Exercise devices – User manipulated force resisting apparatus – component... – Utilizing weight resistance
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-24
2001-03-20
Mulcahy, John (Department: 3764)
Exercise devices
User manipulated force resisting apparatus, component...
Utilizing weight resistance
C482S137000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06203475
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to exercising apparatus, and more particularly to machines for developing arm strength.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various types of equipment have been developed to assist persons strengthen their muscles. For example, machines for developing arm muscles are well known and in widespread use. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,042,023; 4,239,210; and 5,256,125 show machines that are useful for developing a person's biceps.
Arm muscles in addition to biceps are important in the sport of arm wrestling. In that sport, the competitors' elbows are placed side-by-side on a horizontal surface with the forearms vertical. Each person attempts to pivot his arm at the elbow across the front of his torso. To pivot his arm, he must overcome the resisting force exerted by the other contestant.
To develop the muscles used in arm wrestling, a person can lift a weight as he pivots his arm. U.S. Pat. No. 3,019,019 and U.S. Pat. No. Des. 264,236 disclose suitable weight lifting apparatus. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,634,115 and 5,458,554 show machines in which springs provide the resistance to arm pivoting.
A disadvantage of the prior weight and spring related machines is that the resisting forces can be adjusted only in course increments. Further, the resisting forces of the machines of the U.S. Pat. No. Des. 264,236; U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,634,115; and 5,458,554 patents are not uniform over the range of arm motion.
Thus, a need exists for improvements in arm wrestling exercise machines.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, a weight lifting machine provides fine adjustability to a resisting force that must be overcome during operation. This is accomplished by apparatus that includes pivotable levers that vary the torque required to rotate a carrier and lift a weight.
The levers are connected to the carrier for pivoting about respective axis. Each lever has an arcuate surface, to which is secured one end of a cord. The two cords hang from the respective arcuate surfaces and merge below the carrier to form a single cord that holds the weight.
A shaft connected to the carrier is supported in bearings that rotate the carrier about an axis of rotation. A hand grip and elbow pad rotate with the shaft and carrier. The levers are symmetrical about the carrier axis of rotation.
In a first position, the levers are generally vertical, and their arcuate surfaces are generally vertical. In that position, the distance of the lever arcuate surfaces, and thus the distances of the cords, from the carrier axis of rotation is at a minimum. The weight acting on the two cords produces equal and opposite minimum torques on the carrier.
The levers are pivotable to a second position by means of a slide that is movable on the carrier. When the slide is at a first location, the levers are in their first position. Moving the slide toward a second location on the carrier causes the levers to pivot about their respective axes such that their arcuate surfaces acquire a more horizontal attitude. The cords then hang from the levers at a greater distance from the carrier axis of rotation than when the levers are in their first position. The weight acting through the cords then produces equal and opposite second torques on the carrier greater than the torques produced when the levers are in their first position.
There is a block with an arcuate surface on the slide below the levers. The block arcuate surface lies in a generally horizontal plane. The block arcuate surface is a continuation of the arcuate surfaces of the levers when the slide is in the first location thereof and the levers are in their first position.
To use the weight lifting machine of the invention, a user adjusts the levers by moving the slide on the carrier such that the cords produce the desired amount of torque on the carrier. He places an elbow on the pad and grasps the hand grip. He exerts a force on the hand grip sufficient to rotate the carrier a slight amount about the axis of rotation. Rotating the carrier causes the levers to revolve about the axis of rotation such that one lever attains a higher elevation and the other a lower elevation relative to the axis of rotation. The cord secured to the lever that attains the higher elevation is pulled by that lever to carry the entire force of the weight and thereby provide resistance to the force exerted by the user's arm. That cord maintains contact with the arcuate surface of the associated lever and also contacts the arcuate surface of the slide block as the carrier rotates. The cord secured to the lever that attains the lower elevation becomes slack.
The slide is movable in small increments on the carrier. Accordingly, the levers are also pivotable between the first and second positions in small increments. Consequently, the force the user must exert to lift the weight is adjustable in small increments. The block moves with the slide such that the block arcuate surface contacts the cord that is secured to the lever that attains the higher elevation during carrier rotation. The block arcuate surface is located relative to the carrier axis of rotation and to the levers such that the weight is lifted by the cord at a constant speed relative to the speed of carrier rotation. The result is a smooth and continuous resisting force on the user's arm.
The method and apparatus of the invention, using pivotable arms with arcuate surfaces to which weight-holding cords are secured, thus enables a person to strengthen the muscles used in arm wrestling. The force required to be exerted by the person is adjustable over a wide range and in small increments, even though only one weight is used in the machine.
Other advantages, benefits, and features of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the detailed description of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4621807 (1986-11-01), Stramer
patent: 4846468 (1989-07-01), McCoy et al.
patent: 4902006 (1990-02-01), Stallings
patent: 4953855 (1990-09-01), Shields
patent: 4957281 (1990-09-01), Christolear
patent: 5067708 (1991-11-01), Oschansky et al.
patent: 5074551 (1991-12-01), Olschansky et al.
Cayen Donald
Mulcahy John
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