Brunswick Corporation

Life Fitness, LLC

John M Rogus

John J Hsing

Juliette C Daly

Gregory A Joseph

Timothy T Anderson

Gary E Oglesby

Mark C Termion

Rachel Lara Abigal Buckley

Robert C Seaman

Charles J Rosenow

Cilfford F Mueller

Bradley H Grossman

Zhi Lu

Eric C White

Cory H Lazar

William J Kreuger

Rachel Lara Buckley

Eric White

Lu Zhi

An exercise machine is for performing a striding exercise motion. The exercise machine has a frame; first and second pedal members; first and second foot pads on the first and second pedal members, respectively, each of the first and second foot pads being movable along an elliptical path during said striding exercise motion; and first and second rocker arms each having a first end that is pivotable with respect to the frame about a rocker arm pivot axis and further having a second end that is pivotable with respect to one of the first and second pedal members about a pedal lever hub axis. The frame has first and second frame portions. The first frame portion supports the first and second rocker arms and is pivotable about a frame pivot axis relative to the second frame portion. Pivoting the first frame portion relative to the second frame portion adjusts a position of the rocker arm pivot axis, which thereby changes a shape of the elliptical path.

Exercise machines for facilitating elliptical striding motion

An exercise machine is for performing a striding exercise motion. The exercise machine has frame; first and second pedal members; first and second foot pads on the first and second pedal members, respectively, each of the first and second foot pads being configured to move in an elliptical path during the striding exercise motion; first and second rocker arms pivotally coupled to the frame; and first and second adjustment devices configured to actively adjust and set a position of the first and second pedal members relative to the first and second rocker arms, respectively, which thereby changes a shape of the elliptical path.

Exercise machines having adjustable elliptical striding motion

An exercise apparatus has a frame and first and second pedals that are coupled to the frame such that a user standing on the first and second pedals can perform a striding exercise. The first and second pedals each have a tread member that supports the bottom of a user's foot in a manner that encourages movement of the user's foot relative to the tread member during the striding exercise.

Exercise apparatuses having tread members for supporting striding exercises

In an elliptical step exercise apparatus a dynamic link mechanism can be used to vary the stride length of the machine. A control system can also be used to vary stride length as a function of various exercise and operating parameters such as speed and direction as well as varying stride length as a part of a preprogrammed exercise routine such as a hill or interval training program. In addition the control system can use measurements of stride length to optimize operation of the apparatus.

Stride adjustment mechanism

Described is an exercise apparatus for providing elliptical foot motion that utilizes a pair of rocking links suspended from an upper portion of the apparatus frame permitting at least limited arcuate motion of the lower portions of the links. Foot pedal assemblies are connected to rotating shafts or members located on the lower portion of the links such that the foot pedals will describe a generally elliptical path in response to user foot motion on the pedals.

Elliptical mechanism

In an elliptical step exercise apparatus distance traveled can be approximated by determining the portion of the ellipse traversed by a foot pedal where the user applies force to the pedal. This portion can be considered equivalent to the amount of foot travel on a treadmill and modified as a function of speed to simulate the gait of a user at various speeds so as to provide an approximation of the distance traveled by a user as if he were running on a treadmill. This process can be further modified for use with an elliptical exercise apparatus where the stride length can be changed such that the simulated distance will be increased with increased stride length.

Elliptical step distance measurement

In an exercise apparatus having a frame that is adapted for placement on the floor, a pivot axle supported by the frame, a pair of pedal levers, pedals secured to the pedal levers, arm handles connected for motion with the pedal levers and which can utilize a variety of pedal actuation assemblies for generating elliptical motion of the pedal, the stride length portion of the elliptical motion can be increased automatically as a function of exercise parameters such as speed. In addition, the arm handles can be disconnected manually or automatically from the pedal levers.

Elliptical step exercise apparatus

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Skokie, IL, United States of America

John M Rogus