Elliptical motion exercise methods and apparatus

Claim 2

An exercise apparatus, comprising: a frame sized and configured to occupy a fixed position relative to a support surface; a left crank and a right crank, wherein each said crank is mounted on a respective side of said frame and rotatable about a common crank axis; a left rocker link and a right rocker link, wherein each said rocker link is mounted on a respective side of said frame and rotatable about a common pivot axis; a left foot supporting linkage and a right foot supporting linkage, wherein each said foot supporting linkage is movably connected between a respective rocker link and a respective crank; and a left drawbar linkage and a right drawbar linkage, wherein each said drawbar linkage is movably connected between a respective rocker link and a respective crank in such a manner that a foot supporting portion of each said foot supporting linkage is constrained to move through a generally elliptical path as a respective crank rotates, and each said drawbar linkage is selectively movable relative to a respective rocker link to alter a respective path.

Claim 3

The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein each said foot supporting linkage includes a foot supporting member and a crank link rotatably connected between the foot supporting member and a respective crank.

Claim 4

The exercise apparatus of claim 2, wherein each said drawbar linkage includes a first link and a second link which are rotatably connected to one another, and an opposite end of each said first link is rotatably connected to a respective crank link, and an opposite end of each said second link is rotatably connected to a respective rocker link.

Claim 5

The exercise apparatus of claim 3, wherein each said first link and a respective second link define an axis of rotation which is constrained to move through a reciprocal path relative to a respective foot supporting member.

Claim 6

The exercise apparatus of claim 4, wherein each said reciprocal path is defined by a linear slot formed in a respective foot supporting member.

Claim 7

The exercise apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a left actuator and a right actuator, wherein each said actuator is interconnected between a respective second link and a respective rocker link.

Claim 8

The exercise apparatus of claim 2, wherein each said foot supporting member is rotatably connected to a distal end of a respective crank link, and each said drawbar linkage includes a first link and a second link which are rotatably connected to one another, and an opposite end of each said first link is rotatably connected to an intermediate portion of a respective crank link, and an opposite end of each said second link is rotatably connected to a respective rocker link.

Claim 9

The exercise apparatus of claim 2, wherein a portion of each said drawbar linkage rotates about said common crank axis.

Claim 10

The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein each said drawbar linkage includes a member which is selectively movable along a respective rocker link.

Claim 11

The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein each said drawbar linkage includes a member which is selectively rotatable relative to a respective rocker link.

Claim 12

An exercise apparatus, comprising: a frame sized and configured to occupy a fixed position relative to a support surface; a left crank and a right crank, wherein each said crank is mounted on a respective side of said frame and rotatable about a common crank axis; a left rocker link and a right rocker link, wherein each said rocker link is mounted on a respective side of said frame and rotatable about a common pivot axis; a left foot supporting means and a right foot supporting means, each said foot supporting means movably connected between a respective rocker link and a respective crank, for supporting a person's feet; a left constraining means and a right constraining means, each said constraining means movably connected between a respective rocker link and a respective crank, for constraining the person's feet to move through a generally elliptical path as a respective crank rotates; and a left adjusting means and a right adjusting means, each said adjusting means interconnected between a respective constraining means and a respective rocker link, for adjusting each said constraining means relative to a respective rocker link and thereby altering a respective elliptical path.

Claim 13

An exercise apparatus, comprising: a frame sized and configured to occupy a fixed position relative to a support surface; a left crank and a right crank, wherein each said crank is mounted on a respective side of said frame and rotatable about a common crank axis; a left rocker link and a right rocker link, wherein each said rocker link is mounted on a respective side of said frame and rotatable about a common pivot axis; a left foot supporting means and a right foot supporting means, each said foot supporting means movably connected between a respective rocker link and a respective crank, for supporting a person's feet; a left constraining means and a right constraining means, each said constraining means movably connected between a respective rocker link and a respective crank, for constraining the person's feet to move through a generally elliptical path as a respective crank rotates; and a left adjusting means and a right adjusting means, each said adjusting means interconnected between a respective constraining means and a respective rocker link, for adjusting each said constraining means relative to a respective rocker link and thereby altering a respective elliptical path.

Claim 14

The exercise apparatus of claim 11, wherein each said foot supporting means includes a foot supporting member and a crank link rotatably connected between the foot supporting member and a respective crank.

Claim 15

The exercise apparatus of claim 12, wherein each said constraining means includes a first link and a second link which are rotatably connected to one another, and an opposite end of each said first link is rotatably connected to a respective crank link, and an opposite end of each said second link is rotatably connected to a respective rocker link.

Claim 16

The exercise apparatus of claim 13, wherein each said first link and a respective second link define an axis of rotation which is constrained to move through a reciprocal path relative to a respective foot supporting member.

Claim 17

The exercise apparatus of claim 14, wherein each said reciprocal path is defined by a linear slot formed in a respective foot supporting member.

Claim 18

The exercise apparatus of claim 13, wherein each said adjusting means includes an actuator interconnected between a respective second link and a respective rocker link.

Claim 19

The exercise apparatus of claim 12, wherein each said foot supporting member is rotatably connected to a distal end of a respective crank link, and each said constraining means includes a first link and a second link which are rotatably connected to one another, and an opposite end of each said first link is rotatably connected to an intermediate portion of a respective crank link, and an opposite end of each said second link is rotatably connected to a respective rocker link.

Claim 20

The exercise apparatus of claim 12, wherein a portion of each said constraining means rotates about said common crank axis.

Claim 21

The exercise apparatus of claim 11, wherein each said constraining means includes a member which is selectively movable along a respective rocker link.

Claim 22

The exercise apparatus of claim 11, wherein each said constraining means includes a member which is selectively rotatable relative to a respective rocker link.

Claim 23

An exercise apparatus, comprising: a frame designed to occupy a fixed position relative to a floor surface; a left crank and a right crank, wherein each said crank is mounted on a respective side of said frame and rotatable relative thereto about a common crank axis; a left crank link and a right crank link, wherein each said crank link is mounted on a respective crank and pivotal relative thereto about a respective rotating axis; a left rocker link and a right rocker link, wherein each said rocker link is mounted on a respective side of said frame and pivotal relative thereto about a common pivot axis; a left foot support and a right foot support, wherein each foot support has a first portion connected to a respective crank link, a second portion connected to a respective rocker link, and a third portion sized and configured to support a person's foot; and a left drawbar and a right drawbar, wherein each said drawbar has a first portion pivotally connected to one of a respective crank and a respective crank link, and a second portion connected to at least one of a respective foot support and a respective rocker link.

Claim 24

An exercise apparatus, comprising: a frame designed to occupy a fixed position relative to a floor surface; a left crank and a right crank, wherein each said crank is mounted on a respective side of said frame and rotatable relative thereto about a common crank axis; a left crank link and a right crank link, wherein each said crank link is mounted on a respective crank and pivotal relative thereto about a respective rotating axis; a left rocker link and a right rocker link, wherein each said rocker link is mounted on a respective side of said frame and pivotal relative thereto about a common pivot axis; a left foot support and a right foot support, wherein each foot support has a first portion connected to a respective crank link, a second portion connected to a respective rocker link, and a third portion sized and configured to support a person's foot; and a left drawbar and a right drawbar, wherein each said drawbar has a first portion pivotally connected to one of a respective crank and a respective crank link, and a second portion connected to at least one of a respective foot support and a respective rocker link.