Climbing simulation exercise machine

Abstract

A climbing simulation exercise machine having a stationary support frame, arc-shaped wheel tracks, pedal assemblies, a rocker lever mounted on the stationary support frame, linkages connection hubs mounted on the stationary support frame, handle levers mounted on the stationary support frame, handles mounted on the handle levers, first and second linkage bars connected to the pedal carriages and to the linkages connection hubs, third linkage bars connected to the linkages connection hubs and the rocker lever, fourth linkage bars connected to the handle levers and the linkages connection hubs, in which the rocker lever synchronizes and controls the motions of the handle levers and the pedal assemblies such that a left side handle lever and a left side pedal assembly move in opposite directions from each other and a right side handle lever and a right side pedal assembly move in opposite directions from each other during operation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A climbing simulation exercise machine comprising:
 a) a stationary support frame;   b) a left side arc-shaped wheel track rigidly mounted on the stationary support frame and a right side arc-shaped wheel track rigidly mounted on the stationary support frame;   c) a left side pedal assembly movably engaged with the left side arc-shaped wheel track for movement along the left side arc-shaped wheel track and a right side pedal assembly movably engaged with the right side arc-shaped wheel track for movement along the right side arc-shaped wheel track;   d) a rocker lever with a left end and a right end, the rocker lever being pivotally mounted on the stationary support frame;   e) a left side linkages connection hub pivotably mounted on the stationary support frame and a right side linkages connection hub pivotably mounted on the stationary support frame;   f) a left side handle lever with a first end pivotally mounted on the stationary support frame and a second end comprising a handle mounted on the second end, and a right side handle lever with a first end pivotally mounted on the stationary support frame and a second end comprising a handle mounted on the second end;   g) first and second left side linkage bars wherein a first end of the first left side linkage bar is rigidly connected to the left side pedal assembly, a second end of the first left side linkage bar is pivotally connected to a first end of the second left side linkage bar, and a second end of the second left side linkage bar is rigidly connected to the left side linkages connection hub;   h) first and second right side linkage bars wherein a first end of the first right side linkage bar is rigidly connected to the right side pedal assembly, a second end of the first right side linkage bar is pivotally connected to a first end of the second right side linkage bar, and a second end of the second right side linkage bar is rigidly connected to the right side linkages connection hub;   i) a third left side linkage bar wherein a first end of the third left side linkage bar is pivotally connected to the left side linkages connection hub and a second end of the third left side linkage bar is pivotally connected to the left end of the rocker lever, and a third right side linkage bar wherein a first end of the third right side linkage bar is pivotally connected to the right side linkages connection hub and a second end of the third right side linkage bar is pivotally connected to the right end of the rocker lever; and   j) a fourth left side linkage bar wherein a first end of the fourth left side linkage bar is pivotally connected to the left side handle lever and a second end of the fourth left side linkage bar is pivotally connected to the left side linkages connection hub, and a fourth right side linkage bar wherein a first end of the fourth right side linkage bar is pivotally connected to the right side handle lever and a second end of the fourth right side linkage bar is pivotally connected to the right side linkages connection hub,   wherein, the rocker lever is structured to synchronize and control the motions of the left side handle lever, the left side pedal assembly, the right side handle lever, and the right side pedal assembly whereby the left side handle lever and the left side pedal assembly move in opposite directions from each other and the right side handle lever and the right side pedal assembly move in opposite directions from each other during operation of the climbing simulation exercise machine.   
     
     
         2 . The machine of  claim 1 , wherein the left side handle lever, the right side handle lever, the left side pedal assembly, and the right side pedal assembly all move in synchronized reciprocating arcing patterns of motion. 
     
     
         3 . The machine of  claim 2 , wherein the left side pedal assembly and the right side pedal assembly each comprise a foot platform and a shin pad that are pivotally mounted on an axle of a transport wheel and the transport wheel is movably mounted on the arc-shaped wheel track for rolling movement along the arc-shaped wheel track. 
     
     
         4 . The machine of  claim 2 , wherein the left side pedal assembly and the right side pedal assembly each comprise a foot platform that is pivotally mounted on an axle of a transport wheel and the transport wheel is movably mounted on the arc-shaped wheel track for rolling movement along the arc-shaped wheel track. 
     
     
         5 . The machine of  claim 3 , wherein the reciprocating arcing pattern of motion of the left side handle lever, the right side handle lever, the left side pedal assembly, and the right side pedal assembly are all controlled by mechanical components of the machine, and a range of movement of the pattern of motion of the left side handle lever, the right side handle lever, the left side pedal assembly, and the right side pedal assembly are all controllable by a range of movement of the exercise motion of the user. 
     
     
         6 . The machine of  claim 4 , wherein the reciprocating arcing pattern of motion of the left side handle lever, the right side handle lever, the left side pedal assembly, and the right side pedal assembly are all controlled by mechanical components of the machine, and a range of movement of the pattern of motion of the left side handle lever, the right side handle lever, the left side pedal assembly, and the right side pedal assembly are all controllable by a range of movement of the exercise motion of the user. 
     
     
         7 . The machine of  claim 5 , wherein a resistance mechanism is operatively connected to the movement of the left side handle lever, the right side handle lever, the left side pedal assembly, and the right side pedal assembly. 
     
