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A non-impact exercise device comprising a framework, at least one ramp assembly, a pair of foot support assemblies, a foot location control assembly, and means for adjusting the maximum stride length of the foot support assemblies. The foot support assemblies may advantageously be coupled to the foo

A non-impact exercise device comprising a framework, at least one ramp assembly, a pair of foot support assemblies, a foot location control assembly, and means for adjusting the maximum stride length of the foot support assemblies. The foot support assemblies may advantageously be coupled to the foot location control assembly by a flexible cable linkage. The foot support assemblies each include a foot platform for the user to stand on. The foot support assemblies are coupled to the one or more ramp assemblies of the exercise device. The user exercises by putting force into the device through the foot platforms and/or handles. This causes the foot platforms to roll along the ramps while the user is standing upon the foot platforms. The user may readily vary the length and frequency of the reciprocating stride.

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What is claimed is: 1. An exercise apparatus comprising: a framework; at least one curved ramp assembly mounted to said framework; a pair of foot support assemblies, each foot support assembly being movably coupled to said at least one curved ramp assembly; a resistance assembly coupled to said foo

What is claimed is: 1. An exercise apparatus comprising: a framework; at least one curved ramp assembly mounted to said framework; a pair of foot support assemblies, each foot support assembly being movably coupled to said at least one curved ramp assembly; a resistance assembly coupled to said foot support assemblies so as to provide resistance against movement of said foot support assemblies by a user; and means for adjusting a maximum stride length of said foot support assemblies, said means for adjusting being selectively operable to adjust a maximum stride length between said foot support assemblies along said at least one ramp assembly, said means for adjusting being selectively operable to alter an upper terminus and a lower terminus of each of said foot support assemblies, wherein the upper terminus and the lower terminus can be altered during exercise without altering the stride length. 2. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for adjusting a maximum stride length links a first foot support to a second foot support whereby said first and second foot support assemblies move in a reciprocal relationship to one another. 3. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for adjusting a maximum stride length of said foot support assemblies comprises a foot location control assembly. 4. The exercise apparatus of claim 3, wherein said foot location control assembly comprises a cable and pulley system, and an actuator linked thereto. 5. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein each foot support assembly includes a foot support platform and a foot platform bracket, said foot support platform being pivotally connected to said foot platform bracket. 6. The exercise apparatus of claim 5, wherein: each foot support platform is movably coupled to said at least one ramp assembly by at least one wheel, each wheel being capable of rolling along a surface of a ramp of said at least one ramp assembly; and wherein each foot platform bracket is movably coupled to a respective guide member said guide member being positioned below a respective ramp of said at least one ramp assembly. 7. The exercise apparatus of claim 5, wherein each foot platform bracket is movably coupled to a respective guide member by an upper bracket wheel mounted to said foot platform bracket and at least one lower bracket wheel mounted below said upper bracket wheel such that said upper bracket wheel rests upon a top surface of said guide member and said lower wheel contacts and rolls along a bottom surface of said guide member. 8. An exercise apparatus comprising: a framework; at least one ramp assembly mounted to said framework, said at least one ramp assembly comprising a ramp having a front end, a rear end, and a first radius, and a guide member having a front end, a rear end, and a second radius, said guide member being positioned below and extending substantially along the length of said ramp, wherein said rear end of said guide member is separated from said rear end of said ramp by a first distance, and wherein said front end of said guide member is separated from said front end of said ramp by a second distance, said second distance being greater than said first distance; and a pair of foot support assemblies, each foot support assembly being movably coupled to said at least one ramp assembly, wherein a first foot support assembly of said pair of foot support assemblies is movably coupled to said ramp and said guide member. 9. The exercise apparatus of claim 8, wherein said first radius is different from said second radius. 10. The exercise apparatus of claim 8, wherein said guide member is positioned substantially directly below said ramp. 11. The exercise apparatus of claim 8, wherein said at least one ramp assembly comprises a first ramp assembly and a second ramp assembly. 12. The exercise apparatus of claim 11, wherein one of said pair of foot support assemblies is coupled to said first ramp assembly and the other of said pair of foot support assemblies is coupled to said second ramp assembly. 13. The exercise apparatus of claim 8, wherein each foot support assembly includes a foot support platform and a foot platform bracket, said foot platform bracket being pivotally connected to said foot support platform. 14. The exercise apparatus of claim 13, wherein said foot platform bracket comprises at least one wheel for coupling with said ramp or said guide member. 15. The exercise apparatus of claim 8, wherein said first radius of said ramp and said second radius of said guide member of said at least one ramp assembly are configured to provide an ergonomic articulation to said pair of foot support assemblies. 16. The exercise apparatus of claim 13, wherein said pair of foot support assemblies are configured such that an angle of inclination of each respective foot platform changes when said foot support assemblies are moved from one position along said at least one ramp assembly to another position along said at least one ramp assembly. 