Other

Arthur D. Little, Inc.

Richard J DeCloux

Herbert H Loeffler

James S MacConkey

E Hubbard Yonkers

Apparatus to drive a bicycle wherein two pedals move in a non-fixed, non-180 degree relationship to each other. As the pedal that is being powered by the user moves through an arc less than 180 degrees, the unpowered pedal moves through more than 180 degrees to a point where it is in a favorable position to be powered by the user. Two different systems are disclosed, each producing the desired relative pedal motion. The first and preferred system describes the use of non-circular gears. The second system describes the use of circular gears with sections of teeth removed.

Single gear train bicycle drive mechanism

A unitized assembly for control of ram-actuated stair climbing type exercise equipment provides rigidly connected ram cylinders in a unitary structure which includes a pair of castings, in which the castings eliminate the necessity of individually mounting discrete ram cylinders while at the same time eliminating the necessity for over 20 parts as compared to piston type hydraulic systems assembled from discrete components. The top casting accommodates two rams, one for each pivoted stair step. The bottom casting includes two chambers and the passageways that connect them with the rate valve that controls exercise speed. The passageways also connect to the fluid volume valve which controls step height and lost fluid replacement. As a feature for pivoted arm machines, the tops of the rams are not pivotally attached to the stair step arms, but rather contact rollers on the arms so that the rams and associated housings need not swivel with movement of the arms during exercise. This permits the rigid connection between the ram cylinders provided by the unitary pair of castings. Moreover, an integral heat exchanger is provided, along with ports for both a rate control valve and a fluid volume valve, with the fluid volume valve and an auxiliary cylinder providing selective step height control and makeup of lost fluid. As another further feature, the rams have a larger diameter on one end to retain them in the structure.

Die cast system for control of stair climbing exercise device

An auxiliary cylinder is provided as an adjustable volume accumulator in communication with the two hydraulic ram cylinders utilized to phase the steps utilized in stair climbing apparatus. Step height adjustment is facilitated by providing the auxiliary cylinder with a ram and a positioning lever, with step height adjustment being accomplished through the removal of oil from the system by backing off the ram. Moving the ram forward replaces oil lost during carry out. The subject system facilitates rapid step height adjustment, facilitates lowering of the steps for permitting under-bed storage through the dropping of the steps, and makes up fluid loss during carry out for preventing step height loss. Additionally, operating cylinder component sizing is used to minimize step height growth due to thermal expansion of the fluid in the system.

Adjustable auxiliary hydraulic fluid accumulator control for

An arcuate hand rail for exercise equipment accommodates both varying height individuals as well as individuals leaning towards the exercise machine by orienting and positioning the arcuate hand rail such that a vertical tangent thereto lies at or adjacent the average vertical center line of an exercising individual on the exercise apparatus in a stand-up orientation. This placement of the tangent point at or adjacent the average vertical center line of the standing individual permits a wide range of individuals to grasp the hand rail when exercising in a stand-up mode, with elbows bent in a comfort range of 15.degree.-55.degree. to the horizontal while at the same time, as an additional benefit, providing arm-extended grip points for comfortable lean-forward exercise.

Hand rail for stand-up exercise equipment

Dual facing diammetrically-opposed either independently activatable or electrically or mechanically linked exercise stations are provided on a common base so diammetrically-opposed users can have an unobstructed view of each other and so that common components can serve each station. The dual facing machines having common structural components, common energy absorption components, common housing components, common hand rail components and common instrument components provide for diammetrically-opposed users in a close relationship so that both social as well as face-to-face competitive exercise is acheivable through interactive control of the exercise stations. Dual facing machines include dual stairclimbing devices, dual exercise bicycles, dual rowing machines or dual tread mill devices.

Dual facing aerobic exercise machine

A trackless climbing simulation exercise device comprising an inclined plane, a pair of interconnected hydraulic cylinders affixed to the inclined plane in a fashion allowing angular movement, and a pair of steps one of each hung from the cylinder rods moving freely on the inclined plane and moveable in a generally inclined vertical direction to effectuate stair climbing exercise.

