(19)
(11) EP 1 036 577 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
13.03.2002 Bulletin 2002/11

(43) Date of publication A2:
20.09.2000 Bulletin 2000/38

(21) Application number: 00301990.8

(22) Date of filing: 10.03.2000
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: A63B 23/04
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE
Designated Extension States:
AL LT LV MK RO SI

(30) Priority: 18.03.1999 US 271733
23.04.1999 US 298349

(71) Applicant: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
Glenview, Illinois 60025-5811 (US)

(72) Inventors:
  • Birrell, James S.
    Seattle, Washington 98177 (US)
  • Potts, William W.
    Medina, Washington 98039 (US)
  • Moran, Thomas
    Seattle, Washington 98199 (US)

(74) Representative: Carter, Stephen John et al
Mewburn Ellis York House 23 Kingsway
London WC2B 6HP
London WC2B 6HP (GB)

   


(54) Flexibly coordinated stationary exercise device


(57) The flexibly coordinated stationary exercise device (10) includes a frame (12) which has a forward upright member (20). The axle mounts (30) and (32) are attached to the rear region of the frame (12) and support a transverse axle (36) which is preferably operatively connected to a flywheel (38). The ends of the transverse axle (36) rotatably engage left and right crank arm assemblies (50) and (52) that are coupled to the left and right foot links (60) and (70) so that the foot links travel in an arcuate reciprocal path as the transverse axle rotates. The foot links are operatively connected to swing arm mechanisms (80) and (90), which in turn are rotatably connected to the forward upright member (20) at pivot points (84) and (94). The swing arm mechanisms further contain hand-gripping portions (82) and (92), and the foot links further contain foot support portions (66) and (76). Flexibly coordinating members (100) are incorporated in the linkage between each respective hand-gripping portion and foot support portion to substantially and resiliently link the movement of the foot support portions to the movement of the hand-gripping portions, while permitting some degree of uncoordinated motion between the foot support portions and the hand-gripping portions.






Search report