Elliptical exercise device and arm linkage

Abstract

An exercise trainer with a stride multiplier mounted on a base having crank arms rotationally supported on the base with foot links connected to the crank arms at one end and supported for movement distally from the crank arms. Foot pedals are respectively supported for longitudinal movement on the foot links with a flexible connection between the foot pedals and a ground connection on the base and the foot links to provide a generally elliptical movement of the foot pedals. Pivotal levers having at least one portion connected for movement with the foot links are connected to the foot links by a pivotal connection. The pivotal levers have an upper portion with handles and a lower portion with at least a portion that can be disengaged from movement with the foot links.

1 . An exercise trainer with a stride multiplier comprising a base having a ground connection, first and second crank arms rotationally supported on said base, first and second foot links connected respectively to said first and second crank arms at one end and supported for movement distally from said crank arms, first and second foot pedals respectively supported for longitudinal movement on said first and second foot links, a connection between said foot pedals and said ground connection and interconnected with said foot links so that said foot links, when moved in supported relationship with said crank arms, provide a generally elliptical movement of said foot pedals, and two arm levers pivotally mounted relative to said frame.  
   
   
       2 . The exercise trainer of  claim 1 , wherein at least one portion of each of said two arm levers is connected to said corresponding foot link.  
   
   
       3 . The exercise trainer of  claim 2 , wherein said two arm levers are connected to said corresponding foot links by a pivotal connection.  
   
   
       4 . The exercise trainer of  claim 1  further comprising a support for said two arm levers connected to said frame to allow pivotal movement of said two arm levers relative to said frame.  
   
   
       5 . The exercise trainer of  claim 4 , wherein each of said two arm levers has an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper portions being disposed above said support and said lower portions being disposed below said support.  
   
   
       6 . The exercise trainer of  claim 1 , wherein each of said two arm levers has a handle connected to a portion thereof and said portion connected to said handle can be disconnected from said foot link such that movement of said handle can be isolated from movement of said foot link.  
   
   
       7 . An exercise trainer comprising a base, a first crank arm and a second crank arm mounted on said base at different relative angular orientations from each other, first and second foot links respectively connected to said first and second crank arms, a bearing surface on said base positioned away from said crank arms, said bearing surface supporting said foot links for reciprocal movement relative to said base, a foot pedal mounted on each of said foot links for reciprocal movement with respect to said corresponding foot link, a linkage between said foot pedals and said foot links, said base comprising a mount at which said linkage can be secured to a fixed portion of said base such that, during movement of said foot links, movement of said foot pedals relative to said base is created which is greater than twice the length of a crank arm, and arm levers that are moveably connected to said foot links.  
   
   
       8 . The exercise trainer of  claim 7 , wherein each of said arm levers are mounted for pivotal movement on said base between an upper and lower portion of each of said arm levers.  
   
   
       9 . The exercise trainer of  claim 8 , wherein each of said arm levers has a handle portion on the upper portion of said arm lever and wherein said lower portion is pivotally mounted to said corresponding foot link.  
   
   
       10 . The exercise trainer of  claim 9 , wherein each of said arm levers has a locking portion for engaging and disengaging at least a portion of each of said arm levers from movement.  
   
   
       11 . The exercise trainer of  claim 10 , wherein said locking portion can disengage said upper portion of said arm lever from said lower portion for storage while said lower portion of said arm lever is capable of movement with said corresponding foot link.  
   
   
       12 . The exercise trainer of  claim 11  further comprising a latch for securing said upper portions of said arm levers when they are disengaged from said lower portions.  
   
   
       13 . An exercise trainer comprising a first foot link and a second foot link, said first and second foot links being connected and supported for opposing reciprocal movement, a support comprising a bearing surface on which a portion of said first and second foot links rests for movement and support so as to allow said foot links to reciprocate relative to said support, a first foot pedal mounted on said first foot link and a second foot pedal mounted on said second foot link, a first connecting member connected between said first foot link and said first foot pedal and a second connecting member connected between said second foot link and said second foot pedal, a ground connection connected to said first and second connecting members to assist movement of said foot pedals on said corresponding foot links in a modified elliptical path, and an arm lever connected to each of said foot links, said arm lever providing a location for grasping by a user of said exercise trainer.  
   
