Selective Angular Positioning of the Crank of an Elliptical

Abstract

An exercise machine includes a frame pivotally connected to a stationary horizontal base. A first foot pedal and a second foot pedal are attached to the frame and arranged to travel along reciprocating paths. The exercise machine also includes a resistance mechanism connected to the frame and arranged to resist movement of the first foot pedal and the second foot pedal along the reciprocating paths. An angling mechanism is arranged to selectively angle the frame by pivoting the frame with respect to the stationary horizontal base.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An exercise machine, comprising:
 a stationary horizontal base;   a frame pivotally connected to the stationary horizontal base;   a first foot pedal and a second foot pedal are movably attached to the frame and arranged to travel along reciprocating paths;   a resistance mechanism connected to the frame and arranged to resist movement of the first foot pedal and the second foot pedal along the reciprocating paths;   an angling mechanism arranged to selectively change an incline angle formed between the frame and the stationary horizontal base by pivoting the frame with respect to the stationary horizontal base; and   the angling mechanism being in communication with an electronic control module arranged to change the incline angle based on user input.   
     
     
         2 . The exercise machine of  claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises a first post pivotally connected to a first side of the stationary horizontal base at a first frame pivot connection and a second post pivotally connected to a second side of the stationary horizontal base at a second frame pivot connection. 
     
     
         3 . The exercise machine of  claim 2 , wherein the first post is connected to the first foot pedal through a first flywheel and the second post is connected to the second foot pedal through a second flywheel. 
     
     
         4 . The exercise machine of  claim 3 , wherein the first flywheel is positioned proximate the first frame pivot connection along the first post and the second flywheel is positioned proximate the second frame pivot connection along the second post. 
     
     
         5 . The exercise machine of  claim 4 , wherein the first flywheel and the second flywheel are arranged to move with the frame as the frame is pivoted with respect to the stationary horizontal base. 
     
     
         6 . The exercise machine of  claim 1 , wherein the first foot pedal is mechanically linked to a first arm support and the second foot pedal is mechanically linked to a second arm support wherein the first arm support and the second arm support move in a reciprocating motion as the first foot pedal and the second foot pedal travel along the reciprocating paths wherein the first arm support and the second arm support are pivotally connected to the frame. 
     
     
         7 . The exercise machine of  claim 6 , wherein the first arm support and the second arm support are arranged to move with the frame as the frame is pivoted with respect to the stationary horizontal base. 
     
     
         8 . The exercise machine of  claim 6 , wherein the first foot pedal is movable along a first track connected to the first arm support and the second foot pedal is movable along a second track connected to the second arm support. 
     
     
         9 . The exercise machine of  claim 8 , wherein the first track and the second track are arranged to move with the frame as the frame is pivoted with respect to the stationary horizontal base. 
     
     
         10 . The exercise machine of  claim 1 , wherein the first foot pedal and the second foot pedal are connected through a crank arm. 
     
     
         11 . The exercise machine of  claim 10 , wherein the crank arm is arranged to move with the frame as the frame is pivoted with respect to the stationary horizontal base. 
     
     
         12 . The exercise machine of  claim 1 , wherein the angling mechanism has a limited range about which the angling mechanism is capable of pivoting the frame. 
     
     
         13 . The exercise machine of  claim 1 , wherein the angling mechanism is an actuator positioned to push the frame relative to the stationary horizontal base. 
     
     
         14 . The exercise machine of  claim 1 , further comprising a flywheel that is arranged to move with respect to the stationary horizontal base as the frame moves with respect to the stationary horizontal base. 
     
     
         15 . An exercise machine, comprising:
 a frame pivotally connected to a stationary horizontal base;   a first foot pedal and a second foot pedal are movably attached to the frame and arranged to travel along reciprocating paths;   the first foot pedal is mechanically linked to a first arm support and the second foot pedal is mechanically linked to a second arm support wherein the first arm support and the second arm support move in a reciprocating motion as the first foot pedal and the second foot pedal travel along the reciprocating paths wherein the first arm support and the second arm support are pivotally connected to the frame;   a resistance mechanism connected to the frame and arranged to resist movement of the first foot pedal and the second foot pedal along the reciprocating paths;   an angling mechanism arranged to selectively change an incline angle formed between the frame and the stationary horizontal base by pivoting the frame with respect to the stationary horizontal base;   the first arm support and the second arm support are arranged to move with the frame as the frame is pivoted with respect to the stationary horizontal base;   the resistance mechanism comprising a flywheel mechanically linked to at least one of the first foot pedal and the second foot pedal and arranged to move with respect to the stationary horizontal base as the frame moves with respect to the stationary horizontal base; and   the angling mechanism being in communication with an electronic control module arranged to change the incline angle based on user input.   
     
     
         16 . The exercise machine of  claim 15 , wherein a control module is secured to the frame and includes an incline controller causes adjustments to an angle formed between the stationary horizontal base and the frame based on user input. 
     
     
         17 . The exercise machine of  claim 15 , wherein the first foot pedal and the second foot pedal are connected through a crank arm and the crank arm is arranged to move with the frame as the frame is pivoted with respect to the stationary horizontal base. 
     
     
         18 . The exercise machine of  claim 15 , wherein the first foot pedal is movable along a first track connected to the first arm support and the second foot pedal is movable along a second track connected to the second arm support and the first track and the second track are arranged to move with the frame as the frame is pivoted with respect to the stationary horizontal base. 
     
     
         19 . The exercise machine of  claim 15 , wherein the angling mechanism is positioned to push the frame relative to the stationary horizontal base. 
     
     
         20 . An exercise machine, comprising:
 a frame connected to a stationary horizontal base;   the frame comprises a first post pivotally connected to a first side of the stationary horizontal base at a first frame pivot connection and a second post pivotally connected to a second side of the stationary horizontal base at a second frame pivot connection;   a first foot pedal and a second foot pedal are movably attached to the frame and arranged to travel along reciprocating paths;   the first post is connected to the first foot pedal through a first flywheel and the second post is connected to the second foot pedal through a second flywheel;   the first flywheel is positioned proximate the first frame pivot connection along the first post and the second flywheel is positioned proximate the second frame pivot connection along the second post;   the first foot pedal is mechanically linked to a first arm support and the second foot pedal is mechanically linked to a second arm support wherein the first arm support and the second arm support move in a reciprocating motion as the first foot pedal and the second foot pedal travel along the reciprocating paths wherein the first arm support and the second arm support are pivotally connected to the frame;   the first foot pedal and the second foot pedal are connected through a crank arm;   the first foot pedal is movable along a first track connected to the first arm support and the second foot pedal is movable along a second track connected to the second arm support;   an angling mechanism arranged to selectively angle the frame by pivoting the frame with respect to the stationary horizontal base; and   the first flywheel, the second flywheel, the first arm support, the second arm support, the crank arm, the first track, and the second track are arranged to collectively move with the frame as the frame is pivoted with respect to the stationary horizontal base.