upper support linkage of the frame for pivotal front to back, back to front movement of the front linkage;   a handle linkage pivotally mounted for front to back and back to front pivoting movement;   an arm linkage pivotally interconnecting the front linkage and the handle linkage;   a foot support pivotally mounted to and supported on a lower end of the front linkage at a pivot point, the foot support being disposed rearwardly of the front linkage; and   the front linkage, the handle linkage, the arm linkage and the foot support all being simultaneously movable together by the pivotal mountings and interconnections.   
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 27  wherein the foot support is supported rearwardly on the frame such that the foot support is oriented in an orientation that enables the subject to stand on the foot support during back to front and front to back movement of the foot support. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 28  wherein the foot support is supported on the frame such that the foot support travels back to front and front to back in an arcuate path of travel. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 27  wherein the foot support is supported on frame such that the foot support travels back to front and front to back in an arcuate path of travel around a point of rotation. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 27  wherein the foot support travels back to front and front to back in a path that is not elliptical. 
     
     
         32 . Exercise apparatus for performing a back to front, front to back foot motion exercise by a subject, the apparatus comprising:
 a frame having a front region, a back region and an upper support linkage;   a front linkage having a top end pivotally mounted to and supported on the upper support linkage of the frame for pivotal front to back, back to front movement of the front linkage;   a handle linkage pivotally mounted for front to back and back to front pivoting movement;   an arm linkage pivotally interconnecting the front linkage and the handle linkage;   a foot support pivotally mounted to and supported on a lower end of the front linkage at a pivot point, the foot support being disposed rearwardly of the front linkage;   the foot support being supported in a rearward location; and   the foot support being supported on the frame such that the foot support is disposed in an orientation that enables the subject to stand on the foot support during back to front and front to back movement of the foot support.   
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 32  wherein the front linkage, the handle linkage, the arm linkage and the foot support are simultaneously movable together via the pivotal mountings and interconnections. 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 32  wherein the foot support is supported on the frame such that the foot support travels back to front and front to back in an arcuate path of travel. 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 34  wherein the foot support is supported on frame such that the foot support travels back to front and front to back in an arcuate path of travel around a point of rotation. 
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 32  wherein the foot support travels back to front and front to back in a path that is not elliptical. 
     
     
         37 . Exercise apparatus for performing a back to front, front to back foot motion exercise by a subject, the apparatus comprising:
 a frame having a front region, a back region and an upper support linkage;   a front linkage having a top end pivotally mounted to and supported on the upper support linkage of the frame for pivotal front to back, back to front movement of the front linkage;   a handle linkage pivotally mounted for front to back and back to front pivoting movement;   an arm linkage pivotally interconnecting the front linkage and the handle linkage;   a foot support pivotally mounted to and supported on a lower end of the front linkage at a pivot point, the foot support being disposed rearwardly of the front linkage;   the foot support being supported in a rearward location; and   the foot support being supported such that the foot support travels in an arcuate path of travel during back to front and front to back movement of the foot support.   
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 37  wherein the foot support is supported such that the foot support travels in an arcuate path of travel around a point of rotation. 
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 37  wherein the foot support travels back to front and front to back in a path that is not elliptical. 
     
     
         40 . Method for performing an exercise for back to front, front to back foot movement on an exercise machine comprising a frame having a front region and a rear region, the method comprising:
 pivotally supporting a pair of left and right front linkages on corresponding left and right upper linkages of the frame;   pivotally mounting left and right foot pedals to a lower end of a corresponding left and right front linkage;   pivotally mounting left and right handles to the frame;   pivotally connecting the left and right handles to corresponding ones of the left and right front linkages;   supporting the left and right foot supports in a rearward location on the frame;   wherein the foot pedals are mounted and supported for back to front and front to back movement along an arcuate path of travel   positioning the left and right soles of the feet of a subject on corresponding ones of the left and right foot pedals;   holding the left and right handles with a corresponding left and right hand of the subject; and   driving the feet of the subject back to front and front to back with sufficient energy to move a respective one of the left or right foot supports back to front and front to back along the arcuate path of travel.   
     
     
         41 . Method for performing an exercise for back to front, front to back foot movement on an exercise machine comprising a frame having a front region and a rear region, the method comprising:
 pivotally supporting a pair of left and right front linkages on corresponding left and right upper linkages of the frame;   pivotally mounting left and right foot pedals to a lower end of a corresponding left and right front linkage;   pivotally mounting left and right handles to the frame;   pivotally connecting the left and right handles to corresponding ones of the left and right front linkages;   supporting the left and right foot supports in a rearward location on the frame;   wherein the foot pedals are mounted and supported for back to front and front to back movement along an arcuate path of travel   positioning the left and right soles of the feet of a subject on corresponding ones of the left and right foot pedals;   holding the left and right handles with a corresponding left and right hand of the subject; and   driving the hands of the subject back to front and front to back with sufficient energy to move a respective one of the left or right foot supports back to front and front to back.