Patents Examined by Steve R. Crow
  • Patent number: 7485072
    Abstract: An exercise device includes two cranks rotatably coupled to an upright support of a base, two handles pivotally coupled to the upright support, and two foot supports each having a front portion pivotally coupled to the pivot rod of the cranks with a link and each having a rear portion pivotally coupled to the rear portion of the base, and the lower portions of the handles are pivotally coupled to the foot supports to allow the moving stroke of the foot supports to be controlled by the handles. The handles may be pivotally coupled together with a coupling device. A foot pedal may be pivotally supported on each of the foot supports and pivotally coupled to the handles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Inventors: Jin Chen Chuang, Lung Fei Chuang
  • Patent number: 7481748
    Abstract: A locking mechanism includes a tube and a rod slidable with respect to the tube. A driving mechanism is adapted to engage the rod to provide movement of the rod relative to the tube and a locking mechanism is used to lock the rod in a locking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Kurt Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Duane G. Schroeder
  • Patent number: 7479093
    Abstract: Exercise apparatus has a pair of handles pivotally mounted on a frame and guiding respective user arm motions along swing paths obliquely approaching the sagittal plane of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph Immordino, Eric C. White, Thomas J. Danowski, Marcos D. Roimicher
  • Patent number: 7470218
    Abstract: A device is disclosed that enables a user to perform a simulation of walking and running. The device comprises a locomotion platform which is has a concave upward facing surface. The platform and or the user's footwear incorporate a means to reduce friction to allow their feet to move freely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Inventor: Julian David Williams
  • Patent number: 7468021
    Abstract: An elliptical exercise machine and methods for using the machine where the horizontal length of the stride of the ellipse can be adjusted by the user without the user having to alter the vertical dimension of the ellipse by an equivalent amount. The machine provides for alteration due to the interaction of two arms via a coupler where distance from a rotational axis to the coupler may be adjusted The machine may allow for this adjustment to occur during the performance of an exercise routine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: True Fitness Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel R Moon
  • Patent number: 7468022
    Abstract: The present invention provides a bidirectional linkage single damping mechanism suitable for a leg exerciser. The invention includes a circular drive element, which shifts circularly to define a first section and a second section in opposite motion directions. A brake swinging arm, provided with a coupling end and a swinging end. The coupling end is connected with a treading rotation axis; and the swinging end is connected with either section. The two sections drive separately two drive pulleys. A bidirectional drive pulley assembly has two rotary pulleys and two drive pulleys connected by a unidirectional bearing. The bidirectional drive pulley assembly then drives a damping wheel assembly. With this invention, it is possible to provide a damping mechanism that can be connected with the leg exercisers for an improved resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: Hexon Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hung-Min Liang
  • Patent number: 7465256
    Abstract: A treadmill arrangement, which comprises a treadmill and also a transmitter (31) that is arranged to be connectable to a treadmill user and to transmit an electromagnetic signal (30), at least one receiver (32) that is arranged in connection with the treadmill to receive the signal transmitted by the transmitter (31), apparatus for processing (33) the signal, and apparatus for generating (34) information that is arranged to receive the information arriving from the signal processing apparatus (33) and to generate therefrom the user's position data (39) and/or control information (38). To provide accurate operation, the transmitter (31) transmitting the electromagnetic signal (30) is a transmitter part of a heart rate monitor or a heart rate measuring system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Tunturi Oy, Ltd.
