US5897463A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Four bar exercise machine
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1997-08-19
•
Granted: 1999-04-27
•
Expires: 2017-08-19
Abstract
Abstract An exercise machine for exercising the lower body, the upper body, or both simultaneously. The mechanism consists of a crank, a rocker, a connector link, and a stationary fourth link so arranged as to cause a portion of the connector link to travel about a closed curve resembling an ellipse, a tear drop shape, or any variation thereof. A flywheel and/or force resisting means may be added to provide inertial characteristics and drag resistance to the operator.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph D. Maresh
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 15:55
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B22/00; A63B22/0015; A63B22/0002; A63B22/0005; A63B22/0007; A63B22/001; A63B22/06; A63B22/0664; A63B22/0025; A63B2022/0033; A63B2022/0043; A63B22/0605; A63B2022/0611; A63B2022/0629; A63B2022/067; A63B2022/0676; A63B2022/0682; A63B21/00; A63B21/005; A63B21/0058; A63B21/22; A63B21/225; A63B2208/00; A63B2208/02; A63B2208/0228; A63B2208/0238; A63B2225/00; A63B2225/09
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
229 words
A stationary exercise apparatus, comprising: a base designed to occupy a fixed position on a floor surface; a left rigid link and a right rigid link, wherein each said rigid link provides three discrete connection points; a left crank and a right crank, wherein each said crank is rotatably mounted on said base, and each said rigid link has a first connection point connected to a respective crank; a left rigid member and a right rigid member, wherein each said rigid link has a second connection point connected to a respective rigid member and constrained thereby to move in reciprocal fashion relative to said base as a respective crank rotates; a left foot support and a right foot support, wherein each said rigid link has a third connection point connected to a respective foot support and constrained thereby to move through a generally elliptical path relative to said base as a respective crank rotates, and each said path has a major axis which is greater than a crank diameter defined between said first connection point on said left rigid link and said first connection point on said right rigid link; and a left linkage and a right linkage, wherein each said linkage is interconnected between said base and a respective foot support and constrains a respective foot support to remain in a substantially fixed orientation throughout an exercise cycle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
229 words
A stationary exercise apparatus, comprising: a base designed to occupy a fixed position on a floor surface; a left rigid link and a right rigid link, wherein each said rigid link provides three discrete connection points; a left crank and a right crank, wherein each said crank is rotatably mounted on said base, and each said rigid link has a first connection point connected to a respective crank; a left rigid member and a right rigid member, wherein each said rigid link has a second connection point connected to a respective rigid member and constrained thereby to move in reciprocal fashion relative to said base as a respective crank rotates; a left foot support and a right foot support, wherein each said rigid link has a third connection point connected to a respective foot support and constrained thereby to move through a generally elliptical path relative to said base as a respective crank rotates, and each said path has a major axis which is greater than a crank diameter defined between said first connection point on said left rigid link and said first connection point on said right rigid link; and a left linkage and a right linkage, wherein each said linkage is interconnected between said base and a respective foot support and constrains a respective foot support to remain in a substantially fixed orientation throughout an exercise cycle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The stationary exercise apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a flywheel mounted on said frame and connected to at least one of said left crank and said right crank.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The stationary exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein each said linkage constrains a respective foot support to remain substantially parallel to the floor surface throughout an exercise cycle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
70 words
The stationary exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein each said linkage includes an additional rigid link having a third connection point connected to a respective foot support; an additional crank, wherein each said additional rigid link has a first connection point connected to a respective additional crank; and an additional rigid member, wherein each said additional rigid link has a second connection point connected to a respective additional rigid member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
191 words
A stationary exercise apparatus, comprising: a base designed to occupy a fixed position on a floor surface; a left rigid link and a right rigid link, wherein each said rigid link provides three discrete connection points; a left crank and a right crank, wherein each said crank is rotatably mounted on said base, and each said rigid link has a first connection point connected to a respective crank; a left rigid member and a right rigid member, wherein each said rigid link has a second connection point connected to a respective rigid member and constrained thereby to move in reciprocal fashion relative to said base as a respective crank rotates; a left foot support and a right foot support, wherein each said rigid link has a third connection point connected to a respective foot support and constrained thereby to move through a generally elliptical path relative to said base as a respective crank rotates; and a left means and a right means, each said means interconnected between said base and a respective foot support, for constraining a respective foot support to remain in a substantially fixed orientation throughout an exercise cycle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