Climbing simulation exercise device

Apparatus that controls the cycle rate of various incline or stair-climbing simulation exercise machines in a nonlinear fashion so that the downward step movement is slowed appropriately during portions of its travel to facilitate cyclic 'step-up' i.e., raising of the user's center of gravity; this slowing occurring during the uppermost portion of the step's descent (and/or the lowermost portion in some cases) while the rest of the descent is made at higher speed; including a pair of hydraulic cylinders serving as a means of coupling the steps together and dissipating the energy transmitted by the user, the flow of fluid between the cylinders being controlled during the step descent by variable orifices controlled by cams or a cam/switch/solenoid system.

Descent speed control for exercise stair

Apparatus for use with an exercise device in the form of moveable stairs mounted to tracks includes a stair step phasing system that absorbs and dissipates energy and provides adjustment of stroke length and cycle rate for various aerobic and isokinetic exercise activities through the use of a unique bypass system. The phasing system includes two double-acting cylinders with hydraulically-phased pistons having rods connected to respective steps. The hydraulic system is a closed system having fluid both above and below the pistons, with the phasing system including interconnection of the cylinders so that the cylinder portion above the piston of each cylinder is hydraulically connected to the cylinder portion above the piston of the other cylinder, and the cylinder portion below the piston of each cylinder is similarly connected. It is a feature of this invention that a bypass is provided connecting the cylinder portions above the pistons of the system to the cylinder portions below the pistons of the system. A valve is provided in the bypass which when open allows fluid to move from above the pistons to below the pistons allowing adjustment of the position of the pistons relative to the cylinders and each other, and which when closed fixes the piston relationships. A variable orifice in either or both of the intercylinder connections facilitates the adjustment of the rate of piston movement in relation to force applied. The closed system is also provided with one or more accumulators for accommodation of hydraulic fluid thermal expansion.

Phasing system for exercise stair

Apparatus that offers its users high intensity exercise through a leg operated, rotary motion mode of exercise in which the rotary motion is selectively interrupted so as to allow a beneficial, stand-up, body lifting, method of exercise. The body-lift rotary-motion apparatus includes pedals and cranks in a fixed 180.degree. relationship, a braking mechanism, and controls for operating the braking mechanism to provide that once the 'down' pedal has moved past bottom dead center on its way up, it is momentarily braked to provide a step-up platform to permit the user to raise his body as he steps up onto the 'up' pedal. In one embodiment, there is a frame to support the user while pedalling in a stand-up position and to hold the pedalling, braking, and control components, with braking accomplished by solenoid applied friction modulated by timers and voltage level controls available to the user to adjust exercise intensity and comfort, these controls being keyed to rotary pedal position by a cam-actuated switch.

Exercise device

Apparatus which simulates the exercise obtained while climbing stairs includes two hydraulically phased steps retained in adjacent inclined tracks in which the steps are supported in a hydraulically open-ended system, with the phasing of the steps being controlled by a pair of in-line hydraulic actuators, one each associated with a step, in which fluid forced from one actuator with a downward movement of the associated step is channeled through a variable restricted orifice to the other actuator to raise the other step. In one lightweight, compact embodiment, the device is collapsed down to a compact size through the use of steps which are foldable to the track, and through the use of a track foldable to the frame. In its open position the lower portion of the frame props up the track at an appropriate climbing angle, with upper portions of the frame extending above the track to serve as handles positioned above the center of travel of the steps.

Exercise stair device

Apparatus that simulates the exercise obtained in either of two modes of bicycling, e.g. sit-down, normal pedalling; and stand-up, hill climbing pedalling. Two different systems are disclosed, both yielding the desired bimodal choice of exercise. One system includes the use of clutches and gearing that allows switching between the normal 180.degree. fixed pedal relationship and a relationship that assists each pedal through bottom and top dead center, with the unweighted pedal being returned by the force generated by the other pedal as this other pedal is moved through the most powerful portion of the pedalling cycle. The second system includes the use of locking ratchets, adjustable spring returns, and adjustable stops to allow switching between the normal 180.degree. fixed pedal relationship and a relationship that avoids passage of the pedals through top and bottom dead center and confines all pedal movement to the power portion of the pedalling cycle. In both systems the 'down' pedal is effectively braked or stopped to provide a step-up platform to provide for body lifting in the 'stand-up' mode.

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Manchester, NH, United States of America

Richard J DeCloux