Exercise devices – User manipulated force resisting apparatus – component... – Utilizing weight resistance
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-10
2001-01-09
Mulcahy, John (Department: 3764)
Exercise devices
User manipulated force resisting apparatus, component...
Utilizing weight resistance
C482S079000, C482S136000, C482S139000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06171219
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an exercise apparatuses. More particularly, the invention relates to a calf and/or ankle exercise apparatus permitting flexibility in the natural rotation of a user's ankle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
While the muscles of the lower leg do not include the muscle mass of many larger muscle groups found throughout the human body, these muscles represent an important functional group for a variety of athletes ranging from sprinters to golfers. The muscles of the lower leg, and specifically, the calf, provide the power for vertical explosiveness needed by those athletes required to leap during competition or practice. The muscles of the lower leg, for example, the calf and those muscle associated with ankle rotation, contribute to the stability required to provide athletes with a strong foundation from which to work.
Exercise apparatuses have, therefore, been developed to exclusively focus on training these muscles with the hope of improving an athlete's performance and reducing the occurrence of injuries. These exercise apparatuses generally require a user to engage a user interface with his or her foot, rotate the interface against a resistance force. The interface is commonly constructed to isolate the rotation of the ankle for movement either laterally or in-line with the sagittal plane. Some interfaces even allow for movement about multiple axis.
Despite the efforts to replicate the natural movement of an individual's ankle during exercise, the prior art apparatuses have failed to provide a convenient, cost effective and useful apparatus which replicates the expansion and contraction of the calf muscle while also providing for the supination and pronation of an individual's ankle. The present invention provides such an apparatus.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an exercise apparatus including a base structure having a resistance assembly and a user support member. The apparatus further includes a first user interface pivotally mounted to the base structure for rotation about a first axis at a position allowing an exerciser to comfortably sit upon the user support member, extend a leg and engage the first user interface. The first user interface includes a distal end to which a foot plate is secured and a central pivot which rotates about a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis. The apparatus also includes a cable linking the first user interface to the resistance assembly for the application of resistance as the user rotates the first user interface by extending a foot to exercise the user's calf muscle.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide an exercise apparatus including a second user interface substantially identical to the user interface disclosed above.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an exercise apparatus wherein the first axis of the second user interface is substantially aligned with the first axis of the first user interface.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an exercise apparatus wherein the first axis of the first user interface lies in a substantially horizontal plane.
It is also another object of the present invention to provide an exercise apparatus wherein the second axis of the second user interface lies substantially parallel to the second axis of the second user interface.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an exercise apparatus wherein a single cable links both the first user interface and the second user interface to the resistance assembly.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide an exercise apparatus wherein the second user interface includes a first section pivotally mounted on the base structure in a manner defining the first axis and a second section pivotally coupled to the first section in a manner defining the second axis.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide an exercise apparatus wherein the cable is secured to the first section of the second user interface.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an exercise apparatus wherein the resistance assembly is a weight stack.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an exercise apparatus wherein the user support member is adjustably supported on the base structure.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when viewed in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which set forth certain embodiments of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4511137 (1985-04-01), Jones
patent: 4600188 (1986-07-01), Bangerter et al.
patent: 4807874 (1989-02-01), Little
patent: 5449332 (1995-09-01), Hervig
Hoffman Wasson & Gitler PC
Mulcahy John
The Simonson Family Limited Partnership RLLLP
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