Exercise devices – User manipulated force resisting apparatus – component... – Utilizing weight resistance
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-07
2003-01-21
Donnelly, Jerome W. (Department: 3733)
Exercise devices
User manipulated force resisting apparatus, component...
Utilizing weight resistance
C482S009000, C482S098000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06508748
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to actuator assemblies for adjustment mechanisms of exercise machines.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The convenience, efficiency, and safety of weight-training exercise machines is widely recognized. Popular weight-training exercise machines feature multiple stations at which a user may perform a variety of exercises for developing and toning different muscle groups. For example, an exercise machine may include a “press” station for exercising the chest and shoulders, a leg station for exercising the legs, and a pull-down station for exercising the arms and upper body. Typical exercise machines include a weight stack that can provide a variable load. The user simply adjusts the position of a pin to attach a desired number of lifted plates to a lift arm to achieve a desired training load.
FIG. 1
is an elevational view of an exercise machine
100
having a weight stack
102
and a press station
104
. The press station
104
includes a lift arm
106
having a pair of handles
108
. In operation, a user
110
may perform a press exercise by lying on a bench
111
and grasping the handles
108
. The user then applies a training force to the handles
108
, pressing the handles
108
upwardly away from the user's chest. As the user
110
overcomes the gravitational force on the lifted plates, the handles
108
move upwardly.
Prior to performing the press exercise, the user
110
may adjust the position of the lift arm
106
to a desirable initial position.
FIG. 2
is an enlarged partial isometric view of a press handle
108
and an actuator assembly
120
of the exercise machine
100
of FIG.
1
. The actuator assembly
120
includes a gripper handle
122
pivotably attached to the lift arm near the press handle
108
by a pivot pin
126
. A cable
124
is attached at a first end to the gripper handle
122
. From the gripper handle
122
, the cable
126
enters the interior of the lift arm
106
, turns through a 90-degree turn
128
about a cable guide
127
, and extends through the interior of the lift arm to an adjustment mechanism (not shown). The adjustment mechanism is attached to a base portion of the lift arm
106
. When the user
110
depresses the gripper handle
122
in a downward direction
130
toward the press handle
108
, the cable
124
is drawn upwardly and partially out of the interior of the lift arm
106
. The adjustment mechanism is disengaged, freeing the lift arm
106
to be pivoted about the base portion into the desired position. Exercise machines
100
of the type shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2
are commercially available.
The actuator assembly
120
has several disadvantages. For example, the cable
124
is prone to excessive wear and breakage. Because the cable
124
is wrapped about the cable guide
127
and turns through the 90 degree turn
128
, considerable frictional forces are exerted on the cable
126
during actuation of the gripper handle
122
. Over an extended period of time, the cable
126
is worn by the frictional forces and breaks. Also, because the gripper handle
122
only actuates in the downward direction
130
, the gripper handle
122
is not easily actuated during some exercises that the user may perform using the press station
104
. For example, when the user
110
stands facing the weight stack
102
with the lift arm
106
in a lowered position to perform a “shrug” exercise, the gripper handle
122
is not conveniently positioned for actuation, making it difficult for the user
110
to adjust the lift arm
106
to the desired position.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to actuator assemblies for adjustment mechanisms of exercise machines. In one aspect, an actuator assembly includes a cable having a first end attached to the adjustment mechanism and a second end, a shaft rotatably coupled to the exercise machine proximate the second end, an actuating handle attached to the shaft, and a coupling member attached to the second end of the cable and engaged with the shaft. As the shaft is rotated, an actuating portion of the shaft pushes an engagement portion of the coupling member, tensioning the cable and actuating the adjustment mechanism. The actuator mechanism advantageously reduces wear and breakage of the cable. In another aspect, the shaft may be rotated in either a forward or an aft direction, improving the convenience of the actuator assembly for the user.
REFERENCES:
patent: 486718 (1892-11-01), Kelley
patent: 1614419 (1927-01-01), Brewster
patent: 4699018 (1987-10-01), Tagawa
patent: 4708004 (1987-11-01), Allen
patent: 6047614 (2000-04-01), Beugelsdyk
Donnelly Jerome W.
Dorsey & Whitney LLP
Vectra Fitness, Inc.
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