Exercise apparatus comprising adjustable foot pads and related methods

Abstract

An exercise apparatus may comprise a frame, and first and second foot support members each comprising a central region mechanically constrained to follow an ovoid path. The exercise apparatus may further comprise first and second foot pads coupled to the respective first and second foot support members, and configured for selective rotation relative to the first and second foot support members. The exercise apparatus may further comprise first and second locking mechanisms positioned and configured to selectively lock the respective first and second foot pads in a first angular position and at least one second angular position relative to the respective first and second foot support members.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An exercise apparatus comprising:
 a frame;   a first foot support member comprising a central region mechanically constrained to follow an ovoid path relative to the frame;   a second foot support member comprising a central region mechanically constrained to follow an ovoid path relative to the frame;   a first foot pad coupled to the first foot support member, the first foot pad configured for selective rotation relative to the first foot support member;   a second foot pad coupled to the second foot support member, the second foot pad configured for selective rotation relative to the second foot support member;   a first locking mechanism positioned and configured to selectively lock the first foot pad in a first angular position relative to the first foot support member, and to selectively lock the first foot pad in at least one second angular position relative to the first foot support member;   a second locking mechanism positioned and configured to selectively lock the second foot pad in a first angular position relative to the second foot support member, and to selectively lock the second foot pad in at least one second angular position relative to the second foot support member;   wherein the exercise apparatus comprises a multi-position exercise machine.   
     
     
         2 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a seat coupled to the frame. 
     
     
         3 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising a drive assembly positioned within the frame, beneath the seat, and wherein a first end of the first foot support member is coupled to a first crank arm of the drive assembly and a first end of the second foot support member is coupled to a second crank arm of the drive assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a first swing arm coupled to a first side of an upper portion of the frame by a hinge joint, a first end of the first swing arm comprising a handle and a second end of the first swing arm joined to a second end of the first foot support member by a hinge joint;   a second swing arm coupled to a second side of the upper portion of the frame by a hinge joint, a first end of the second swing arm comprising a handle and a second end of the second swing arm joined to a second end of the second foot support member by a hinge joint.   
     
     
         5 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the exercise apparatus comprises a combination recumbent elliptical exercise machine and a standing elliptical exercise machine. 
     
     
         6 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising a console positioned on an upper portion of the frame in a location where the console is observable by an operator while standing on the first and second foot pads and is also observable by an operator while seated on the seat. 
     
     
         7 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a hinge joint coupling the first foot pad to the first foot support member and a hinge joint coupling the second foot pad to the second foot support member. 
     
     
         8 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first locking mechanism comprises a first locking arm and the second locking mechanism comprises a second locking arm. 
     
     
         9 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the first locking arm is coupled to the first foot pad via a hinge joint and the second locking arm is coupled to the second foot pad via a hinge joint. 
     
     
         10 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the first locking arm is coupled to the first foot support member via a hinge joint and the second locking arm is coupled to the second foot support member via a hinge joint. 
     
     
         11 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the first locking mechanism further comprises a first positioning rack and the second locking mechanism further comprises a second positioning rack. 
     
     
         12 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein each of the first and second positioning racks comprise a plurality of recesses, each recess of the plurality of recesses of the first positioning rack configured for selective alignment with a pin of the first locking arm, and each recess of the plurality of recesses of the second positioning rack configured for selective alignment with a pin of the second locking arm. 
     
     
         13 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein each of the first and second positioning racks comprise a plurality of apertures, each aperture of the plurality of apertures of the first positioning rack configured for selective alignment with an aperture of the first locking arm, and each aperture of the plurality of apertures of the second positioning rack configured for selective alignment with an aperture of the second locking arm. 
     
     
         14 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the first positioning rack comprises a track and the first locking arm comprises a trolley slidably coupled to the track of the first positioning rack, and wherein the second positioning rack comprises a track and the second locking arm comprises a trolley slidably coupled to the track of the second positioning rack. 
     
     
         15 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the first locking arm is coupled to the first foot pad and comprises a plurality of apertures, each aperture of the plurality of apertures positioned and configured for selective alignment with an aperture of the first foot support member, and wherein the second locking arm is coupled to the second foot pad and comprises a plurality of apertures, each aperture of the plurality of apertures positioned and configured for selective alignment with an aperture of the second foot support member. 
     
     
         16 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the first locking arm is coupled to the first foot pad by a hinge joint and comprises a plurality of recesses, each recess of the plurality of recesses positioned and configured for selective alignment with a pin of the first foot support member, and wherein the second locking arm is coupled to the second foot pad by a hinge joint and comprises a plurality of recesses, each recess of the plurality of recesses positioned and configured for selective alignment with a pin of the second foot support member. 
     
     
         17 . A method of exercising, the method comprising:
 positioning a first foot on a first foot pad of an exercise machine;   positioning a second foot on a second foot pad of the exercise machine;   moving each of the first foot and the second foot along an ovoid path on the first and second foot pads while standing;   rotating each of the first and second foot pads relative to respective first and second foot support members from a first position to a second position;   sitting on a seat of the exercise machine;   moving each of the first foot and the second foot along the ovoid path on the first and second foot pads in the second position and while seated on the seat.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 observing a console of the exercise machine while moving each of the first foot and the second foot along the ovoid path on the first and second foot pads while standing;   observing the console of the exercise machine while moving each of the first foot and the second foot along the ovoid path on the first and second foot pads in the second position and while seated on the seat.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 positioning a first hand on a handle of a first swing arm of the exercise machine;   positioning a second hand on a handle of a second swing arm of the exercise machine;   moving the first and second hands along an arcuate path on the handles of the first and second swing arms while moving each of the first foot and the second foot along the ovoid path on the first and second foot pads while standing.   
     
     
         20 . An exercise apparatus comprising:
 a frame;   a seat coupled to the frame;   a drive assembly comprising a first crank arm and a second crank arm positioned within the frame, beneath the seat;   a first swing arm coupled to a first side of an upper portion of the frame by a hinge joint, a first end of the first swing arm comprising a handle;   a second swing arm coupled to a second side of the upper portion of the frame by a hinge joint, a first end of the second swing arm comprising a handle;   a console positioned on the upper portion of the frame, proximate to the handles of the first and second swing arms;   a first foot support member having a first end coupled to the first crank arm of the drive assembly by a hinge joint and a second end coupled to a second end of the first swing arm by a hinge joint;   a second foot support member having a first end coupled to the second crank arm of the drive assembly by a hinge joint and a second end coupled to a second end of the second swing arm by a hinge joint;   a first foot pad coupled to the first foot support member by a hinge joint;   a second foot pad coupled to the second foot support member by a hinge joint;   a first locking mechanism positioned and configured to selectively lock the first foot pad in a first angular position relative to the first foot support member, and to selectively lock the first foot pad in at least one second angular position relative to the first foot support member;   a second locking mechanism positioned and configured to selectively lock the second foot pad in a first angular position relative to the second foot support member, and to selectively lock the second foot pad in at least one second angular position relative to the second foot support member;   wherein the exercise apparatus comprises a multi-position exercise machine including a recumbent elliptical exercise machine and a standing elliptical exercise machine.