Exercise apparatus with automatically adjustable foot motion
US8079937B2 · kind B2 · utility
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 25, 2009 |
| Grant date | Dec 20, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 15, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA63B2230/75
- WIPO fieldFurniture, games
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
An elliptical exercise apparatus includes a frame, a pair of footpads, and a linkage coupling the footpads to the frame and for guiding the footpads in closed paths when a user's feet apply forces to the footpads. The linkage, which includes a rotatable member having an angular position indicative of the positions of the footpads within their closed paths, responds to input control signals by adjusting length and height dimensions of the closed paths. A control system senses the angular position of the rotatable member, senses the forces the user applies to the footpads, and generates the control signals to increase or decrease the path dimensions when it senses particular combinations of angular position and user forces, thereby permitting the user to control the path dimensions by controlling the forces applied to the footpads.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.