Adaptive exercise device with variable components of motion

Abstract

An adaptive exercise device is configured and operable to mechanically decouple the vertical and horizontal components of a user's foot and leg motion so as to allow the user to independently control the magnitude of both components of motion during the use of the device. The device includes a primary guide assembly which provides for foot motion along a path of travel having equal and opposite, selectably variable, horizontal components of motion and a secondary guide assembly which includes a crankless reciprocating control system which provides for foot motion along respective second paths of travel having equal and opposite, selectably variable, vertical components of motion.

1 . An adaptive exercise device comprising:
 a frame configured to be supported on a floor;   a first and second foot link, each foot link each being configured to receive a user's foot;   a primary guide assembly which engages said foot links and which is configured and operable to direct said foot links along respective first paths of travel having equal and opposite, selectably variable, horizontal components of motion;   a secondary guide assembly which includes a crankless reciprocating control system which is in mechanical communication with said foot links and is operable to reciprocate said foot links along respective paths of travel having equal and opposite, selectably variable, vertical components of motion;   wherein the magnitude of the motion of said foot pads along said first paths of travel is mechanically independent of the magnitude of the motion of said foot pads along said second paths of travel.   
     
     
         2 . The adaptive exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein said secondary guide assembly further includes a first and a second secondary track pivotally supported at a pivot point defined upon said frame, and said reciprocating control system is operative to reciprocate said first and second secondary tracks about said pivot point, along respective paths of travel having equal and opposite vertical components of motion, and wherein said foot links each engage a respective one of said first and second secondary tracks so as to be displaceable along the length thereof, so that when said reciprocating control system reciprocates said secondary tracks along their respective paths of travel having said vertical component of motion, said vertical component of motion is communicated to a respective foot link so as to reciprocate said foot pad portion along said second path of travel having said vertical component of motion. 
     
     
         3 . The adaptive exercise device of  claim 2 , wherein said secondary tracks include an at least partially curved surface which engages a respective foot link. 
     
     
         4 . The adaptive exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein said reciprocating control system includes at least a member selected from the group consisting of: pulleys, springs, cables, rollers, rocker arms, fluidic devices, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The adaptive exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein said reciprocating control system includes at least two interconnected fluidic devices. 
     
     
         6 . The adaptive exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein said primary guide assembly includes a first and a second swing arm which are pivotally supported by said frame, each swing arm being engaged in mechanical communication with a respective one of said foot links, wherein said swing arms at least partially support their respective foot links as they move along said first path of travel. 
     
     
         7 . The adaptive exercise device of  claim 6 , wherein each of said swing arms is mechanically coupled to its respective foot link via a connecting link. 
     
     
         8 . The exercise device of  claim 6 , wherein said primary guide assembly further includes at least one primary track which is configured and operative to engage and direct said first and second foot links along said first path of travel. 
     
     
         9 . The adaptive exercise device of  claim 1 , further including a resistance device in mechanical communication with the primary guide assembly and/or the secondary guide assembly. 
     
     
         10 . The adaptive exercise device of  claim 9 , wherein said resistance device comprises one or more of: a fan device, a frictional brake device, a fluidic device, a magnetic device, a pendulum, a flywheel, and a resilient member. 
     
     
         11 . The adaptive exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein said primary guide assembly includes a first and a second swing arm which are pivotally supported by said frame, each swing arm being engaged in mechanical communication with a respective one of said foot links, wherein said swing arms at least partially support their respective foot links as they move along said first path of travel; and wherein said reciprocating control system includes an oscillating arm device which includes a first arm and a second arm coupled thereto, said arms being pivotally supported so as to be movable in equal and opposite directions, each arm being coupled to a respective one of said foot links so as to so as to reciprocate said foot pad portion thereof along said second path of travel having said vertical component of motion. 
     
     
         12 . The adaptive exercise device of  claim 11 , wherein the arms of said oscillating arm device are each coupled to a respective one of said foot links by a cable. 
     
     
         13 . An adaptive exercise device comprising:
 a frame configured to be supported on a floor;   a first and second foot link, each foot link having a foot pad portion configured to receive a user's foot;   a primary guide assembly which engages said foot links and which is configured and operable to direct the foot pad portions of said foot links along respective first paths of travel having equal and opposite, selectably variable, horizontal components of motion;   a secondary guide assembly which includes a reciprocating control system which is in mechanical communication with said foot links and is operative to direct the foot pad portions of said foot links along respective second paths of travel having equal and opposite, selectably variable, vertical components of motion;   wherein the motion of said foot pads along said first paths of travel is mechanically independent of the motion of said foot pads along said second paths of travel so that when the device is in use, the foot motion of a user can have a variable horizontal component of motion, a variable vertical component of motion, or a combination of both.