Patrick D Ellis

US Patent:

6450927, Sep 17, 2002

Filed:

Nov 3, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/706161

Inventors:

Patrick D. Ellis - Oak Creek WI

Assignee:

Northland Industries, Inc. - South Milwaukee WI

International Classification:

A63B 21078

US Classification:

482 94, 482104

Abstract:

An exercise assistance device in which an exerciser is positioned upon a support platform resting on a support surface includes a support arrangement and first and second uprights disposed on opposite sides of the support platform. Each upright is pivotally mounted at a lowermost end thereof to the support arrangement at a point beneath the support platform and adjacent the support surface between a rearwardly angled storage position, and a nearly vertical lift off position. The uprights include retaining structure on an upward end thereof for maintaining the weight bar in a substantially horizontal position. When the uprights are moved from the storage position to the lift off position and the weight bar is removed from the retaining structure, the uprights will automatically return to the storage position to permit the exerciser to move the weight bar between the raised and lowered positions without interference of the uprights and retaining structure mounted thereon.

US Patent:

6558303, May 6, 2003

Filed:

Jul 18, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/618540

Inventors:

Patrick D. Ellis - Oak Creek WI

Assignee:

Northland Industries, Inc. - South Milwaukee WI

International Classification:

A63B 2304

US Classification:

482138, 482100, 482137, 482142, 482908

Abstract:

A leg exercise machine has a support frame and a seat assembly including a seat bottom disposed upon a mounting framework secured on the frame for performing leg exercises in the form of leg extensions and leg curls. The resistance structure provides resistance to the leg exercises performed on the machine. A first roller cushion assembly is pivotally connected to the frame about a first pivot axis, is coupled to the resistance structure and is adapted to be engaged by an exercisers legs. A second roller cushion assembly is pivotally secured to the frame about a second pivot axis and is adapted to be engaged by an exercisers thighs for performing leg curls. The invention is improved such that at least a portion of the seat assembly is selectively adjustable relative to the frame such that the vertical distance between the first pivot axis and the plane of the seat bottom when performing leg extensions is less than the vertical distance between the first pivot axis and the plane of the seat bottom when performing leg curls.

US Patent:

6682466, Jan 27, 2004

Filed:

Dec 10, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/315520

Inventors:

Patrick D. Ellis - Milwaukee WI

Assignee:

Northland Industries, Inc. - South Milwaukee WI

International Classification:

A63B 2600

US Classification:

482142, 482907, 482908

Abstract:

A shoulder press machine is provided having a seat, a backrest and a fixed framework at the top of which a carriage is mounted. The carriage has a pair of downwardly and forwardly extending, diverging lever arms which are tied together and moved upwardly and downwardly along a horizontal pivot axis mounted to the framework behind the backrest. As the lever arms are moved together upwardly, they are simultaneously swung inwardly about a first pair of parallel, pivot axes, the swinging motion being transferred via a pair of connector linkages to pivot the lever arms about a second pair of pivot axes defined by a pair of frame knuckles at the back end of the frame. As a result of these linkages, a shoulder press machine is provided in which the lever arms are moved in inwardly curved, converging planes from a lowermost location to an uppermost location in such a way that the rate of convergence decreases as the lever arms are raised to a point of substantially no convergence. The inventive machine thus provides for an optimal range of motion for exercisers regardless of the exercisers arm length.

US Patent:

6719672, Apr 13, 2004

Filed:

Nov 16, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/714768

Inventors:

Patrick D. Ellis - Oak Creek WI
Troy V. Waldron - Milwaukee WI

Assignee:

Northland Industries, Inc. - South Milwaukee WI

International Classification:

A63B 21062

US Classification:

482 99, 482 98

Abstract:

A weight stack adjusting mechanism is provided for an exercise machine having a frame, an operating mechanism movably connected to the frame, a resisting structure on the frame and a connecting device entrained about a first pulley and a second pulley. Both pulleys are mounted on the frame and join the operating mechanism with the resisting structure so as to selectively allow moving the resisting structure between a raised position and a lowered position. The system includes a first guide rod, a second guide rod, a third guide rod, and a fourth guide rod, each being supported by the frame. The resisting structure is formed by a primary weight stack movably mounted on the first and second guide rods, and a supplementary weight stack movably mounted on the third and fourth guide rods. A coupling arrangement is disposed upon a top plate of the primary weight stack and a top plate of the supplementary weight stack and interconnects the primary weight stack and supplementary weight stack together such that a lifting force applied through the connecting device will simultaneously lift the primary weight stack and the supplementary weight stack in a balanced manner.

