Abstract: An exercise apparatus includes a crank rotatably mounted on a frame; a connector link having an intermediate portion rotatably connected to the crank; a foot platform rotatably connected to an upper end of the connector link; a rocker link rotatably connected to a lower end of the connector link; a control link rotatably interconnected between the foot platform and the rocker link; and a handle bar link rotatably mounted on the frame and movably connected to the rocker link.

Abstract: An exercise apparatus has a linkage assembly which links rotation of a crank to generally elliptical movement of a foot supporting member. The crank rotates about a crank axis relative to a frame, and a distal portion of a link moves relative to a connection point on the frame. An intermediate portion of the link is rotatably connected to the crank, and an opposite distal portion of the link is rotatably connected to a rearward end of the foot supporting member. An opposite, forward end of the foot supporting member is constrained to move in reciprocating fashion relative to the frame. In the preferred embodiment, a rocker link is rotatably interconnected between the foot supporting member and the frame, and an upper end of the rocker link is sized and configured for grasping by a person standing on the foot supporting member. In an alternative embodiment, the rocker link is selectively linked to a discrete handle member which is similarly rotatably mounted on the frame.

Abstract: An exercise apparatus includes a force receiving member movable relative to a frame. A roller is rotatably mounted on a first crank and supports a rearward portion of the force receiving member. A link is rotatably interconnected between a second crank and an intermediate portion of the force receiving member. The cranks, the roller, and the link cooperate with the force receiving member to move the latter in a desired path.

Abstract: An exercise apparatus links rotation of a crank to generally elliptical motion of a foot supporting member. A support member is movably supported between a frame and a crank rotatably mounted on the frame. The foot supporting member moves vertically together with the support member and horizontally relative to the support member.

Abstract: An exercise apparatus includes a support member that is movable relative to a frame, and a force receiving member that is movable relative to the support member. A first end of the support member is pivotally connected to the frame, and a second, opposite end of the support member is supported on a crank. A flexible link is interconnected between the crank and the force receiving member. The crank, the roller, the support member, and the link cooperate to move the force receiving member in a desired path.

Abstract: A four bar linkage is interconnected between a crank and a force receiving member. The linkage links rotation of the crank to generally elliptical movement of the force receiving member. The linkage includes a first link having a first end rotatably connected to the crank; a second link having a first end rotatably connected to a second, opposite end of the first link, an intermediate portion rotatably connected to the frame, and a second, opposite end rotatably connected to an intermediate portion of a fourth link; a third link having a first end rotatably connected to an intermediate portion of the first link, and a second, opposite end rotatably connected to a first end of the fourth link; and a force receiving member connected to at least one of the first link, the second link, the third link, and the fourth link.

Abstract: A crank is rotatably mounted on a frame, and a roller is rotatably mounted on the crank at a radially displaced location. A force receiving member and a discrete support member bear against the roller. The roller links rotation of the crank relative to the frame to up and down movement of both the force receiving member and the support member and to back and forth movement of the force receiving member relative to the support member.

Abstract: An exercise apparatus includes a crank rotatably mounted on a frame, and an axially extending support connected to the crank at a radially displaced location. Both a force receiving member and a discrete support member are linked to the axially extending support in such a manner that rotation of the crank relative to the frame is linked to movement of the force receiving member in a generally elliptical path relative to the frame.

Abstract: An exercise apparatus includes a support member that is movable relative to a frame, and a force receiving member that is movable relative to the support member. A first end of the support member is pivotally connected to the frame, and a second, opposite end of the support member is supported on a first crank. A link is interconnected between a second crank and the force receiving member. The cranks, the roller, the support member, and the link cooperate to move the force receiving member in a desired path.

Abstract: An exercise apparatus includes a force receiving member movable relative to a frame. A first link is rotatably interconnected between a first crank and a rearward portion of the force receiving member, and a second link is rotatably interconnected between a second crank and an intermediate portion of the force receiving member. The cranks and the links cooperate to move the force receiving member in a desired path.

Abstract: An exercise machine (10-10l) is provided having a platform (12-12l) on which a user (14-14l) is supported in a reclining position with the weight of the user (14-14G) being utilized as a resistance which may be selectively varied to the various exercises which may be performed on the exercise apparatus (10-10l). A lever (20-20l) is pivotally connected (30-32l) to the platform (12-12l) with the lever being actuated by the user for raising one end of the platform (12-12l) with respect to a pivot point with resistance to such raising being varied by the pivotal mounting of the lever (20-20l) on the platform (12-12l). Two of the various embodiments (FIGS. 13-16) include a base support (41F, 41G) having a rail (42F, 42G) on which a lever (20F, 20G) has a roller (47F, 47G) mounted for riding movement thereon and pivotally connected (32F, 32G) to a lower leg (62F, 62G) for pivotal movement. Other embodiments (FIGS.

Abstract: An exercise device (10) has a handlebar (30) with handgrips (32) for gripping by a user (U). An adjustment plate member (26) is mounted for pivotal movement about a pivot (28) on a fixed support plate member (18). A seat (58) supports the weight of the user U to resist to the rotation of the adjustment plate (26). A generally horizontal exercise movement is performed by pulling on the handlebar (30) and simultaneously pushing on foot pedals (70) on a foot frame (68) secured to the adjustment plate member (26). The horizontal exercise movement shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 can be easily converted to a vertical exercise movement shown in FIG. 3 at the discretion of the user (U) by changing the motion exerted against the handlebar (30) by the user (U).

