Lateral elliptical exercise machine

Abstract

The present invention is an exercise machine providing elliptical strides in substantially lateral directions. The elliptical motion of the pedals is basically a combination of a looped motion of a loop motion means and a reciprocating motion set by a motion guide means following a predefined path. The loop motion means connects the motion of a left pedal to the motion of a right pedal so that the movement of both pedals is dependent. Substantially lateral motions of the left pedal and the right pedal follow lateral predefined paths set by a left motion guide means and a right motion guide means. The motion guide means can be a simple reciprocating arm that rotates about a pivot point on a base frame and its distal end guiding the motion of the pedal; a track that is either fixed on or moving in reference to the base frame; a linkage system, such as a four bar linkage system, pivotally fixed at two or more points on the base frame providing a point, on the linkage system, that moves in reference to the base frame and provides a specific predefined path; or a combination of any two or all of above creating a mechanism that produces a desired path for a point in the motion guide means.

1 . A lateral elliptical exercise machine comprising:
 a. a base frame for supporting the lateral elliptical exercise machine on a floor,   b. a loop motion means comprising a crank with its pivot rotatably fixed at a location on the base frame and providing a closed looped motion at a left connecting joint and at a right connecting joint, and   c. a left motion guide means providing a substantially lateral motion with its motion path angled between 45 and 135 degree angle from the mid-plane of the machine, a right motion guide means providing a substantially lateral motion with its motion path angled between 45 and 135 degree angle from the mid-plane of the machine, wherein the left motion guide means and the right motion guide are structurally supported by the base frame, and   d. a left arm pivotally joined to the loop motion means and to the left motion guide means and supporting a left pedal such that the left pedal moves in an elliptical motion substantially in lateral direction, a right arm pivotally joined to the loop motion means and to the right motion guide means and supporting a right pedal such that the right pedal moves in an elliptical motion substantially in lateral direction, wherein the left pedal and the right pedal are synchronized such that when the left pedal is urged to move, the right pedal also moves and left pedal and, the left and right motion guide means are positioned such that the left and right pedals generally move upward as they move toward the mid-plane of the machine.   
     
     
         2 . The lateral elliptical exercise machine of  claim 1  wherein the left motion guide means and the right motion guide means structurally supported by the base frame are a pair of reciprocating arms mechanically connecting the base frame and the left and right arms. 
     
     
         3 . The lateral elliptical exercise machine of  claim 1  wherein the left motion guide means and the right motion guide means structurally supported by the base frame are a pair of tracks on which the left and right arms slides. 
     
     
         4 . The lateral elliptical exercise machine of  claim 1  wherein the loop motion means is a simple crank arm with a left crank arm pivotally connected to the left arm and a right crank arm pivotally connected to the right arm. 
     
     
         5 . The lateral elliptical exercise machine of  claim 1  wherein the loop motion means is an elliptical system comprising a crank and links to provide elliptical looped motion at the joining points for the left arm and the right arm. 
     
     
         6 . A lateral elliptical exercise machine comprising:
 a. a base frame for supporting the lateral elliptical exercise machine on a floor,   b. a loop motion means comprising a crank, having a left crank arm and a right crank arm, with its pivot rotatably fixed at a location on the base frame and providing a closed looped motion at a joint on the left crank arm and at a joint on the right crank arm, and   c. a left motion guide means providing a substantially lateral motion with its motion path substantially orthogonal to the mid-plane of the machine, a right motion guide means providing a substantially lateral motion with its motion path substantially orthogonal to the mid-plane of the machine, wherein the left motion guide means and the right motion guide are structurally supported by the base frame, and   d. a left arm pivotally joined to the loop motion means and to the left motion guide means and supporting a left pedal such that the left pedal moves in an elliptical motion substantially in lateral direction, a right arm pivotally joined to the loop motion means and to the right motion guide means and supporting a right pedal such that the right pedal moves in an elliptical motion substantially in lateral direction, wherein the left pedal and the right pedal are synchronized such that when the left pedal is urged to move, the right pedal also moves and left pedal, and the left and right motion guide means are positioned such that the left and right pedals generally move upward as they move toward the mid-plane of the machine.   
     
     
         7 . The lateral elliptical exercise machine of  claim 6  wherein the left motion guide means and the right motion guide means structurally supported by the base frame are a pair of reciprocating arms mechanically connecting the base frame and the left and right arms. 
     
     
         8 . The lateral elliptical exercise machine of  claim 6  wherein the left motion guide means and the right motion guide means structurally supported by the base frame are a pair of tracks on which the left and right arms slides. 
     
     
         9 . A lateral elliptical exercise machine comprising:
 a. a base frame for supporting the lateral elliptical exercise machine on a floor,   b. a crank, having a left crank arm and a right crank arm, with its pivot rotatably fixed at a location on the base frame and providing a closed looped motion at a left joint on the left crank arm and at a right joint on the right crank arm, and   c. a left reciprocating arm providing a substantially lateral motion with its motion path substantially orthogonal to the mid-plane of the machine, a right reciprocating arm providing a substantially lateral motion with its motion path substantially orthogonal to the mid-plane of the machine, wherein the left reciprocating arm and the right reciprocating arm are structurally supported by the base frame, and   d. a left arm pivotally joined to the crank and to the left reciprocating arm at a left arm joint and supporting a left pedal such that the left pedal moves in an elliptical motion substantially in lateral direction, a right arm pivotally joined to the crank and to the right reciprocating arm at a right arm joint and supporting a right pedal such that the right pedal moves in an elliptical motion substantially in lateral direction, wherein the left pedal and the right pedal are synchronized such that when the left pedal is urged to move, the right pedal also moves, and the joints of left and right reciprocating arms to the base frame are positioned away from the mid-plane of the machine such that the left and right pedals generally move upward as they move toward the mid-plane.   
     
     
         10 . The lateral elliptical exercise machine of  claim 9  wherein at least one of the left joint and the left arm joint is a pivot with two degree of freedom and at least one of the right joint and the right arm joint is a pivot with two degree of freedom.