Exercise Apparatus With an Inertia System

Abstract

An oscillating inertia system for use in an exercise apparatus that provides instantaneously variable amplitude. In one example, an oscillating inertia system includes a rotational oscillator having inertial mass. The rotational oscillator is coupled to a limb engagement member through a coupling member. During operation, the oscillating inertia system is configured to rotate in one direction, come to a stop, rotate in the other direction, come to a stop, and so on repetitively. This oscillating rotation causes the limb engagement member of the exercise device to move through a range of motion where one extent of the range of motion is fixed and the other extent of the range of motion is variable in real time responsive to a user's exerted/applied force.

1 . An exercise apparatus comprising:
 an oscillating member configured to oscillate about an axis of rotation;   an engagement member configured to accept force exerted by a user and configured to move in a periodic motion path; and   a coupling member attached between the oscillating member and the engagement member, the coupling member configured to transfer force exerted by a user on the engagement member to the oscillating member,   wherein the oscillating member is configured to move about both directions of the axis of rotation in a single oscillation period during two cycles of the periodic motion path of the engagement member.   
     
     
         2 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the oscillation period of the oscillating member is configured to oscillate at a variable amplitude in response to force changes exerted by a user. 
     
     
         3 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising an inertia device mechanically coupled to the oscillating member, the inertia device configured to provide inertial force to the oscillating member. 
     
     
         4 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a brake device mechanically coupled to the oscillating member, the brake device configured to provide inertial force to the oscillating member. 
     
     
         5 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising at least one guide element configured to guide the coupling member along a path of motion. 
     
     
         6 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the at least one guide element is adjustable so as to change the path of motion of the coupling member in order to alter a resistance property of the exercise apparatus. 
     
     
         7 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the engagement member is configured to accept force exerted from the lower body of a user. 
     
     
         8 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the engagement member is configured to accept force exerted from the upper body of a user. 
     
     
         10 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the oscillating member includes a counterweight configured to create a torque to displace the oscillating member from a top dead center condition. 
     
     
         11 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the oscillating member is an cardoid shape. 
     
     
         12 . An exercise system comprising:
 an engagement member configured to receive force exerted by a user, the engagement member further configured to travel in a continuous periodic path; and   an oscillating inertial system including at least one inertial device configured to receive energy and to deliver energy during oscillation, said oscillating inertial system comprising a rotational oscillator configured to oscillate past an equilibrium point while maintaining the continuous periodic motion of the engagement member.   
     
     
         13 . The exercise system of  claim 12  wherein the continuous periodic path of the engagement member simulates a stair climbing motion. 
     
     
         14 . The exercise system of  claim 12  wherein the continuous periodic path of the engagement member corresponds to the motion of an elliptical exercise device. 
     
     
         15 . The exercise system of  claim 12  wherein the continuous periodic path of the engagement member corresponds to the motion of a recumbent exercise apparatus. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12  further comprising a second inertial system coupled to a second engagement member, wherein the second inertial system comprises a rotational oscillator configured to oscillate past an equilibrium point while maintaining a continuous periodic motion path of the second engagement member. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16  wherein the periodic motion path of the first and second engagement members are instantaneously variable in amplitude. 
     
     
         18 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 12  further comprising at least one spring coupled to said rotational oscillator, the at least one spring configured to provide supplemental inertial forces to the oscillating inertial system. 
     
     
         19 . An exercise apparatus comprising:
 a rotational oscillator configured to oscillate about an axis of rotation;   an engagement member configured to be displaced by force applied by a user;   a coupling member configured to couple the engagement member to the rotational oscillator and to transfer force therebetween, the coupling member having a first and a second surface configured to alternately contact the rotational oscillator during a period of rotation.   
     
     
         20 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the first and second surface alternately contact the rotational oscillator during a single periodic motion of the engagement member. 
     
     
         21 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the amplitude of oscillation is configured to be instantaneously variable. 
     
     
         22 . An exercise apparatus comprising:
 a limb engagement member configured to engage a limb of a user and to be displaced repetitively by a force applied by said user;   an oscillating inertial system comprising a rotational oscillator, said rotational oscillator having an axis of rotation, said rotational oscillator configured to rotate first in one direction of rotation about the axis of rotation and then in the opposing direction of rotation;   a coupling member coupling the limb engagement member to the oscillating inertial system,   wherein during operation the limb engagement travels through a range of motion between a first dwell point and a second dwell point of the rotational oscillator.   
     
     
         23 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 22  wherein the first and second dwell points are variable from one cycle of operation to the next cycle of operation. 
     
     
         24 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 22  further comprising at least one spring coupled to said rotational oscillator, the at least one spring configured to provide supplemental inertial forces to the oscillating inertial system.