Adjustable foot support platform for an exercise apparatus
An improved foot support platform for cardiovascular exercise machines provides various adjustable platform configurations. The different configurations allow the user to target specific muscle groups more easily and prevent the user's feet from falling asleep while exercising.
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of exercise equipment, and particularly to apparatus for cardiovascular exercise, such as elliptical exercisers, stair climbers, ski and hiker type machines.
2. Background
Devices for performing cardiovascular exercise are enormously popular. Such devices include, for example, treadmills and machines that simulate stair climbing. One type of cardiovascular exerciser that has recently become popular is referred as an “elliptical” exerciser. A typical elliptical exercise apparatus includes a floor-supported frame, a crank mechanism defining a first axis, and radially-extending crank arms. A pair of elongated pedal assemblies include foot support platforms for supporting a user standing thereon and are coupled to the crank mechanism. A pedal guide defines a second axis that is fixed with respect to the frame, and each pedal is constructed and arranged to be supported on the guide for pivoting movement with respect to the second axis and to accommodate a horizontal extent of movement imparted to the foot support platforms by movement of the elongated pedals around the first axis so that the foot support platforms traverse an elliptical path of motion simulating natural striding foot movements. Other machines in the elliptical category may have an arced reciprocating motion or a striding motion in which the user is supported by foot platforms.
The typical foot support platforms for elliptical exercisers and other cardiovascular exercise machines are flat and stay straight in line with the motion of the lower leg or stay flat through the motion. Some use linkages or rotate to stay in line with the ankle and support the bottom of the foot during exercise and some have adjustable angles. Flat pedals tend to keep the bottom of the foot static. This causes a problem for many users, wherein their feet fall asleep while exercising. To prevent this, the user must periodically move his or her feet or alter contact emphasis of the foot from heel to toe. This is difficult to remember to do without encouragement or reminders such as voice suggestions. Furthermore, it is annoying.
It is also important to have heel to toe motion of the foot to exercise and strengthen the muscles of the foot. Many machines are promoted as providing a natural motion to mimic every day life running, walking and hiking, but fail to include the foot and or ankle.
By way of example of the state of the art, U.S. Pat. No. 5,921,894 shows an elliptical exerciser with a flat pedal that has adjustable incline and U.S. Pat. No. 5,690,589 shows an elliptical exerciser with a flat pedal that has manual or electronically adjustable incline.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention provides an improved foot support platform for cardiovascular exercise machines. Various adjustable platform configurations tax muscles differently to allow the user to target specific muscle groups more easily and prevent the user's feet from falling asleep while exercising.
Each platform configuration helps to affect different muscle groups by the fixed shape of the surface or by adjusting the surface of the platform. Some platforms have a raised center portion formed by a fixed convex arc, or by the front and back portions of a platform adjustably lowering in relation to the center portion, or by the center portion adjustably raising in relation to the front and back portions. This raised center causes the foot to roll on the pedal from “heel to toe” as would happen in normal walking or running, thus moving the pressure point across the foot and keeping the foot active and awake. A convex arc platform supports the foot at the heel towards the beginning of the stride (leg extended forward), on the center of the foot during the middle of the stride, and on the ball or toe of the foot at the end of the stride (leg extended back). This more closely mimics the natural motion of the foot in everyday activities.
In some embodiments, the position of the foot support platform may be changed during a workout so the foot muscles are interacting during motion and creating more circulation in the foot. This also provides a massage effect to help prevent the foot from falling asleep. Altering the configuration of the foot support allows more emphasis to be placed on particular leg and torso muscle groups, depending on which part of the foot is supported. Having the heel up provides emphasis on the glute and hamstring muscles, whereas having the toe up provides emphasis on the calf and foot muscles. Elevating the center of the foot encourages a natural heel to toe gait.
In some embodiments, the pedal surface can be adjusted electronically without removing the foot. Electronic programs can automatically control the adjustable platforms and pedal surfaces and provide voice and visual stimuli to encourage a workout. In other embodiments, the pedal may be manually adjusted or rotated for different surface choices or by flipping hinged surface segments onto the top of a fixed pedal structure. In another embodiment, the pedal has a pivot that allows the pedal to swivel sideways or at an angle to the stride. This swivel motion could be locked for standard motion, and unlocked for free swivel, or it could be electronically controlled to place the pedal in different angle positions to lock it in place for particular muscle emphasis.
In the following description, for purposes of explanation and not limitation, specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced in other embodiments that depart from these specific details. In other instances, detailed descriptions of well-known methods and devices are omitted so as to not obscure the description of the present invention with unnecessary detail.
As shown in
Platform assembly 100 may be manually adjusted to a desired configuration or may be mechanized for remote or automatic adjustment.
