Stair-climbing exercise apparatus

Abstract

An exercise apparatus that simulates stair-climbing for a user. The apparatus includes a frame having a base, and a plate on the frame perpendicular to the base. A right pedal and a left pedal are on opposite sides of the plate. A drive system assembly on the plate has a right pedal sprocket, a left pedal sprocket, and a drive sprocket, wherein the right sprocket or left sprocket turn the drive sprocket in one direction only and the right and left sprockets are free to overrun in the opposite direction. The right pedal oscillates between an upper position at rest and a lower, rearward position under the weight of the user and drivingly engages the right pedal sprocket. The left pedal, operating independently of the right pedal, oscillates between an upper position at rest and a lower, rearward position under the weight of the user and drivingly engages the left pedal sprocket. A speed increasing transmission has an input and an output. A continuous chain drivingly engages the drive sprocket and the transmission input. A continuous belt engages the transmission output and an alternator which acts as a dynamic brake. A load resistor connected to the alternator is capable of absorbing the electrical energy output of the alternator. An alternator control and monitor is provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An exercise apparatus that simulates stair-climbing for a user which comprises: (a) a frame having a base;   (b) a plate on said frame perpendicular to said base;   (c) a right pedal and a left pedal, said pedals being on opposite sides of said plate;   (d) drive system assembly means mounted on said plate in order to sum reciprocating motion into continuous and fluid rotary motion, said drive system assembly means having a right pedal sprocket, a left pedal sprocket and a drive sprocket, wherein said drive sprocket is driven by either said right sprocket or said left sprocket in one direction only and said right and left sprockets are free to overrun in the opposite direction;   (e) independently operating right pedal means and left pedal means being on opposite sides of said plate, wherein said right pedal means oscillates said right pedal between an upper position at rest and a lower, rearward position under the weight of the user and drivingly engages said right pedal sprocket, and wherein said left pedal means oscillates said left pedal between an upper position at rest and a lower, rearward position under the weight of the user and drivingly engages said left pedal sprocket;   (f) speed increasing transmission means mounted on said plate having an input and an output;   (g) a continuous chain drivingly engaging said drive sprocket and said transmission input;   (h) dynamic brake means mounted on said plate;   (i) a continuous belt engaging said transmission output and said dynamic brake means; and   (j) dynamic brake control and monitor means mounted on said plate whereby the speed of said transmission means, said drive system assembly means and said pedal means are controlled and monitored.   
     
     
       2. An exercise apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said independently operating right pedal means and left pedal means comprises: (a) a right pedal arm and a left pedal arm, said right pedal arm pivotally attached at one end to said right pedal and pivotally attached at the other end thereof to said plate, and said left pedal arm pivotally attached at one end to said left pedal and pivotally attached at the other end thereof to the opposite side of said plate;   (b) a right support arm and a left support arm, said right support arm parallel to said right pedal arm and pivotally attached at one end to said right pedal and pivotally attached at the other end thereof to said plate, and said left support arm parallel to said left pedal arm and pivotally attached at one end to said left pedal and pivotally attached at the other end thereof to said plate;   (c) a right pulley wheel and a left pulley wheel, said pulleys rotatably mounted on opposite sides of said plate;   (d) a right pedal chain and a left pedal chain, said right pedal chain attached at one end to said right support arm and made to engage said right pedal sprocket and said left pedal chain attached at one end to said left support arm and made to engage said left pedal sprocket; and   (e) right spring means and left spring means, said right spring means attached at one end to the other end of said right pedal chain and attached at the other end to said plate, and said left spring means attached at one end to the other end of said left pedal chain and attached at the other end to said plate.   
     
     
       3. An exercise apparatus as set forth in claim 2 including a right cover and a left cover for said plate. 
     
     
       4. An exercise apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said dynamic brake means includes alternator means and load resistor means connected to said alternator means and capable of absorbing the electrical energy output of the alternator. 
     
     
       5. An exercise apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said dynamic brake control and monitor means includes a plurality of computer control programs and allows the user to control the speed of the apparatus or allows a selected computer program to control the speed of the apparatus. 
     
     
       6. An exercise apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said base includes a pair of parallel tubular spaced members, a connecting tubular member perpendicular to said spaced members, and said frame includes upwardly extending tubular members extending from said parallel tubular spaced members. .Iadd. 
     
     
       7.  An exercise apparatus that simulates stairclimbing for a user, which comprises: (a) a frame having a base;   (b) a right pedal and a left pedal, movable with respect to said frame;   (c) drive system assembly means for summing motion into continuous and fluid rotary motion, said drive system assembly means having a right pedal sprocket, a left pedal sprocket, and a drive means, wherein said drive means is driven by either said right sprocket or said left sprocket in one direction only and said right and left sprockets are free to overrun in the opposite direction;   (d) independently operating right pedal means and left pedal means, wherein said right pedal means oscillates said right pedal to provide motion of said right pedal which is a reciprocating motion, with respect to said base, between an upper position at rest and a lower, rearward position under the weight of the user, and drivingly engages said right pedal sprocket, and wherein said left pedal means oscillates said left pedal to provide motion of said left pedal which is a reciprocating motion, with respect to said base, between an upper position at rest and a lower, rearward position under the weight of the user, and drivingly engages said left pedal sprocket;   (e) speed increasing transmission means having an input and an output;   (f) means for engaging said drive means and said transmission means input;   (g) dynamic brake means for dissipating work of the user in the form of heat;   (h) means for engaging said transmission output and said dynamic brake means;   (i) means for controlling and monitoring the speed of said pedal means;   wherein said independently operating right pedal means and left pedal means comprises:   (j) a right pedal arm and a left pedal arm, said right pedal arm pivotally attached at one end to said right pedal, and said left pedal arm pivotally attached at one end to said left pedal;   (k) a right support arm and a left support arm, said right support arm parallel to said right pedal arm and pivotally attached at one end to said right pedal, and said left support arm parallel to said left pedal arm and pivotally attached at one end to said left pedal;   (l) a right pulley wheel and a left pulley wheel, said right pulley wheel and left pulley wheel rotatably mounted with respect to said frame;   (m) a right pedal chain and a left pedal chain, said right pedal chain attached at one end to said right support arm and made to engage said right pedal sprocket and said left pedal chain attached at one end to said left support arm and made to engage said left pedal sprocket; and   (n) right spring means and left spring means, said right spring means attached at one end to the other end of said right pedal chain, the other end of said right spring means being attached in a fixed position with respect to said frame and said left spring means attached at one end to the other end of said left pedal chain, the other end of said left spring means being attached in a fixed position with respect to said frame. .Iaddend. .Iadd.   
     
