Patents by Inventor Kenneth W. Stearns

Kenneth W. Stearns has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6196948
    Abstract: An exercise apparatus has a frame designed to rest upon a floor surface. Left and right cranks are rotatably mounted on the frame, and left and right rocker links are pivotally mounted on the frame. Left and right foot links have forward ends rotatably connected to respective rocker links, intermediate portions movably connected to respective cranks, and rearward ends sized and configured to support a person's feet. On the preferred embodiment, left and right rigid drawbars are selectively imposed between respective cranks and respective rocker links to convert exercise motion from a stepping type motion to a striding type motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Stearns, Joseph D. Maresh
  • Patent number: 6183397
    Abstract: An exercise apparatus has arm driven members and leg driven members which are movably mounted on a frame. The arm driven members are pivotal relative to the frame, and the leg driven members are movable through various paths relative to the frame. The arm driven members and the leg driven members may be connected to one another and/or the frame to provide facilitate different modes of exercise activity. Also, the leg driven members may be constrained to move through several different fixed paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Stearns, Joseph D. Maresh, Mark A. Krull
  • Patent number: 6171215
    Abstract: An exercise apparatus links rotation of a crank to generally elliptical motion of a foot supporting member. A foot supporting linkage is movably connected between a rocker and a crank in such a manner that the foot supporting member moves through a range of motion greater in length than the distance between the points of connection to the crank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Stearns, Joseph D. Maresh
  • Patent number: 6152859
    Abstract: An exercise apparatus has arm driven members and leg driven members which are movably mounted on a frame. In a first mode of operation, the arm driven members are movable relative to the frame and the leg driven members. In a second mode of operation, the arm driven members are linked to the leg driven members and movable together therewith relative to the frame. In a third mode of operation, the arm driven members are locked against movement relative to the frame in a manner which does not interfere with movement of the leg driven members. In a preferred embodiment, the leg driven members are movable in two generally orthogonal directions relative to the frame. The leg driven members may also be interconnected to move in reciprocal fashion in either and/or both of those directions, and/or supported in a manner that provides progressive resistance to downward movement as a function of downward travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Inventor: Kenneth W. Stearns
  • Patent number: 6135923
    Abstract: An exercise apparatus has left and right user supporting assemblies which support a person in an upright position relative to an underlying floor surface. The user supporting assemblies are interconnected between the frame and respective left and right cranks in such a manner that rotation of the cranks is linked to movement of respective foot supports and handles through generally vertical paths of motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Stearns, Joseph D. Maresh
  • Patent number: 6126574
    Abstract: An exercise apparatus includes a linkage assembly interconnected between a frame and a crank rotatably mounted on the frame. The linkage assembly includes a rail that is supported by the crank and the frame, and a foot skate that moves up and down together with the rail and back and forth relative to the rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Stearns, Joseph D. Maresh
  • Patent number: 6113518
    Abstract: An exercise apparatus has a linkage assembly which links rotation of a crank to generally elliptical movement of a force receiving member. The linkage assembly includes a flexible rocker link interconnected between the force receiving member and the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Inventors: Joseph D. Maresh, Kenneth W. Stearns
  • Patent number: 6080086
    Abstract: An exercise apparatus links rotation of a crank to generally elliptical motion of a foot supporting member. In particular, both a foot supporting linkage and a drawbar linkage are movably connected between a rocker link and the crank in such a manner that the foot supporting member is constrained to move through an elliptical path of motion. The configuration of the elliptical path may be selectively altered by adjusting the drawbar linkage relative to the rocker link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Inventors: Joseph D. Maresh, Kenneth W. Stearns
  • Patent number: 6077197
    Abstract: A semi-recumbent cycling apparatus constrains left and right foot supports to move through substantially elliptical paths of motion relative to a frame, while supporting a person's back in an inclined position relative to an underlying floor surface. The paths of the foot supports have major axes which extend generally perpendicular to the floor surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Stearns, Joseph D. Maresh