    Inventor: Simo Mäenpää
  • Patent number: 7465254
    Abstract: An exercise apparatus includes left and right rigid connector links having first portions rotatably connected to respective cranks, second portions constrained to move in reciprocating fashion, and third portions configured to support a person's feet. The resulting assembly links rotation of the cranks to movement of the foot supports through generally elliptical paths. The connection points may be moved relative to one another and/or a supporting frame to adjust the size, shape, and/or orientation of the paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Inventor: Joseph D. Maresh
  • Patent number: 7465255
    Abstract: Disclosed is a treadmill for enabling a user to tread and twist. The treadmill includes a base, a post extended from the base, a pivotal unit including two inclined axles extended from the post, two treadles each connected to a related one of the inclined axles, two hydraulic cylinders each comprising an end connected to a related one of the treadles and another end connected to the base and a linking unit. The linking unit includes two cranks each connected to a related one of the inclined axles, a U-shaped element connected to the post, a pulley supported on the U-shaped element and a rope wound around the pulley and formed with two end each connected to a related one of the cranks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Inventor: Tsung-Yu Chen
  • Patent number: 7462137
    Abstract: A twisting device for a climbing exerciser includes a rotatable member rotatably mounted on a cylindrical tube on the base and the rotatable member includes two flanges so that two connection plates connected with two pedals are respectively connected between the two flanges. The rotatable member is connected with a handlebar stem so that when the user operates the pedals alternatively, the two connection plates rotate the rotatable member reciprocally to drive the handlebar stem to twist about an axis of the handlebar stem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Inventors: Zhong-Jin Yang, Hua-Lu Hsiang
  • Patent number: 7462133
    Abstract: A forearm and wrist exercise device includes a base frame, a handle rod, a driver wheel, a driven yoke, a driven wheel and an adjustable tensioner. The base frame is attached to a stationary object, such as a wall. The handle rod extends from the driver wheel and the handle rod is pivotally retained by the base frame. The driven wheel is forced against the driver wheel. A second embodiment of the forearm and wrist exercise device includes a base frame, a handle rod, a driver wheel, a tension belt and an adjustable tensioner. A third embodiment of the forearm and wrist exercise device includes a base frame, a hydraulic pump, a hydraulic flow valve and a pair of extension shafts. A fourth embodiment of the forearm and wrist exercise device includes a base frame, a handle rod, a driver gear, a driven gear, a flywheel and an electromagnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Inventors: Richard L. Herman, Gordon H. Smith
  • Patent number: 7455627
    Abstract: A novel stationary exercise bicycle and method for exercising on that bicycle is disclosed. The novel bicycle, comprising a frame having front and rear sockets, a seat mounted into the rear socket, and a handlebar mounted in the front socket, can advantageously be adjusted so that a rider can adopt different riding positions to simulate outdoor bicycle riding conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Mad Dogg Athletics, Inc.
    Inventor: Johnny Goldberg
  • Patent number: 7455623
    Abstract: An elliptical machine includes: a machine body including a first support structure, and a second support structure extending upwardly from the first support structure; left and right cranks mounted rotatably to the first support structure and rotatable about a first rotation axis; a swing unit including left and right rotary shafts mounted rotatably and respectively to opposite sides of the second support structure, and left and right handles mounted respectively to the left and right rotary shafts, the left and right rotary shafts being respectively rotatable about second and third rotation axes, each of which is inclined to a line parallel to the first rotation axis; and a pedal unit including left and right pedal rods, each of which is connected rotatably to a respective one of the left and right handles and a respective one of the left and right cranks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: P & F Brother Industrial Corporation
    Inventor: Shih-Peng Wang
  • Patent number: 7448986
    Abstract: The invention is an exercise device comprising (i) a frame, (ii) first and second foot supports operably associated with the frame for traveling along a closed loop path relative to a transverse axis defined by the frame, (iii) a heart rate monitor, and (iv) a means for automatically adjusting the stride length and/or stride height of the closed loop path traveled by the foot supports based upon the sensed heart rate of person exercising on the exercise device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Octane Fitness, LLC
