Exercise devices – User manipulated force resisting apparatus – component... – Utilizing weight resistance
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-21
2001-11-20
Donnelly, Jerome W. (Department: 3764)
Exercise devices
User manipulated force resisting apparatus, component...
Utilizing weight resistance
C482S102000, C482S137000, C482S138000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06319178
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to weight lifting exercise machines, and is particularly concerned with a leg exercise arm for such machines.
Weight lifting machines normally have a leg extension/leg curl arm pivoted at the front end of the machine adjacent the seat and linked to the exercise resistance to permit a user to perform leg exercises. Such devices are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,678,185 and 4,915,377 of Mahnke. The exercise arm in these machines is straight. In some prior art leg exercise arms, a pulley is mounted on the straight arm, for example the 880-3D Home Gym of Hoist Fitness Systems has a pulley at the end of the straight exercise arm. The problem with straight leg exercise arms is that the exerciser will experience a drop off or reduction in resistance while performing an exercise. This is because the exercise arm goes through an arcing motion, and the cable attached to the arm is therefore not pulled at a constant rate. In order to prevent the drop off in resistance, some manufacturers have attached a cam or curved piece of metal to the end of the exercise arm, providing a surface for the cable to wrap around during the second half of an exercise movement, so that the cable is pulled at an even rate during the entire movement. However, this adds to the expense of the machine and also causes design restrictions due to the rearward protrusion of the cam.
The straight leg exercise arm also has a second disadvantage when a pulley is mounted at the end of the arm for performing other exercises such as upper body, standing position exercises. The user stands facing the machine and pulls the cable upward using various handle attachments. In order to perform such exercises, the exerciser must stand back from the machine to avoid damaging the cable by rubbing it against the front of the machine. This requires additional floor space. It can also be difficult to access the cable attachment point if the pulley is located at the end of the straight arm.
One possible solution to these problems is to mount the pulley on the bottom front of the exercise arm. However, this will cause the cable to rub against, or bend round, the bottom of the exercise arm when in use, unless a cam is attached to prevent this. Another solution is to eliminate the pulley at the lower end of the exercise arm altogether, and to attach the cable permanently to this arm. In this case, another location must be provided on the machine for performing the additional upper body exercises.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved leg exercise arm for a weight lifting machine.
According to one aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for performing exercises is provided which comprises a seat having a forward end, an arm having a first end pivoted adjacent the forward end of the seat for swinging back and forth in front of the seat, and a second end, the arm having a curved portion adjacent the second end which curves forwardly in a direction away from the seat, a cable engaging device mounted at the second end of the arm for engagement with a cable linking the arm to an exercise resistance, and a leg engaging assembly attached to the arm.
The leg engaging assembly may comprise a pair of oppositely directed leg engagement members or roller pads for engagement by the legs of a user on opposite sides of the arm. Alternatively, where the apparatus has a weight stack frame on one side and a seat mounted to one side of the frame, the arm may be pivoted to the weight stack frame, and the leg engaging assembly may extend transversely from one side of the arm in front of the seat for engagement by the user's legs. In this case, there may be a single leg engagement member or pad for engagement by both of the user's legs.
Preferably, the leg engagement member or members are secured to the arm above the curved portion. The roller pad or pads may be adjustably secured to the arm by means of a sliding sleeve or a hinged member, to accommodate users with different leg lengths. In an alternative embodiment, the leg engaging assembly may comprise an elongate, second arm pivotally mounted adjacent the first end of the first arm, and releasably securable to the first arm by means of a range of motion or ROM device in any one of a series of angular positions relative to the first arm. The leg engagement member or members are mounted at the free end of the second arm. In this arrangement, the first, curved arm comprises the load bearing arm and the second arm comprises the leg engagement arm. The exerciser can adjust the starting position of the leg engagement arm to any desired orientation, without affecting the load bearing arm.
In one embodiment of this invention, a forward curving exercise arm is provided with a pulley or a cable fastener mounted on the forward end of the arm, with the forwardly curved portion of the arm acting like a cam and providing a surface for the cable to wrap around during the second half of an exercise movement, avoiding any drop off in resistance. This arrangement also places the cable attachment point out in front of the exercise arm for easier access to attach handles to perform upper body exercises, and allows the exerciser to stand closer to the machine without damaging the cable. The pulley on the forward end of the exercise arm allows the cable to wrap around the curved portion of the arm when performing leg extensions or standing leg curls, and at the same time permits unrestricted movement of the cable when pulled by itself for performing additional exercises.
According to another aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for performing exercises is provided which comprises a support frame having a forward end and a rear end and an upright strut adjacent the rear end, a seat mounted on the support frame in front of the upright strut, the seat having a forward end, an exercise arm having opposite first and second ends with the first end being pivoted to the support frame adjacent the forward end of the seat for swinging back and forth about a first pivot axis, a cable engaging device mounted at the second end of the arm for engagement with a load bearing cable, an elongate adjustment arm pivotally secured adjacent the first end of the exercise arm for rotation about a second pivot axis parallel to the first pivot axis, a releasable range of motion assembly for releasably locking the adjustment arm at a selected orientation relative to the exercise arm, and a leg engaging assembly attached to the adjustment arm and comprising at least one leg engagement member for engagement by the legs of a user.
In one embodiment of the invention, the exercise arm is straight. Alternatively, the exercise arm may have a curved portion adjacent the second end which curves forwardly away from the seat, putting the cable engaging device out in front of the seat. The apparatus may have a centrally located seat with the exercise arm pivoted directly in front of the seat and the leg engaging assembly comprising oppositely directed leg engagement members for engagement by the user's legs on opposite sides of the arm. Alternatively, the seat may be located to one side of the weight stack frame, and the exercise arm may be pivoted at the front of the weight stack frame with the leg engaging assembly projecting to one side of the frame and out in front of the seat. In the latter case, a single leg engagement member or pad may be provided for both of the user's legs, or separate right and left pads may be provided, both located to one side of the exercise arm.
The exercise arm with a curved, forwardly projecting portion has the advantage of placing the cable engaging device out in front of the exercise arm, and allowing the cable to wrap around the curved portion of the arm when performing exercises. The range of motion adjustment arm, with a straight or curved exercise arm, allows the user to vary the starting position of the exercise.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 303558 (1989-09-0
Brown Martin Haller & McClain LLP
Donnelly Jerome W.
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