191 words
A stationary exercise apparatus, comprising: a base designed to occupy a fixed position on a floor surface; a left rigid link and a right rigid link, wherein each said rigid link provides three discrete connection points; a left crank and a right crank, wherein each said crank is rotatably mounted on said base, and each said rigid link has a first connection point connected to a respective crank; a left rigid member and a right rigid member, wherein each said rigid link has a second connection point connected to a respective rigid member and constrained thereby to move in reciprocal fashion relative to said base as a respective crank rotates; a left foot support and a right foot support, wherein each said rigid link has a third connection point connected to a respective foot support and constrained thereby to move through a generally elliptical path relative to said base as a respective crank rotates; and a left means and a right means, each said means interconnected between said base and a respective foot support, for constraining a respective foot support to remain in a substantially fixed orientation throughout an exercise cycle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The stationary exercise apparatus of claim 5, wherein each said means constrains a respective foot support to remain substantially parallel to the floor surface throughout an exercise cycle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The stationary exercise apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a flywheel mounted on said frame and connected to at least one of said left crank and said right crank.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
70 words
The stationary exercise apparatus of claim 5, wherein each said means includes an additional rigid link having a third connection point connected to a respective foot support; an additional crank, wherein each said additional rigid link has a first connection point connected to a respective additional crank; and an additional rigid member, wherein each said additional rigid link has a second connection point connected to a respective additional rigid member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
190 words
A stationary exercise apparatus, comprising: a base designed to occupy a fixed position on a floor surface; a left first linkage and a right first linkage, wherein each said first linkage provides three discrete connection points; a left crank and a right crank, wherein each said crank is rotatably mounted on said base, and each said first linkage has a first connection point connected to a respective crank; a left rigid member and a right rigid member, wherein each said first linkage has a second connection point connected to a respective rigid member and constrained thereby to move in reciprocal fashion relative to said base; a left foot support and a right foot support, wherein each said first linkage has a third connection point connected to a respective foot support and constrained thereby to move through a generally elliptical path relative to said base; and a left second linkage and a right second linkage, wherein each said second linkage is interconnected between said base and a respective foot support, and each said second linkage constrains a respective foot support to remain in a substantially fixed orientation throughout an exercise cycle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
190 words
A stationary exercise apparatus, comprising: a base designed to occupy a fixed position on a floor surface; a left first linkage and a right first linkage, wherein each said first linkage provides three discrete connection points; a left crank and a right crank, wherein each said crank is rotatably mounted on said base, and each said first linkage has a first connection point connected to a respective crank; a left rigid member and a right rigid member, wherein each said first linkage has a second connection point connected to a respective rigid member and constrained thereby to move in reciprocal fashion relative to said base; a left foot support and a right foot support, wherein each said first linkage has a third connection point connected to a respective foot support and constrained thereby to move through a generally elliptical path relative to said base; and a left second linkage and a right second linkage, wherein each said second linkage is interconnected between said base and a respective foot support, and each said second linkage constrains a respective foot support to remain in a substantially fixed orientation throughout an exercise cycle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The stationary exercise apparatus of claim 9, wherein each said second linkage constrains a respective foot support to remain substantially parallel to the floor surface throughout an exercise cycle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
71 words
The stationary exercise apparatus of claim 9, wherein each said second linkage includes an additional first linkage having a third connection point connected to a respective foot support; an additional crank, wherein each said additional first linkage has a first connection point connected to a respective additional crank; and an additional rigid member, wherein each said additional first linkage has a second connection point connected to a respective additional rigid member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The stationary exercise apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a flywheel rotatably mounted on said frame and connected to at least one of said left crank and said right crank.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4185622A
Cited
US5290211A
Cited
US5299993A
Cited
US5593372A
Cited
US5529555A
Cited
US5707321A
Cited
US5611756A
Cited
US5653662A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-04-26 | 2002-10-26 | 2003-04-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-04-26 | 2006-10-26 | 2007-04-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-04-26 | 2010-10-26 | 2011-04-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |