US5743834A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Stationary exercise apparatus with adjustable crank
Assignee: CCS LLC
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Filing: 1997-04-29
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Granted: 1998-04-28
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Expires: 2017-04-29
Abstract
Abstract An exercise apparatus which promotes cardiovascular exercise yet provides minimal impact on critical joints. A base structure is provided which supports a pair of reciprocating members that are displaced in a generally reciprocating manner at one end yet orbit at the other end through a coupler assembly attached to the frame. The coupler assembly includes a mechanism to variably adjust the radius of the arcuate motion while the device is in use. A structure is included which permits each foot of the user to move in a generally closed path during the exercise. By being able to continuously variably adjust the size of the orbit, the user can fine tune the height and length of the closed path which redefines the foot motion to a preferred path for the anatomy of the particular user.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert E. Rodgers, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 10:25
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62M; B62M1/00; B62M1/24; B62M1/26; A; A63; A63B; A63B22/00; A63B22/0002; A63B22/001; A63B22/0015; A63B22/06; A63B22/0664; B62M1/12; A63B22/0605; A63B2022/0611; A63B2022/0623; A63B2022/0676; A63B22/20; A63B22/201; A63B22/203
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
182 words
An apparatus for exercising comprising: a frame having a base portion adapted to be supported by a floor; first and second reciprocating members, each reciprocating member having a first end and a second end, a portion of each said reciprocating member adapted for substantially reciprocating motion; a coupler assembly supported by said frame defining a pivot axis and having means for connecting said second end of each said reciprocating member relative to said pivot axis so that said second ends of each said reciprocating member orbit about said pivot axis while a portion of each of said first and second reciprocating member distal said second ends of each said reciprocating member moves in a substantially reciprocating motion; means operatively associated with said reciprocating members for supporting the bottom of the foot of the user so that during operation of the apparatus each foot of the user follows a predetermined closed path; and means for variably adjusting the geometry of said predetermined closed path allowing the user to select a closed path having a preferred anatomical pattern while the apparatus is in use.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
182 words
An apparatus for exercising comprising: a frame having a base portion adapted to be supported by a floor; first and second reciprocating members, each reciprocating member having a first end and a second end, a portion of each said reciprocating member adapted for substantially reciprocating motion; a coupler assembly supported by said frame defining a pivot axis and having means for connecting said second end of each said reciprocating member relative to said pivot axis so that said second ends of each said reciprocating member orbit about said pivot axis while a portion of each of said first and second reciprocating member distal said second ends of each said reciprocating member moves in a substantially reciprocating motion; means operatively associated with said reciprocating members for supporting the bottom of the foot of the user so that during operation of the apparatus each foot of the user follows a predetermined closed path; and means for variably adjusting the geometry of said predetermined closed path allowing the user to select a closed path having a preferred anatomical pattern while the apparatus is in use.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
194 words
An apparatus for exercising comprising: a frame having a base portion adapted to be supported by a floor; first and second reciprocating members, each reciprocating member having a first end and a second end, a portion of said reciprocating members adapted for substantially reciprocating motion; a coupler assembly supported by said frame defining a pivot axis and having crank members for connecting said second ends of said each reciprocating member relative to said pivot axis and for variably adjusting the distance from said second ends of each said reciprocating member to said pivot axis so that a portion of each of said reciprocating member distal said second end of each said reciprocating member moves in a substantially reciprocating motion; and means operatively associated with said reciprocating members for supporting the bottom of the foot of the user of the apparatus so that during operation of the apparatus each foot of the user follows a closed path, wherein the user may remotely adjust the distance from each said second end of said reciprocating member to said pivot axis changing the geometry of said predetermined closed path to accommodate the preferred anatomical pattern of the user.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
194 words
An apparatus for exercising comprising: a frame having a base portion adapted to be supported by a floor; first and second reciprocating members, each reciprocating member having a first end and a second end, a portion of said reciprocating members adapted for substantially reciprocating motion; a coupler assembly supported by said frame defining a pivot axis and having crank members for connecting said second ends of said each reciprocating member relative to said pivot axis and for variably adjusting the distance from said second ends of each said reciprocating member to said pivot axis so that a portion of each of said reciprocating member distal said second end of each said reciprocating member moves in a substantially reciprocating motion; and means operatively associated with said reciprocating members for supporting the bottom of the foot of the user of the apparatus so that during operation of the apparatus each foot of the user follows a closed path, wherein the user may remotely adjust the distance from each said second end of said reciprocating member to said pivot axis changing the geometry of said predetermined closed path to accommodate the preferred anatomical pattern of the user.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
