Other

Fitness Master, Inc.

Trace O Gordon

Gary D Piaget

Paul M Theisen

James B Easley

Adolf H Friedebach

John E Titus

Mark R Nestande

Ross Austin Mackert

Thomas G Tupper

An exercise machine which simulates snow skiing so as to especially develop the muscles of a person particular to snow skiing. A tubular support frame pivotally supports a pair of elongate foot support arms the front end of which are pivotally connected to the frame for multiple axes rotation. The rear end of the foot support arms each have a foot pedal which support the user in an elevated position. A pair of generally vertical pivot arms are pivotally connected at an upper end of each to the support frame with the lower end of each connected to a respective foot support arm. The pivot arms are interconnected by a tie bar for coordinated movement thereof. The movement of the foot support arms is simultaneously about multiple axes comprising lateral horizontal and upward vertical components wherein the foot support arms trace a conical path and the foot pedals trace generally upwardly directed arcuate paths with the foot support arms tilting inwardly to simulate edging of skis. Handle bars on a post which is pivotally attached to the frame and tie bar creates a lateral motion of the handle bars oppositely timed with the foot support arms for upper body balance and conditioning. A pair of damping cylinders or elastic bands add variable resistance during a workout.

Ski simulating exercise machine

A striding exercise device with a base having at least one elongated track defining a continuous arc that curves upward along at least one end portion thereof. At least a portion of the continuous arc has a curvature generally corresponding to the swing arc of the operator's leg. Two footskates are slidably engaged with the at least one track. The footskates are operable for receiving feet of an operator. The operator reciprocates the feet back and forth so that the footskates move in reciprocating motion along at least a portion of the continuous arc. The continuous arc may have a constant or variable radius, adjustable by the operator. Pivotable hand levers or sliding hand grips provide upper body resistance for the operator. The pivotable hand levers may be locked in a plurality of position within the range of motion of the operator so as to operate as handlebars. A motor may assist the operator in reciprocating the footskates. The electronic display unit may be activated by movement of the footskates or by controls on the hand levers.

Striding exerciser with upwardly curved tracks

An exercise apparatus. The apparatus includes first and second elongate support members pivotally mounted upon a support frame. First and second foot holders are moveably mounted upon the first and second support members, respectively, for supporting a user's feet thereon. The foot holders are moveable forwardly and backwardly along the support members. The combination of pivotal movement of the support members and linear movement of the foot holders relative to the support members enables the user to move each foot (i) simultaneously backwardly and downwardly and (ii) simultaneously forwardly and upwardly, in a reciprocating movement path without removing the feet from the foot holders.

Foot skate climbing simulation exercise apparatus and method

A strength training exercise apparatus includes a frame having an upright back rest, and a horizontal seat, and further includes opposing arm members pivotally mounted to the back rest. The arm members are movable through an arcuate range of motion, and include locking pins for selectively locking the arm members in desired angular positions. The apparatus still further includes a resistance assembly consisting of a fixed anchor mounted on the frame, a movable anchor which is movable relative to the fixed anchor, and a plurality of elastomeric resistance cords releasably secured between the movable anchor and the fixed anchor to provide resistance to movement of the movable anchor. A pull line is mounted on guide pulleys along the length of the arm members, and is received in association with the movable anchor whereby outward movement of the pull line with respect to the arm members causes movement of the movable anchor with respect to the fixed anchor. The exercise apparatus further consists of a leg member pivotally mounted to the seat, and a second resistance assembly including a second movable anchor coupled to the leg member, and a second plurality of elastomeric resistance cords secured between the fixed anchor and the second movable anchor for providing resistance to pivotal movement of the leg member.

Strength training exercise apparatus with elastomeric resistance members

Strength training apparatus

A fold/extension exercise apparatus is disclosed including a support frame with a seating device pivotably attached thereto. Attached to the support frame and to the seating device may be one or more elongate pull-up/press bars with a handle formed therein or some other mechanism for exercising the arms. A leg curl/extension mechanism may also be provided and disposed so that extension of the leg curl mechanism causes extension of the seating device. Each of the respective portions of the exercise apparatus have extended positions and folded positions as to enable the user to simultaneously work the arms, legs and abdomen.

body fold and extension exercise apparatus

A treadmill device includes a frame, and two independent side-by-side treadmills each having a continuous tread and first and second ends. The device further includes link members for supporting the first and second end of the treadmills above the frame. Each of the link members has a first end pivotably connected to the frame and a second end pivotably connected to the respective treadmill adjacent the respective end thereof. The device still further includes first and second spring-return hydraulic cylinder assemblies for independently supporting the respective treadmills in a first elevated position above the frame, and for independently resisting downward movement of the treadmills from the first position to a second position. The treads may be driven by a mechanical drive mechanism actuated by downward movement of the treadmills, or may be motor driven in a conventional manner by a common electric motor. In use, the operator walks upon the treadmills in a normal manner wherein the treadmills alternately move from the first position to the second position as the operator places weight on the respective treadmill, with the spring return hydraulic cylinder assemblies being operable for returning the treadmills from the second position to the first position when the operator's weight is removed from the treadmill.

