Exercise devices – User manipulated force resisting apparatus – component... – Utilizing weight resistance
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-26
2003-07-15
Donnelly, Jerome W. (Department: 3764)
Exercise devices
User manipulated force resisting apparatus, component...
Utilizing weight resistance
C482S050000, C482S046000, C482S093000, C482S098000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06592498
ABSTRACT:
This invention relates to exercise devices, in particular exercise devices which can be used to allow a number of different exercises to be carried out while in a gymnasium or at home, for example. The possible exercises may include a very wide range of exercises covering all muscle groups.
There are generally two options available for exercising specific muscle groups. The first is to use free weights in an appropriate manner, and the second is to use a specific machine arranged to allow the performance of a particular exercise designed to target that muscle group.
A major advantage of free weight training is that it allows the user maximum freedom to exercise against a selected resistance in any manner chosen. The user is however confined to working against gravity. No resistance can be provided when moving the weights in a downwards direction. In contrast to this, existing machines can provide resistance against movement in both upward and downward directions but are generally constructed in such a way to allow only very specific exercises to be carried out at any given machine. Even, in machines which are intended to allow a variety of exercises to be carried out, the range of movements available is limited.
WO 92/07628 discloses limb movement and training apparatus which can provide resistance to a complex pattern of movement but, with any given configuration, resistance is only provided in one general direction away from a rest position and there is no freedom to move in any other directions.
WO 89/02295 discloses a multidirectional exerciser in which a user grasps a handle and resistance to motion in both senses about three independent axes is provided.
It is an object of this invention to provide an exercise device in which at least some of the disadvantages of free weights and/or existing exercising machines are alleviated.
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an exercise device comprising at least one exercising unit;
the or each exercising unit comprising:
a moveable member against which effort of an exerciser can be exerted; and
resistance means for providing resistance to movement of the moveable member,
characterised in that the moveable member has a null position and the resistance means is arranged to resist movement of the moveable member in two directions away from the null position and to cause or allow substantially without resistance, return of the moveable member to the null position.
Preferably the resistance means comprises transmitting means for transmitting a load to be worked against from loading means to the moveable member.
Preferably the resistance means is arranged to resist movement of the arm member along only one locus or about only one axis, movement in other loci and/or about other axes being substantially unresisted.
According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided an exercise device comprising at least one exercising unit;
the or each exercising unit comprising:
a moveable member against which effort of an exerciser can be exerted, the moveable member being moveable towards and away from a rest position parallel to a loading direction, and
resistance means for providing resistance to movement of the moveable member, comprising loading means and transmitting means arranged to apply a force to be worked against to the moveable member in the loading direction when the moveable member is displaced from the rest position in a direction opposite to the loading direction, characterised in that the moveable member is moveable in directions which are not substantially parallel to the loading direction, the resistance means being arranged so that movement in such directions is substantially unresisted.
According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided an exercise device comprising at least one exercising unit;
the or each exercising unit comprising:
a moveable member against which effort of an exerciser can be exerted, the moveable member being moveable in any direction and having a rest position; and
resistance means for providing resistance to movement of the moveable member, characterised in that the resistance means comprises loading means and transmitting means arranged to apply a force to be worked against to the moveable member in a loading direction when the moveable member is displaced from the rest position in a direction opposite to the loading direction; and
the resistance means is arranged so that there is substantially no resistance to movement of the moveable member in directions which are not substantially parallel to the loading direction.
Preferably the rest position is a null position and the resistance means is arranged to resist movement of the moveable member in two directions away from the null position and to cause or allow substantially without resistance, return of the moveable member to the null position.
Preferably the resistance means is arranged to urge the moveable member towards the null position when the moveable member is displaced from the null position.
Preferable means for adjusting the null position are provided.
The transmitting means may be arranged to transmit movement of the moveable member to the loading means.
The transmitting means may comprise a hydraulic arrangement.
The hydraulic arrangement may comprise a hydraulic arm cylinder which is operable, by movement of the moveable member, to cause hydraulic fluid to be supplied to a second hydraulic cylinder, which is associated with the loading means, so that movement of the moveable member causes the second hydraulic cylinder to be operated.
The resistance means can comprise a weight and pulley arrangement such that in use gravity acting on the weight provides resistance to movement of the moveable member.
The resistance means can comprise a weight mounted on a pivotally moveable weight bearing member and be arranged so that gravity acting on the weight provides the resistance to movement of the moveable member.
The moveable member may be slidably mounted on at least one guide member and the resistance means may be arranged to resist sliding movement.
The moveable member may comprise a grip member and an arm member, the grip member being mounted to the arm member in such a way that pivotal movement of the grip member about its centre of mass is substantially unresisted.
Preferably the exercise device further comprises an arm portion comprising a grip member and an arm member, the grip member being mounted to the arm member so as to allow the grip member to pivot, substantially without resistance, relative to the arm member, the moveable member comprising the grip member and the arm member.
Preferably the grip member is mounted to the arm member so as to allow the grip member to pivot about two mutually perpendicular axes relative to the arm member.
The arm portion may be an articulated arm portion comprising two arm members which are pivotally connected to one another.
Preferably at least one member of the arm portion is arranged to be pivotable about an axis and the resistance means is arranged to resist pivotal movement about that axis.
The exercise device can be arranged so that the magnitude of the effort which must be exerted at the grip member against the force applied to the moveable member does not, within the operational range of the moveable member, vary significantly as the grip member and arm member as a unit are moved to any position which is displaced, in the loading direction, from the rest position.
The exercise device can be arranged so that the magnitude of the effort which must be exerted at the grip member in a predetermined linear direction against the force applied to the moveable member does not, within the operational range of the moveable member, vary significantly as the grip member and arm member as a unit are moved to any position which is displaced, in the loading direction, from the rest position.
Preferably the loading direction comprises a substantially linear path.
The loading direction may comprise an arcuate path.
Preferably the grip member and
Browning Clifford W.
Donnelly Jerome W.
Woodard Emhardt Moriarty McNett & Henry LLP
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