Exercise apparatus with a vibration system

Abstract

One exercise apparatus with a vibration system comprises a platform, a first pulley, a second pulley, and a continous conveyor belt. Another exercise apparatus with a vibration system comprises a base, a center portion, and a first and second platform attached to a respective platform arm. A drive pulley system is configured to drive each platform in a reciprocating vertical path. Another exercise apparatus with a vibration system comprises a base and a fly-wheel. A first and second linkage arm are each rotably connected to the flywheel and a respective slide arm. A first and second user arm are rotably connected to a neck shaft and respective slide arm so that the slide arms and linkage arms travel in reciprocating arcuate paths. A vibration generator is mounted to each apparatus and configured to transmit vibrations to the respective exercise surface.

1 . An exercise apparatus with a vibration system, comprising:
 a platform with a front end and a rear end;   a first pulley mounted inside the platform adjacent to the front end;   a second pulley mounted inside the platform adjacent to the rear end;   a continuous conveyor belt looped around the first and the second pulley; and   a vibration generator mounted to the platform.   
     
     
         3 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . An exercise apparatus with a vibration system, comprising:
 a horizontal base with a front end and a rear end;   a center portion mounted to the base with a left side, a right side, and a top, wherein the center portion extends vertically from the horizontal base to the top;   a first platform arm disposed on the left side and mounted to the center portion;   a first platform mounted to the first platform arm;   a second platform arm disposed on the right side and mounted to the center portion;   a second platform mounted to the second platform arm;   a drive pulley system mounted to the center portion, wherein the drive pulley system is adapted to drive each of the first and second platforms in a reciprocating vertical path between the horizontal base and the top of the center portion, the drive pulley system comprising:
 a drive shaft disposed adjacent to the top; 
 a drive pulley rotably connected to the drive shaft; 
 a first resistance belt disposed on the left side of the center portion adjacent to the horizontal base; 
 a second resistance belt disposed on the right side of the center portion adjacent to the horizontal base; 
 a guide pulley mechanically connected to each of the first and second resistance belts; 
 a speed input shaft disposed adjacent to the front end; 
 a speed pulley rotably connected to the speed input shaft; 
 a first platform belt mechanically connected to the first platform arm, the drive pulley, and the first resistance belt; 
 a second platform belt mechanically connected to the second platform arm, the drive pulley, and the second resistance belt; 
 a continuous conveyor belt looped around the drive pulley and the speed pulley; and 
   a vibration generator mounted to the base.   
     
     
         24 - 50 . (canceled) 
     
     
         51 . An exercise apparatus with a vibration system, comprising:
 a horizontal base with a front end and a rear end;   a neck with a top, wherein the neck is mounted to the horizontal base adjacent to the front end, and wherein the neck extends vertically from the horizontal base to the top;   a neck shaft mounted to the neck adjacent the top of the neck, wherein the neck shaft has a slide axis defined thereupon;   a flywheel mounted to the horizontal base adjacent to the rear end, wherein the flywheel has a common axis defined thereupon, a left side and a right side;   a first linkage arm comprising a first drive end disposed adjacent to the common axis and a first slide end, wherein the first linkage arm is disposed on the right side of the flywheel and is rotably connected to the flywheel at the first drive end, and wherein the first slide end travels in a reciprocating arcuate path about the common axis;   a first slide arm comprising a first platform, a first forward end adjacent to the first slide end, and a first aft end, wherein the first slide arm is rotably connected to the first linkage arm at the first slide end;   a first user arm comprising a first user end adjacent to the first aft end, and a first neck end, wherein the first user arm is rotably connected to the first slide arm at the first neck end, wherein the first user arm is rotably connected to the neck shaft at the first neck end, and wherein the first user end travels in a reciprocating arcuate path about the slide axis;   a second linkage arm comprising a second drive end disposed adjacent to the common axis and a second slide end, wherein the second linkage arm is disposed on the left side of the flywheel and is rotably connected to the flywheel at the second drive end, and wherein the second slide end travels in a reciprocating arcuate path about the common axis;   a second slide arm comprising a second platform, a second forward end adjacent to the second slide end, and a second aft end, wherein the second slide arm is rotably connected to the second linkage arm at the second slide end;   a second user arm comprising a second user end adjacent to the second aft end, and a second neck end, wherein the second user arm is rotably connected to the second slide arm at the second neck end, wherein the second user arm is rotably connected to the neck shaft at the second neck end, and wherein the second user end travels in a reciprocating arcuate path about the slide axis;   a vibration generator mounted to the horizontal base.   
     
