Exercise apparatus with flexible element
View Patent ↗An exercise device includes a flexible support element and a step height adjustment mechanism. The flexible support element couples at least one crank to a right foot support and a left foot support. The step height adjustment mechanism allows a person to adjust a step height of a path through which the left and right foot supports move.
1. An exercise apparatus comprising:
a frame having a base portion adapted to be supported by a floor;
a crank system having at least one crank pivotable about an axis;
a right linkage assembly comprising a right foot support and pivotally supported by the frame;
a left linkage assembly comprising a left foot support and pivotally supported by the frame;
first and second coupling systems each comprising a flexible element, wherein the first coupling system couples the at least one crank to the right foot support and the second coupling system couples the at least one crank to the left foot support; and
a step height adjustment mechanism configured to allow a person to adjust a step height of a path through which the left and right foot supports move, the step height adjustment mechanism comprising:
a first flexible element crank guide carried by the at least one crank and a second flexible element crank guide carried by the at least one crank, wherein the first flexible element of the first coupling system partially wraps about the first flexible element crank guide and wherein the second flexible element of the second coupling system partially wraps about the second flexible element crank guide; and
an adjustment mechanism operably coupled to the first flexible element and the second flexible element to adjust an extent to which the first flexible element and the second flexible element partially wrap about the first flexible element crank guide and the second flexible element crank guide, respectively.
2. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one crank consists of a single crank and wherein the flexible element of each of the first and second coupling systems is coupled to the single crank.
3. The exercise apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the single crank comprises:
a crank arm, wherein the first and second flexible element crank guides are carried by the crank arm.
4. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the flexible element of the first coupling system and the flexible element of the second coupling system have substantially horizontal parallel portions.
5. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first coupling system and the second coupling system move the left foot support and the right foot support through a first selected one of a first plurality of different available paths that change between the first plurality of different available paths in response to force applied by a person to the left foot support and the right foot support.
6. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one crank comprises:
a first crank moving the first flexible element of the first coupling system; and
a second crank moving the second flexible element of the second coupling system.
7. The exercise apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the first crank and the second crank pivot about a same axis.
8. The exercise apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the first flexible element crank guide is carried by the first crank and wherein the second flexible element crank guide is carried by the second crank.
9. The exercise apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the first crank and the second crank pivot about a same axis.
10. The exercise apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the first flexible element crank guide and the second flexible element crank guide rotate 180 degrees out of phase relative to one another.
11. The exercise apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the first flexible element crank guide and the second flexible element crank guide comprise first and second pulleys, respectively.
12. The exercise apparatus of claim 6 further comprising:
a rotational member, wherein the first crank and the second crank are operatively coupled to the rotational member; and
a resistance source connected to the rotational member.
13. The exercise apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the at least one crank is contained beneath a vertical midpoint of the exercise apparatus.
14. The exercise apparatus of claim 6 further comprising a rotatable torque bar, wherein the flexible element of the first coupling system comprises a first portion coupled between the right foot support and the torque bar and a second portion coupled between the torque bar and the at least one crank, wherein the first portion is connected to the torque bore so as to wind about the torque bar while the second portion unwinds from the torque bar.
15. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a fixed mount attached to a terminal end of each of the first flexible element and the second flexible element.
16. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first flexible element crank guide is carried by the at least one crank so as to rotate with the at least one crank about the axis and wherein the second flexible element crank guide is carried by the lease one crank so as to rotate with the lease one crank about the axis.
17. An exercise apparatus comprising:
a frame having a base portion of adapted to be supported by a floor;
a crank system having at least one crank pivotable about a substantially horizontal axis;
a right linkage assembly comprising a right foot support and pivotally supported by the frame;
a left linkage assembly comprising a left foot support and pivotally supported by the frame; and
first and second coupling systems each comprising a flexible element, wherein the first coupling system couples the at least one crank to the right foot support and the second coupling system couples the at least one crank to the left foot support, wherein the flexible element of the first coupling system and the flexible element of the second coupling system have parallel portions extending in a single plane.
18. The exercise apparatus of claim 16 further comprising an adjustment member rotatable about the axis and providing a first flexible element end mount attached to an end portion of the flexible element of the first coupling system and a second flexible element end mount attached to an end portion of the flexible element of the second coupling system wherein the adjustment member is securable in different positions to retain the first flexible element end mount and the second flexible element end mount at a selected one of different positions.
19. The exercise apparatus of claim 17 wherein the first coupling system and the second coupling system move the left foot support and the right foot support through a first selected one of a first plurality of different available paths that change between the first plurality of different available paths in response to force applied by a person to the left foot support and the right foot support.
20. The exercise apparatus of claim 17 further comprising:
a step height adjustment mechanism configured to allow a person to adjust a step height of a path through which the left and right foot supports move, the step height adjustment mechanism comprising:
a first flexible element crank guide carried by the at least one crank so as to rotate with the at least one crank about the axis and a second flexible element crank guide carried by the at least one crank so as to rotate with the at least one crank about the axis, wherein the flexible element of the first coupling system partially wraps about the first flexible element crank guide and wherein the flexible element of the second coupling system partially wraps about the second flexible element crank guide; and
an adjustment mechanism operably coupled to the flexible element of the first coupling system and the flexible element of the second coupling system to adjust an extent to which the flexible element of the first coupling system and the flexible element of the second coupling system partially wrap about the first flexible element crank guide and the second flexible element crank guide, respectively.
21. The exercise apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the at least one crank comprises:
a first crank moving the flexible element of the first coupling system; and
a second crank moving the flexible element of the second coupling system.
22. The exercise apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the first crank and the second crank pivot about a same axis.
23. The exercise apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the first flexible element crank guide and the second flexible element crank guide comprise first and second pulleys, respectively.
24. The exercise apparatus of claim 21 further comprising:
a rotational member, wherein the first crank and the second crank are operatively coupled to the rotational member; and
a resistance source connected to the rotational member.
25. The exercise apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the at least one crank is contained beneath a vertical midpoint of the exercise apparatus.
26. The exercise apparatus of claim 17 further comprising a rotatable torque bar, wherein the flexible element of the first coupling system comprises a first portion coupled between the right foot support and the torque bar and a second portion coupled between the torque bar and the at least one crank, wherein the first portion is connected to the torque bore so as to wind about the torque bar while the second portion unwinds from the torque bar.
27. The exercise apparatus of claim 17 further comprising a fixed mount attached to a terminal end of each of the flexible element of the first coupling system and the flexible element of the second coupling system.
28. The exercise apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the first flexible element crank guide is carried by the at least one crank so as to rotate with the at least one crank about the axis and wherein the second flexible element crank guide is carried by the lease one crank so as to rotate with the at least one crank about the axis.
29. The exercise apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the single plane is substantially horizontal.