Exercise devices – User manipulated force resisting apparatus – component... – Utilizing weight resistance
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-06
2001-10-16
Donnelly, Jerome (Department: 3764)
Exercise devices
User manipulated force resisting apparatus, component...
Utilizing weight resistance
C482S095000, C482S072000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06302832
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an exercise device. In particular, it relates to an exercise device of the type permitting the user to selectively perform multiple exercise movements. Still more particularly, the invention relates to an exercise device which (1) simulates a horizontal pulling or rowing type exercise or alternatively a horizontal pushing or pressing forward type exercise; (2) simulates a vertical pull down type exercise or alternatively a vertically pressing upward type exercise and (3) allows motions intermediate horizontal or vertical type directions, either in a pressing mode or a pulling mode.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Heretofore, exercise devices or machines have been provided in which a user sits on a seat while pushing foot pedals and pulling on handgrip members at the same time. Examples of such devices are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,642,288 to J. D. Bell, U.S. Pat. No. 2,924,456 to H. J. Miller, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,300,760 to Bobroff. Resistance to the exercise movement of pushing against leg actuated foot pedals and/or pulling on arm actuated handlebars is provided by the weight of the user on the seat. The seat with the user thereon is raised by the user pulling on the arm actuated means and pushing on the leg actuated means simultaneously in an exercise movement. Weight of the user resists upward movement of the seat. These patents permit only a single rowing type exercise movement in a horizontal direction, but they do not provide a mechanism for a horizontal pressing forward type exercise movement or vertical pull down or pressing up type exercise movement at the discretion of the user. Also, no adjustment means is provided to vary the force exerted by the weight of the user against the leg actuated foot pedals and the arm actuated handlebars.
A machine sold under the trademark Cardioglide shows a similar type horizontal pulling exercise device in which the force resistance means is a hydraulic cylinder that restricts the movement of the seal. The hydraulic resistance is adjustable by rotation of a knob, which, in turn, adjusts to the size of a fluid orifice in the cylinder.
A machine sold under the trademark CSA-E-Force has an alternative handlebar position in which a user can perform an upper body horizontal pushing action, but the user must remove and then reinsert the handlebar in the alternative position. The device allows only horizontal movement and has no resistance adjustment.
Several exercise gym machines allow upper body movement in multiple directions. Examples of such machines are U.S. Patent Nos. 4,542,899 to Hendricks, U.S. Pat. No. 4,629,185 to Amann, U.S. Pat. No. 4,728,099 to Pitre, U.S. Pat. No. 4,949,951 to Deola, U.S. Pat. No. 4,986,538 to Ish, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,353,547 to Jenkenson. Such multi-direction exercise machines are either very complex and expensive or are very limited in their motions. Also, none provide any means for allowing coordinated movements of the upper body with the lower body.
There is a need for an exercise machine that allows a wide variety of movements yet is simple and inexpensive to produce and further provides other features described as follows.
3. Identification of Objects of the Invention
In view of the limitations of the prior art machines;
A primary object of the invention is to provide an exercise machine that allows a wide variety of exercise movements, yet is simple and inexpensive to produce.
Another object of the invention is to provide a machine as above that takes up very little floor space.
Another object of the invention is to provide a machine as above for allowing coordinated movement of a variety of upper body movements with simultaneous lower body exercise.
Another object of the invention is to provide a machine as above in which resistance to the various exercise movements is derived at least in part from the bodyweight of the user.
Another object of the invention is to provide a machine as above in which the machine may easily be converted from a pull type machine to a press type machine.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a machine in which alternative horizontal only or vertical only exercise movements are allowed with selection of such movements by the user merely by changing the direction of force of the upper limbs while exercising.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a machine as above in which upper body exercise may be at any direction from horizontal to vertical with selection of such movements by the user merely by changing the direction of force of upper limbs while exercising.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The objects identified above, as well as other features are realized in the invention of an exercise device in which a user seated on a seat may grip a handlebar and selectively perform a generally vertical pull down type exercise movement or a generally horizontal rowing or pulling exercise movement while seated on the seat. The same handlebar in utilized for both exercise movements. The exercise movements may be changed by the user by changing the force exerted by the arms of the user against the handlebar without any additional adjustments being required. A linkage for the handlebar is pivotally connected between a support frame and an adjustment plate which is pivotally connected to the support frame. The device may be converted to a machine for press up vertical movements or push out horizontal exercise movements.
A seat is provided on a seat frame which is pivotally connected to the support frame. A link is pivotally connected between the seat frame and an adjustment plate for transferring a force proportional to the weight of the user on the seat against the adjustment plate tending to rotate the plate in a direction to provide resistance to the exercise movements of the handlebar. Foot pedals are linked to the adjustment plate such that the adjustment plate tends to rotate about is pivot point with respect to the frame when the user pushes forward on the pedals.
A rearward pulling exercise movement against the handlebar (or a downward pulling exercise movement) by the user is normally performed at the same time as a forward pushing exercise movement against the foot pedals by the feet of the seated user. The handlebar linkage transfers arm force to the adjustment plate tending to rotate it with respect to the frame when the handlebars are pulled horizontally, as in rowing type exercise, in the same direction of rotation caused by forward pushing of the foot pedals. The weight of the user on the seat, acting through an adjustable pivoted link to the adjustment plate, tends to rotate the adjustment plate in a opposite direction to that caused by the pulling handlebar movement and pushing foot pedal movement. Consequently, the user's weight provides resistance to the exercise movements. The seat is raised and lowered as a consequence of the exercise movements.
An adjustment lever carried by the adjustment plate may be manually adjusted in a series of positions on the adjustment plate for varying the resistance force applied by the weight of the user on the seat. A seat connecting link between the seat frame and the adjustment plate is coupled to the adjustment lever about a movable pivot point. Such pivot point is moved upon manual adjustment of the lever to change the point of application of force from the seat to the adjustment plate. The lever may also be adjusted so that the application of force from the seat connecting link reverses the direction of rotation of the adjustment plate caused by the user's weight, thereby converting the machine to a push up or press type exercise machine (and a horizontal push out machine), where the resistance of the user's weight opposes a pushing movement of the handlebar. Thus, a resistance force may be applied selectively against either a pulling exercise movement of the handlebar or a pushing exercise movement of the handlebar by manual adjustment of the adjustment lever.
When the adjustment lever is moved to a position which
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