US Patent:

6758790, Jul 6, 2004

Filed:

Sep 4, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/235038

Inventors:

Patrick D. Ellis - Milwaukee WI

Assignee:

Northland Industries, Inc. - South Milwaukee WI

International Classification:

A23B 2204

US Classification:

482 52, 482 57, 482 62

Abstract:

A walking/jogging exercise machine includes a frame supported upon a generally horizontally extending floor, and a main driveshaft mounted for rotation on the frame. A pair of cams is mounted for rotation on the driveshaft, and a pair of first track assemblies is fixed to the frame. A pair of second track assemblies is rotatably attached to the frame and includes brackets having first rollers which ride upon the peripheries of the cams. A pair of non-aligned, foot assemblies are mounted for sliding movement on the first and second track assemblies. A linkage arrangement is provided between the drive shaft and the foot assemblies for transferring the movement of the foot assemblies to the cams so as to produce a change in the angle of a users ankle which will result in a natural walking/jogging motion.

US Patent:

6790162, Sep 14, 2004

Filed:

Aug 30, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/943220

Inventors:

Patrick D. Ellis - Oak Creek WI
Fred A. Malicki - Wauwatosa WI

Assignee:

Northland Industries, Inc. - South Milwaukee WI

International Classification:

A63B 2100

US Classification:

482 51, 482 52, 482 62

Abstract:

A recumbent stepper is provided for exercising the lower body and the upper body and includes a frame and a seat attached to the frame. First and second lower body lever arrangements are pivotally coupled to the frame to move in first and second opposite directions and are adapted to be engaged by an exercisers feet. First and second upper body lever arrangements are pivotally coupled to the frame to move in the first and second directions and are adapted to be engaged by the exercisers arms. A resistance structure is commonly connected to each of the lever arrangements for resisting pivoting movement of each lever arrangement in one of the first and second directions. Motion transfer structure is mounted on the frame and coupled to each of the lever arrangements and the resistance structure for enabling independent movement of each lever arrangement relative to the remaining lever arrangements.

US Patent:

6932745, Aug 23, 2005

Filed:

Jan 14, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/757194

Inventors:

Patrick D. Ellis - Milwaukee WI, US

Assignee:

Northland Industries, Inc. - South Milwaukee WI

International Classification:

A63B021/00
A63B069/06

US Classification:

482 52, 482 57

Abstract:

The seated stepper is provided for exercising the lower body. The stepper includes a frame having opposite sides and a longitudinal axis, and a seat attached to the frame. First and second foot lever arrangements are pivotally coupled together on opposite sides of the frame to move alternately in forward and rearward directions towards forward and rearward positions. The foot lever arrangements have linearly moveable right and left foot receptacles adapted to be engaged by an exerciser's feet. First and second motion transfer arrangements are mounted on opposite sides of the frame and coupled to the foot lever arrangements for enabling reciprocating movement of one foot lever arrangement relative to the other foot lever arrangement. A transmission arrangement is mounted on the frame and is operably connected to the first and second motion transfer arrangements. The transmission arrangement includes upper and lower pulley and gear trains in meshing relationship with one another.

US Patent:

7396319, Jul 8, 2008

Filed:

Apr 8, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/102053

Inventors:

Patrick D. Ellis - Milwaukee WI, US

Assignee:

Northland Industries, Inc. - South Milwaukee WI

International Classification:

A63B 23/04
A63B 21/062

US Classification:

482100, 482136, 482142, 482907

Abstract:

An inner and outer thigh exercise apparatus has a framework, and a seat and backrest mounted on the framework. Right and left leg supports are pivotally mounted on the framework about spaced apart pivot shafts relative to the seat and are interconnected with one another so as to pivot simultaneously in opposite angular directions between start and finish positions. A resistance arrangement is operatively connected to the leg supports for imposing a resistive force on the leg supports during pivoting movement thereof between start and finish positions. A motion transfer assembly is controllably mounted for selective rotation about a single pivot axis on one of the leg supports for enabling changing of the start positions of the leg supports, and allowing the imposition of resistive force on the leg supports during pivoting movement of the leg supports between start and finish positions.