U.S. patent application number 10/631666 was filed with the patent office on 2004-08-19 for exercise machine with adjustable range of motion.
Invention is credited to Habing, Douglas J..
Application Number | 20040162194 10/631666 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32851042 |
Filed Date | 2004-08-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040162194 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Habing, Douglas J. |
August 19, 2004 |
Exercise machine with adjustable range of motion
Abstract
An exercise machine, components of an exercise machine, methods
of operating an exercise machine, and methods related to building
an exercise machine that allow for the performance of multiple
different upper torso strength exercises, where the range of motion
of a user utilizing the machine during the performance of an
exercise is confined in the performance of a particular upper torso
press exercise, but is altered to a different range of motion, and
confined to that new range of motion, when the machine is
configured to perform a new exercise.
Inventors: |
Habing, Douglas J.; (Long
Beach, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LEWIS, RICE & FINGERSH, LC
ATTN: BOX IP DEPT.
500 NORTH BROADWAY
SUITE 2000
ST LOUIS
MO
63102
US
|
Family ID: |
32851042 |
Appl. No.: |
10/631666 |
Filed: |
July 31, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60447774 |
Feb 14, 2003 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/99 ;
482/100 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 21/0628 20151001;
A63B 23/1209 20130101; A63B 21/4035 20151001; A63B 23/1263
20130101; A63B 23/12 20130101; A63B 21/4029 20151001; A63B 21/4047
20151001; A63B 23/03525 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/099 ;
482/100 |
International
Class: |
A63B 021/062 |
Claims
1. An exercise machine comprising: a first arm being rotatable
about a first axis of rotation by applying force to a first handle
connected to said first arm; and a second arm being rotatable about
a second axis of rotation by applying force to a second handle
connected to said second arm; wherein said first axis of rotation
and said second axis of rotation are non-parallel and lie in a
rotational plane; wherein said first handle is moveable along a
first extension vector; and wherein said second handle is moveable
along a second extension vector, said first extension vector and
said second extension vector lying in an extension plane and being
non-parallel to each other and to both said first and said second
axis of rotation.
2. The exercise machine of claim 1 wherein said extension plane is
non-parallel with said rotational plane.
3. The exercise machine of claim 1 wherein said extension plane is
inclined relative to said rotational plane.
4. The exercise machine of claim 1 wherein said extension plane is
declined relative to said rotational plane.
5. The exercise machine of claim 1 wherein said extension plane is
parallel to said rotational plane.
6. The exercise machine of claim 1 wherein said rotational plane
and said extension plane intersect at an angle of 45 degrees or
less.
7. The exercise machine of claim 1 wherein said rotational plane
and said extension plane intersect at an angle of 30 degrees or
less.
8. The exercise machine of claim 1 wherein said rotational plane
and said tube plane intersect at an angle of about 20 degrees.
9. The exercise machine of claim 1 wherein the angle between said
extension vectors, is greater than the angle between said axes of
rotation.
10. The exercise machine of claim 1 wherein said first arm can move
independently to said second arm.
11. The exercise machine of claim 1 wherein said exercise machine
is used to exercise a human being's upper torso.
12. An exercise machine comprising: a first handle rotatable about
a first axis of rotation, said first handle being moveable along a
first extension vector wherein said first extension vector forms a
first line on a first cone formed about said first axis of rotation
wherein said first line has a first endpoint which is closer to
said first axis of rotation than a second endpoint of said first
line is to said first axis of rotation; and a second handle
rotatable about a second axis of rotation, said second handle being
moveable along a second extension vector wherein said second
extension vector forms a second line on a second cone formed about
said second axis of rotation wherein said second line has a second
endpoint which is closer to said second axis of rotation than a
second endpoint of said second line is to said second axis of
rotation; wherein said first cone and said second cone intersect;
wherein said first axis of rotation and said second axis of
rotation lie in a rotational plane; wherein said first extension
vector and said second extension vector lie in an extension plane;
and wherein said extension plane intersects said rotational
plane.
13. The exercise machine of claim 12 wherein said extension plane
is inclined relative to said rotational plane.
14. The exercise machine of claim 12 wherein said extension plane
is declined relative to said rotational plane.
15. The exercise machine of claim 12 wherein said extension plane
is the same plane as said rotational plane.
