Portable exercise machine

Details Portable exercise machine Portable exercise machine

1998-11-20

2001-11-13

Yu, Mickey (Department: 3764)

Exercise devices

User manipulated force resisting apparatus, component...

Utilizing frictional force resistance

C482S110000, C482S116000, C482S120000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06315701

ABSTRACT:

This invention pertains generally to exercise equipment and, more particularly, to a portable exercise machine.
In recent years, with the emphasis which has been placed on the importance of physical fitness and body development, a number of different types of exercise machines have been provided.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,944,511, for example, discloses a portable exercise device in which cords equipped with hand grips are wrapped about reels in a housing on which the exerciser stands. Unwinding of the cords from the reels is resisted by spring packs which are mounted to the reels and can be stacked to increase the resistance.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,077,626 discloses an exercise machine in lines pulled by the exerciser are coupled to a flywheel through a ratcheting transmission so that pulling on the lines causes the flywheel to spin. When the pull stops, the lines are retracted by spring-loaded spools on the input shaft of the transmission.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,645,204 shows a portable exercise device having an elongated elastic cable folded back and forth between pulleys at opposite ends of a housing, with hand grips or handles connected to the end portions of the cable outside the housing. Pulling on the cable causes the cable to stretch throughout its entire length, including the portion folded about the pulleys, thereby providing substantially greater elongation and handle movement than would be possible with a shorter cable.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,257,592 shows an exercise device having handles connected to the ends of a rope which is trained about pulleys at opposite ends of a housing on which the exerciser stands. The effective length of the rope is adjusted by forming a loop in the rope and securing it with a clamp. The only resistance provided by this device is the pull of one arm against the other.
Other types of machines which are currently available (e.g. treadmills, stair steppers, cycles, rowing machines, and riders) tend to be expensive and to require a relatively large, dedicated floor area for use.
It is in general an object of the invention to provide a new and improved exercise machine.
Another object of the invention is to provide an exercise machine of the above character which overcomes the limitations and disadvantages of machines heretofore provided.
Another object of the invention is to provide an exercise machine of the above character which is highly portable and does not require a large floor area for use.
Another object of the invention is to provide an exercise machine of the above character which is economical to manufacture and to own.
Another object of the invention is to provide an exercise machine of the above character which can be used for a wide variety of different exercises.
These and other objects are achieved in accordance with the invention by providing a portable exercise machine having a base, a capstan rotatively mounted within the base, an elongated cable wrapped about the capstan and trained about guides toward opposite ends of the base with end portions of the cable extending beyond the base, handles attached to the end portions of the cable for drawing the cable back and forth through the base and thereby rotating the capstan, and means for resisting rotation of the capstan. The handles have frames with reels rotatively mounted on the frames and the end portions of the cable being wound about the reels, springs for rotating the reels to wind the end portions of the cable onto the reels, first grips connected to the reels and adapted to be grasped by the hands of an exerciser to prevent rotation of the reels and second grips connected to the frames and adapted to be engaged by the hands of the exerciser for moving the handles without inhibiting rotation of the reels.


REFERENCES:
patent: 2128332 (1938-08-01), Schollmeyer
patent: 2821394 (1958-01-01), Barbeau
patent: 3764132 (1973-10-01), Hepburn
patent: 3785644 (1974-01-01), Bradley et al.
patent: 4077626 (1978-03-01), Newman
patent: 4257592 (1981-03-01), Jones
patent: 4645204 (1987-02-01), Berger
patent: 4659077 (1987-04-01), Stropkay
patent: 4728103 (1988-03-01), Fulton
patent: 4944511 (1990-07-01), Franscis
patent: 5429563 (1995-07-01), Engel et al.
patent: 5496236 (1996-03-01), Buonauito
patent: 5876310 (1999-03-01), Mackey et al.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Portable exercise machine does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Portable exercise machine, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Portable exercise machine will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2581670