Exercise devices – User manipulated force resisting apparatus – component... – Utilizing frictional force resistance
Patent
1991-03-27
1992-10-13
Bahr, Robert
Exercise devices
User manipulated force resisting apparatus, component...
Utilizing frictional force resistance
482118, 482123, A63B 21015
Patent
active
051546841
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to exercise apparatus for the human body.
With the increase in leisure time and the general increase in wealth of individuals at least in developed countries, there is a substantial tendency towards the taking of exercise during ones leisure time.
Many people prefer to take their exercise for the benefit of their health and general fitness, indoors, and in the privacy of their own home. Consequently, there has been an explosion in the sale of exercise apparatus for the human body, such exercise apparatus including spring loading machines, cycling machines, rowing machines, step-up machines, twisting machines, weight lifting stands and benches, multi-gym apparatus, and so on.
The present invention provides another form of apparatus which does not suffer from a recently identified problem of the existing apparatus. The aforementioned problem applies in particular to weight lifting stands and benches and multi-gym apparatus involving the movement of weights, and also involves that type of spring loading machine where the user in applying effort to the machine, converts his energy into energy stored in a compression or tension spring. The danger which arises with such apparatus is that the energy imparted to the apparatus by the user frequently is stored in potential or spring energy form. For example in the lifting of weights when a user performs a bench press or otherwise lifts the weights, the elevated weights have considerable potential energy, and if the user experiences difficulty in sustaining the weights in elevated condition or raising them to the elevated position, there is a danger that the weights will fall on top of the user imparting serious damage. The same applies when the user's energy is stored in a spring, because if the apparatus is released too quickly, then the spring energy will also be released, and the apparatus can become dangerous.
It is appreciated that not all exercise machines have this problem, but the machines which do not have the problem tend to be rather limited in their utilisation and comprise machines such as exercise cycles and rowing machines, which enable the user to perform only one exercise function or operation.
The present invention seeks to provide an exercise apparatus wherein the problem mentioned above does not occur, and which at least in its preferred form is capable of being embodied in a machine which can be utilised for a number of different body exercises.
In accordance with the present invention there is provided an exercise apparatus for the human body which includes an energy dissipating device which is operable by human efforts in one direction from an initial position and has automatic return means which returns the device to the initial position upon release of the human effort, and wherein the apparatus comprises a base on which the user stands, a lift bar above the base, which can be lifted by the user from the base upon performing an exercise; first and second said means connected operatively between the respective ends of the bar to the energy dissipating device, characterised in that the first and second said means are trained round a floating pulley block which is in turn connected to the energy dissipating device so that the displacement of the said means at the respective ends of the bar upon lifting of same effect displacement as opposed to be directly connected to the energy dissipation means whereby a single energy dissipating means is operated by the displacement of the first and second said means by movement of the bar.
As compared to conventional weight lifting apparatus, apparatus according to the invention may be low in weight to allow simpler transport and delivery, and lower weight leads to easier installation insofar as the apparatus exerts negligable floor loading on the supporting surface, at least in comparison with the commonly used weight lifting multi-gyms. The apparatus according to the invention can offer all classic bar bell exercises in one machine and it can be made compact and collapsible to allow
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Bahr Robert
Philpitt Fred
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