Abstract: An exercise device (10) has foot supports (30, 32) on which a user stands for performing a stair stepping exercise alone, or a cross country skiing exercise alone, or simultaneously a stair stepping exercise and a cross country skiing exercise. Linkage support frames (26, 28) each have a first linkage (44) and a second linkage (36) pivotally connected to each other for maintaining foot supports (30, 32) in a horizontal plane. A fluid cylinder (52) provides a mechanism for resisting the vertical movement of the foot supports (30, 32). Manually gripped poles (60) are mounted to move in coordination with generally horizontal movement of foot supports (30, 32). Separate embodiments of the invention are shown in FIGS. 5-13 for performing simultaneously a stair stepping exercise and a cross country skiing or walking exercise. An alternative preferred embodiment of the invention which may be folded downwardly for low vertical profile storage is illustrated in FIG. 14. Another embodiment illustrated in FIGS.

Abstract: An exercise machine is provided having a platform on which a user is supported in a reclining position with the weight of the user being utilized as a resistance which may be selectively varied to the various exercises which may be performed on the exercise apparatus. A lever is pivotally connected to the platform with the lever being actuated by the user for raising one end of the platform with respect to a pivot point with resistance to such raising being varied by the pivotal mounting of the lever on the platform. Two of the various embodiments include a base support having a rail on which a lever has a roller mounted for riding movement thereon and pivotally connected to a lower leg for pivotal movement. Other embodiments include a lever having telescoping members with an inner one of such telescoping member being selectively fixed to a rail. Such inner telescoping member reciprocates within an outer telescoping member as the platform is raised and lowered.

Abstract: An exercise device (10) has foot supports (30, 32) on which a user stands for performing a stair stepping exercise alone, or a cross country skiing exercise alone, or simultaneously a stair stepping exercise and a cross country skiing exercise. Linkage support frames (26, 28) each have a first linkage (44) and a second linkage (36) pivotally connected to each other for maintaining foot supports (30, 32) in a horizontal plane. A fluid cylinder (52) provides a mechanism for resisting the vertical movement of the foot supports (30, 32). Manually gripped poles (60) are mounted to move in coordination with generally horizontal movement of foot supports (30, 32). Separate embodiments of the invention are shown in FIGS. 5-13 for performing simultaneously a stair stepping exercise and a cross country skiing or walking exercise. An alternative preferred embodiment of the invention which may be folded downwardly for low vertical profile storage is illustrated in FIG. 14.

Abstract: A resistance device is disclosed for use with exercise equipment such as cross-country ski simulators, stair climbing machines, stationary bicycles and the like. The restraint device includes a rotating assembly disposed about a supporting member such as a rod. The rotating assembly includes a cylinder which is connected by means of a flexible cable or the like to foot pads of the ski simulator or step members of the stair climbing machine, for example, such that to-and-fro or up and down (bi-directional) motion of the exercising machine is converted into angular velocity of the rotating assembly. The rotating assembly includes weighted pivoting members arranged to pivot with respect to the assembly such that with increasing angular velocity of the rotating assembly, the pivots are forced radially outward thereby smoothly increasing the moment-of-inertia of the device.

Abstract: An exercise apparatus (10) particularly for developing and conditioning abdominal muscle group of the torso of a user while seated on a fixed seat (36) of a fixed frame (13). Three separate movable frames, called a crunch frame, a sway frame, and a twist frame are provided to allow the user to individually or simultaneously exercise abdominal muscles while crunching (bending forward), swaying (bending from side-to-side), or twisting (rotating his torso). Variable resistance to the movement of the frames is provided by weights (22) and pulleys (20, 80, 82, 84A, 84B, 86A, 86B, 88, 90, 92A, 92B, 94A, 94B, 96A, 96B) operatively connected by a cable (26) to the crunch frame, sway frame, and twist frame.

Abstract: An abdominal exercise machine is disclosed including a mechanism for allowing a chest pad disposed above a seat of the machine to move in a circular arc about the waist of a user sitting on the seat. The mechanism connecting a rotating member on which the chest pad is attached is disposed beneath the seat of the machine so as to allow easy mounting and dismounting by the user. Rotation of the chest pad is resisted by one of various resistance mechanism such as a viscous fluid resistance cylinder or stacked weights.

Abstract: A treadmill is disclosed having a belt system carried by a platform structure. The platform structure is pivotally mounted at its rear end to a base structure. The platform is supported at its forward end by a spring and a shock absorber which provides a damped resilient response of the belt and platform when a runner's foot lands during running or walking. The shock absorber is of the type which resists movement when the platform is moving in the downward direction, but offers relatively little resistance to upward movement of the platform when the spring returns the platform to a rest position during the time the runner is above the platform and is not forcing the platform down. An auxiliary shock absorber is mounted to damp the response of the platform over a short distance as the platform returns to its rest position.