     
       8.  An exercise apparatus as set forth in claim 7, including a right cover and a left cover, coupled to said frame, for protecting components of said apparatus. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 
     
     
       9.  An exercise apparatus that simulates stairclimbing exercise for a user, which comprises: a frame;   a right pedal and a left pedal for the user to stand on during exercise;   a right arm pivotally coupled to the frame at a right pivot location and having said right pedal attached to said right arm at a location spaced apart from said right pivot location to permit downward movement of said right pedal about said right pivot location along an arcuate path from an upper position to a lower position under the weight of the user;   a left arm pivotally coupled to the frame at a left pivot location and having said left pedal attached to said left arm at a location spaced apart from said left pivot location to permit downward movement of said left pedal about said left pivot location along an arcuate path from an upper position to a lower position under the weight of the user;   said right arm and said left arm being pivotable independent of each other;   a drive system assembly having a summing rotary member with a right side one way clutch mounted thereon and a right elongated flexible member coupled to said rotary member through said right side one way clutch, to transmit rotary movement to said rotary member is one direction in response to downward movement of said right pedal, said right elongated flexible member being connected to said right arm at an attachment location located away from said right pivot location toward said right pedal, the angle between a right arm line extending from said right pivot location through said right pedal attachment location and a straight line segment of said right elongated flexible member extending from said right, side one way clutch toward said right arm, measured on a side of said right elongated flexible member away from said right pivot location, being less than 90 degrees when said right pedal is in said upper position, and being greater than 90 degrees when said right pedal is in said lower position;   said drive system assembly further having a left side one way clutch mounted on said rotary member and a left elongated flexible member coupled to said rotary member through said left side one way clutch, to transmit rotary, movement to said rotary member in said one direction in response to downward movement of said left pedal, said left elongated flexible member being connected to said left arm at an attachment location located away from said left pivot location toward said left pedal, the angle between a left arm line extending from said left pivot location through said left pedal attachment location and a straight line segment of said left elongated flexible member extending from said left side one way clutch toward said left arm, measured on a side of said left elongated flexible member away from said left pivot location, being less than 90 degrees when said left pedal is in said upper position, and being greater than 90 degrees when said left pedal is in said lower position; and   a brake coupled to said rotary member and controlling the velocity of said rotary member. .Iaddend. .Iadd.   
     
     
       10.  The exercise apparatus of claim 9 further including: a control drive for selecting a predetermined control speed; and   wherein said brake controls the velocity of said rotary member to said predetermined control speed. .Iaddend. .Iadd.   
     
     
       11.  An exercise apparatus that simulates stairclimbing for a user, which comprises: (a) a frame having a base;   (b) a right pedal and a left pedal, movable with respect to said frame;   (c) a drive system assembly summing motion into continuous and fluid rotary motion, said drive system assembly having a right one way clutch, a left one way clutch, and a drive means, wherein said drive means is driven by either said right one way clutch or said left one way clutch in one direction only and said right and left one way clutches are free to overrun in the opposite direction;   (d) independently operating right pedal means and left pedal means, wherein said right pedal means oscillates said right pedal to provide motion of said right pedal which is a reciprocating motion, with respect to said base, between an upper position and a lower, rearward position under the weight of the user, and drivingly engages said right one way clutch, and wherein said left pedal means oscillates said left pedal to provide motion of said left pedal which is a reciprocating motion, with respect to said base, between an upper position and a lower, rearward position under the weight of the user, and drivingly engages said left one way clutch;   (e) a speed increasing transmission having an input and an output, said transmission input being engaged with said drive means;   (f) a brake dissipating the work of the user in the form of heat, said brake being engaged with the transmission output;   (g) a controller controlling and monitoring the speed of said drive means;   wherein said independently operating right pedal means and left pedal means comprises:   (h) a right pedal arm and a left pedal arm, said right pedal arm pivotally attached at one end to said right pedal, and said left pedal arm pivotally attached at one end to said left pedal;   (i) a right support arm and a left support arm, said right support arm adjacent to said right pedal arm and pivotally attached at one end to said right pedal, and said left support arm adjacent to said left pedal arm and pivotally attached at one end to said left pedal;   (j) a right elongated flexible member and a left elongated flexible member, said right elongated flexible member attached at one end to said right pedal arm and made to engage said right one way clutch and said left elongated flexible member attached at one end to said left pedal arm and made to engage said left one way clutch; and   (k) right spring means and left spring means, said right spring means attached at one end to the other end of said right elongated flexible member, said right spring means being operatively engaged with said frame and said left spring means attached at one end to the other end of said left elongated flexible member, said left spring means being operatively engaged with said frame. .Iaddend.