Abstract: An exercise device has a frame supporting guide links to which foot support links are pivotally attached. An arc center drive assembly is provided to raise and lower the foot receiving areas of the foot support links. Vertical drive elements couple a crank system to the arc center drive assembly to control the raising and lowering of the foot receiving areas.

Abstract: An exercise device includes a frame and a crank assembly. A pair of foot links each has a forward end, a rearward end, and a mid-portion. Each foot link has a crank attachment at the forward end that is connected the crank assembly. A foot receiving area is defined at the rearward end of each foot link. Each foot receiving area is longitudinally fixed with respect to the respective foot link and the mid portion of each foot link has a defined support location. The frame supports the support locations of the support links at a generally constant vertical height while allowing horizontal motion relative to the frame. The rearward length of the foot links is at least 1.5 times the forward length such that the foot receiving areas move in a path of travel having more vertical travel than horizontal travel.

Abstract: An exercise device has guide links each having a first attachment point pivotally attached to an upper part of a frame. Foot support links each have a foot receiving area to support a user's foot and are pivotally connected to a second attachment point of one of the guide links so that when the guide links pivot relative to the frame, the foot support links move in a path of travel having a horizontal component of motion. A first and a second control pulley are each pivotally connected to a respective one of the guide links and offset from the first pivot axis so as to move in an arc. A first and a second flexible element each couple the vertical drive assembly to a respective one of the foot support links. Each flexible element has a midportion extending about a respective one of the control pulleys.

Abstract: An elliptical exercise device has a frame supporting guide links and foot support links. A cam system has a vertical control cam portion. Vertical control followers are pivotally connected to a vertical follower support. Mechanical vertical control couplings couple the foot support links to the vertical control followers. A foot receiving area of each foot support link moves in a generally elliptical path when the cam portion rotates about the cam axis.

Abstract: An exercise device has a frame supporting guide links to which foot support links are pivotally attached. Upper pulleys are pivotally connected to the frame. Lower pulleys are connected to the foot support links. A vertical drive assembly is coupled to the foot support links by flexible elements. The flexible elements extend from the vertical drive assembly, about an upper pulley, about a lower pulley and to a second end connected to the frame.

Abstract: An exercise device includes a frame and a crank assembly. A pair of foot links each has a forward end, a rearward end, and a mid-portion. Each foot link has a crank attachment at the forward end that is connected the crank assembly. A foot receiving area is defined at the rearward end of each foot link. Each foot receiving area is longitudinally fixed with respect to the respective foot link and the mid portion of each foot link has a defined support location. The frame supports the support locations of the support links at a generally constant vertical height while allowing horizontal motion relative to the frame. The rearward length of the foot links is at least 1.5 times the forward length such that the foot receiving areas move in a path of travel having more vertical travel than horizontal travel.

Abstract: An elliptical exercise device has a frame and guide link pivotally attached thereto. A foot support link is pivotally connected to a lower attachment point of each guide link so that when the guide links pivot relative to the frame, foot receiving areas of the foot support links move in a path of travel having a horizontal component of motion. A cam drive has cams supported for rotation about an axis of rotation and pivoting arms each engaging one of the cams such that rotation of the cams causes movement of the pivoting arms. Flexible elements couple the foot support links to the pivoting arms such that rotation of the cams moves the foot receiving areas of the respective foot support links in a path of travel having a vertical component of motion.

Abstract: An elliptical exercise device has a frame and guide link pivotally attached thereto. A foot support link is pivotally connected to a lower attachment point of each guide link so that when the guide links pivot relative to the frame, foot receiving areas of the foot support links move in a path of travel having a horizontal component of motion. Vertical control tracks are pivotally connected to the frame and support the foot support links. A vertical drive is coupled to the forward portion of the frame and vertical control elements connect the vertical drive to the vertical control tracks. A horizontal drive and horizontal control links control pivoting of the guide links.

Abstract: An elliptical exercise device includes a frame supporting guide links which provide for a horizontal component of motion of associated foot support links. A mechanical coupling couples the foot support links to a crank system and intermediate links couple the crank system to the guide links such that a foot receiving area of each foot support link moves in a closed generally elliptical path when the crank system rotates.

Abstract: An elliptical exercise device has guide links pivotally attached to a frame and foot support links pivotally attached to the guide links. Vertical control links couple a cam drive to forward ends of the foot support links such that rotation of the cam drive moves foot receiving areas vertically. Horizontal control links couple a crank system to the guide links such that rotation of the crank system pivots the guide links and moves the foot receiving areas horizontally. The vertical and horizontal movement is generally out of phase to move the foot receiving areas in an elliptical path.

