US5256117A — Stairclimbing and upper body, exercise apparatus

Claim 1

Independent Claim 115 words

Apparatus usable for stair-climbing simulation and upper body exercise comprising: a base; left and right pedals; means for movably mounting said pedals with respect to said base to permit movement between an upper position and a lower, rearward position; means for providing a first force opposing motion of said pedals from said upper position to said lower position; mean for urging said left and right pedals from said lower to said upper position; left and right handles; and means for movably mounting said handles with respect to said base to permit movement between a first and a second position, said movement between said first and second position being substantially independent from said means for urging.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 115 words

Apparatus usable for stair-climbing simulation and upper body exercise comprising: a base; left and right pedals; means for movably mounting said pedals with respect to said base to permit movement between an upper position and a lower, rearward position; means for providing a first force opposing motion of said pedals from said upper position to said lower position; mean for urging said left and right pedals from said lower to said upper position; left and right handles; and means for movably mounting said handles with respect to said base to permit movement between a first and a second position, said movement between said first and second position being substantially independent from said means for urging.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 81 words

Apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: shaft means rotationally mounted with respect to said base; means for converting said movement of at least one of said left and right pedals and at least one of said left and right handles to rotational movement of said shaft means; means for sensing a quantity related to the angular velocity of said shaft means; and means for providing said force with a magnitude to prevent said angular velocity exceeding a predetermined value.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 14 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, further comprising means for selecting said predetermined value.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 42 words

Apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for movably mounting said handles comprises: a pivot means positioned with respect to said base; left and right arms extending from said pivot means; means for rotatably attaching said handles to said arms.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 41 words

Apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for receiving user input, for calculating the amount of calories expended in said movement of said pedals and said handles and for displaying a quantity related to said calculated amount of calories.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 37 words

Apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: means for sensing a quantity related to the amount of calories expended in said movement of said handles and for displaying a quantity related to said amount of calories.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 28 words

Apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for maintaining said pedals in a substantially horizontal position during said movement between said upper and said lower position.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 60 words

Apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for varying said first force during said motion of said pedals to provide a force which is smaller when said pedal is in a first pedal position than when said pedal is in a second pedal position, said first position being closer to said upper position than is said second position.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 19 words

Apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising stop means for limiting the range of movement of said handles.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 28 words

Apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: means for providing a second force opposing said movement of said handles from said first position to said second position.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 23 words

Apparatus, as claimed in claim 10, further comprising: means for adjusting said first force and said second force to produce substantially isokinetic exercise.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 26 words

Apparatus, as claimed in claim 10, wherein said first force per unit of pedal movement is greater than said second force per unit of handle movement.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 120 words

Apparatus usable for stair-climbing simulation and upper body exercise comprising: a base; left and right pedals mounted with respect to said base to permit movement between an upper position and a lower, rearward position; means for opposing motion of said pedals from said upper position to said lower position; mean for urging said pedal means from said lower to said upper position; a left handle mounted with respect to said base to permit movement between a first and a second position; a right handle mounted with respect to said base to permit movement between third and a fourth position, said movement between said first and second positions being substantially independent from said movement between said third and said fourth positions.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 120 words

Apparatus usable for stair-climbing simulation and upper body exercise comprising: a base; left and right pedals mounted with respect to said base to permit movement between an upper position and a lower, rearward position; means for opposing motion of said pedals from said upper position to said lower position; mean for urging said pedal means from said lower to said upper position; a left handle mounted with respect to said base to permit movement between a first and a second position; a right handle mounted with respect to said base to permit movement between third and a fourth position, said movement between said first and second positions being substantially independent from said movement between said third and said fourth positions.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 28 words

Apparatus, as claimed in claim 13, further comprising means for maintaining said pedals in a substantially horizontal position during said movement between said upper and said lower position.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 60 words

Apparatus, as claimed in claim 13, further comprising means for varying said first force during said motion of said pedals to provide a force which is smaller when said pedal is in a first pedal position than when said pedal is in a second pedal position, said first position being closer to said upper position than is said second position.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 28 words

Apparatus, as claimed in claim 13, further comprising: means for providing a second force opposing said movement of said handles from said first position to said second position.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 23 words

Apparatus, as claimed in claim 16, further comprising: means for adjusting said first force and said second force to produce substantially isokinetic exercise.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 135 words

Apparatus usable for stair-climbing simulation and upper body exercise comprising: a base; a left pedal mounted with respect to said base to be movable between a first pedal position and a second pedal position, said second position being below said first pedal position; a right pedal mounted with respect to said base to be movable between a third pedal position and a fourth pedal position, said third position being below said fourth pedal position, said movement between said first and second pedal positions being substantially independent from said movement between said third and said fourth positions; a left handle mounted with respect to said base to permit movement between a first and a second position; and a right handle mounted with respect to said base to permit movement between a third and a fourth position.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 135 words

