An exercise apparatus has a crank and a degree of freedom disposed between a force receiving member and a frame. The resulting linkage allows the force receiving member to move through a generally elliptical path of motion.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/503,931, which was filed on Jul. 19, 1995, and is now U.S. Pat. No. 5,735,774; and it also discloses subject matter shown and described in U.S. Provisional Application Ser. Nos. 60/044,957, 60/044,959, and 60/044,956, all filed on Apr. 26, 1997.
An exercise apparatus has a force receiving member movably interconnected between a crank and a frame with a degree of freedom for variable length exercise strokes as a function of user applied force.
An exercise device having a cushioning mechanism assembly configured to absorb energy during exercise is provided. According to one aspect of the present invention, the cushioning mechanism assembly comprises a first and second biasing apparatus having a spring element configured to absorb energy by undergoing elastic deformation. According to another aspect of the present invention, a lever cushioning apparatus is provided. In one embodiment, the lever cushioning apparatus includes a lever arm and a cushioning element that functions as a fulcrum of the lever arm. In another embodiment, the cushioning element is movable along the length of the elongate member to change the amount of cushioning provided by the cushioning element. By being movable, the cushioning element allows the user to select a desired amount of cushioning during exercise.
An exercise device having a cushioning mechanism assembly configured to absorb energy during exercise is provided. According to one aspect of the present invention, the cushioning mechanism assembly comprises a first and second biasing apparatus having a spring element configured to absorb energy by undergoing elastic deformation. According to another aspect of the present invention, a lever cushioning apparatus is provided. In one embodiment, the lever cushioning apparatus includes a lever arm and a cushioning element that functions as a fulcrum of the lever arm. In another embodiment, the cushioning element is movable along the length of the elongate member to change the amount of cushioning provided by the cushioning element. By being movable, the cushioning element allows the user to select a desired amount of cushioning during exercise.
An exercise machine has a frame and an operating linkage. The operating linkage includes any of a number of mechanisms that can adjust a foot trace generated by the linkage. In one configuration, the foot trace can be adjusted between at least a generally vertical trace and a generally horizontal trace.
An exercise apparatus may include a frame. A crank system may be coupled to the frame. A brake/inertia device may be coupled to the crank system. A pivotal linkage pendulum system may be coupled to the crank system. The pivotal linkage pendulum system may include one or more link members. An upper pivot point of at least one of the link members may be coupled to the crank system. In some embodiments, the upper pivot point of the at least one of the link members may be coupled to the crank system through a movable member. The upper pivot point may move in a back and forth path of motion or in a closed path motion. A foot member may be coupled to one or more of the link members. The foot member may include a footpad.