Abstract: An elliptical exercise device has a frame and guide link pivotally attached thereto. A foot support link is pivotally connected to a lower attachment point of each guide link so that when the guide links pivot relative to the frame, foot receiving areas of the foot support links move in a path of travel having a horizontal component of motion. Vertical control tracks are pivotally connected to the frame and support the foot support links. A vertical drive is coupled to the forward portion of the frame and vertical control elements connect the vertical drive to the vertical control tracks.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention have left and right guide links that are pivotally attached to the frame, typically to an upper part of the frame, and left and right foot support links each having a mid-portion pivotally interconnected with a lower end of the respective guide link. Reciprocal motion of the guide links causes the foot support links to move along a path having a horizontal component of motion (i.e. fore and aft). Left and right vertical control links are coupled to a vertical cam drive such that the vertical cam drive reciprocates the vertical control links. The vertical control links are each coupled to a forward portion of the respective foot support link such that the reciprocating control links cause foot receiving areas at the rear of the respective foot support links to reciprocate along a path having a vertical component of motion (i.e. upwardly and downwardly).

Abstract: An elliptical exercise device has a frame and guide link pivotally attached thereto. A foot support link is pivotally connected to a lower attachment point of each guide link so that when the guide links pivot relative to the frame, foot receiving areas of the foot support links move in a path of travel having a horizontal component of motion. Vertical control tracks are pivotally connected to the frame and support the foot support links. A vertical drive is coupled to the forward portion of the frame and vertical control elements connect the vertical drive to the vertical control tracks. A horizontal drive and horizontal control links control pivoting of the guide links.

Abstract: An exercise device includes a frame, pivotally connected arm links and a crank assembly. A pair of foot links each has a forward end, a rearward end, and a mid-portion. Each foot link has a crank attachment at the forward end that is connected the crank assembly. A foot receiving area is defined at the rearward end of each foot link. Each foot receiving area is longitudinally fixed with respect to the respective foot link and the mid portion of each foot link has a defined support location. The frame supports the support locations of the support links at a generally constant vertical height while allowing horizontal motion relative to the frame. The rearward length of the foot links is at least 1.5 times the forward length such that the foot receiving areas move in a path of travel having more vertical travel than horizontal travel.

Abstract: An elliptical exercise device has a frame and guide link pivotally attached thereto. A foot support link is pivotally connected to a lower attachment point of each guide link so that when the guide links pivot relative to the frame, foot receiving areas of the foot support links move in a path of travel having a horizontal component of motion. A cam drive has cams supported for rotation about an axis of rotation and pivoting arms each engaging one of the cams such that rotation of the cams causes movement of the pivoting arms. Flexible elements couple the foot support links to the pivoting arms such that rotation of the cams moves the foot receiving areas of the respective foot support links in a path of travel having a vertical component of motion.

Abstract: An elliptical exercise device has a frame and guide link pivotally attached thereto. A foot support link is pivotally connected to a lower attachment point of each guide link so that when the guide links pivot relative to the frame, foot receiving areas of the foot support links move in a path of travel having a horizontal component of motion. A cam drive has cams supported for rotation about an axis of rotation and pivoting arms each engaging one of the cams such that rotation of the cams causes movement of the pivoting arms. Flexible elements couple the foot support links to the pivoting arms such that rotation of the cams moves the foot receiving areas of the respective foot support links in a path of travel having a vertical component of motion. A crank and horizontal control links control pivoting of the guide links.

Abstract: An elliptical exercise device includes a frame supporting guide links which provide for a horizontal component of motion of associated foot support links A mechanical coupling couples the foot support links to a crank system and intermediate links couple the crank system to the guide links such that a foot receiving area of each foot support link moves in a closed generally elliptical path when the crank system rotates.

Abstract: An elliptical exercise device has guide links pivotally attached to a frame and foot support links pivotally attached to the guide links. Horizontal control links couple the guide links to a crank system and vertical control links couple the foot support links to the crank system such that rotation of the crank system moves foot receiving areas in a generally elliptical path.

Abstract: An elliptical exercise device has guide links pivotally attached to a frame and foot support links pivotally attached to the guide links. Horizontal control links couple the guide links to a crank system and vertical control links couple the foot support links to the crank system such that rotation of the crank system moves foot receiving areas in a generally elliptical path.

Abstract: An exercise device has a frame supporting guide links and foot support links. Upper pulleys are pivotally connected to the frame or guide links, front lower pulleys are connected to the guide links or foot support links and rear lower pulleys are connected to the foot support links. A flexible element extends from a vertical drive assembly to the upper pulley, front lower pulley, rear lower pulley and then to the frame rearward of the guide link pivot.