Treadmill apparatus with dual spring-loaded treads

An exercise device consists of a frame having an upright support member, upper and lower pivot levers pivotably mounted on the support member, first and second foot platforms pivotably mounted on the first and second end portions of the lower pivot lever, hand grips mounted on the first and second end portions of the upper pivot lever, and a resistance cylinder connected between the corresponding first end portions of the upper and lower pivot levers. The upright support is vertically adjustable to adjust the vertical height of the upper pivot lever. In use, the operator stands on the foot platforms, grasps the hand grips of the upper pivot lever, and reciprocates the feet and hands in a rocking, or see-saw type motion similar bicycling, rock climbing or stair climbing. The resistance cylinder comprises a hydraulic-type cylinder which provides resistance during reciprocating movement of the upper and lower pivot levers. In a second embodiment, separate resistance cylinders are respectively attached between the lower pivot lever and the frame, and between the upper pivot lever and the frame. The separate resistance cylinders provide independent adjustment of resistance for both the upper and lower body. By maintaining one of the upper or lower pivot levers in stationary position, the user can independently operate the other lever for an isolated upper or lower body workout.

Aerobic exercise apparatus with pivoting foot treadles and handlebar

A striding exercise device includes a base having two elongated parallel tracks which curve upwardly in a constant radial arc, and two footskates which are rotatably supported on the tracks for reciprocating movement thereon. The radial arc generally corresponds to the natural swinging arc of a human leg as the leg pivots about the hip. When the operator stands on the footskates and reciprocates the footskates back and forth along the upwardly curved tracks, the operator's torso is maintained in a stationary and balanced position over the base. The reduction in torso movement substantially eliminates strain on the leg joints, particularly the knee and hip joints, caused by up and down movement of the torso and further substantially eliminates back strain caused by reaching and bending at the waist.

An exercise step includes a generally rectangular stepping platform having first and second ends and further includes first and second pairs of leg bellows respectively mounted to the first and second ends of the platform thereby forming four legs for supporting the stepping platform above a supporting surface. Each pair of leg bellows is controlled by a single valve for selectively simultaneously inflating or deflating the pair of leg bellows to selectively adjust the height of the platform above a supporting surface. A channel extends between the paired leg bellows at each end of the platform. Each leg bellows includes a flexible air tube extending therefrom, and the air tubes are received in the channels in the bottom of the platform. The valves comprise slotted valve stems which extend into the channels. The paired set of air tubes is received through the slot in the valve stem and the valve stems are slidably movable to open and close paired sets of air tubes in the respective channel to simultaneously control inflation and deflation of each pair of leg bellows.

Exercise step with adjustable leg bellows

Exercise apparatus is provided for exercising all four limbs of the body. The exercise apparatus effectively simulates the anatomical movements of the body during walking and provides positive and negative resistance to all four limbs of the body during use. The exercise apparatus includes a frame having upright support members, two leg member and two arm members which are pivotably mounted to the support members at vertically spaced positions so that the leg members are generally pivotable at the hips of the user and the arm members are generally pivotable at the shoulders of the user. Hydraulic cylinders are connected between the arm and leg members to provide resistance when the arm and leg members are reciprocated in opposite directions during use of the apparatus. The distances between the hip and shoulder pivots, the hip pivot and foot platforms and the shoulder pivot and handgrips are adjustable to accommodate the anatomical differences of different size users.

Striding-type exercise apparatus

Striding exerciser

A treadmill device includes a frame, and two side-by-side treadmills each having a continuous tread and first and second ends. The first ends of the two treadmills are pivotably supported on a base portion of the frame by a roller shaft which extends through the treadmill rollers. The second ends of the treadmills are independently supported by spring return hydraulic cylinders which are connected between the treadmills and spaced support members of the frame. The continuous treads are driven by a motor which is coupled to the roller shaft. The treadmills alternately pivot up and down as a user walks thereon.

Treadmill with dual reciprocating treads

Foot treadle operated exercising apparatus of this invention provides for transfer of air from one foot treadle operated vertically disposed bellows to another through a restricted pathway adjustable in size by an adjustable valve to select a desired work load. A stroke length adjustment is featured for changing the length of the stroke. This is achieved with bellows that are biassed to return to an extended condition in the presence of atmospheric air. Thus with a closed air system, a manually operated air admission and venting valve will increase the bellows height when opened to admit atmospheric air and will decrease the bellows height when opened and pedals are depressed to vent air. The foot treadles are operable from a standing, sitting or lying position. An auxiliary arm exercise harness operates in conjunction with the foot operated treadles by means of hand manipulated lines cross connected so that the left hand will depress a right foot treadle and visa versa. The entire work load is effected by the transfer of air from one bellows to the other when the treadles are operated in a riding, jogging or climbing action. One embodiment provides for bicycle riding type of exercise activity.

Growing community of inventors

Park City, UT, United States of America

Trace O Gordon