Exercise apparatus

Abstract

An exercise device comprising: a frame having a generally vertical planar axis, first and second foot supports suspended on the frame by first and second linkage assemblies that are respectively arranged on the frame such that the first and second foot supports are pivotable through a front to back arcuate path of travel that is disposed at a selected angle between about five and about forty five degrees relative to the vertical planar axis.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An exercise device comprising:
 a frame having a generally vertical planar axis,   first and second foot supports suspended on the frame by first and second linkage assemblies that are respectively arranged on the frame such that the first and second foot supports are pivotable through a front to back arcuate path of travel that is disposed at a selected angle between about five and about forty five degrees relative to the vertical planar axis,   one or the other or both of the frame linkage assemblies being interconnected to an adjustment device that is selectively adjustable by a user to select one of a plurality of discrete segments of a master or overall path of arcuate travel for the foot supports,   wherein each one of the plurality of discrete segments are delimited by a unique forwardmost and a unique rearwardmost position contained within the master or overall path of arcuate travel.   
     
     
         2 . The exercise device of  claim 1  wherein the frame and linkage assemblies are arranged such that a front edge of a longitudinal axis of the foot supports when disposed in the rearwardmost position is spaced a rear lateral distance from the vertical planar axis that extends from four inches to three feet measured along a line between the front edge and the vertical planar axis that is normal to or intersects the vertical planar axis at ninety degrees and,
 the front edge of the longitudinal axis of the foot supports when disposed in the forwardmost position is spaced a forward lateral distance from the vertical planar axis that is at least three inches less than the rear lateral distance measured along a line between the front edge and the vertical planar axis that is normal to or intersects the vertical planar axis at ninety degrees. 
 
     
     
         3 . The exercise device according to  claim 1  wherein each of the plurality of discrete segments defines a complete, reproducible path of exercise travel or cycle where the foot supports travel either from the unique rearwardmost position to the unique forwardmost position and back to the unique rearwardmost position or from the unique forwardmost position to the unique rearwardmost and back to the unique forwardmost position. 
     
     
         4 . The exercise device according to  claim 1  further comprising a lateral adjustment device interconnected to the linkage assemblies that enables the user to selectively adjust the selected angle a selected degree. 
     
     
         5 . The exercise device according to  claim 1  wherein the foot supports or the linkage assemblies travel along a path within a generally vertical travel plane that is disposed at the selected angle relative to the vertical frame axis plane. 
     
     
         6 . The exercise device according to  claim 1  wherein the arcuate path is a circular path defined around a single point. 
     
     
         7 . The exercise device according to  claim 1  wherein the resistance assembly comprises a flywheel or pulley or crank. 
     
     
         8 . The exercise device according to s  claim 1  further comprising first and second manually graspable input arms each pivotably interconnected to a respective one of the first and second foot supports. 
     
     
         9 . The exercise device according to  claim 8  wherein the arms are interconnected to the foot supports in an arrangement wherein the first input arm pivots forwardly together with forward and upward movement of the first foot support, the first input arm pivots rearwardly together backward and downward movement of the first foot support, the second input arm pivots forwardly together with forward and upward movement of the second foot support and the second input arm pivots rearwardly together with backward and downward movement of the second foot support. 
     
     
         10 . The exercise device according to  claim 1  wherein the resistance assembly comprises a device that increases resistance exponentially relative to degree of increase in speed or velocity of movement of one or more of the foot pedals, the arms or a moving component of the resistance assembly. 
     
     
         11 . The exercise device according to  claim 1  further including a segment adjustment device interconnected to the resistance assembly in an arrangement that defines said arc segments such that each arc segment has a different degree of incline. 
     
     
         12 . The exercise device according to  claim 1  wherein the foot support comprises or is mounted on a linkage that comprises a linkage of the four bar linkage. 
     
     
         13 . The exercise device according to  claim 1  wherein the adjustment device is manually actuatable by the user to enable the user to manually move the adjustment to any selectable one of a plurality of different fixed mechanical positions that fix or limit travel of the foot support via interconnection to the arc segment selection device to a corresponding one of the plurality of different arc segments, the user selecting one of the plurality of different arc segments by exerting a selected amount or degree of manual force on the adjustment device that corresponds to a selected one of the plurality of different fixed mechanical positions. 
     
     
         14 . A method of performing an exercise comprising disposing a left and right foot of a user in the first and second foot supports of the exercise device according to  claim 1  and moving the user's feet back and forth while disposed in the first and second foot supports. 
     
     
         15 . An exercise device comprising:
 a frame having a generally vertical planar axis,   first and second foot supports suspended on the frame and pivotally mounted on a distal end of first and second linkage assemblies pivotally mounted on the frame, the frame and the linkage assemblies being adapted such that the first and second foot supports are pivotable through a front to back arcuate path of travel,   one or the other or both of the frame linkage assemblies being interconnected to an adjustment device that is selectively adjustable by a user to select one of a plurality of discrete segments of a master or overall path of arcuate travel for the foot supports,   wherein each one of the plurality of discrete segments are delimited by a unique forwardmost and a unique rearwardmost position contained within the master or overall path of arcuate travel,   wherein the frame and linkage assemblies are arranged such that a front edge of a longitudinal axis of the foot supports when disposed in the rearwardmost position is spaced a rear lateral distance from the vertical planar axis that extends from four inches to three feet measured along a line between the front edge and the vertical planar axis that is normal to or intersects the vertical planar axis at ninety degrees and,   the front edge of the longitudinal axis of the foot supports when disposed in the forwardmost position is spaced a forward lateral distance from the vertical planar axis that is at least three inches less than the rear lateral distance measured along a line between the front edge and the vertical planar axis that is normal to or intersects the vertical planar axis at ninety degrees.   
     
     
         16 . The exercise device of  claim 15  wherein the first and second foot supports and the linkage assemblies are arranged on the frame such that the first and second foot supports are pivotable through a front to back arcuate path of travel that is disposed at a selected angle between about five and about forty five degrees relative to the vertical planar axis. 
     
     
         17 . The exercise device according to  claim 15  wherein the adjustment device is manually actuatable by the user to enable the user to manually move the adjustment to any selectable one of a plurality of different fixed mechanical positions that fix or limit travel of the foot support via interconnection to the arc segment selection device to a corresponding one of the plurality of different arc segments, the user selecting one of the plurality of different arc segments by exerting a selected amount or degree of manual force on the adjustment device that corresponds to a selected one of the plurality of different fixed mechanical positions. 
     
     
         18 . A method of performing an exercise comprising disposing a left and right foot of a user in the first and second foot supports of the exercise device according to any of the foregoing  claim 15  and moving the user's feet back and forth while disposed in the first and second foot supports.