A heel-lifting elliptical machine has a foundation, two linkage assemblies and two pedal assemblies. The foundation comprises a swing shaft and a driving wheel connected with a flywheel via a driving belt. The linkage assemblies are mounted on two sides of the foundation, staggered from each other, and joined to a driving shaft of the driving wheel. Each of the linkage assemblies comprises a rotation rod, a crank and a swing arm. The rotation rod is connected to the driving shaft. The crank is pivotably mounted on the other end of the rotation rod. The swing arm is pivotably mounted on the swing shaft and the crank. Two pedal assemblies are mounted securely on the cranks and form vertical ellipse routes along with the movement of the cranks, thereby increasing the exercise intensity and decreasing the obstruction and the noise.

Elliptical exercise machines with a footskate on a reciprocating rail that provides for the ability to alter the horizontal stride of the user utilizing the machine, without significantly altering their vertical stride height on the machine. This is generally performed by altering the angle through which any point on the rail can, and does, move. Such adjustment may be performed by having the rail attached to a swing arm, where the arc of rotation of the swing arm relative to the frame is altered.

An elliptic-orbit treadmill has a front-end drive portion and a middle drive portion configured on the front end of the pedal, the middle drive portion being pivotally linked to the bottom end of the handle bar on the same side. Each transmission bar set includes a transverse connecting rod and a vertical connecting rod pivotally connected to each other in an elbow style, the rear end of the transverse connecting rod being pivotally connected to the middle section of the handle bar on the same side, while the bottom end of the vertical connecting rod being pivotally connected to the front-end drive portion of the pedal on the same side. The crank provided on the transverse driven shaft at the center of the flywheel is pivotally connected to the middle section of the transverse connecting rod provided on the transmission bar set on the same side.

A stationary exercise device having variable footpaths is disclosed. The exercise device includes a frame, a pair of supporting members that have a first end to rotate about an axis and a second end to move along a reciprocating path, a pair of pedals joined to the supporting members, and a guider assembly for adjusting an incline angle of the reciprocating path.

A linear motion synchronizing mechanism is for an exercise assembly having elongated first and second rocker arms that pivot with respect to each other about a first pivot axis. A first roller is retained on a first roller supporting member and a second roller retained on a opposing second roller supporting member. The first and second rollers are configured to roll along opposite sides of a linear frame member as the body moves in the first and second directions. A tensioner applies a tensioning force between the first roller supporting member and second roller supporting member so that compression forces are applied on the first and second rollers. The compression forces cause the first and second rollers to mechanically resist pivoting of the first and second rocker arms with respect to each other about the first pivot axis.

An elliptical exercise device includes a frame supporting guide links which provide for a horizontal component of motion of associated foot support links. A mechanical coupling couples the foot support links to a crank system and intermediate links couple the crank system to the guide links such that a foot receiving area of each foot support link moves in a closed generally elliptical path when the crank system rotates.

An exercise apparatus comprises a frame, left and right foot link supporting left and right foot pads. The left and right foot pads synchronously move out of phase through an elliptical path having an adjustable step height. The apparatus may include left and right side arms pivotally connected to the left and right foot links and pivotally supported by the frame. Left and right cranks eccentrically support left and right crank guides. Left and right links each have a first end pivotably connected to left and right foot links and a second end operably coupled to the left and right crank guides, respectively. A movable adjustment member is connected to left and right flexible members operably coupled to the left and right foot links. Movement of the adjustable member adjusts an extent to which the left and right flexible members wrap about the respective left and right crank guides.

An elliptical exercise machine includes a first foot pedal and a second foot pedal attached to a frame to travel along reciprocating paths. A resistance mechanism is also integrated into the elliptical exercise machine to resist movement of the first and second foot pedals along the reciprocating paths. A locking mechanism is arranged to secure the first and second foot pedals in place and prevent them from moving when the locking mechanism is in a secured mode. The locking mechanism is in communication with a locking input mechanism and is arranged to switch between the secured mode and an operational mode that allows the first and second foot pedals to travel in response to user input received through the locking input mechanism.

An elliptical trainer comprises a frame set, two first transmission rods, two second transmission rods, two footboard assemblies, a holding flywheel assembly, a stand flywheel assembly, and two eccentric link rods. When a user is stepping the two footboard assemblies and taking exercise with elbows on the two second transmission rods, the two footboard assemblies may be stepped up and down to recycle and each second transmission rod may be rotated to reciprocate along an arc and centered in a stand ear. At this time, each drag rod of two stand ears arranged right and left may pull the corresponding eccentric link assembly to rotate 360 degree and the torque of the third flywheel may not overlap each drag rod of each eccentric link assembly vertically. Accordingly, the arrangement of each eccentric link assembly may prevent the swing operation from being stuck to pause or operate unsmoothly.

A system, equipment and process to guide a user in the experience of rhythmic exercise. Playback of an audio file/signal, such as a musical phrase, that has known rhythmic structure (e.g., beat pattern) is accompanied, by non-audio sensory cues such as a light signal or tactical signal (vibration) to mark rhythmic events in the audio playback (such as the beginning and end of playback and/or audio pulses (beats). In addition, equipment is provided to guide the user in performing a GDM (goal directed movement) sequence that is selected to be performed in synch with the rhythm of the audio signal. The user's motion is detected and compared to desired GDM in the selected sequence and also compared to the rhythm of the audio signal. Sensory cues are provided to guide the user in performing the GDM sequence rhythmically. The system may be implemented in cardio fitness equipment including treadmill, AMT, stationary exercise bike and elliptical type exercise equipment.