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US7201705B2 Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Exercise apparatus with a variable stride system

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 2003-11-25
•
Granted: 2007-04-10
•
Expires: 2023-11-25
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Abstract

Abstract A variable stride exercise apparatus is described. A variable stride exercise apparatus may include a frame. A crank system may be coupled to the frame. A foot member may be coupled to the crank system. The foot member may include a footpad. A variable stride system may be coupled to the foot member. The variable stride system and the foot member may be coupled at a location between the footpad and the crank system. The variable stride system may allow a user of the apparatus to vary the length of the user's stride during use of the apparatus. The foot of the user may travel in a substantially closed path during use of the apparatus. At least a portion of the apparatus may remain substantially stationary during use.

Inventors

  • 👤 Robert E. Rodgers, Jr.

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-25 23:29
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B22/00; A63B22/0002; A63B22/001; A63B22/0015; A63B22/0017; A63B22/06; A63B22/0664; A63B22/20; A63B22/201; A63B22/208; A63B2022/002; A63B2022/067; A63B2022/0676; A63B22/0048; A63B22/0056

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim 245 words
A stationary exercise apparatus comprising: a frame having a first end and a second end; a crank system coupled to the frame at a location closer to the first end of the frame than the second end of the frame; a left movable member pivotally coupled to the crank system; a right movable member pivotally coupled to the crank system; a left foot member operatively associated with a left foot pad; a right foot member operatively associated with a right foot pad; a left cam system having a left cam surface and a left cam follower contacting the left cam surface, the left cam system operatively associated with the left movable member and the left foot member, said left cam system located closer to the first end of the frame than the second end of the frame; and a right cam system having a right cam surface and a right cam follower contacting the right cam surface, the right cam system operatively associated with the right movable member and the right foot member, said right cam system located closer to the first end of the frame than the second end of the frame, wherein the feet of the user imparting forces on the left and right foot members in cooperation with the left cam system and the right cam system vary the stride substantially instantaneously, and wherein the apparatus is configured such that the feet of the user may travel in a substantially closed path.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 245 words
A stationary exercise apparatus comprising: a frame having a first end and a second end; a crank system coupled to the frame at a location closer to the first end of the frame than the second end of the frame; a left movable member pivotally coupled to the crank system; a right movable member pivotally coupled to the crank system; a left foot member operatively associated with a left foot pad; a right foot member operatively associated with a right foot pad; a left cam system having a left cam surface and a left cam follower contacting the left cam surface, the left cam system operatively associated with the left movable member and the left foot member, said left cam system located closer to the first end of the frame than the second end of the frame; and a right cam system having a right cam surface and a right cam follower contacting the right cam surface, the right cam system operatively associated with the right movable member and the right foot member, said right cam system located closer to the first end of the frame than the second end of the frame, wherein the feet of the user imparting forces on the left and right foot members in cooperation with the left cam system and the right cam system vary the stride substantially instantaneously, and wherein the apparatus is configured such that the feet of the user may travel in a substantially closed path.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 19 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the feet of the user may travel in a substantially closed elliptical path.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 17 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the left foot member and the right foot member are cross-coupled.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 15 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a brake/inertia device coupled to the crank system.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 22 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the brake/inertia device is coupled to a portion of the frame in front of the user.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 20 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the brake/inertia device is coupled to a portion of the frame behind the user.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 21 words
The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising a housing, wherein the housing encloses at least a portion of the brake/inertia device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the left and right cam surfaces are nonsymmetrical.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the left and right cam surfaces are symmetrical.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 26 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus has a maximum stride length that is at least about 40% of the overall length of the apparatus.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 12 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the crank system comprises a pulley.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 21 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the crank system comprises a left crank and a right crank coupled to the pulley.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 28 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the length of each left and right cam surface is at least two times the length of either left or right crank.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 265 words
A stationary exercise apparatus comprising: a frame having a first and a second end; a crank system coupled to the frame at a location closer to the first end of the frame than the second end of the frame; a left arm link coupled to the frame; a right arm link coupled to the frame; a left movable member coupled to the crank system; a right movable member coupled to the crank system; a left foot member operatively associated with a left foot pad; a right foot member operatively associated with a right foot pad; a left cam system having a left cam surface and a left cam follower contacting the left cam surface wherein the left foot member is coupled to the left movable member through the left cam system and the left cam system is located closer to the first end of the frame than the second end of the frame; and a right cam system having a right cam surface and a right cam follower contacting the right cam surface wherein the right foot member is coupled to the right movable member through the right cam system and the right cam system is located closer to the first end of the frame than the second end of the frame, wherein the feet of the user imparting forces on the left and right foot members in cooperation with the left cam system and the right cam system may vary the stride substantially instantaneously, and wherein the apparatus is configured such that the feet of the user may travel in a substantially closed path.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 265 words
A stationary exercise apparatus comprising: a frame having a first and a second end; a crank system coupled to the frame at a location closer to the first end of the frame than the second end of the frame; a left arm link coupled to the frame; a right arm link coupled to the frame; a left movable member coupled to the crank system; a right movable member coupled to the crank system; a left foot member operatively associated with a left foot pad; a right foot member operatively associated with a right foot pad; a left cam system having a left cam surface and a left cam follower contacting the left cam surface wherein the left foot member is coupled to the left movable member through the left cam system and the left cam system is located closer to the first end of the frame than the second end of the frame; and a right cam system having a right cam surface and a right cam follower contacting the right cam surface wherein the right foot member is coupled to the right movable member through the right cam system and the right cam system is located closer to the first end of the frame than the second end of the frame, wherein the feet of the user imparting forces on the left and right foot members in cooperation with the left cam system and the right cam system may vary the stride substantially instantaneously, and wherein the apparatus is configured such that the feet of the user may travel in a substantially closed path.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 12 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the crank system comprises a pulley.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 21 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the crank system comprises a left crank and a right crank coupled to the pulley.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 19 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the feet of the user may travel in a substantially closed elliptical path.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 18 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the feet of the user may travel in a closed orbital path.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 15 words
The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising a brake/inertia device coupled to the crank system.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 21 words
The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising a housing, wherein the housing encloses at least a portion of the brake/inertia device.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 14 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the left and right cam surfaces are nonsymmetrical.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 14 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the left and right cam surfaces are symmetrical.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 35 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein at least a portion of the left movable member and the right movable member distal each such end coupled to the crank system moves in a substantially closed path.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 41 words
The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the left and right foot members and the left and right cam systems are configured to provide a force that restores the users feet to a substantially neutral position during use of the apparatus.

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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) 2010-04-09 2010-10-09 2011-04-10 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2014-04-09 2014-10-09 2015-04-10 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2018-04-09 2018-10-09 2019-04-10 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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