17. The exercise apparatus of claim 13, wherein said ramp of said ramp assembly has a curved shape such that a distance traveled by said foot platform along said ramp is different from a distance traveled by said foot platform bracket along said guide member so as to impart an ergonomic articulation upon said foot platforms as said foot platforms travel along said at least one ramp assembly. 18. An exercise apparatus comprising: a framework; a first ramp assembly mounted to said framework, said first ramp assembly comprising a first ramp having a front portion, a rear portion, and a first curvature and a first guide member having a front portion, a rear portion, and a second curvature, said first ramp being positioned above and extending along the length of said first guide member, wherein said rear portion of said first guide member is separated from said rear portion of said first ramp by a first distance, and wherein said front portion of said first guide member is separated from said front portion of said first ramp by a second distance, said second distance being greater than said first distance; a second ramp assembly mounted to said framework, said second ramp assembly comprising a second ramp having a front portion, a rear portion, and a first curvature and a second guide member having a front portion, a rear portion, and a second curvature, said second ramp being positioned above and extending along the length of said second guide member, wherein said rear portion of said second guide member is separated from said rear portion of said second ramp by said first distance, and wherein said front portion of said second guide member is separated from said front portion of said second ramp by said second distance; and a pair of foot support assemblies, one foot support assembly being movably coupled to said first ramp and to said first guide member, and the other of said foot support assemblies being movably coupled to said second ramp and to said second guide member. 19. The exercise apparatus of claim 18, wherein said first curvature of said first ramp assembly differs from said second curvature of said first guide member; and wherein said first curvature of said second ramp assembly differs from said second curvature of said second guide member. 20. The exercise apparatus of claim 18, wherein said first foot support assembly comprises a first foot platform and a first foot support bracket pivotally coupled thereto, and wherein said second foot support assembly comprises a second foot platform and a second foot support bracket pivotally coupled thereto, each of said brackets comprising a plurality of wheels and being movably coupled to a respective guide member. 21. An exercise apparatus comprising: a framework; at least one curved ramp assembly mounted to said framework, said at least one curved ramp assembly including a substantially horizontal portion and a substantially vertical portion; a pair of foot support assemblies, each foot support assembly being movably coupled to said at least one curved ramp assembly; a foot location control assembly coupled to said pair of foot support assemblies and configured to selectively constrain the movement of said foot support assemblies to be within said substantially horizontal portion of said at least one ramp assembly when in a first configuration and to constrain the movement of said foot support assemblies to be within said substantially vertical portion of said at least one ramp assembly when in a second configuration, wherein said foot location control assembly can change between said first and second configurations without movement of said at least one curved ramp relative to said framework. 22. The exercise apparatus of claim 21, wherein said foot location control assembly is configured to be selectively movable to adjust an upper and lower terminus of movement of said foot support assemblies along said at least one ramp assembly. 23. The exercise apparatus of claim 21, wherein said foot location control assembly is coupled to said pair of foot support assemblies and configured to selectively constrain the movement of said foot support assemblies along said at least one ramp assembly to be at least partially within said upper portion of said ramp assembly and at least partially within said lower portion of said ramp assembly. 24. The exercise apparatus of claim 21, wherein said foot location control assembly links a first foot support assembly to a second foot support assembly such that said first and second foot support assemblies move in a reciprocal relationship to one another. 25. The exercise apparatus of claim 21, wherein said foot location control assembly comprises a cable and pulley system and an actuator linked thereto. 26. The exercise apparatus of claim 25, wherein said cable and pulley system comprises at least one cable and at least one pulley, said at least one pulley being mounted on a pulley sled, and wherein said at least one cable is linked to said at least one pulley. 27. The exercise apparatus of claim 26, wherein said pulley sled is movable relative to said framework by said actuator. 28. The exercise apparatus of claim 27, wherein said actuator comprises an actuator bracket and a motor assembly. 29. The exercise apparatus of claim 28, wherein said motor assembly comprises a motor and a lead screw linked to said motor, said actuator bracket being threadedly mounted on said lead screw, said actuator bracket being mounted to said pulley sled. 30. The exercise apparatus of claim 29, wherein the rotation of said lead screw by said motor causes movement of said pulley sled relative to said framework. 31. The exercise apparatus of claim 29, wherein said pulley sled is mounted to said framework by a pair of spaced apart guide rails mounted to a first side panel and a second side panel of said framework. 