  • Patent number: 6066073
    Abstract: An exercise apparatus alters the elevation of a person based on the person's level of exertion. The exercise itself may involve motion and/or isometric exercise performed by the person's arms and/or legs. The elevating process may be directly linked to the exercise motion and/or controlled electronically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Stearns, Joseph D. Maresh
  • Patent number: 6063009
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Stearns, Joseph D. Maresh
  • Patent number: 6053847
    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 movably connected to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Stearns, Joseph D. Maresh
  • Patent number: 6030320
    Abstract: An exercise apparatus has a linkage assembly which links rotation of a crank to generally elliptical movement of a force receiving member. The apparatus may be folded into a storage configuration having an overall height which is less than the greater of the diameter of the crank and the diameter of a flywheel which rotates together with the crank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Stearns, Joseph D. Maresh
  • Patent number: 6027431
    Abstract: An exercise apparatus has a linkage assembly which links rotation of an adjustable length crank to generally elliptical movement of a force receiving member. The linkage assembly includes a first link having a rearward end which is rotatably connected to the crank, and a forward end which is rotatably connected to a lower end of a suspended link. An upper portion of the suspended link is rotatably connected to the exercise apparatus frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Stearns, Joseph D. Maresh
  • Patent number: 6027430
    Abstract: An exercise apparatus links rotational motion and/or reciprocal pivoting motion to elliptical travel of a force receiving member. In one embodiment, a first link is pivotally mounted on a frame; a crank is rotatably mounted on the frame; a second link is rotatably connected to the crank; the force receiving member is rotatably interconnected between the first link and the second link; and a connector is rotatably interconnected between the first link and the second link. In another embodiment, the first link is pivotally mounted on a post which in turn, is pivotally mounted on a frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Stearns, Joseph D. Maresh
  • Patent number: 5997446
    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).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Inventor: Kenneth W. Stearns
  • Patent number: 5997445
    Abstract: An exercise apparatus has a linkage assembly which is movably mounted on a frame and links rotation of left and right crank to elliptical movement of left and right foot supporting members. The linkage assembly includes left and right connector links having three discrete connection points. A first connection point on each connector link is rotatably connected to a respective crank. A second connection point on each connector link is constrained to move through a predetermined path relative to the frame. A third connection point on each connector link is connected to a first portion of a respective foot supporting link. A second portion of each foot supporting link is constrained to move through a predetermined path relative to the frame. The path of the foot supporting links may be altered by adjusting a first frame member relative to a second member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Inventors: Joseph D. Maresh, Kenneth W. Stearns
  • Patent number: 5944638
    Abstract: An exercise apparatus has (a) a bi-modal seat that readily transforms between a first configuration, which is adapted for conventional cycling, and a second configuration, which is adapted for recumbent cycling; (b) a bi-modal flywheel assembly that readily switches between a direct drive configuration and a free-wheel configuration; and/or (c) a braking assembly which readily stops rotation of the flywheel at the discretion of a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Inventors: Joseph D. Maresh, Kenneth W. Stearns
  • Patent number: 5938575
    Abstract: An exercise machine (10-101) is provided having a platform (12-121) on which a user (14-141) 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 (10-101). A lever (20-201) is pivotally connected (30-321) to the platform (12-121) with the lever being actuated by the user for raising one end of the platform (12-121) with respect to a pivot point with resistance to such raising being varied by the pivotal mounting of the lever (20-201) on the platform (1 2121). Two of the various embodiments (FIGS. 13-16) include a base support (41 F, 41 G) 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Inventor: Kenneth W. Stearns
  • Patent number: 5938568
    Abstract: An exercise apparatus includes a foot supporting member having a first end rotatably connected to a crank and a second, opposite end supported by a roller which is selectively movable in a radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Inventors: Joseph D. Maresh, Kenneth W. Stearns