Apparatus usable for stair-climbing simulation and upper body exercise comprising: a base; a left pedal mounted with respect to said base to be movable between a first pedal position and a second pedal position, said second position being below said first pedal position; a right pedal mounted with respect to said base to be movable between a third pedal position and a fourth pedal position, said third position being below said fourth pedal position, said movement between said first and second pedal positions being substantially independent from said movement between said third and said fourth positions; a left handle mounted with respect to said base to permit movement between a first and a second position; and a right handle mounted with respect to said base to permit movement between a third and a fourth position.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 28 words

Apparatus, as claimed in claim 18, further comprising means for maintaining said pedals in a substantially horizontal position during said movement between said upper and said lower position.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 60 words

Apparatus, as claimed in claim 18, further comprising means for varying said first force during said motion of said pedals to provide a force which is smaller when said pedal is in a first pedal position than when said pedal is in a second pedal position, said first position being closer to said upper position than is said second position.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 28 words

Apparatus, as claimed in claim 18, further comprising: means for providing a second force opposing said movement of said handles from said first position to said second position.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 23 words

Apparatus, as claimed in claim 21, further comprising: means for adjusting said first force and said second force to produce substantially isokinetic exercise.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 162 words

Apparatus usable for stair-climbing simulation and upper body exercise comprising: a base; left and right pedals; means for movably mounting said pedals with respect to said base to permit movement between an upper position and a lower, rearward position; left and right handles; means for movably mounting said handles with respect to said base to permit movement between a first and a second position; shaft means rotationally mounted with respect to said base; means for converting said movement of at least one of said left and right pedals to rotational movement of said shaft means to define a first ratio between distance traveled by said pedal and angular velocity of said shaft means; means for converting said movement of at least one of said left and right handles to rotational movement of said shaft means to define a second ratio between distance traveled by said handle and angular velocity of said shaft means, said second ratio being greater than said first ratio.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 162 words

Apparatus usable for stair-climbing simulation and upper body exercise comprising: a base; left and right pedals; means for movably mounting said pedals with respect to said base to permit movement between an upper position and a lower, rearward position; left and right handles; means for movably mounting said handles with respect to said base to permit movement between a first and a second position; shaft means rotationally mounted with respect to said base; means for converting said movement of at least one of said left and right pedals to rotational movement of said shaft means to define a first ratio between distance traveled by said pedal and angular velocity of said shaft means; means for converting said movement of at least one of said left and right handles to rotational movement of said shaft means to define a second ratio between distance traveled by said handle and angular velocity of said shaft means, said second ratio being greater than said first ratio.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 17 words

Apparatus, as claimed in claim 23, wherein said second ratio is about four times said first ratio.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 77 words

Apparatus, as claimed in claim 23, wherein said means for converting movement of at least one of said left and right handles comprises at least a first gear having a first diameter coupled to at least one of said left and right handles for receiving motion generated by movement of said one of said left and right handles and at least a second gear coupled to said first gear having a diameter greater than said first diameter.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 142 words

Apparatus usable for stair-climbing simulation and upper body exercise comprising: a base; left and right pedals; means for movably mounting said pedals with respect to said base to permit movement between an upper position and a lower, rearward position; means for providing a first force opposing motion of said pedals from said upper position to said lower position; mean for urging said pedal means from said lower to said upper position; left and right handles; means for movably mounting said handles with respect to said base to permit movement between a first and a second position; means for sensing a quantity related to the amount of calories expended in said movement of said handles, independent of calories expended in said movement of said pedals, and for displaying a quantity related to said amount of calories expended in said movement of said handles.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 142 words

Apparatus usable for stair-climbing simulation and upper body exercise comprising: a base; left and right pedals; means for movably mounting said pedals with respect to said base to permit movement between an upper position and a lower, rearward position; means for providing a first force opposing motion of said pedals from said upper position to said lower position; mean for urging said pedal means from said lower to said upper position; left and right handles; means for movably mounting said handles with respect to said base to permit movement between a first and a second position; means for sensing a quantity related to the amount of calories expended in said movement of said handles, independent of calories expended in said movement of said pedals, and for displaying a quantity related to said amount of calories expended in said movement of said handles.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 237 words