187 words
An apparatus for exercising comprising: a frame having a base portion adapted to be supported by a floor; first and second reciprocating members, each reciprocating member having a rear end and a front end, a portion of said reciprocating members adapted for a substantially reciprocating motion; a coupler assembly supported by said frame defining a pivot axis and having crank members, each crank member adapted to revolve about the pivot axis at one end and to displace a reciprocating member from the other end of the crank member so that a portion of each said reciprocating member proximate the rear end of each reciprocating member moves in a substantially reciprocating motion while the one end of each crank member revolves about the pivot axis; each means associated with said crank member continuous remote adjustment by the user to change the distance from the front end of each reciprocating member to the pivot axis; and means operatively associated with said reciprocating members for supporting the bottom of the foot of the user so that during operation of the apparatus each foot of the user follows a closed path.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
187 words
An apparatus for exercising comprising: a frame having a base portion adapted to be supported by a floor; first and second reciprocating members, each reciprocating member having a rear end and a front end, a portion of said reciprocating members adapted for a substantially reciprocating motion; a coupler assembly supported by said frame defining a pivot axis and having crank members, each crank member adapted to revolve about the pivot axis at one end and to displace a reciprocating member from the other end of the crank member so that a portion of each said reciprocating member proximate the rear end of each reciprocating member moves in a substantially reciprocating motion while the one end of each crank member revolves about the pivot axis; each means associated with said crank member continuous remote adjustment by the user to change the distance from the front end of each reciprocating member to the pivot axis; and means operatively associated with said reciprocating members for supporting the bottom of the foot of the user so that during operation of the apparatus each foot of the user follows a closed path.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
70 words
The exercise apparatus according to claim 3 wherein each said crank member comprises: a first element adapted at one end to rotate about said pivot axis and connected at its other end proximate the front end of said first reciprocating member; and a second element adapted at one end to rotate about said pivot axis and connected at its other end proximate the front end of said second reciprocating member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
65 words
The exercise apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said first element comprises a pin at its other end to engage the front end of said first reciprocating member, a threadable member adapted to displace said pin along said first element relative to said pivot axis, and a motor adapted to rotate said threadable member enabling the displacement of said pin relative to said pivot axis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
85 words
The exercise apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said second element comprises a pin at its other end to engage the front end of said second reciprocating member, a threadable member adapted to displace said pin along said second element relative to said pivot axis, and a gear adapted to rotate said threadable member enabling the displacement of said pin of said second element relative to said pivot axis wherein said gear of said second element being driven by said motor of said first element.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
118 words
In an exercise apparatus having first and second reciprocating members, one end of each reciprocating member adapted for substantially reciprocating motion and the other end adapted for arcuate motion about a common axis and having means operatively associated with each reciprocating member for supporting the bottom of the foot of the user so that during operation of the apparatus each foot of the user follows a predetermined closed path, the exercise apparatus further comprising means for adjusting the distance from the other end of each reciprocating member to the common axis while the apparatus is in use allowing the user to selectively adjust the geometry of the closed path to a preferred anatomical pattern of the particular user.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
118 words
In an exercise apparatus having first and second reciprocating members, one end of each reciprocating member adapted for substantially reciprocating motion and the other end adapted for arcuate motion about a common axis and having means operatively associated with each reciprocating member for supporting the bottom of the foot of the user so that during operation of the apparatus each foot of the user follows a predetermined closed path, the exercise apparatus further comprising means for adjusting the distance from the other end of each reciprocating member to the common axis while the apparatus is in use allowing the user to selectively adjust the geometry of the closed path to a preferred anatomical pattern of the particular user.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
