An exercise machine with a more natural gait which, in some embodiments, further allows for a variable stride length while in use. In one configuration, each side of the exercise machine has a first crank assembly connected at an upper location on a pedal arm and a second crank connected at a middle location on the pedal arm, and a pedal is attached to a lower location of the pedal arm. The first crank assembly is connected to the pedal arm by a crank arm. The second crank assembly is connected to the pedal arm via a crank arm pivotally attached to a crank link. The path of each pedal is determined by the lengths of crank arms and crank links of the first and second crank assemblies rotating in synchronous motion.

An exercise device featuring a pair of knee joints, each pivotally coupled to a pair of calf linkages having foot pedals at their opposite lower end that support low impact user-defined natural exercise gait patterns. The knee pivots joints are supported and directed to travel by linkage and/or carriage systems that operate substantially below the user hip area, and direct the knee pivot joints in a variety of travel paths, ranging from having a constant arc, linear pathway, to having a variety of irregular arc shaped paths, as well as, pathways that may change during use. A secondary system coupled to the knee pivot support system, provides lift and dampening forces to influence the responsiveness of the foot pedals via the bending and straightening of the calf linkage about the knee pivot joint, yet do not restrict the back and forth travel of the knee joint.

An exercise apparatus having a pulley, a pair of stabilizing assemblies each configured to couple a front portion of a respective pedal element to each side of the pulley, a looped belt configured to couple the pulley to a resistance assembly, a tension stabilizer configured to maintain a tension of the looped belt on the pulley, and the resistance assembly configured to assert an adjustable resistance to the pedal elements through the looped belt. The exercise apparatus also comprises a resistance band extension for performing additional exercise using resistance bands and a transport mechanism for transporting the exercise apparatus and securing the exercise apparatus to a chair wheel or other structure during exercise.

An exercise device including a frame with a first crank assembly rotatably coupled to the frame about a first axis and a second crank assembly rotatably coupled to the frame about a second axis. A control system may be used in communication with the first crank assembly and the second crank assembly, which may provide a synchronous movement of the first crank assembly relative to the second crank assembly. A pedal arm may be provided with a first end pivotally coupled to the first crank assembly and a pedal positioned on a second end. A crank link may be used with one end coupled to the second crank assembly and a second end coupled to the pedal arm. The crank link may be movable on the pedal arm which may provide varying paths of motion of the pedals.

An epicyclic pedalling apparatus comprising: a first epicyclic arm comprising a first pedal crank arm connection for coupling a first pedal crank arm to the first epicyclic arm to enable pedalling of said first pedal crank arm about a first spindle axis; and a second epicyclic arm comprising a second pedal crank arm connection for coupling a second pedal crank arm to the second epicyclic arm to enable pedalling of said second pedal crank arm about a second spindle axis; wherein the apparatus is arranged to enable: (i) the first epicyclic arm to rotate to move the first spindle axis, and (ii) the second epicyclic arm to rotate to move the second spindle axis.

An exercise apparatus having a pulley, a pair of stabilizing assemblies each configured to couple a front portion of a respective pedal element to each side of the pulley, a looped belt configured to couple the pulley to a resistance assembly, a tension stabilizer configured to maintain a tension of the looped belt on the pulley, and the resistance assembly configured to assert an adjustable resistance to the pedal elements through the looped belt, where the resistance is adjusted by changing a distance between a flywheel element and a corresponding magnetic plate element of the resistance assembly, the magnetic plate asserting a magnetic force over the distance on the flywheel element and the looped belt looping around a co-rotating extension from the flywheel element.

An epicyclic gear system features a cylindrical flywheel with a flywheel cavity, a plurality of mounting pillars, an annular ring gear mounted on the mounting pillars, and an annular sun gear mounted to and extending from the flywheel cavity. The epicyclic gear system has a planet carrier mounted to an axle shaft and a planet gear mounted to the planet carrier. The axle shaft passes through an axle aperture, a ring gear aperture, and a sun gear aperture. The planet gear engages the ring gear and the sun gear to provide a desired gear ratio for rotating the flywheel via rotation of the axle shaft, the planet carrier, the planet gear, and the sun gear.

An exercise device featuring a pair of knee joints, each pivotally and respectively coupled to a pair of calf linkages, each of the pair of calf linkages having a foot pedal at an opposite lower end that supports low impact user-defined natural exercise gait patterns. The knee joints are supported and directed to travel by linkage and/or carriage systems that operate substantially below a user hip area, and direct the knee joints in a variety of travel paths, ranging from a constant arc, to a linear pathway, to a variety of irregular arc shaped paths, to pathways that may change during use. A secondary system coupled to the linkage and/or carriage systems provides lift and dampening forces to influence a responsiveness of the foot pedals via bending and straightening of the calf linkages about the respective knee joint, yet does not restrict back and forth travel of the respective knee joint.

An exercise device for performing a variety of movement patterns. The exercise device has a pair of linkages, each including an upper link pivotally mounted to a frame and a lower link pivotally coupled to an upper link. A foot support is provided on a distal end of each lower link. A compression link interconnects the lower link to the frame. The compression link includes a shaft coupled to the lower link, a sleeve coupled to the frame and a spring captured between the shaft and the sleeve, whereby the spring provides a resistance to movement of the lower link relative to the frame.

An elliptical trainer includes a base and a movement unit. The base includes a stem formed thereon and two longitudinal bars, with each of the longitudinal bars comprising a track. The movement unit includes a sleeve supported on the stem, two bushing halves inserted in the sleeve, a shaft sandwiched between the bushing halves, two cranks connected to two opposite ends of the shaft, a first pedal including an end connected to one of the cranks, a second pedal including an end connected to the other crank, a first caster connected to an opposite end of the first pedal and movable to and fro along the track of the first longitudinal bar, and a second caster connected to an opposite end of the second pedal and movable to and fro along the track of the second longitudinal bar.