32. An exercise apparatus comprising: a framework; at least one ramp assembly mounted to said framework, said at least one ramp assembly including a curved configuration; a pair of foot support assemblies, each foot support assembly being movably coupled to said at least one ramp assembly; and a resistance assembly coupled to said foot support assemblies so as to provide resistance against movement of said foot support assemblies by a user, wherein said resistance assembly is mounted to a cable and pulley system comprising a pulley sled, said pulley sled being adjustable with respect to said framework, wherein adjustment of said pulley sled with respect to said framework enables adjustment of a lower terminus and an upper terminus of each foot support assembly of said pair of foot support assemblies, wherein the upper terminus and the lower terminus can be adjusted during exercise without altering the stride length. 33. The exercise apparatus of claim 32, wherein the resistance assembly comprises: a capstan mounted on a first shaft, said first shaft being mounted to said pulley sled; a first one-way clutch mounted upon said first shaft; a first drive pulley mounted upon said first shaft, said first drive pulley including a second one-way clutch; a gear mounted upon a second shaft, said second shaft being mounted to said pulley sled, said gear being coupled with said first one-way clutch; a second drive pulley mounted upon said second shaft; said first drive pulley and said second drive pulley being coupled to a braking device. 34. The exercise apparatus of claim 33, wherein said braking device comprises one or more of a freewheel and an eddy brake. 35. An exercise apparatus comprising: a framework including a front portion and a rear portion; at least one ramp assembly mounted to said framework, each ramp assembly including a curved configuration; first and second foot support assemblies, each foot support assembly having a front end and a rear end, each foot support assembly being movably coupled to said at least one ramp assembly; and a flexible coupling mechanism being configured to couple said first foot support assembly to said second foot support assembly, said flexible coupling mechanism including a first cable and pulley system and a second cable and pulley system, said first cable and pulley system configured to adjust an upper terminus and a lower terminus of said first and second foot support assemblies and to couple said front end of each of said first and second foot support assemblies to said front portion of said framework, and said second cable and pulley system configured to couple said rear end of each of said first and second foot support assemblies to said rear portion of said framework, wherein the upper terminus and the lower terminus can be adjusted during exercise without altering the stride length, wherein adjustment of the upper terminus and the lower terminus alters a stride path of said first and second foot support assemblies. 36. The exercise apparatus of claim 35, wherein a resistance assembly is coupled to said first and second foot support assemblies by said flexible coupling mechanism so as to provide resistance against movement of said first and said second foot support assemblies by a user. 37. The exercise apparatus of claim 36, wherein said flexible coupling mechanism comprises: a pair of front cables, each front cable being attached at one end to a respective one of said first and second foot support assemblies, and an opposite end of each of said front cables being attached to a respective drive pulley of a pair of drive pulleys; and a capstan cable attached at one end to one of said drive pulleys, said capstan cable being coupled to a capstan, and an opposite end of said capstan cable being attached to the other of said pair of drive pulleys. 38. The exercise apparatus of claim 35, wherein the effective length of said flexible coupling mechanism is adjustable so as to adjust a maximum stride length of said foot support assemblies. 39. The exercise apparatus of claim 38, wherein a foot location control assembly adjusts the effective length of said flexible coupling mechanism. 40. The exercise apparatus of claim 39, wherein the termini of movement of each foot support assembly is determined by the position of said foot location control assembly such that a user may select a position for said foot location control assembly corresponding to a substantially vertical portion of said at least one ramp assembly, a substantially horizontal portion of said ramp assembly, or any position therebetween. 41. The exercise apparatus of claim 39, wherein each foot support assembly includes a foot support platform, a foot platform bracket pivotally connected to said foot support platform, and a spring loaded drum pulley configured to maintain tension within said at least one cable so as to draw in any cable slack. 42. The exercise apparatus of claim 37, further comprising a lower cable attached at one end to a respective one of said first and second foot support assemblies, and an opposite end of said lower cable being attached to the other of said foot support assemblies so as to maintain tension within said flexible coupling mechanism. 43. The exercise apparatus of claim 35, further comprising a pair of spaced apart handles, each handle being fixedly attached at a first end to a respective upper pulley, each of said upper pulleys being coupled to a respective one of said first and said second foot support assemblies by said flexible coupling mechanism. 44. The exercise apparatus of claim 35, wherein said at least one ramp assembly, said flexible coupling mechanism, and said foot support assemblies are configured to provide a stride length of at least about 30 inches. 45. The exercise apparatus of claim 35, wherein said flexible coupling mechanism connects said first foot support assembly to said second foot support assembly such that movement of said first or said second foot support assembly causes a reciprocal movement of the other of said first and second foot support assemblies. 46. An exercise apparatus comprising: a framework; at least one ramp assembly mounted to said framework, said at least one ramp assembly including an upper ramp defining a first curve extending between a first end and a second end of said upper ramp and a lower guide member defining a second curve extending between a first end and a second end of said lower guide member, wherein said lower guide member is positioned below and extends substantially along the length of said upper ramp, wherein said first end of said lower guide member is separated from said first end of said upper ramp by a first distance, and wherein said second end of said lower guide member is separated from said second end of said upper ramp by a second distance, said second distance being greater than said first distance; a pair of foot support assemblies movably mounted to said at least one ramp assembly, wherein a first foot support assembly of said pair of foot support assemblies is movably coupled to said ramp and said guide member; wherein a maximum length of the movement of said foot support assemblies is substantially the entire length of said at least one ramp assembly; and wherein a shape of the movement of said foot support assemblies is substantially the shape of said first curve. 