Exercise devices – Involving user translation or physical simulation thereof – Stair climbing
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-08
2001-02-20
Crow, Stephen R. (Department: 3764)
Exercise devices
Involving user translation or physical simulation thereof
Stair climbing
C482S908000, C482S057000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06190289
ABSTRACT:
FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to exercise machines and more particularly to a folding elliptical exercise machine having foldable pedal arms that can be moved to an upright position for storage and portability.
Elliptical exercise machines are known which included a crank pulley rotatably mounted on a frame and having crank arms extending outwardly therefrom. Attached to distal ends of the crank arms are rearwardly extending pedal arms on which a user stands and alternates his or her weight in a stepping motion to rotate the crank pulley and the position of the user's feet. Due to the geometry of the pedal arms extending rewardly from the crank arms, a user standing in fixed positions on the pedal arms will have his or her feet move in a generally elliptical pattern, as viewed from the side. This motion simulates a walking or running motion and yet provides continuous foot and leg support for the user to minimize detrimental foot and leg impact.
Other types of elliptical exercise machines are known which have pedal arms that extend forward from a crank pulley and the user stands on the pedal arms facing in a direction away from the crank pulley. To maintain the user's balance and to maintain a substantially level foot support surface, the distal ends of the pedal arms must be supported on inclined planes joined to a frame supporting the elliptical machine. Further, handle bars must be positioned on the opposite end of the machine from the mechanism. Such an arrangement is complicated, heavy, and very difficult to move due to the weight of the frame and the size of the device has a whole.
Crank pulleys can be connected to an alternator or fly wheel to maintain momentum or constant speed for the exercise machine. With either option, having the pedal arms supported on a complicated frame as described above adds to the difficulty in moving the elliptical exercise machine. Portability and space constraints are critical factors in the home exercise machine market and, thus the prior art machine arrangement is not conducive to home exercise machine sales.
Other elliptical exercise machines are designed to be collapsible by folding down the upper portions of the frame, the handle bars, and the pedal arms to a low position so that the machine can then be moved to a storage location. With such a collapsible design, there is no reduction in floor space requirements when the machine is folded so the machine must be moved to a storage location to obtain the benefits of the collapsible design.
Thus, there is in need for a portable elliptical motion exercise machine having folding pedal arms and related frame components to minimize storage space requirements and render the exercise machine portable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An elliptical exercise machine in accordance with present invention overcomes the disadvantages of prior art machines using machine components that are foldable and compactly arranged to make the machine convenient for storage and portability. One embodiment of the present invention includes: a frame; a crank pulley having an axis rotatably mounted on the frame; a pair of opposing crank arms, each crank arm having a first end fixed to the crank pulley axis and a second end extending radially outwardly from the axis in a direction opposite the other crank arm; and a pair of pedal arms each having a first end rotatably joined to the second end of a respective crank arm, the central portion extending rearwardly from the pedal arm first end and a second end rearward of the central portion, and the pedal arms being pivotable between a use position and an upright folded position.
The elliptical exercise machine may include a pair of rails pivotably joined to the frame and each having a load bearing surface for supporting the second end of respective pedal arms and the rails are pivotable between a use position and an upright folded position. In a variation of this embodiment, there is a housing joined to the frame, the housing defining an interior space in which the crank pulley and the crank arms are disposed; the housing having a movable portion, the movable portion having a closed position corresponding to the pedal arm use position, and an open position corresponding to the pedal arm upright folded position to permit a more compact folded arrangement.
Another embodiment of an elliptical exercise machine in accordance with present invention includes: a frame; a crank pulley having an axis rotatably mounted on the frame; a pair of opposing crank arms, each crank arm having a first end fixed to the crank pulley axis and a second end extending radially outwardly from the axis in a direction opposite the other crank arm; and a pair of pedal arms each having a first end rotatably joined to the second end of a respective crank arm, a central portion extending rearwardly from the pedal arm first end, and a rear end portion extending downwardly from the central portion and terminating at a second end, wherein the pedal arm central portion is horizontal when the corresponding crank arm is horizontal.
In any of the above the embodiments of the elliptical exercise machine there may be included a wheel rotatably mounted on the second end of a pedal arm or a foot platform mounted on the central portion of a pedal arm. The exercise device may include an upwardly extending console mast fixed to the frame and may also include a handle bar. The exercise devices may also include a fly wheel rotatably mounted on the frame and a drive belt for transmitting inertia from the fly wheel to the crank pulley.
When a housing with movable portions for accommodating the pedal arms in the upright folded position is used, it is preferable that the movable portions move from the open position to the closed position automatically when the pedal arms are moved from the upright folded position toward the use position for user convenience. The movable portions may be pivoting doors and may be moved automatically using springs.
The exercise machines may also include a lock for releasably securing the pedal arms in the upright folded position, and when pivoting rails are used, it is preferable that the machine include a lock for releasably securing the rails in the upright folded position. Also, when pivoting rails are included, there may be a single lock for releasably securing a pedal arm to a corresponding rail in the upright folded position for simplicity. The lock in this latter embodiment may included a bent wire fixed to the bottom of a pedal arm and defining a resilient hook for engaging an end of a corresponding rail.
The frame of the exercise machines preferably includes four spaced apart support points defining a horizontal planar boundary above which the center of gravity of the exercise device is positioned when the pedal arms are in the upright folded position. When folding rails are used, the center of gravity of the exercise device in the upright folded position is also above the horizontal planar boundary. For ease of transporting the exercise machines, at least two of the support points should each include a wheel onto which the exercise machines may be tilted and rolled.
In other alternate embodiments, the pedal arms or the rails or both can be removably attached to the exercise machine. Further, the pedal arms or rails can include telescoping components to accomplish similar results.
As stated above, there may be a foot platform attached to each pedal arm. The foot platforms may be adjustable in their position on the pedal arms by including: a base plate fixed to the pedal arm and extending laterally outwardly from each side of the pedal arm and defining a plurality of position holes along the longitudinal line; a foot plate slidably engaged to the base plate along a longitudinal line; and a spring-loaded lock can be fixed to the foot plate and selectively engagable with any one of the position holes on the base plate. The foot plate may include a pair of inwardly extending lateral flanges for slidably engaging the laterally extending portio
Chen Kuei-Sen
Lo Kun-Chuan
Pyles Nathan
Yang Chang-Hsin
Crow Stephen R.
Epix, Inc.
Lathrop & Clark LLP
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