     
         8 . The machine of  claim 6 , wherein a resistance mechanism is operatively connected to the movement of the left side handle lever, the right side handle lever, the left side pedal assembly, and the right side pedal assembly. 
     
     
         9 . The machine of  claim 7 , wherein the resistance mechanism is structured to create a compression friction resistance that is adjustable and settable to a plurality of force levels of compression friction resistance. 
     
     
         10 . The machine of  claim 8 , wherein the resistance mechanism is structured to create a compression friction resistance that is adjustable and settable to a plurality of force levels of compression friction resistance. 
     
     
         11 . A climbing simulation exercise machine comprising:
 a) a stationary support frame;   b) a left side arc-shaped wheel track rigidly mounted on the stationary support frame and a right side arc-shaped wheel track rigidly mounted on the stationary support frame;   c) a left side pedal assembly movably engaged with the left side arc-shaped wheel track for movement along the left side arc-shaped wheel track and a right side pedal assembly movably engaged with the right side arc-shaped wheel track for movement along the right side arc-shaped wheel track;   d) a rocker lever with a left end and a right end, the rocker lever being pivotally mounted on the stationary support frame;   e) a left side linkages connection hub pivotably mounted on the stationary support frame and a right side linkages connection hub pivotably mounted on the stationary support frame;   f) first and second left side linkage bars wherein a first end of the first left side linkage bar is rigidly connected to the left side pedal assembly, a second end of the first left side linkage bar is pivotally connected to a first end of the second left side linkage bar, and a second end of the second left side linkage bar is rigidly connected to the left side linkages connection hub;   g) first and second right side linkage bars wherein a first end of the first right side linkage bar is rigidly connected to the right side pedal assembly, a second end of the first right side linkage bar is pivotally connected to a first end of the second right side linkage bar, and a second end of the second right side linkage bar is rigidly connected to the right side linkages connection hub;   h) a left side handle lever with a first end rigidly connected to the second left side linkage bar and the left side linkages connection hub, and a second end comprising a handle mounted on the second end, and a right side handle lever with a first end rigidly connected to the second right side linkage bar and the right side linkages connection hub, and a second end comprising a handle mounted on the second end; and   i) a third left side linkage bar wherein a first end of the third left side linkage bar is pivotally connected to the left side linkages connection hub and a second end of the third left side linkage bar is pivotally connected to the left end of the rocker lever, and a third right side linkage bar wherein a first end of the third right side linkage bar is pivotally connected to the right side linkages connection hub and a second end of the third right side linkage bar is pivotally connected to the right end of the rocker lever,   wherein, the rocker lever is structured to synchronize and control the motions of the left side handle lever, the left side pedal assembly, the right side handle lever, and the right side pedal assembly whereby the left side handle lever and the left side pedal assembly move in opposite directions from each other and the right side handle lever and the right side pedal assembly move in opposite directions from each other during operation of the climbing simulation exercise machine.   
     
     
         12 . The machine of  claim 11 , wherein the left side handle lever, the right side handle lever, the left side pedal assembly, and the right side pedal assembly all move in synchronized reciprocating arcing patterns of motion. 
     
     
         13 . The machine of  claim 12 , wherein the left side pedal assembly and the right side pedal assembly each comprise a foot platform and a shin pad that are pivotally mounted on an axle of a transport wheel and the transport wheel is movably mounted on the arc-shaped wheel track for rolling movement along the arc-shaped wheel track. 
     
     
         14 . The machine of  claim 12 , wherein the left side pedal assembly and the right side pedal assembly each comprise a foot platform that is pivotally mounted on an axle of a transport wheel and the transport wheel is movably mounted on the arc-shaped wheel track for rolling movement along the arc-shaped wheel track. 
     
     
         15 . The machine of  claim 13 , wherein the reciprocating arcing pattern of motion of the left side handle lever, the right side handle lever, the left side pedal assembly, and the right side pedal assembly are all controlled by mechanical components of the machine, and a range of movement of the pattern of motion of the left side handle lever, the right side handle lever, the left side pedal assembly, and the right side pedal assembly are all controllable by a range of movement of the exercise motion of the user. 
     
     
         16 . The machine of  claim 14 , wherein the reciprocating arcing pattern of motion of the left side handle lever, the right side handle lever, the left side pedal assembly, and the right side pedal assembly are all controlled by mechanical components of the machine, and a range of movement of the pattern of motion of the left side handle lever, the right side handle lever, the left side pedal assembly, and the right side pedal assembly are all controllable by a range of movement of the exercise motion of the user. 
     
     
         17 . The machine of  claim 15 , wherein a resistance mechanism is operatively connected to the movement of the left side handle lever, the right side handle lever, the left side pedal assembly, and the right side pedal assembly. 
     
     
         18 . The machine of  claim 16 , wherein a resistance mechanism is operatively connected to the movement of the left side handle lever, the right side handle lever, the left side pedal assembly, and the right side pedal assembly. 
     
     
         19 . The machine of  claim 17 , wherein the resistance mechanism is structured to create a compression friction resistance that is adjustable and settable to a plurality of force levels of compression friction resistance. 
     
     
         20 . The machine of  claim 18 , wherein the resistance mechanism is structured to create a compression friction resistance that is adjustable and settable to a plurality of force levels of compression friction resistance.