Recumbent elliptical exercise machine

Claim 2

An exercise machine comprising: a framework means, said framework means configured to be supported by the floor and support a seat means; a pedal means, said pedal means configured for each foot of a seated operator; a linkage means having first and second ends and having a crank means connected intermediate said ends and projecting outwardly therefrom on both sides thereof, said crank means rotatably connected to said framework means; a coupling means operably associated with said linkage means and said first end and said framework means; said pedal means connected to each said linkage means at a second end of said linkage means whereby said pedal means follows a generally elliptical inclined pedal path as said crank means rotates with the foot force acting upon said pedal means of a seated operator positioned in said seat means.

Claim 3

The exercise machine according to claim 1 wherein said coupling means is a rocker arm means pivotally connected to said linkage means on one end and pivotally connected to said framework means on the other end.

Claim 4

The exercise machine according to claim 1 wherein said coupling means is a slider means pivotally connected to said linkage means and constrained to move with reciprocating motion by a linear track means connected to said framework means.

Claim 5

The exercise machine according to claim 1 wherein said coupling means is a second crank means pivotally connected to said linkage means on one end and rotatably associated with said framework means on the other end, said second crank means being operably associated with said first crank means by a belt and equal diameter sprockets.

Claim 6

The exercise machine according to claim 1 further comprising an actuator means connected to said coupling means on one end and operably associated with the framework on the other whereby said coupling means connection to said framework means can be moved during operation of said exercise machine thereby causing said elliptical inclined pedal path to change.

Claim 7

The exercise machine according to claim 1 further comprising a pedal adjustment means wherein said pedal means is connected to said linkage means with a locking means whereby said locking means can be released to reposition the pedal means relative to said linkage means thereby causing said elliptical inclined pedal path to change.

Claim 8

The exercise machine according to claim 1 further comprising a load resistance means operably associated with said crank means.

Claim 9

The exercise machine according to claim 1 further comprising a flywheel means operably associated with said crank means.

Claim 10

The exercise machine according to claim 1 further comprising an adjustment means whereby said seat means can be moved relative to said framework means.

Claim 11

The exercise machine according to claim 1 further comprising arm exercise means operably associated with said linkage means.

Claim 12

The exercise machine according to claim 1 further comprising arm exercise means wherein said arm exercise means comprises a handle means pivotally connected to said framework means and a coupler link means pivotally connected to said handle means and pivotally connected to said coupling means.

Claim 13

A recumbent exercise machine comprising: a framework means, said framework means configured to be supported by the floor and support a seat means; a pedal means, said pedal means configured for each foot of a recumbent operator; a linkage means having a crank means projecting outwardly therefrom on both sides thereof, said crank means rotatably connected to said framework means; a coupling means operably associated with said linkage means and said framework means; said pedal means connected to each said linkage means whereby said pedal means follows a generally oblong inclined pedal path as said crank means rotates with the foot force acting upon said pedal means of a recumbent operator positioned in said seat means; an actuator means connected to said coupling means on one end and operably associated with the framework on the other whereby the coupling means connection to said framework means can be moved during operation of said exercise machine thereby causing said oblong inclined pedal path to change.

Claim 14

A recumbent exercise machine comprising: a framework means, said framework means configured to be supported by the floor and support a seat means; a pedal means, said pedal means configured for each foot of a recumbent operator; a linkage means having a crank means projecting outwardly therefrom on both sides thereof, said crank means rotatably connected to said framework means; a coupling means operably associated with said linkage means and said framework means; said pedal means connected to each said linkage means whereby said pedal means follows a generally oblong inclined pedal path as said crank means rotates with the foot force acting upon said pedal means of a recumbent operator positioned in said seat means; an actuator means connected to said coupling means on one end and operably associated with the framework on the other whereby the coupling means connection to said framework means can be moved during operation of said exercise machine thereby causing said oblong inclined pedal path to change.

Claim 15

The recumbent exercise machine according to claim 12 wherein said coupling means is a rocker arm means pivotally connected to said linkage means on one end and pivotally connected to said actuator means on the other end.

Claim 16

The recumbent exercise machine according to claim 12 wherein said coupling means is a slider means pivotally connected to said linkage means and constrained to move with reciprocating motion by a curved or linear track means connected to said actuator means.

Claim 17

The recumbent exercise machine according to claim 12 wherein said coupling means is a second crank means pivotally connected to said linkage means on one end and rotatably associated with said actuator means on the other end, said second crank means being operably associated with said first crank means by a belt and equal diameter sprockets.

Claim 18

The recumbent exercise machine according to claim 12 further comprising arm exercise means operably associated with said linkage means.

Claim 19

The recumbent exercise machine according to claim 12 further comprising a pedal adjustment means wherein said pedal means is connected to said linkage means with a locking means whereby said locking means can be released to reposition the pedal means with said pedal adjustment means relative to said linkage means thereby causing said oblong inclined pedal path to change.

