Exercise devices – User manipulated force resisting apparatus – component... – Utilizing weight resistance
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-30
2001-11-20
Donnelly, Jerome W. (Department: 3764)
Exercise devices
User manipulated force resisting apparatus, component...
Utilizing weight resistance
C482S146000, C482S147000, C482S142000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06319177
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention pertains to exercise equipment. More particularly, the present invention relates to resistance-type exercise apparatus having pivotable and rotatable exerciser supports.
There are many forms of resistance-type exercise equipment on the market today. In general, resistance-type exercise equipment has historically been categorized as either “machine” or “free” weights. Exercising with free weights normally requires an individual exerciser to balance the weights as the weights are lifted and lowered throughout the range of the exercise movement. When exercising with free weights it is important that the exerciser stabilize their body prior to and while lifting the weighted resistance since the exerciser alone must balance the weights throughout the exercise movement. If the exerciser is unable to or fails to stabilize themselves while engaged in lifting free weights, the results can be both unsafe and injurious. The exerciser can easily hurt themselves straining to regain control of the weights or, failing to do so damage the weights and surrounding environment with the falling weights. Exercising with machine weights on the other hand usually does not require an exerciser to balance the weights being lifted. Machine weight training equipment normally restricts the range and direction of the weighted resistance movement to a single plane. Thus, the machine weights inherently provide stabilization of the weights for the individual exerciser, obviating the exerciser's need to balance and stabilize the weight. For this reason, resistance-type machine weights are generally viewed as being a safer form of resistance-type weight training than free weights.
While machine weights may be safer to use, machine weight training does not train or exercise the muscles used to stabilize the body. The muscles exercised and trained when using free weights are the same stabilization muscles are used in walking, bending and other sport exercises. Exercisers concentrating on machine resistance-type training may therefore find themselves ill-prepared for the stability requirements and demands found in actual real-world sports activities such as hockey, basketball, baseball, football, etc. The lack of stabilizing muscle training and strengthening gained by the machine weight exerciser can and often does result in the machine weight exerciser suffering injuries when engaging in other activities.
Thus, there currently exists a need for resistance-type weight training equipment that offers the exerciser the safety of machine weight training equipment and the stabilizing muscle training and strengthening provided by free weights. Those concerned with these and other problems recognize the need for an improved resistance-type exercise apparatus.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention it is therefore an objective to provide an exercise apparatus that supports an exerciser by means of a pivotable and rotatable support or supports requiring the exerciser to stabilize their body while engaged in resistance-type weight training.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an exercise apparatus requiring the exerciser to employ the stabilizing muscles of the body while engaging in resistance-type weight training thereby strengthening and training the stabilizing muscles of the exerciser.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an exercise apparatus offering the safety of use associated with traditional machine weights.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an exercise apparatus that is easily adjustable and capable of accommodating individual exerciser's desired preferences.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an exercise apparatus that is easy to use.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an exercise apparatus that may be adapted for use with pre-existing exercise equipment.
The present invention results from the realization that a “machine” resistance-type training apparatus that requires an exerciser using said apparatus to stabilize their own body in relation to the weighted resistance necessarily requires the exerciser to use their stabilizing muscles and therefore is a better machine resistance-type exercise apparatus. Also, since the apparatus is a machine, the resistance-type equipment of the present invention will also have the benefit of the inherent safety of properly designed machine weights.
The present invention comprises machine weight equipment further including at least one pivotal and rotatable support structure for supporting the exerciser using the apparatus of the present invention. As in other resistance-type exercise machines known to those skilled in the art, the apparatus of the present invention provides stabilization of the weighted resistance. Therefore, the apparatus of the present invention offers the safety of use found in traditional machine weight devices. Furthermore, since the exerciser is supported by rotatable and pivotally mounted support structures in the present invention and the machine provides stabilization of the weighted resistance, the exerciser must stabilize their body in relation to the weighted resistance. This is contrary to traditional machine resistance-training devices and free weight devices. Former machine weight systems required no substantial stabilization of the weighted resistance throughout the exercise movement. Free weight training systems on the other hand required an exerciser on a stable, non-movable support structure (bench, floor, seat, etc.) to balance and stabilize the free weights. The present invention requires the exerciser using the present invention in resistance-type training to balance and stabilize their body as opposed to the weighted resistance while lifting the weight. Thus, the exerciser's stabilizing muscles are utilized, trained and strengthened in the course of exercising using the present invention. The exerciser receives the safety benefit of stabilized weights and the training benefit of training and strengthening the stabilizing muscles of the body.
The present invention features pivotal support structures for all of the resistance-type training exercise positions commonly encountered when exercising with resistance-type exercise equipment. The present invention is capable of facilitating exercises in which the exerciser sits, stands or is instead traditionally supported by a bench, either in a prone or upright sitting posture. Other exerciser positions may also be accommodated in a manner suitable and similar to those described in greater detail herein below.
In one embodiment of the invention facilitating exercises in which the exerciser stands, the exerciser actually stands, and is thereby supported, on a pivotal and rotatable base. Whereas the exerciser would traditionally stand directly on the floor or other stable platform at the appropriate height and standing position and have no need to balance themselves, the exerciser using the present invention must balance themselves. The amount of pitch and roll (sway) in the support system is either fixed or adjustable at the exerciser's discretion. It is contemplated that an adjustable support system would be the preferred embodiment so that exercisers could adjust the sway of the standing support system to fit their individual workout preferences.
Another embodiment of this invention facilitates resistance-type training in which the exerciser performs the exercise movement while sitting upright. The base of the sitting system on which the exerciser sits, and is thereby supported, is on a pivotal and rotatable base. The pivotal sitting support system is designed to isolate the exerciser from otherwise stabilizing support structures such as the floor. There are also included in this embodiment of the present invention pivotal and rotatable foot supports so that the exerciser is completely isolated from the floor or otherwise stable, non-pivotal support(s). Here too it is contemplated
Donnelly Jerome W.
Lambert Gary E.
Lambert & Associates PLLC
Timmer Edward
LandOfFree
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