47. An exercise apparatus comprising: a framework; at least one ramp assembly mounted to said framework, said at least one ramp assembly including a curved configuration; first and second foot support assemblies, each foot support assembly having a front end and a rear end, each foot support assembly comprising a foot support platform and a foot platform bracket pivotally connected to said foot support platform, each foot support assembly being movably coupled to said at least one ramp assembly; a resistance and adjustment assembly including a first cable and pulley system interconnecting said front end of said first foot support assembly to said front end of said second foot support assembly so as to provide resistance against movement of said first and second foot support assemblies by a user, said resistance and adjustment assembly adapted to selectively adjust an upper terminus and a lower terminus of said first and second foot support assemblies, wherein the upper terminus and the lower terminus can be adjusted during exercise without altering the stride length, wherein adjustment of the upper terminus and the lower terminus alters a stride path of said first and second foot support assemblies; and a flexible coupling mechanism including a second cable and pulley system linking said rear end of said first foot support assembly to said framework and linking said rear end of said second foot support assembly to said framework. 48. The exercise apparatus of claim 47, wherein said resistance and adjustment assembly is fixed with respect to said framework. 49. The exercise apparatus of claim 47, wherein each end of a cable of said second cable and pulley system is attached to a respective foot support bracket such that said cable is linked at each end to a respective foot support platform via the respective foot support bracket. 50. An exercise apparatus comprising: a framework comprising a frame and a ramp assembly, said ramp assembly comprising at least one ramp, said at least one curved ramp having a first end and an opposing second end; a pair of foot support assemblies, wherein each foot support assembly is movably coupled to said ramp assembly; and means for adjusting the neutral body position of a user with respect to a support surface and for selectively adjusting an upper terminus and a lower terminus of each foot support assembly of said pair of foot support assemblies, wherein the upper terminus and the lower terminus can be adjusted during exercise without altering the stride length, wherein adjustment of the upper terminus and the lower terminus alters a stride path of said first and second foot support assemblies. 51. The exercise apparatus of claim 50, wherein said means for adjusting the neutral body position of the user with respect to the support surface comprises an adjustable pulley system coupled to said framework. 52. The exercise apparatus of claim 50, wherein said means for adjusting the neutral body position of the user with respect to the support surface comprises a lead screw. 53. An exercise apparatus comprising: a framework comprising a frame and a ramp assembly, said ramp assembly comprising at least one ramp, said at least one curved ramp having a first end and an opposing second end; a pair of foot support assemblies, each foot support assembly being movably coupled to said ramp assembly; and an adjustment assembly configured to selectively alter the neutral body position of a user with respect to a support surface, said adjustment assembly being selectively operable to alter an upper terminus and a lower terminus of each foot support assembly of said pair of foot support assemblies, wherein the upper terminus and the lower terminus can be altered during exercise without altering the stride length, wherein adjustment of the upper terminus and the lower terminus alters a stride path of said first and second foot support assemblies. 54. The exercise apparatus of claim 35, wherein said second cable and pulley system couples said rear end of each of said first and second foot support assemblies to a pulley secured to said rear portion of said framework. 55. The exercise apparatus of claim 35, wherein said second cable and pulley system couples said rear end of each of said first and second foot support assemblies directly to said rear portion of said framework. 56. The exercise apparatus of claim 54, wherein said second cable and pulley system comprises a rear cable that passes through said pulley and is secured at a first end to said first foot support assembly and is secured at a second end to said second foot support assembly. 57. The exercise apparatus of claim 55, wherein said second cable and pulley system comprises a first rear cable that couples said first support assembly directly to said rear portion of said framework, and a second rear cable that couples said second foot support assembly directly to said rear portion of said framework. 58. The exercise apparatus of claim 47, wherein said second cable and pulley system links said rear end of each of said first and second foot support assemblies to a pulley secured to said framework. 59. The exercise apparatus of claim 47, wherein said second cable and pulley system couples said rear end of each of said first and second foot support assemblies directly to said framework. 60. The exercise apparatus of claim 58, wherein said second cable and pulley system comprises a rear cable that passes through said pulley and is secured at a first end to said first foot support assembly and is secured at a second end to said second foot support assembly. 61. The exercise apparatus of claim 59, wherein said second cable and pulley system comprises a first rear cable that couples said first support assembly directly to said framework, and a second rear cable that couples said second foot support assembly directly to said framework.