69 words
The exercise apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said adjusting means comprises: a first element adapted at one end to rotate about said pivot axis and connected at its other end to the other end of said first reciprocating member; and a second element adapted at one end to rotate about said pivot axis and connected at its other end to the other end of said second reciprocating member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
65 words
The exercise apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said first element comprises a pin at its other end to engage the other end of said first reciprocating member, a threadable member adapted to displace said pin along said first element relative to said pivot axis, and a motor adapted to rotate said threadable member enabling the displacement of said pin relative to said pivot axis.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
85 words
The exercise apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said second element comprises a pin at its other end to engage the other end of said second reciprocating member, a threadable member adapted to displace said pin along said second element relative to said pivot axis, and a gear adapted to rotate said threadable member enabling the displacement of said pin of said second element relative to said pivot axis wherein said gear of said second element being driven by said motor of said first element.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
251 words
An apparatus for exercising comprising: a frame having a base portion adapted to be supported by a floor; first and second reciprocating members, each reciprocating member having a first end and a second end, a portion of said reciprocating members adapted for a substantially reciprocating motion; a coupler assembly supported by said frame defining a pivot axis, a first element having one end adapted to rotate about said pivot axis and connected at its other end to the second end of said first reciprocating member, and a second element having one end adapted to rotate about said pivot axis and connected at its other end to the second end of said second reciprocating member so that as the other ends of each said first and second element move in an arcuate path about said pivot axis said portion of each of said reciprocating member distal said second end of each said reciprocating member moves in a substantially reciprocating motion; said first and second elements being variably adjustable remotely by the user to change the distance from said second ends of each said reciprocating member to said pivot axis; and means operatively associated with said reciprocating members for supporting the bottom of the foot of the user so that during operation of the apparatus each foot of the user follows a closed path, wherein the user may adjust the length of said first and second elements thereby changing the geometry of said closed path for a preferred anatomical pattern for that user.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
251 words
An apparatus for exercising comprising: a frame having a base portion adapted to be supported by a floor; first and second reciprocating members, each reciprocating member having a first end and a second end, a portion of said reciprocating members adapted for a substantially reciprocating motion; a coupler assembly supported by said frame defining a pivot axis, a first element having one end adapted to rotate about said pivot axis and connected at its other end to the second end of said first reciprocating member, and a second element having one end adapted to rotate about said pivot axis and connected at its other end to the second end of said second reciprocating member so that as the other ends of each said first and second element move in an arcuate path about said pivot axis said portion of each of said reciprocating member distal said second end of each said reciprocating member moves in a substantially reciprocating motion; said first and second elements being variably adjustable remotely by the user to change the distance from said second ends of each said reciprocating member to said pivot axis; and means operatively associated with said reciprocating members for supporting the bottom of the foot of the user so that during operation of the apparatus each foot of the user follows a closed path, wherein the user may adjust the length of said first and second elements thereby changing the geometry of said closed path for a preferred anatomical pattern for that user.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
66 words
The exercise apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said first element comprises a pin at its other end to engage the second end of said first reciprocating member, a threadable member adapted to displace said pivot pin along said first element relative to said pivot axis, and a motor adapted to rotate said threadable member enabling the displacement of said pin relative to said pivot axis.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
85 words
The exercise apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said second element comprises a pin at its other end to engage said second end of said second reciprocating member, a threadable member adapted to displace said pin along said second element relative to said pivot axis, and a gear adapted to rotate said threadable member enabling the displacement of said pin of said second element relative to said pivot axis wherein said gear of said second element being driven by said motor of said first element.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-04-27 | 2001-10-27 | 2002-04-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-04-27 | 2005-10-27 | 2006-04-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-04-27 | 2009-10-27 | 2010-04-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |