Exercise apparatus

Abstract

An exercise apparatus comprising: a foot support, a user interface that includes a visual display, the foot support being movable by the user on the frame back and forth through any one of a plurality of complete, reproducible and different arc segments of a master arcuate path, the foot support being interconnected to a selection device that enables the user to select any one of the plurality of arc segments, one or more detectors adapted to detect one or more of force, energy or power exerted by the user over time on the foot support or distance or velocity of travel of the foot support or resistance assembly during the course of the user's performance of all or a portion of an exercise cycle, the visual display displaying a visually recognizable format of one or more of the force, energy, power, distance, time or velocity.

1 .- 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A method of varying the degree of resistance in a non-linear relationship to a degree of force exerted by a user in performance of an exercise on an exercise apparatus comprised of a foot support supported by a linkage system on a frame having a laterally forward end and a laterally rearward end, the foot support being supported on the frame by the linkage system for reciprocal movement along a master arcuate path of travel having a furthest forward position to a furthest rearward position, the foot support being supported on the frame for receiving a user's foot to support the user in a standing upright position, the foot support being interconnected to a non-linearly force dependent resistance mechanism via an adjustment device that is actuatable by the user to selectively adjust positioning of the force resistance mechanism in or to any one of a plurality of fixed positions relative to the foot support, the method comprising:
 actuating the adjustment device to position the non-linearly force dependent resistance mechanism in or to one of the fixed positions of the non-linearly dependent force resistance mechanism, 
 adapting the interconnection of the foot support and the non-linearly force dependent resistance mechanism to limit travel of the foot support to selectable segments of the master arcuate path of travel each having a forwardmost segment position and rearwardmost segment position that are defined by and peculiar to the fixed position of the non-linearly dependent resistance mechanism, 
 disposing a user in a standing upright position on the foot support and forcibly exerting a selectable degree of laterally forward to rearward directed force on the foot support with the foot of the user, 
 adapting the non-linearly force dependent resistance mechanism to mechanically vary resistance to movement of the foot support to a degree that varies non-linearly with the selected degree of speed, velocity, force, work or power exerted by the user on the foot support or the resistance assembly. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the non-linearly force dependent resistance mechanism comprises a mechanical member that mechanically moves in response to force exerted by the user on the foot support, the movement of the mechanical member mechanically generating a resistance that varies non-linearly with the speed, velocity, force, work or power exerted by the user on the foot support or the resistance mechanism. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the non-linearly force dependent resistance mechanism mechanically varies resistance to movement of the foot support to a degree that varies either exponentially or geometrically with the selected degree of speed, velocity, force, work or power exerted by the user on the foot support or the resistance mechanism. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the foot support moves upwardly and downwardly on movement of the foot support along a selected segment, the user exerting a force directed in an upward, downward direction during movement of the foot support along the selected segment. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the foot support is supported such that each segment has a forwardmost upward segment position and a rearwardmost downward segment position that define a complete cycle, each segment having a different forwardmost upward segment position and a different rearwardmost downward segment position. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the non-linearly force dependent resistance mechanism comprises a wheel having a drivably rotatable axle interconnected to one or more blades that forcibly engage against air on rotation of the axle. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the axle of the wheel is fixedly interconnected to a crank arm that is interconnected to the foot support such that forward and backward movement of the foot support turns the crank arm. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the selected degree of the force exerted by the user comprises a translational movement of the foot pedal or a rotational movement of the resistance mechanism. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the resistance mechanism includes a fan wheel and the degree of resistance or opposing force OF that the fan wheel exerts in response to a user's input of force, work or power increases non-linearly with increasing speed or rate of rotation of the fan wheel. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the degree of increase in resistance varies in a non-linear manner with respect to a translational, sliding, arcuate or pivoting movement of the mechanical member. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the non-linearly force dependent resistance mechanism comprises a current controlled brake mechanism with programmable controls that increase, decrease or vary in degree of resistance relative to the force F exerted by the user in a non-linear, geometric or exponential relationship. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein, the adjustment device is controllably driven by a rotor or other electrically or electronically powered device. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein exercise apparatus is configured for use with a user interface and associated processor and sensor(s) or detector(s) to enable a user to perform a variety of circuit or interval exercise routines. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the sensor(s) or detector(s) are configured to sense or detect a measurable movement FR of a mechanical component of the apparatus when the user performs an exercise on the apparatus. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the sensor(s) or detector(s) send a signal indicative of the measurable movement FR to the processor which processes the signal according to a predetermined algorithm to calculate a value indicative of a desired aspect of the user's performance of exercise or the result of the user's exertion of force or energy in performance of the back and forth movement of the foot supports of the apparatus. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the algorithm included in the processor uses the input of FR to calculate one or more of the number of watts of power exerted by the user, the number of meters that the user would have travelled if riding a bicycle having a preselected configuration while generating such power as calculated from FR, and the number of strides per minute that the user would have achieved exerting the power or force calculated by the algorithm based on the FR input as a variable to the algorithm. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the apparatus includes a visual display and the algorithm generates one or more visual results to the visual display indicative of the number of watts power, the number of meters, and the number of strides per minute.