Exercise devices – User manipulated force resisting apparatus – component... – Utilizing weight resistance
Reexamination Certificate
1998-03-27
2001-05-01
Mulcahy, John (Department: 3764)
Exercise devices
User manipulated force resisting apparatus, component...
Utilizing weight resistance
C482S099000, C482S005000, C482S009000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06224519
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a weight lifting machine and, more particularly, to a weight lifting machine which permits the user to select a sequence in which the weight is increase or decreased at various intervals during the workout routine or permits the user to adjust the weight during the workout routine without dismounting the machine.
Conventional weight lifting machines comprise a frame which includes a pair of spaced apart generally vertical tracks with a plurality of weights and a carriage movably mounted on the tracks. The carriage typically includes a select post or bar which extends through the central portions of the weights and is manually coupled to one or more of the weights to increase or decrease the weight coupled to the carriage. Typically, the weights are coupled to the select bar by a removable pin which extends through the weight and through a corresponding aperture in the select bar. The carriage also is connected to a cable on the distal end of which is connect a handle bar, with the cable being supported on the frame by a pair of pulleys. Therefore, when the user of the machine pulls on the handle bar the carriage moves up the tracks, with the resistance being a function of the number of weights that are coupled to the carriage. In order to vary the weight on the carriage, and therefore the resistance for the user of the machine, the user of the machine must return the carriage to the starting position and relocate the pin either to reduce the number of weights attached to the select bar or increase the number of weights attached to the select bar.
In some machines the adjustment requires the user to demount the machine. Furthermore, the adjustment requires a break in the routine and may prevent the user from reaching his or her optimal workout. As it is known in the weight lifting art, the key to obtaining maximum muscle building is to push the muscle beyond its normal everyday demands. Since muscle can recover some of its strength in a short duration, the user of the exercise machine may not achieve his or her maximum fatigue point when his or her exercise routine includes pauses when for example the user needs to change the weight.
More recently, exercise devices have incorporated variable resistance capabilities which allow the user of the exercise machine to maximize his or her benefits from the machine. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,037,089 to Spagnuolo weights are selected by mechanical actuators which are controlled by the user of the exercise machine. The mechanical actuator includes a solenoid and a pin, which is held in place by a spring. When the solenoid is energized, the pin is withdrawn from the weight which reduces the resistance for the user of apparatus. The solenoids are controlled by a module which includes a microprocessor which permits the user of the equipment to increase or decrease the weight as desired. However, these actuators still rely on pins extending into and out of the selector bar. Therefore, the decoupling and coupling is not instantaneous. Moreover, there may be increased potential for jams, which result from misalignment of the pins with the select bar. Because these type of jams can not be manually fixed, there is an even greater potential for interruption.
Accordingly, there is a need for a weight lifting machine which allows the user of the machine to instantly vary the resistance during a workout and, further, to choose a preprogrammed workout, which does not include transition delays associated with the pin couplers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly the present invention provides a weight lifting machine which includes a at least one guide and a stack of weights which are slidably mounted on the guide and movable along the guide from a rest position to an elevated position. The weight lifting machine also includes a selector member and one of a lift cable and a lift bar. Each of the weights includes an opening to receive the selector member. The openings are aligned to define a transverse passage through the stack of weights to allow the selector member to couple to each of the weights in the stack. The selector member includes a plurality of couplers which are adapted to instantaneously couple to and decouple from respective weights in the stack of weights, and the lift cable, which is coupled to the selector member, is adapted to permit a user of the weight lifting machine to pull the lift cable or the lift bar and thereby raise the weights coupled to the selector member from their respective rest positions to their respective elevated positions.
In one form, the couplers comprise electromagnetic couplers, with each of the electromagnetic couplers being adapted to be selectively energized and de-energized for coupling to and decoupling from a respective weight in the stack of weights.
In other forms, the lift cable or the lift bar is coupled to a handle, which the user can grasp to move a selected weight or weights from the rest position to the elevated position. The machine preferably includes a frame, which supports the lift cable or the lift bar and the guide. For example, the lift cable may be supported on the frame by at least one pulley. Furthermore, the frame may include a seat on which the user may sit when using the machine.
In yet further forms, the machine preferably includes a control module, which is electrically coupled to each of the electromagnetic couplers. The control module provides electrical current to the electromagnetic couplers for selectively energizing the electromagnetic couplers to respective weights on the stack of weights. Furthermore, the machine may include a sensor for detecting when at least one of the weights has been lifted from its respective rest position to its respective elevated position to determine the number of repetitions that have been completed, with the sensor being in communication with the control module and providing input into the control module.
As will be understood from the foregoing, the weight lifting machine of the present invention provides for instantaneous changes in resistance. Furthermore, the present invention allows the user the machine to pre-select or pre-program a workout routine and yet provide the user with a manual override option. Moreover, by provide remote control of the coupling and decoupling of weights to the selector member, the exercise machine can be reconfigured as desired to optimize the mechanical arrangement of the lift cable and the like.
These and other objects, advantages, purposes and features of the invention will become more apparent from the study of the following description taken in conjunction of the drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3635472 (1972-01-01), Marcyan
patent: 3912263 (1975-10-01), Yatso
patent: 4610449 (1986-09-01), Diercks, Jr.
patent: 4627615 (1986-12-01), Nurkowski
patent: 4746113 (1988-05-01), Kissel
patent: 5037089 (1991-08-01), Spagnuolo
patent: 5350344 (1994-09-01), Kissel
patent: 5476428 (1995-12-01), Potash et al.
patent: 5643151 (1997-07-01), Naimo
patent: 6015367 (2000-01-01), Scaramucci
patent: 225914 (1985-08-01), None
patent: 2613237 (1908-10-01), None
patent: 469457 (1975-05-01), None
patent: 1172569 (1985-08-01), None
patent: 1461483 (1989-02-01), None
Mulcahy John
Van Dyke Gardner, Linn & Burkhart, LLP
LandOfFree
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