Exercise devices – User manipulated force resisting apparatus – component... – Utilizing weight resistance
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-31
2001-02-06
Mulcahy, John (Department: 3764)
Exercise devices
User manipulated force resisting apparatus, component...
Utilizing weight resistance
C482S099000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06183401
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to exercise equipment and more particularly, to exercise equipment that uses a variable number of weights to resist exercise motion.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Exercise weight stacks are known in the art. Generally speaking, weights are arranged in a stack and movably mounted on guide rods. A selector rod is connected to a desired number of weights by means of a pin or another suitable connection method. The selector rod and any selected weights are typically connected to a force receiving member by means of a cable which moves the weights upward in response to exercise movement.
Although exercise weight stacks are prevalent in the exercise industry, they nonetheless suffer from certain shortcomings. For example, in order to provide a large amount of weight at a reasonable cost and within a reasonable amount of space, equipment manufacturers use a small number of relatively heavy weights. As a result, the amount of weight being lifted cannot be adjusted in small increments. On the other hand, a relatively large number of lighter weights could be used in order to provide smaller increments in weight adjustment, but the resulting equipment would be quite expensive and/or bulky.
Attempts have been made to address the issue of incremental adjustments. One such effort involves the provision of a second, adjacent weight stack comprising weights which weigh a fraction of the weights in the other or primary stack. A problem with this approach is that it adds significantly to the cost of the equipment. Another effort involves the provision of a half-weight (or other fractional weight), which weighs one-half the weight of each weight in the stack, and which is selectively movable from a peg on the frame onto an aligned peg on the top plate of the stack. This approach not only creates a balance problem during movement of the selected weights, but it also increases the potential for injury due to the proximity of the two pegs and their movement relative to one another.
Yet another prior art machine with supplemental weights is disclosed in French Patent No. 2,613,237 to Louvet. The Louvet machine includes a stack of primary weights movable along a guide rod in response to exercise movement, and a stack of secondary weights movable along the guide rod and selectively stored above the stack of primary weights. The secondary weights are supported by gates which are rotatably mounted on rigid frame members and which have pegs that rotate into engagement with holes in the frame members. Each of nine secondary weights has a mass equal to one-tenth the mass of one of the primary weights.
One disadvantage of the Louvet machine is that nothing prevents a user from releasing a secondary weight without grasping the weight being released. As a result, the secondary weight may be free to drop downward onto the top plate in the stack of primary weights, thereby increasing the likelihood of personal injury and/or damage to the machine. Also, each of the secondary weights is not separately supported by a respective gate. As a result, the entire stack of secondary weights may be released at one time, with or without a user holding onto to any of the secondary weights. Yet another shortcoming of the Louvet machine is that nine secondary weights are required to provide nine levels of incremental weight adjustments.
Another limitation with many existing weight stack machines, including the Louvet machine, is that the amount of resistance is uniform throughout the range of exercise motion, whereas the user's strength typically varies as a function of muscle contraction and extension. One response to this problem has been to use eccentric cam members to vary the amount of leverage being exerted against a fixed amount of weight. However, room for other solutions and/or improvements remains.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One aspect of the present invention is to provide an exercise apparatus with a supplemental weight movable along a connector interconnected between a top weight plate and a force receiving member. The top weight plate is mounted on a guide rod and movable between a lowermost position and an uppermost position. In a first mode of operation, the supplemental weight is supported by a frame member, and the connector and the top weight plate move relative to the supplemental weight and the frame. In a second mode of operation, the supplemental weight is supported by the top weight plate, and the supplemental weight moves together with the connector and the top weight plate relative to the frame.
On one embodiment of the present invention, the frame member supports the supplemental weight at a position above the uppermost position of the top weight plate during the first mode of operation, and the supplemental weight is selectively movable onto the top weight plate to facilitate the second mode of operation. On another embodiment, the frame member supports the supplemental weight at a position between the uppermost and lowermost positions of the top weight plate during the first mode of operation, and the top weight plate is movable into contact with the supplemental weight to initiate the second mode of operation. The second embodiment may also be constructed to allow the supplemental weight to be moved to a rest position above the uppermost position of the top weight plate to limit operation to only the first mode of operation, and/or to allow the supplemental weight to be moved to a rest position on the top weight plate when in its lowermost position to facilitate “second mode” operation like on the first embodiment.
In other words, the present invention facilitates conventional weight stack resistance, fractionally increased weight stack resistance which remains constant throughout a range of motion, and/or fractionally increased weight stack resistance which varies during an exercise stroke. On certain embodiments of the present invention, multiple supplemental weights may be provided discrete amounts of mass, thereby allowing the user to choose between the mass of the first weight, the mass of the second weight, and the combined mass of the two weights.
The present invention also provides a variety of alternatives for positioning and/or selecting the supplemental weight(s). The various embodiments of the present invention store the supplemental weight(s) outside of harm's way yet prevent outright removal of the supplemental weight from the exercise equipment. Many of the features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the more detailed description that follows.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4627615 (1986-12-01), Nurkowski
patent: 4765611 (1988-08-01), MacMillan
patent: 4809973 (1989-03-01), Johns
patent: 4834365 (1989-06-01), Jones
patent: 5643152 (1997-07-01), Simonson
patent: 5776040 (1998-07-01), Webb et al.
patent: 2613237 (1980-10-01), None
patent: 10-18222 (1998-08-01), None
patent: 1347948 (1987-10-01), None
patent: 1443898 (1988-12-01), None
Cyber -Strength Systems(Brochure) © 1994 6 pages.
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