Striding-type exercise apparatus

Abstract

Exercise apparatus is provided for exercising all four limbs of the body. The exercise apparatus effectively simulates the anatomical movements of the body during walking and provides positive and negative resistance to all four limbs of the body during use. The exercise apparatus includes a frame having upright support members, two leg member and two arm members which are pivotably mounted to the support members at vertically spaced positions so that the leg members are generally pivotable at the hips of the user and the arm members are generally pivotable at the shoulders of the user. Hydraulic cylinders are connected between the arm and leg members to provide resistance when the arm and leg members are reciprocated in opposite directions during use of the apparatus. The distances between the hip and shoulder pivots, the hip pivot and foot platforms and the shoulder pivot and handgrips are adjustable to accommodate the anatomical differences of different size users.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. Exercise apparatus comprising: a frame including first and second spaced upright support members.Iadd., said first and second upright support members being spaced by a distance which permits a user to stand therebetween.Iaddend.;   first and second leg members respectively pivotably mounted on said first and second support members at a first pivot axis said first and second leg members .Iadd.being suspended from said first pivot axis and .Iaddend.being operative for reciprocating .Iadd.pendulum .Iaddend.movement . .between.!. .Iadd.through a plane passing through .Iaddend.said support members, said first and second leg members each including a platform for supporting a user in an upright position between said leg members;   first and second arm members respectively pivotably mounted on said first and second support members at a second pivot axis which is positioned above said first pivot axis, said arm members being positioned above said leg members, between said support members, said first and second arm members each including a handgrip and; and   means for providing resistance when reciprocating said leg members and said arm members in opposite directions.   
     
     
       2. In the exercise apparatus of claim 1, said resistance means comprising means for providing positive and negative resistance when reciprocating said leg members and said arm members in opposite directions. 
     
     
       3. In the exercise apparatus of claim 1, said resistance means comprising a first hydraulic cylinder connected between said first leg member and said first arm member and a second hydraulic cylinder connected between said second leg member and said second arm member. 
     
     
       4. In the exercise apparatus of claim 1, each of said leg members and said arm members including a pivot shaft and bell crank thereon, said exercise apparatus further comprising a first hydraulic cylinder connected between said bell cranks on said first leg member and said first arm member, and a second hydraulic cylinder connected between said bell cranks on said second leg member and said second arm member. 
     
     
       5. In the exercise apparatus of claim 4, each of said bell cranks including a plurality of spaced mounting holes for mounting said first and second hydraulic cylinders thereto. 
     
     
       6. In the exercise apparatus of claim 1, said first and second support members each including means for adjusting the distance between the pivot axis of said leg members and the pivot axis of said arm member. 
     
     
       7. In the exercise apparatus of claim 1, said first and second support members comprising: a body portion on which said leg member is pivotably mounted, said body portion having an upwardly opening tubular end;   a neck portion on which said arm member is pivotably mounted, said neck portion being slidably receivable in said tubular end portion of said body portion so that said pivot axis of said arm member is slidably moveable relative to said pivot axis of said leg member; and   set screw means for selectively setting a position of said neck portion with respect to said body portion.   
     
     
       8. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 further comprising locking means for selectively preventing reciprocal movement of each of said leg members and said arm members. 
     
     
       9. In the exercise apparatus of claim 1, further including means for adjusting a distance between said platform members and the pivot axes of said leg members. 
     
     
       10. In the exercise apparatus of claim 1, said first and second leg members each including a plurality of adjustment holes therein, said first and second platform members each including a tubular mounting portion and an adjustment pin extending inwardly from said tubular mounting portion, said tubular mounting portion being slidably receivable on said respective leg member wherein said pin is receivable in one of said plurality of adjustment holes. 
     
     
       11. In the exercise apparatus of claim 1, including means for adjusting the distance between said handgrips and pivot axes of said arm members. 
     
     
       12. In the exercise apparatus of claim 1, said first and second arm members each comprising an upper arm portion respectively pivotably mounted on said first and second support members, and a lower arm portion including a handgrip, said lower arm portion being pivotally mounted to said first arm portion. 
     
     
       13. In the exercise apparatus of claim 12, said lower arm portions comprising a tubular body which is pivotably mounted to said upper arm portion and a shaft including said handgrip, said shaft being slidably receivable in said tubular body wherein said handgrip means is slideably movable relative to said pivot axis of said arm member, said lower arm member further including locking means for selectively setting a position of said shaft relative to said tubular body. 
     
     
       14. In the exercise apparatus of claim 1, said handgrips being pivotably connected to said respective first and second arm members. 
     
     
       15. In the exercise apparatus of claim 1, said frame further including an overhead stabilizing bar which extends between said first and second spaced support members. 
     
     
       16. In the exercise apparatus of claim 1, said resistance means comprising four hydraulic cylinders which are respectively connected between said first and second leg members and said first and second support members and between said first and second arm members and said first and second support members. 
     
     
       17. In the exercise apparatus of claim 15, said overhead stabilizing bar including sling means for supporting a patient from said overhead stabilizing bar. .Iadd. 
     
     
       18.  Exercise apparatus comprising: a frame including first and second spaced upright support members, said first and second upright support members being spaced by a distance which permits a user to stand therebetween;   first and second leg members respectively pivotably mounted on said first and second support members at a first pivot axis, said first and second leg members being suspended from said first pivot axis and being operative for reciprocating pendulum movement through a plane passing through said support members, said first and second leg members each including a platform for supporting a user in an upright position between said leg members; and   first and second arm members respectively pivotably mounted on said first and second support members at a second pivot axis which is positioned above said first pivot axis, said arm members being positioned above said leg members, said arm members being operative for reciprocating movement between said support member, said first and second arm members each including a handgrip..Iaddend..Iadd.19. The exercise apparatus of claim 18 further comprising means for providing resistance when reciprocating said leg members and said arm members in opposite directions..Iaddend.