Claim 20

A recumbent exercise machine comprising: a framework means, said framework means configured to be supported by the floor and support a seat means; a crankshaft bearing housing means connected to said framework means and having a crank means projecting outwardly therefrom on both sides thereof; a crossarm means having first and second ends, said crossarm means having a first crossarm pivot means intermediate said ends and connected to each said crank means and a second crossarm pivot means connected to a pivot guide means at one of said ends and operably associated with said framework means; a pedal means connected to each said crossarm means at said other end whereby said pedal means follows a generally elliptical pedal path as said crank means rotates with the foot force acting upon said pedal means of a recumbent operator positioned in said seat means, said foot force acting generally tangent to uppermost portion of said elliptical pedal path.

Claim 21

A recumbent exercise machine comprising: a framework means, said framework means configured to be supported by the floor and support a seat means; a crankshaft bearing housing means connected to said framework means and having a crank means projecting outwardly therefrom on both sides thereof; a crossarm means having first and second ends, said crossarm means having a first crossarm pivot means intermediate said ends and connected to each said crank means and a second crossarm pivot means connected to a pivot guide means at one of said ends and operably associated with said framework means; a pedal means connected to each said crossarm means at said other end whereby said pedal means follows a generally elliptical pedal path as said crank means rotates with the foot force acting upon said pedal means of a recumbent operator positioned in said seat means, said foot force acting generally tangent to uppermost portion of said elliptical pedal path.

Claim 22

The recumbent exercise machine according to claim 18 wherein said pivot guide means is a rocker arm means pivotally connected to said second crossarm pivot means on one end and pivotally connected to said framework means on the other end.

Claim 23

The recumbent exercise machine according to claim 18 wherein said pivot guide means is a slider means pivotally connected to said second crossarm pivot means and constrained to move with reciprocating motion by a linear track means connected to said framework means.

Claim 24

The recumbent exercise machine according to claim 18 wherein said pivot guide means is a second crank means pivotally connected to said second pivot crossarm means on one end and rotatably associated with said framework means on the other end, said second crank means being operably associated with said first crank means by a belt and equal diameter sprockets.

Claim 25

The recumbent exercise machine according to claim 18 further comprising an actuator means connected to the pivot guide means on one end and operably associated with the framework on the other whereby the pivot guide means connection to said framework means can be moved during operation of said exercise machine thereby causing said elliptical pedal path to change.

Claim 26

The recumbent exercise machine according to claim 18 further comprising a pedal adjustment means wherein said pedal means is connected to said crossarm means with a locking means whereby said locking means can be released to reposition the pedal means relative to said crossarm means thereby causing said elliptical pedal path to change.

Claim 27

The recumbent exercise machine according to claim 18 further comprising arm exercise operably associated with said pivot guide means or said linkage means.

Claim 28

An exercise machine comprising: a framework means, said framework means configured to be supported by the floor and support a seat means; a handle means, said handle means configured for each hand of a seated operator; a linkage means having a crank means projecting outwardly therefrom on both sides thereof, said crank means rotatably connected to said framework means; a coupling means operably associated with said linkage means and said framework means; said handle means connected to each said linkage means whereby said handle means follows an extended closed loop hand path as said crank means rotates with the hand force acting upon said handle means of an operator positioned in said seat means; and an actuator means connected to said coupling means on one end and operably associated with the framework on the other end, whereby said coupling means connection can be moved during operation of said exercise machine thereby causing said elongated closed loop hand path to change.

Claim 29

An exercise machine comprising: a framework means, said framework means configured to be supported by the floor and support a seat means; a handle means, said handle means configured for each hand of a seated operator; a linkage means having a crank means projecting outwardly therefrom on both sides thereof, said crank means rotatably connected to said framework means; a coupling means operably associated with said linkage means and said framework means; said handle means connected to each said linkage means whereby said handle means follows an extended closed loop hand path as said crank means rotates with the hand force acting upon said handle means of an operator positioned in said seat means; and an actuator means connected to said coupling means on one end and operably associated with the framework on the other end, whereby said coupling means connection can be moved during operation of said exercise machine thereby causing said elongated closed loop hand path to change.

Claim 30

The exercise machine according to claim 25 wherein said coupling means is a rocker arm means pivotally connected to said linkage means on one end and pivotally connected to said framework means on the other end.

Claim 31

The exercise machine according to claim 25 wherein said coupling means is a slider means pivotally connected to said linkage means and constrained to move with reciprocating motion by a curved or linear track means connected to said framework means.

Claim 32

The exercise machine according to claim 25 wherein said coupling means is a second crank means pivotally connected to said linkage means on one end and rotatably associated with said framework means on the other end, said second crank means being operably associated with said first crank means by a belt and equal diameter sprockets.

Claim 33

The exercise machine according to claim 25 further comprising a pedal means operably associated with said linkage means.

Claim 34

The exercise machine according to claim 25 further comprising a load resistance means and flywheel means operably associated with said crank means.

Claim 35

The exercise machine according to claim 25 further comprising an adjustment means whereby said seat means can be moved relative to said framework means.