Elliptical exercise device

Abstract

An elliptical exercise device includes a frame supporting guide links which provide for a horizontal component of motion of associated foot support links. A mechanical coupling couples the foot support links to a crank system and intermediate links couple the crank system to the guide links such that a foot receiving area of each foot support link moves in a closed generally elliptical path when the crank system rotates.

1 . An elliptical exercise device comprising:
 a frame configured to be supported on a horizontal surface, the frame having a first pivot axis, a second pivot axis and a pivot location defined thereon;   a first and a second guide link each having a first and a second attachment point defined thereon, each guide link being pivotally attached, through its first attachment point, to the frame at the first pivot axis thereof;   a first and a second foot support link each configured to support a user's foot thereupon, each foot support link being pivotally connected to the second attachment point of a respective one of the guide links so that when the guide links reciprocate relative to the frame, they each cause their respective foot support link to move in a path of travel having a substantially horizontal component of motion;   a crank system pivotally attached to the frame at the second pivot axis thereof, the crank system being rotatable about the second pivot axis;   a first and a second mechanical coupling each including:
 a rocker anal pivotally interconnected with the frame at the pivot location, each rocker arm having a forward end and a rearward end; 
 a flexible foot support element extending upwardly from a respective one of the foot support links to the rearward end of the rocker arm; and 
 a forward flexible element coupling the forward end of the rocker arm to the crank system such that rotation of the crank system about the second pivot axis causes the rocker anal to pivot about the pivot location, thereby causing the foot support link to move upwardly and downwardly; 
 wherein the forward flexible element is longer than the flexible foot support element; and 
 wherein both the forward flexible element and the flexible foot support element extend generally vertically; 
   a first and a second intermediate link each having a first end coupled to the crank system and a second end coupled to a respective one of the guide links such that rotation of the crank system about the second pivot axis causes the respective first and second guide links to pivot about the first pivot axis such that the foot support links move in the path of travel having a substantially horizontal component of motion;   wherein the mechanical couplings and the intermediate links are coupled to the crank system such that the horizontal component of motion and the vertical component of motion are out of phase wherein when the horizontal component of motion of each foot support link is at its forwardmost or rearwardmost limit, the vertical component of motion of the same foot support link is approximately midway between its uppermost and lowermost limit;   whereby a foot receiving area of each foot support link moves in a generally elliptical path when the crank system rotates about the second pivot axis.   
     
     
         2 . An exercise device in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the frame having a forward portion forward of the first pivot axis and a rearward portion rearward of the first pivot axis;   the pivot location disposed rearward of the first pivot axis on the rearward portion of the frame;   a first and a second forward pulley supported on the forward portion of the frame and forward of the second pivot axis;   each of the forward flexible elements having a first end interconnected to the crank system and a second end interconnected to a respective one of the rocker arms, each forward flexible element extending over a respective one of the forward pulleys; and   the first end of each forward flexible element extending rearwardly from the respective forward pulley to the crank system.   
     
     
         3 . An exercise device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the forward flexible elements are indirectly coupled to the crank system by being coupled to a respective one of the intermediate links. 
     
     
         4 . An exercise device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate links are indirectly coupled to the crank system. 
     
     
         5 . An elliptical exercise device comprising:
 a frame configured to be supported on a horizontal surface, the frame having a first pivot axis and a second pivot axis defined thereon;   a first and a second guide link each having a first and a second attachment point defined thereon, each guide link being pivotally attached, through its first attachment point, to the frame at the first pivot axis thereof;   a first and a second foot support link each configured to support a user's foot thereupon, each foot support link being pivotally connected to the second attachment point of a respective one of the guide links so that when the guide links reciprocate relative to the frame, they each cause their respective foot support link to move in a path of travel having a substantially horizontal component of motion;   a crank system pivotally attached to the frame at the second pivot axis thereof, the crank system being rotatable about the second pivot axis;   a first and second vertical control guide disposed on the frame rearwardly of the first and second pivot axes and above the second pivot axis;   a first and a second flexible element each coupling a respective one of the foot support links to the crank system such that rotation of the crank system about the second pivot axis moves the foot support links in a path of travel having a substantially vertical component of motion, each flexible element including a foot support portion extending upwardly from a respective one of the foot support links to the respective vertical control guide and extending generally vertically when the foot support links are at middle position;   a first and a second intermediate link each having a first end coupled to the crank system and a second end coupled to a respective one of the guide links such that rotation of the crank system about the second pivot axis causes the respective first and second guide links to pivot about the first pivot axis such that the foot support links move in the path of travel having a substantially horizontal component of motion;   a retraction mechanism for changing the effective length of the flexible elements such that the position of each foot support link relative to the corresponding guide link is altered, thereby altering a motion profile of each foot receiving area, the retraction mechanism having a first and second intermediate pulley and a first and second arm, each arm pivotally connected to the frame and connected to the respective intermediate pulley, each intermediate pulley engaging one of the flexible elements and moveable by the respective aim so as to change the effective length of the mechanical coupling;   wherein the mechanical couplings and the intermediate links are coupled to the crank system such that the horizontal component of motion and the vertical component of motion are out of phase wherein when the horizontal component of motion of each foot support link is at its forwardmost or rearwardmost limit, the vertical component of motion of the same foot support link is approximately midway between its uppermost and lowermost limit;   whereby a foot receiving area of each foot support link moves in a generally elliptical path when the crank system rotates about the second pivot axis.   
     