     
         52 - 96 . (canceled) 
     
     
         97 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the vibration generator comprises:
 a motor;   a drive shaft mechanically connected to the motor;   a crank with a first end and a second end, wherein the crank is mechanically connected to the motor, and wherein the first end of the crank is rigidly connected to the drive shaft;   an actuating rod with a longitudinal axis, wherein the actuating rod is movable along its longitudinal axis, and wherein the second end of the crank is hingedly connected to the actuating rod;   wherein the motor causes the drive shaft and the crank to rotate; and   wherein when the crank rotates, the second end of the actuating rod moves in a reciprocating linear path;   
       wherein the vibration generator is configured to transmit vibrations to the continuous conveyor belt to form a vibrating exercise surface. 
     
     
         98 . The apparatus according to  claim 97 , further comprising a user interface operatively connected to the vibration generator, wherein the user interface is configured to allow a user to control vibrations transmitted to the continuous conveyor belt. 
     
     
         99 . The apparatus according to  claim 98 , further comprising an upright portion mechanically connected to the continuous conveyor belt, the upright portion comprising a neck mechanically connected to a plurality of handlebars, wherein the user interface is disposed on the upright portion. 
     
     
         100 . The apparatus according to  claim 97 , wherein the vibration generator is directly or indirectly mounted to the continuous conveyor belt. 
     
     
         101 . The apparatus according to  claim 97 , wherein the vibration generator is integral with the front pulley, rear pulley, or continuous conveyor belt. 
     
     
         102 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the vibration generator comprises:
 a motor;   a drive shaft mechanically connected thereto;   an asymmetric flywheel with asymmetric mass distribution, wherein the motor rotates the drive shaft causing the asymmetric flywheel to rotate and impart rapidly oscillating forces resulting from the asymmetric mass distribution;   
       wherein the vibration generator is configured to transmit rapidly oscillating forces to the continuous conveyor belt. 
     
     
         103 . The apparatus according to  claim 102 , wherein the vibration generator is mounted to the front pulley or the rear pulley. 
     
     
         104 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the vibration generator comprises:
 a motor;   a drive shaft mechanically connected to the motor;   a crank with a first end and a second end, wherein the crank is mechanically connected to the motor, and wherein the first end of the crank is rigidly connected to the drive shaft;   an actuating rod with a longitudinal axis, wherein the actuating rod is movable along its longitudinal axis, and wherein the second end of the crank is hingedly connected to the actuating rod;   wherein the motor causes the drive shaft and the crank to rotate; and   wherein when the crank rotates, the second end of the actuating rod moves in a reciprocating linear path;   
       wherein the vibration generator is configured to transmit vibrations to the exercise apparatus. 
     
     
         105 . The apparatus according to  claim 104 , further comprising a user interface operatively connected to the vibration generator, wherein the user interface is adapted to allow a user to control vibrations transmitted to the exercise apparatus. 
     
     
         106 . The apparatus according to  claim 105 , further comprising a plurality of upright handrails mechanically connected to the base, the plurality of upright handrails comprising at least one support beam mechanically connected to the plurality of handrails, wherein the user interface is disposed on the plurality of upright handrails. 
     
     
         107 . The apparatus according to  claim 106 , wherein the vibration generator is configured to transmit vibrations to the plurality of handrails. 
     
     
         108 . The apparatus according to  claim 104 , wherein the vibration generator is directly or indirectly mounted to the first or second platform. 
     
     
         109 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the vibration generator comprises:
 a motor;   a drive shaft mechanically connected thereto;   an asymmetric flywheel with asymmetric mass distribution, wherein the motor rotates the drive shaft causing the asymmetric flywheel to rotate and impart rapidly oscillating forces resulting from the asymmetric mass distribution;   
       wherein the vibration generator is configured to transmit rapidly oscillating forces to the exercise apparatus. 
     
     
         110 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 51 , wherein the vibration generator comprises:
 a motor;   a drive shaft mechanically connected to the motor;   a crank with a first end and a second end, wherein the crank is mechanically connected to the motor, and wherein the first end of the crank is rigidly connected to the drive shaft;   an actuating rod with a longitudinal axis, wherein the actuating rod is movable along its longitudinal axis, and wherein the second end of the crank is hingedly connected to the actuating rod;   wherein the motor causes the drive shaft and the crank to rotate; and   wherein when the crank rotates, the second end of the actuating rod moves in a reciprocating linear path;   
       wherein the vibration generator is configured to transmit vibrations to the exercise apparatus. 
     
     
         111 . The apparatus according to  claim 110 , further comprising a user interface operatively connected to the vibration generator, wherein the user interface is adapted to allow a user to control vibrations transmitted to the exercise apparatus. 
     
     
         112 . The apparatus according to  claim 110 , wherein the vibration generator is directly or indirectly mounted to the first or second platform. 
     
     
         113 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 51 , wherein the vibration generator comprises:
 a motor;   a drive shaft mechanically connected thereto;   an asymmetric flywheel with asymmetric mass distribution, wherein the motor rotates the drive shaft causing the asymmetric flywheel to rotate and impart rapidly oscillating forces resulting from the asymmetric mass distribution;   
       wherein the vibration generator is configured to transmit rapidly oscillating forces to the exercise apparatus.