Exercise method and apparatus

Claim 2

An exercise apparatus, comprising: a frame designed to rest upon a floor surface; a left crank and a right crank, wherein each said crank is rotatably mounted on the frame and rotatable about a crank axis; a left crank support and a right crank support, wherein each said crank support is mounted on a respective crank at a radial distance from the crank axis, and the left crank support and the right crank support cooperate to define a crank diameter; a left rail and a right rail, wherein each said rail is movably connected between a respective crank support and the frame in such a manner that a first end of each said rail is supported by a roller, and an opposite, second end of each said rail is pivotally connected to a pin; a left rocker link and a right rocker link, wherein each said rocker link is pivotally mounted on the frame; a left foot support and a right foot support, wherein each said foot support is rollably mounted on an intermediate portion of a respective rail and pivotally connected to a respective rocker link; and a left cable assembly and a right cable assembly, wherein each said cable assembly links rotation of a respective crank to movement of a respective foot support through a range of motion which is twice the crank diameter.

Claim 3

The exercise apparatus of claim 1 , wherein an upper end of each said rocker link is sized and configured for grasping by a person standing on each said foot support.

Claim 4

The exercise apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a roller is rotatably mounted on a rearward end of each said foot support, and an opposite, forward end of each said foot support is pivotally connected to a respective rocker link.

Claim 5

The exercise apparatus of claim 3 , wherein an upper end of each said rocker link is sized and configured for grasping by a person standing on each said foot support.

Claim 6

The exercise apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a common cable assembly which constrains either said foot support to move forward in response to rearward movement of an opposite said foot support.

Claim 7

The exercise apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the common cable assembly includes a cable having a first end connected to the left foot support, a second end connected to the right foot support, and an intermediate portion routed about a pulley on an end of the frame.

Claim 8

The exercise apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each said crank support is a roller rotatably mounted on a respective crank.

Claim 9

The exercise apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each said cable assembly includes a pulley rotatably mounted on a respective rail, and each said cable assembly includes a cable having a first end connected to a respective foot support, a second end connected to a respective rail, and an intermediate portion routed about the pulley on a respective rail and about a pulley on a respective crank.

Claim 10

The exercise apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a forward end of each said rail pivots about a pivot axis relative to the frame.

Claim 11

The exercise apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each said foot support moves through a range of orientations relative to a respective rail as each said crank rotates.

Claim 12

An exercise apparatus, comprising: a frame designed to rest upon a floor surface; a left crank and a right crank, wherein each said crank is rotatably mounted on the frame and rotatable about a crank axis; a left crank support and a right crank support, wherein each said crank support is mounted on a respective crank at a radial distance from the crank axis; a left rail and a right rail, wherein each said rail is movably connected between a respective crank support and the frame in such a manner that a first end of each said rail is supported by a roller, and an opposite, second end of each said rail is pivotally connected to a pin; a left rocker link and a right rocker link, wherein each said rocker link has an upper end sized and configured for grasping, an intermediate portion pivotally mounted on the frame, and a lower end; a left foot support and a right foot support, wherein each said foot support is rollably mounted on an intermediate portion of a respective rail and movably connected to the lower end of a respective rocker link; and a left cable assembly and a right cable assembly, wherein each said cable assembly links rotation of a respective crank to movement of a respective foot support relative to a respective rail.

Claim 13

An exercise apparatus, comprising: a frame designed to rest upon a floor surface; a left crank and a right crank, wherein each said crank is rotatably mounted on the frame and rotatable about a crank axis; a left crank support and a right crank support, wherein each said crank support is mounted on a respective crank at a radial distance from the crank axis; a left rail and a right rail, wherein each said rail is movably connected between a respective crank support and the frame in such a manner that a first end of each said rail is supported by a roller, and an opposite, second end of each said rail is pivotally connected to a pin; a left rocker link and a right rocker link, wherein each said rocker link has an upper end sized and configured for grasping, an intermediate portion pivotally mounted on the frame, and a lower end; a left foot support and a right foot support, wherein each said foot support is rollably mounted on an intermediate portion of a respective rail and movably connected to the lower end of a respective rocker link; and a left cable assembly and a right cable assembly, wherein each said cable assembly links rotation of a respective crank to movement of a respective foot support relative to a respective rail.

Claim 14

The exercise apparatus of claim 11 , wherein a roller is rotatably mounted on a rearward end of each said foot support, and an opposite, forward end of each said foot support is pivotally connected to the lower end of a respective rocker link.

Claim 15

The exercise apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising a common cable assembly which constrains either said foot support to move forward in response to rearward movement of an opposite said foot support.

Claim 16

The exercise apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the common cable assembly includes a cable having a first end connected to the left foot support, a second end connected to the right foot support, and an intermediate portion routed about a pulley on an end of the frame.

Claim 17

The exercise apparatus of claim 11 , wherein each said crank support is a roller rotatably mounted on a respective crank.

Claim 18

The exercise apparatus of claim 11 , wherein each said cable assembly includes a pulley rotatably mounted on a respective rail, and each said cable assembly includes a cable having a first end connected to a respective foot support, a second end connected to a respective rail, and an intermediate portion routed about the pulley on a respective rail and about a pulley on a respective crank.

Claim 19

The exercise apparatus of claim 11 , wherein a forward end of each said rail pivots about a pivot axis relative to the frame.

Claim 20

The exercise apparatus of claim 11 , wherein each said foot support moves through a range of orientations relative to a respective rail as each said crank rotates.

Claim 21

An exercise apparatus, comprising: a frame designed to rest upon a floor surface; a left crank and a right crank, wherein each said crank is rotatably mounted on the frame and rotatable about a crank axis; a left crank support and a right crank support, wherein each said crank support is mounted on a respective crank at a radial distance from the crank axis; a left rail and a right rail, wherein each said rail is movably connected between a respective crank support and the frame in such a manner that a first end of each said rail is supported by a roller, and an opposite, second end of each said rail is pivotally connected to a pin; a left rocker link and a right rocker link, wherein each said rocker link is movably mounted on the frame and operatively connected to a respective crank, and each said rocker link has an upper distal portion that is sized and configured for grasping; a left foot support and a right foot support, wherein each said foot support is movably mounted on an intermediate portion of a respective rail; and a left cable assembly and a right cable assembly, wherein each said cable assembly links rotation of a respective crank to movement of a respective foot support along a respective rail and through a generally elliptical path having a major axis that is four times as long as the crank radius.

Claim 22

An exercise apparatus, comprising: a frame designed to rest upon a floor surface; a left crank and a right crank, wherein each said crank is rotatably mounted on the frame and rotatable about a crank axis; a left crank support and a right crank support, wherein each said crank support is mounted on a respective crank at a radial distance from the crank axis; a left rail and a right rail, wherein each said rail is movably connected between a respective crank support and the frame in such a manner that a first end of each said rail is supported by a roller, and an opposite, second end of each said rail is pivotally connected to a pin; a left rocker link and a right rocker link, wherein each said rocker link is movably mounted on the frame and operatively connected to a respective crank, and each said rocker link has an upper distal portion that is sized and configured for grasping; a left foot support and a right foot support, wherein each said foot support is movably mounted on an intermediate portion of a respective rail; and a left cable assembly and a right cable assembly, wherein each said cable assembly links rotation of a respective crank to movement of a respective foot support along a respective rail and through a generally elliptical path having a major axis that is four times as long as the crank radius.

Claim 23

The exercise apparatus of claim 19 , wherein each said rocker link has an intermediate portion that is pivotally connected to the frame, and a lower distal portion that is pivotally connected to a respective foot support.