   
       14 . The exercise trainer of  claim 13 , wherein each of said arm levers is pivotally connected at a lower portion to said corresponding foot link and has a pivotal connection to said frame located remotely from said corresponding foot link.  
   
   
       15 . The exercise trainer of  claim 13  further comprising means for disconnecting from said corresponding foot link at least a portion of each of said arm levers such that said portion can remain generally motionless while said corresponding foot link reciprocates.  
   
   
       16 . The exercise trainer of  claim 15  further comprising means for securing said arm levers when they have been disconnected from movement of said foot links.  
   
   
       17 . An exercise trainer comprising a first crank arm and a second crank arm, said first and second crank arms being supported on a frame for rotational movement, a first foot link connected to said first crank arm and a second foot link connected to said second crank arm, a first foot receiving member and a second foot receiving member respectively connected for movement on said first foot link and said second foot link, a linkage between said first and second foot links and said first and second foot receiving members interconnecting them to a stationary point to cause said first and second foot receiving members to reciprocally move on said first and second foot links in relative displacement with respect to said stationary point and a first arm lever and a second arm lever connected for movement with a corresponding one of said first and second foot links.  
   
   
       18 . The exercise trainer of  claim 17 , wherein each of said arm levers has an upper portion and a lower portion with a pivotal support connected to said frame between said upper and lower portions.  
   
   
       19 . The exercise trainer of  claim 17  further comprising means for disconnecting said arm levers from movement of said foot links.  
   
   
       20 . The exercise trainer of  claim 19  further comprising means for securing said arm levers when they have been disconnected from movement of said foot links.  
   
   
       21 . An exercise trainer comprising a first crank arm and a second crank arm supported on a frame for rotational movement, a first foot receiving member and a second foot receiving member mounted on linkages connected to said crank arms, a flexible member interconnecting said foot receiving members to a ground point and arm levers connected to said linkages such that said arm levers move when said foot receiving members move.  
   
   
       22 . The exercise trainer of  claim 21 , wherein said arm levers are pivotally connected to said linkages.  
   
   
       23 . The exercise trainer of  claim 22  further comprising means for disconnecting at least a portion of each of said arm levers from said linkages such that said portions of said arm levers are generally stationary while said linkages are moving.  
   
   
       24 . An exercise trainer comprising a first crank arm and a second crank arm supported on a frame for rotational movement, a first linkage and a second linkage connected to said corresponding crank arm for reciprocal movement with respect to said frame, a first foot receiving member and a second foot receiving member mounted on said corresponding linkage interconnected between said frame and said linkages by a flexible member to permit a degenerated elliptical movement of said foot receiving members when said linkages are reciprocated, and arm levers moveably connected with said linkages.  
   
   
       25 . The exercise trainer of  claim 24 , wherein said arm levers are pivotally connected to said linkages.  
   
   
       26 . The exercise trainer of  claim 24  further comprising means for disconnecting at least a portion of said arm levers from movement of said linkages.  
   
   
       27 . The exercise trainer of  claim 26  further comprising means for securing said portion of said arm levers when they have been disconnected from movement of said linkages.  
   
   
       28 . The exercise trainer of  claim 27 , wherein said linkages comprise foot links connected to said crank arms at one end and supported by a bearing surface at a second end and wherein said foot receiving members are mounted on said foot links for reciprocal movement with respect to said foot links.  
   
   
       29 . An exercise trainer as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein said flexible member interconnects said linkages and said foot receiving members in connected relationship to a fixed point on said frame so as said linkages are moved, they urge the flexible member to move said foot receiving members on said foot linkages in a reciprocal manner on said foot linkages.