An exercise apparatus for simultaneously conducting stair-climbing exercise and upper-body exercise, comprising: a base; left and right pedals; left and right pedal arms for movably connecting said pedals to said base to permit movement between an upper position and a lower, rearward position, said movement of said left pedal being independent from said movement of said right pedal; left and right handles; left and right handle arms for movably connecting said handles to said base to permit movement between first and second positions, said movement of said left handle being independent of said movement of said right handle and also being independent from said movement of said pedals; a shaft; means for transmitting said movement of said pedals to said shaft to cause rotation of said shaft during said movement from said upper position to said lower position to define a first ratio between distance traveled by said pedals and angular velocity of said shaft; means for transmitting said movement of said handles to said shaft to cause rotation of said shaft during said movement from said first position to said second position to define a second ratio between distance traveled by said handles and angular velocity of said shaft, said second ratio being greater than said first ratio; means for urging said pedals from said lower position to said upper position; and means for selectively braking said rotation of said shaft to produce substantially isokinetic exercise.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 237 words

An exercise apparatus for simultaneously conducting stair-climbing exercise and upper-body exercise, comprising: a base; left and right pedals; left and right pedal arms for movably connecting said pedals to said base to permit movement between an upper position and a lower, rearward position, said movement of said left pedal being independent from said movement of said right pedal; left and right handles; left and right handle arms for movably connecting said handles to said base to permit movement between first and second positions, said movement of said left handle being independent of said movement of said right handle and also being independent from said movement of said pedals; a shaft; means for transmitting said movement of said pedals to said shaft to cause rotation of said shaft during said movement from said upper position to said lower position to define a first ratio between distance traveled by said pedals and angular velocity of said shaft; means for transmitting said movement of said handles to said shaft to cause rotation of said shaft during said movement from said first position to said second position to define a second ratio between distance traveled by said handles and angular velocity of said shaft, said second ratio being greater than said first ratio; means for urging said pedals from said lower position to said upper position; and means for selectively braking said rotation of said shaft to produce substantially isokinetic exercise.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 118 words

Apparatus, as claimed in claim 27, wherein said means for transmitting said movement of said pedals includes a first linear means having a first end and a second end, and wherein said pedal arms are pivotable about a first axis with respect to said base and a second axis with respect to said pedals, said first and second axes defining a longitudinal axis and further comprising: engagable means coupled to said shaft for causing rotation of said shaft when said linear means moves past said engagable means; a first leg extending outward from at least one of said pedal arms; and means for attaching said first end to said leg at a point spaced from said longitudinal axis.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 156 words

Apparatus usable for stair-climbing simulation comprising: a base; left and right pedals; means for movably mounting said pedals with respect to said base to permit movement between an upper position and a lower, rearward position; means for providing a first force opposing motion of said pedals from said upper position to said lower position; means for providing a second force urging said pedal means from said lower to said upper position; means for sensing a first quantity related to the amount of calories expended in said movement of said pedal means from said upper position to said lower position; means for providing a binary code related to the magnitude of said second force; means for using said first quantity and said signal to provide a third quantity related to an amount of calories expended offset by an amount of work done using said second force; and means for displaying a quantity related to said third quantity.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 156 words

Apparatus usable for stair-climbing simulation comprising: a base; left and right pedals; means for movably mounting said pedals with respect to said base to permit movement between an upper position and a lower, rearward position; means for providing a first force opposing motion of said pedals from said upper position to said lower position; means for providing a second force urging said pedal means from said lower to said upper position; means for sensing a first quantity related to the amount of calories expended in said movement of said pedal means from said upper position to said lower position; means for providing a binary code related to the magnitude of said second force; means for using said first quantity and said signal to provide a third quantity related to an amount of calories expended offset by an amount of work done using said second force; and means for displaying a quantity related to said third quantity.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 17 words

Apparatus, as claimed in claim 10, wherein said means for providing a second force comprises a chain.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 31 words

Apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said apparatus further comprises a rotor, rotatably mounted with respect to said base and mean for maintaining the rotor at a substantially constant velocity.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 35 words

Apparatus, as claimed in claim 31, wherein said means for maintaining includes a rotor velocity sensor and a processor, coupled to said sensor, for increasing a resistance load when said velocity exceeds a threshold value.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 22 words

Apparatus, as claimed in claim 32, further comprising user input means, coupled to said processor, for use in selecting said threshold value.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 25 words

Apparatus, as claimed in claim 33, wherein said user input means is configured to permit the user to select one of several pre-programmed exercise regimes.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 23 words

Apparatus, as claimed in claim 33, wherein said user input means is configured to permit the user to configure an individualized exercise regime.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 33 words

Apparatus, as claimed in claim 32, further comprising an alternator positioned with respect to said base, wherein said rotor is an alternator shaft and wherein said sensor senses AC output of said alternator.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1996-10-25	1997-04-26	1997-10-26	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2000-10-25	2001-04-26	2001-10-26	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2004-10-25	2005-04-26	2005-10-26	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Stairclimbing and upper body, exercise apparatus

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