A similar embodiment is illustrated in
An electronic program may automatically adjust the platform configuration. The program may provide the user with a visual display and or a voice description of the current platform configuration. The program may also supply visual and or voice training and encouragement related to each platform configuration.
While the above-described embodiment depicts the individual portions of the foot platform with flat surfaces, each portion of the foot platform assembly could have an arced, angled or shaped surface to fit a particular feel or emphasis. In other embodiments, the center may be adjustable up and down as well. Another embodiment may have the toe portion vertically adjustable to keep it more flat while the heel portion tilts up for an angled push.
The invention has thus far been described in the context of a typical “elliptical” exerciser. Other variations of exercisers in the elliptical category include striders and hikers where the foot of the user strides front to back or in an arc.
It will be recognized that the above-described invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics of the disclosure. Thus, it is understood that the invention is not to be limited by the foregoing illustrative details, but rather is to be defined by the appended claims.
Claims
1. An exercise apparatus comprising:
- a frame;
- first and second platforms movably coupled to the frame for receiving respective longitudinally oriented feet of a person during performance of an exercise, each of the platforms having a foot support surface with at least one portion of the foot support surface adjustable with respect to another portion of the foot support surface such that, in at least one adjustment position, the foot support surface is non-flat.
2. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 wherein the foot support surface comprises a plurality of pivotally coupled portions.
3. The exercise apparatus of claim 2 wherein the plurality of pivotally coupled portions are coupled sequentially in a longitudinal direction.
4. The exercise apparatus of claim 3 wherein the foot support surface comprises a forward portion, a center portion and a rear portion and wherein each of the forward and rear portions is selectively positionable at at least one angle relative to the center portion.
5. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 wherein the foot support surface comprises a main portion and at least one movable portion to overlay the main portion.
6. The exercise apparatus of claim 2 wherein the foot support surface comprises a main portion and at least one movable portion having a first position adjacent to the main portion and a second position atop the main portion.
7. The exercise apparatus of claim 6 wherein the foot support surface comprises a main portion and a movable toe portion.
8. The exercise apparatus of claim 6 wherein the foot support surface comprises a main portion and a movable center portion.
9. The exercise apparatus of claim 6 wherein the foot support surface comprises a main portion and a movable heel portion.
10. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 wherein the foot support surface portions are pivotally adjustable.
11. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 wherein the foot support surface portions are linearly adjustable.
12. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 further comprising electromechanical means for positioning the adjustable portion of the foot support surface.
13. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first and second platforms are coupled to respective first and second pedal assembly members, which are coupled to the frame for reciprocating motion within a substantially vertical plane.
14. The exercise apparatus of claim 13 wherein the first and second pedal assembly members are coupled to a crank mechanism.
15. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 wherein the exercise apparatus is configured as an elliptical exerciser.
16. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 wherein the exercise apparatus is configured as a striding exerciser.
17. An exercise apparatus comprising;
- a frame;
- first and second platforms movably coupled to the frame, each of the platforms having at least a first and a second foot support surface, the first foot support surface having a shape different from a shape of the second foot support surface, each of the platforms adjustable to place a selected one of the foot support surfaces in position to receive a respective longitudinally oriented foot of a person during performance of an exercise.
18. The exercise apparatus of claim 17 wherein the platforms are rotatably adjustable.
19. The exercise apparatus of claim 17 wherein the axis is a transverse axis.
20. The exercise apparatus of claim 17 wherein the axis is a substantially longitudinal axis.
21. A foot support platform for an exercise apparatus comprising a primary portion and a secondary portion adjacent to the primary portion, wherein the primary portion is configured to support the entire sole of a person's foot and the secondary portion is configured to support only a portion of a person's foot.
22. A foot support platform for an exercise apparatus having a pair of support members coupled to a frame for reciprocating motion within a substantially vertical plane, the foot support platform pivotally coupled to one of the support members for pivotal motion about a substantially vertical axis.
23. An exercise apparatus comprising:
- a frame;
- first and second platforms movably coupled to the frame for receiving respective longitudinally oriented feet of a person during performance of an exercise, each of the platforms having a convex surface.
24. An exercise apparatus comprising:
- a frame;
- a platform movably coupled to the frame for supporting a user's foot, the platform configured to be selectively adjusted between a first foot-supporting configuration with a first shape and a second foot-supporting configuration with a second shape different from the first shape.
25. The exercise apparatus of claim 24 wherein the platform configuration is electronically controlled.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 24, 2006
Publication Date: Jan 24, 2008
Applicant:
Inventor: Theodore G. Habing (Tustin, CA)
Application Number: 11/492,574
International Classification: A63B 22/04 (20060101); A63B 22/06 (20060101);