16. The exercise machine of claim 12 wherein said rotational plane
and said extension plane intersect at an angle of 45 degrees or
less.
17. The exercise machine of claim 12 wherein said rotational plane
and said extension plane intersect at an angle of 30 degrees or
less.
18. The exercise machine of claim 12 wherein said rotational plane
and said tube plane intersect at an angle of about 20 degrees.
19. The exercise machine of claim 12 wherein said exercise machine
is used to exercise a human being's upper torso.
20. A method of constructing an exercise machine comprising:
supplying a frame; providing a first axis of rotation; providing a
second axis of rotation intersecting said first axis of rotation at
an intersection point; defining a first extension vector along
which a first handle of said exercise machine can extend, said
first extension vector being a line on the surface of a first cone,
said first cone having said first axis of rotation as its axis, and
said first line having an endpoint closer to said first axis of
rotation than any other point on said first line; defining a second
extension vector along which a second handle of said exercise
machine can extend, said second extension being a line on the
surface of a second cone, said second cone having said second axis
of rotation as its axis, and said second line having an endpoint
closer to said second axis of rotation than any other point on said
second line; defining an extension plane including said first
extension vector and said second extension vector; defining a
rotational plane including said first axis of rotation and said
second axis of rotation; assembling said exercise machine by:
aligning said extension plane to be non-parallel to said rotational
plane; connecting said first handle to a first arm and said first
arm to said frame such that said first arm and said first handle
rotate about said first axis of rotation; and connecting said
second handle to a second arm and said second arm to said frame
such that said second arm and said second handle rotate about said
second axis of rotation.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This disclosure relates to the field of exercise machines.
In particular, to exercise machines designed to perform multiple
upper torso press-type strength exercises.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Over recent years, as physical fitness has become an ever
more popular pursuit, there have evolved a plurality of exercise
machines upon which exercises can be performed by a user. One type
of exercise machine is the strength machine which is designed to
improve muscle strength and tone by having the user utilize certain
muscle groups to pull, push or otherwise perform work on some type
of resistance mechanism built into the machine.
[0005] As the nature of exercise has become more fully understood,
different types of exercise machines have been developed to provide
for more effective training. Originally, strength training was
performed by the lifting of free-weights. While simple to
understand and operate, free-weights had inherent dangers in their
use, and, although conceptually simple, were often hard to use
correctly without trained instruction. In order to get the best
toning or shaping results out of particular exercises, it is
desirable that muscle groups be isolated so that the intended
muscle group is exercised by the exercise, as opposed to exercising
an unintended muscle group. With free-weights it was often not
possible to perform exercises that isolated the intended muscle
groups, and even if it was possible, it was often difficult to know
how to perform the exercises correctly without specific
instruction. As strength machines have evolved, they have tried to
increase both the safety of performing different exercises, and the
effectiveness of the exercise to isolate different muscle
groups.
[0006] To most effectively isolate and exercise particular muscle
groups, it is desirable that the exercise machine be arranged so
that the user is limited in their range of motion to that which
effectively performs the desired exercise on the desired muscle
groups. This is generally performed by the selection and
arrangement of two components of the machine. Firstly, there is a
bench, seat or other structure which supports the user's body. For
some exercises, this may be as simple as the floor upon which the
machine rests, while for others adjustable benches may be provided
to position portions of the user's body to appropriate pieces of
the exercise machine. This component helps to get the user in a
comfortable position where they can operate the moving portions of
the machine, and place them in a position relative to the moving
parts of the machine so that they manipulate those parts to perform
the exercise.
[0007] The other component is the moving portion of the machine and
is generally in the form of "arms" or other objects which are
arranged in a manner to be engaged by the user at a certain point
(such as a grip or handle), and then be moved by the user in a
manner such that the grip follows a predetermined path and the
motion of the grip is resisted by the machine. When the two
components of the machine are used together correctly, the user is
therefore positioned in such a manner that when the grip is moved
by the user in the predetermined path, and the particular muscle
group to be exercised is utilized to move the grip in that path.
This results in the user both isolating a muscle group and
performing the exercise motion safely.
