Exercise device having dynamic load transfer system

Abstract

A climbing exercise device integrates a dynamic load transfer system, optional rebound mechanism, and optional flywheel or magnetic brake to deliver fluid, full-body workouts while reducing knee strain. Opposing foot carriages, each guided along an upright support, are linked by flexible webbing wrapped around a rotatable transfer shaft. As one foot carriage descends and unwinds its webbing, the other carriage is lifted, shifting the load ratio to ease knee stress at deeper flexion. A rebound mechanism keeps the webbing under tension and increases that tension at stroke limits, promoting quick, smooth directional changes. An optional flywheel or magnetic brake further refines motion by adding adjustable resistance and inertia without impeding rapid reversals. Arm handles may be coupled—directly or cross-linked—to the foot carriages for upper-body engagement, resulting in a balanced, efficient climb. Multiple embodiments and frame configurations accommodate various height preferences, storage options, and user needs while retaining the synergy of these key systems.

1 . A climbing exercise device comprising:
 a base configured to rest on a floor surface;   an upright support column extending upwardly from the base;   right and left foot carriages, each of the foot carriages movable upwardly and downwardly along the upright support column;   a horizontal transfer shaft rotatably supported on the upright support column at an elevation above a highest operational position of the foot carriages; and   a load-transfer webbing system comprising two flexible webbing segments, each flexible webbing segment having a first end attached to a respective one of the foot carriages and a second end attached to the horizontal transfer shaft;   wherein respective second ends of the flexible webbing segments are configured to wrap around the horizontal transfer shaft in opposite directions, such that, when one foot carriage moves upwardly and the other foot carriage moves downwardly, the flexible webbing segment attached to the upwardly moving foot carriage winds around the horizontal transfer shaft and the flexible webbing segment attached to the downwardly moving foot carriage unwinds from the horizontal transfer shaft.   
     
     
         2 . The climbing exercise device of  claim 1 , further comprising a rebound system operably coupled to the load-transfer webbing system, the rebound system including an elastic cable assembly connecting the foot carriages via a pulley to maintain tension in each flexible webbing segment throughout a full range of foot carriage travel and to progressively increase tension as the foot carriages approach respective upper and lower limits of their stroke. 
     
     
         3 . The climbing exercise device of  claim 1 , further comprising a flywheel rigidly affixed to the horizontal transfer shaft so as to rotate in unison therewith, wherein a diameter of the transfer shaft is sufficiently small that each full downward stroke of one of the foot carriages causes multiple rotations of the flywheel. 
     
     
         4 . The climbing exercise device of  claim 3 , wherein the horizontal transfer shaft includes a spool having a sufficiently small diameter such that a full stroke of one of the foot carriages results in multiple rotations of the flywheel. 
     
     
         5 . The climbing exercise device of  claim 3 , further comprising an adjustable brake configured to act on the flywheel. 
     
     
         6 . The climbing exercise device of  claim 1 , further comprising an adjustable brake configured to act on the horizontal transfer shaft. 
     
     
         7 . The climbing exercise device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a pair of arm handle assemblies, each arm handle assembly including an arm pole mounted for reciprocal movement along the upright support column and a handle mounted on the arm pole; and   a linkage disposed in a lower portion of the upright support column below a lowest operational position of the handles to operably couple each arm handle assembly with a respective one of the foot carriages on a same side of the device as the arm handle assembly or on an opposite side of the device as the arm handle assembly.   
     
     
         8 . The climbing exercise device of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a pair of receptacles coupled with the linkage, each of the receptacles being configured to receive one of the arm handle assemblies.   
     
     
         9 . The climbing exercise device of  claim 1 , further comprising a stowable kickstand assembly including a kickstand pivotally mounted to the base, the kickstand being movable between a folded or stowed position against the upright support column and an operating position pivoted away from the upright support column. 
     
     
         10 . The climbing exercise device of  claim 7 , wherein the stowable kickstand assembly further comprises a clamping assembly configured to frictionally engage the upright support column when the kickstand is in a folded or stowed position. 
     
     
         11 . The climbing exercise device of  claim 7 , wherein the stowable kickstand assembly further comprises a locking knob adapted to secure the kickstand in at least one of the folded position and the operational position. 
     
     
         12 . A climbing exercise device comprising:
 a base configured to rest on a floor surface;   an upright support column extending upwardly from the base;   right and left foot carriages, each of the foot carriages movable upwardly and downwardly along the upright support column;   a horizontal transfer shaft rotatably supported on the upright support column at an elevation above a highest operational position of the foot carriages; and   a load-transfer webbing system comprising two flexible webbing segments, each flexible webbing segment having a first end attached to a respective one of the foot carriages and a second end attached to the horizontal transfer shaft, wherein respective second ends of the flexible webbing segments are configured to wrap around the horizontal transfer shaft in opposite directions, such that, when one foot carriage moves upwardly and the other foot carriage moves downwardly, the flexible webbing segment attached to the upwardly moving foot carriage winds around the horizontal transfer shaft and the flexible webbing segment attached to the downwardly moving foot carriage unwinds from the horizontal transfer shaft;   a rebound system operably coupled to the load-transfer webbing system, the rebound system including an elastic cable assembly connecting the foot carriages via a pulley to maintain tension in each flexible webbing segment throughout a full range of foot carriage travel and to progressively increase tension as the foot carriages approach respective upper and lower limits of their stroke; and   a flywheel rigidly affixed to the horizontal transfer shaft so as to rotate in unison therewith, wherein a diameter of the horizontal transfer shaft is sufficiently small that each full downward stroke of one of the foot carriages causes multiple rotations of the flywheel.