    Inventor: Timothy J. Porth
  • Patent number: 7438671
    Abstract: A manual pace-adjusting mechanism of an elliptical cross trainer having an adjusting rod pivotally attached to both sides of the bottom support frame, respectively. The top end of the adjusting rod is pivotally coupled to an L-shaped connecting rod while the other end of the L-shaped connecting rod is pivotally connected to the treadle plank. A positioning rod is interposed between the adjusting rod and the front upright posts of the elliptical cross trainer by means of a positioning element. As a result, the adjustment of the angle of the adjusting rod enables the change on the vertical position of the treadle planks so that an independent right and left adjustment of the exercise pace is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Inventor: Leao Wang
  • Patent number: 7435202
    Abstract: In an elliptical step exercise apparatus distance traveled can be approximated by determining the portion of the ellipse traversed by a foot pedal where the user applies force to the pedal. This portion can be considered equivalent to the amount of foot travel on a treadmill and modified as a function of speed to simulate the gait of a user at various speeds so as to provide an approximation of the distance traveled by a user as if he were running on a treadmill. This process can be further modified for use with an elliptical exercise apparatus where the stride length can be changed such that the simulated distance will be increased with increased stride length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Juliette C. Daly, John M. Rogus, John J. Hsing, Gregory Joseph
  • Patent number: 7435204
    Abstract: An elliptical exercise machine with an adjustable exercising track comprises a framework, having a flywheel, a crank settled on the flywheel, and at least two parallel rails; a wheel assembly, comprising two wheel-shafts arranged at two sides of the crank and two wheels slidably coupled to the rails; a handle-shaft assembly, comprising a pair of handle-shafts disposed at two sides of the framework for being gripped by a user; a stepping-pedal assembly, comprising two pedals coupled to two pedal-shafts which are linked to the handle-shafts; and a pair of adjusting assemblies for shifting positions of joints of the pedal-shafts and the wheel-shafts along the wheel-shafts. By shifting the positions of joints of the pedal-shafts and the wheel-shafts, a minor axis of the elliptical exercising track can be lengthened or shortened and consequently the elliptical exercising track can be non-proportionally scaled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignees: Cycling & Health Tech Industry, R & D Center
    Inventors: Hung-Sheng Wu, Chun-Ho Chen, Chia-Hsiun Chuang
  • Patent number: 7435203
    Abstract: In an elliptical step exercise apparatus where stride length can be varied the various user programs can take advantage of this feature to provide for an enhanced workout. A control system can be used to implement a preprogrammed exercise routine such as a hill program where stride is shortened as the user goes up a simulated hill and lengthened as the user goes down the hill. In an interval training program, stride length can be increased and decreased at periodic intervals. In a cross training program, stride length can be decreased when the user is pedaling backwards and increased when the user is pedaling forwards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy T. Anderson, Gregory A. Bahnfleth, Rachel Lara Abigail Buckley, Juliette C. Daly, Thomas J. Fuller, Ming Jiang, Gregory A. Joseph, Karen Jean Knauf, Elena A. Martynenko, Craig R. Norman, Lisa Marie Nowak
  • Patent number: 7429234
    Abstract: The present invention is an oval track stepper, which has resolved the disadvantage of a typical oval track stepper by having rear ends of left and right stepping rods linked to left and right sides of a freewheel set and the enclosure, leading to excessive spacing against stepping comfort. The oval track stepper includes a main frame, a head frame, left and right stepping rods, left and right vertical swing rods, a freewheel set and damping device. The freewheel set and damping device are mounted externally at left and right stepping rods. An obstruction-free and closer space between left and right stepping rods delivers an optimum stepping distance for the users, thus improving comfort and practicability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Inventors: Chang-Hsin Yang, Ya-Chi Chen
  • Patent number: 7427255
    Abstract: A twist stationary bike of a fitness equipment including a pedal driven vertical shaft provided on the bike frame, a turning bar located on a top of the shaft, a seat pivotally connected to an end of the turning bar for a user to sit on and to step on pedals to revolve the vertical shaft for naturally twisting the waist and swinging the buttock of the user to achieve a fitness purpose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Hsin Lung Accessories Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jeeng-Neng Fan