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Kenneth W. Stearns, Houston US

Kenneth W. Stearns, Houston, TX US

Patent application numberDescriptionPublished
20080214364Ellipical exercise apparatus with flexible unitary force imparting member - 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 drawbar interconnected between the crank and frame of the exercise apparatus.09-04-2008
20080227602Exercise methods and apparatus with elliptical foot motion - An exercise apparatus includes a frame configured to rest on a floor surface; left and right rocker links pivotally mounted on the frame; left and right reciprocating links having forward ends rotatably coupled to respective rocker links, and rearward ends constrained to move in reciprocal fashion relative to the frame; left and right cranks rotatably mounted on the frame; left and right drive links having forward ends rotatably coupled to respective cranks, and rearward ends rotatably coupled to intermediate portions of respective reciprocating members; and left and right foot links having forward ends rotatably coupled to respective rocker links, and rearward, foot supporting ends supported by respective drive links for both rotational and translational movement relative thereto. The resulting linkage assemblies constrain the foot supporting ends to move through elliptical paths, and the paths may be altered by adjusting various components of the linkage assemblies relative to one another and/or the frame.09-18-2008
20090209395ADJUSTABLE STRIDE LENGTH EXERCISE METHOD AND APPARATUS - An exercise apparatus includes a frame for residing on a horizontal surface, a pair of arm-supporting members for supporting the user's arms and a pair of leg-supporting members for supporting the user's legs. A linkage assembly couples the arm-supporting members and leg-supporting members to the frame and moves the arm-supporting members and leg-supporting members in closed paths relative to the frame in response to user forces applied to the arm-supporting members and leg-supporting members. The linkage assembly includes actuators for adjusting dimensions of the closed paths in response to control signal inputs. Sensors mounted on the linkage assembly generate force-indicating signals representing one or more of the user force. A user interface receives and processes the force-indicating signals and supplies the control signal inputs to the actuators, wherein a dimension of at least one of the closed paths is a function of at least one of the forces applied to the leg and arm-supporting members.08-20-2009
20090247370EXERCISE METHODS AND APPARATUS - 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 paths of motion which are fixed, adjustable or variable.10-01-2009
20090258762ELLIPTICAL EXERCISE METHODS AND APPARATUS - Various exercise machines have foot supporting linkages that move a person's feet through respective left and right paths of motion in respective planes that are skewed relative one another.10-15-2009
20090291804TOTAL BODY EXERCISE METHODS AND APPARATUS - An exercise apparatus includes a frame, an arm supporting member, and a leg supporting member. A sensor is connected to at least one of the arm supporting member and the leg supporting member, and/or a resilient member is interconnected between the arm supporting member and either the leg supporting member or the frame. The sensor communicates with a user display and/or a resistance device to indicate the amounts of work performed by the arm supporting member and the leg supporting member, and/or to adjust resistance to movement of the leg supporting member as a function of user force applied against the arm supporting member. The resilient member encourages synchronization of the arm supporting member and the leg supporting member, while allowing some relative movement therebetween. A user interface displays data associated with exercise activity, including relative amounts of work performed by a user's arms and legs and/or performed during different phases of exercise, including discrete aerobic and anaerobic phases. The interface display and the level of resistance are preferably changed as part of the transition between phases.11-26-2009
20100248899EXERCISE APPARATUS WITH AUTOMATICALLY ADJUSTABLE FOOT MOTION - An elliptical exercise apparatus includes a frame, a pair of footpads, and a linkage coupling the footpads to the frame and for guiding the footpads in closed paths when a user's feet apply forces to the footpads. The linkage, which includes a rotatable member having an angular position indicative of the positions of the footpads within their closed paths, responds to input control signals by adjusting length and height dimensions of the closed paths. A control system senses the angular position of the rotatable member, senses the forces the user applies to the footpads, and generates the control signals to increase or decrease the path dimensions when it senses particular combinations of angular position and user forces, thereby permitting the user to control the path dimensions by controlling the forces applied to the footpads.09-30-2010
20100273609TOTAL BODY EXERCISE METHODS AND APPARATUS - An exercise apparatus includes a frame, an arm supporting member, and a leg supporting member. A sensor is connected to at least one of the arm supporting member and the leg supporting member, and/or a resilient member is interconnected between the arm supporting member and either the leg supporting member or the frame. The sensor communicates with a user display and/or a resistance device to indicate the amounts of work performed by the arm supporting member and the leg supporting member, and/or to adjust resistance to movement of the leg supporting member as a function of user force applied against the arm supporting member. The resilient member encourages synchronization of the arm supporting member and the leg supporting member, while allowing some relative movement therebetween. A user interface displays data associated with exercise activity, including relative amounts of work performed by a user's arms and legs and/or performed during different phases of exercise, including discrete aerobic and anaerobic phases. The interface display and the level of resistance are preferably changed as part of the transition between phases.10-28-2010
20100298096ADJUSTABLE STRIDE LENGTH EXERCISE METHOD AND APPARATUS - An exercise apparatus includes a frame for residing on a horizontal surface, a pair of arm-supporting members for supporting the user's arms and a pair of leg-supporting members for supporting the user's legs. A linkage assembly couples the arm-supporting members and leg-supporting members to the frame and moves the arm-supporting members and leg-supporting members in closed paths relative to the frame in response to user forces applied to the arm-supporting members and leg-supporting members. The linkage assembly includes actuators for adjusting dimensions of the closed paths in response to control signal inputs. Sensors mounted on the linkage assembly generate force-indicating signals representing one or more of the user force. A user interface receives and processes the force-indicating signals and supplies the control signal inputs to the actuators, wherein a dimension of at least one of the closed paths is a function of at least one of the forces applied to the leg and arm-supporting members.11-25-2010
20110136628EXERCISE METHODS AND APPARATUS - 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 paths of motion which are fixed, adjustable or variable.06-09-2011

Patent applications by Kenneth W. Stearns, Houston, TX US