     
         6 . An exercise device in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein each vertical control guide is a pulley rotationally mounted on the frame. 
     
     
         7 . An exercise device in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein each flexible element has a first end interconnected to the crank system, a second end interconnected to a respective one of the foot support links, and a midportion extending over one of the vertical control guides on the frame. 
     
     
         8 . An exercise device in accordance with  claim 7 , further comprising:
 the frame having a forward portion forward of the first pivot axis and a rearward portion rearward of the first pivot axis.   a first and a second upper pulley supported on the forward portion of the frame and above the second pivot axis;   the midportion of each of the flexible elements further extending over a respective one of the upper pulleys;   the first end of each flexible element extending downwardly from the respective upper pulley to the crank system; and   the intermediate links extend generally vertically upwardly from the crank system.   
     
     
         9 . An exercise device in accordance with  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a first and second forward pulley supported on the forward portion of the frame and forward of the second pivot axis;   the midportion of each of the flexible elements further extending over a respective one of the forward pulleys; and   the first end of each flexible element extending rearwardly from the respective forward pulley to the crank system.   
     
     
         10 . An exercise device in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein:
 the crank system includes four attachment points disposed approximately 90 degrees apart; and   the first ends of the mechanical couplings being coupled to two of the attachment points and the intermediate links being coupled to the other two of the attachment points.   
     
     
         11 . An exercise device in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein the intermediate links extend generally rearwardly from the crank system. 
     
     
         12 . An exercise device in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein the first end of each of the flexible elements is interconnected to the crank system by being connected to one of the intermediate links. 
     
     
         13 . An exercise device in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein:
 the crank system includes a first crank arm and a second crank arm;   the first end of each of the flexible elements is directly connected to one of the crank arms; and   the first end of each intermediate link is connected to the same crank arm as the corresponding flexible element.   
     
     
         14 . An exercise device in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein:
 each of the guide links has a connecting portion extending forwardly to a third attachment point;   the second end of each of the intermediate links being connected to the third attachment point of a respective one of the guide links; and   the intermediate links extend generally vertically.   
     
     
         15 . An exercise device in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein the intermediate links are indirectly coupled to the crank system. 
     
     
         16 . An exercise device in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein:
 the foot support links are generally horizontal, the connection between each foot support link and a respective one of the guide links being at a forward end of the foot support link, the foot receiving area being defined at a rearward end of each foot support link, and the foot support potion of each mechanical coupling being connected to a mid portion of a respective one of the foot support links.   
     
     
         17 . An exercise device in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein:
 the guide links have a working length defined between the first attachment point and the second attachment point; and   the intermediate links have a length that is at least 80% of the guide link working length.   
     
     
         18 . An exercise device in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein:
 the substantially horizontal component of motion of each foot support link has a higher acceleration when the foot support link is moving through its forward end of travel than when the foot support link is moving through its rearward end of travel.   
     
     
         19 . An exercise device in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein:
 the vertical height of the vertical component of motion is adjustable; and   the connection between each flexible element and the crank system is adjustable with respect to the second pivot axis so as to change the vertical height of the vertical component of motion.   
     
     
         20 . An exercise device in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein:
 the horizontal length of the horizontal component of motion is adjustable; and   each of the guide links has a third attachment point defined thereon;   the second end of each of the intermediate links being connected to the third attachment point of a respective one of the guide links; and   the third attachment points being adjustable so as to change the horizontal length of the horizontal component of motion.