[0008] The difficulty with the design of strength machines,
however, is that they generally need to be both flexible to perform
many exercises, and limited to force a user to perform an exercise
correctly. Specifically, different types of exercise can have
preferential ranges of motion of the grips or handles. With
free-weights, the user can freely position the weights relative to
their body, allowing them to perform numerous exercises, but at the
same time, the user is not forced to perform any of these exercises
correctly because the weights can be freely maneuvered. Strength
machines on the other hand can often be designed to force a
particular motion from the user, but this both limits the number of
exercises which can be performed on the machine, and can force
compromises in the preferred motion of an exercise to allow the
exercise to be performed on the machine. This is particularly true
when space for exercise machines is limited, such as for most
individuals in their homes, and even for the majority of gyms or
workout facilities.
[0009] Many strength machines, therefore, have had to settle for
imperfect range of motion for some or all of the exercises they are
intended to be used for in order to be able to incorporate the
exercises into a single apparatus. In particular, upper torso
press-type machines have generally been forced to have a limited
and static range of motion for multiple exercises. Generally, the
upper torso press type exercises included the chest (bench) press,
the lateral (incline) press, and/or the shoulder press. To position
the user for these types of exercises, the machine needs to, in
some manner, compensate for the dimensions of the human body being
different depending on the direction it is positioned.
Specifically, a user is almost always taller than he or she is
wide. Machines will generally adjust to compensate for the altered
positioning of the user's body between the different exercises (as
it is generally easiest to adjust the user and grip relative to
each other to position the user for performing a new exercise).
Further, for press exercises, a converging path of the hands (where
the hands begin separated and move together as they are moved from
the body) is preferable to a non-converging path. Typically, this
general type of path is performed using a converging path machine.
While these machines are adjustable, the relative range of motion
between different exercises is generally constant.
[0010] While current converging path machines adjust to perform the
different exercises, they maintain the same range of motion for the
different exercises. Basically, the handles or grips are simply
moved to a new position where they are then moved by the user in
the same manner as they were for the previous exercise. As it is
preferable for different exercises to be performed with different
ranges of motion to compensate for the shape of the human body, it
is therefore desired in the art to have a strength machine which
allows for the adjustment of the range of motion available to the
user such that the motion of the user is confined to a particular
range of motion for any single exercise, but the range of motion is
different for different exercises.
SUMMARY
[0011] Because of these and other previously unknown problems in
the art, disclosed herein is an exercise machine, components of an
exercise machine, and methods related to building an exercise
machine that allow for the performance of multiple different upper
torso strength exercises, where the range of motion of a user
utilizing the machine during the performance of an exercise is
confined in the performance of a particular upper torso press
exercise, but is altered to a different range of motion, and
confined to that new range of motion, when the machine is
configured to perform a new exercise.
[0012] Described herein, in an embodiment, is an exercise machine
comprising: a first arm being rotatable about a first axis of
rotation by applying force to a first handle connected to the first
arm; and a second arm being rotatable about a second axis of
rotation by applying force to a second handle connected to the
second arm; wherein the first axis of rotation and the second axis
of rotation are non-parallel and lie in a rotational plane; wherein
the first handle is moveable along a first extension vector; and
wherein the second handle is moveable along a second extension
vector, the first extension vector and the second extension vector
lying in an extension plane and being non-parallel to each other
and to both the first and the second axis of rotation.
[0013] In an embodiment of the exercise machine, the extension
plane is non-parallel with the rotational plane, the extension
plane is inclined relative to the rotational plane, the extension
plane is declined relative to the rotational plane, the extension
plane is parallel to the rotational plane, the rotational plane and
the extension plane intersect at an angle of 45 degrees or less,
the rotational plane and the extension plane intersect at an angle
of 30 degrees or less, the rotational plane and the extension plane
intersect at an angle of about 20 degrees, and/or the angle between
the extension vectors is greater than the angle between the axes of
rotation.
[0014] In another embodiment of the exercise machine, the first arm
can move independently to the second arm and/or the exercise
machine is used to exercise a human being's upper torso.
[0015] In still another embodiment, there is disclosed herein, An
exercise machine comprising: a first handle rotatable about a first
axis of rotation, said first handle being moveable along a first
extension vector wherein said first extension vector forms a first
line on a first cone formed about said first axis of rotation
wherein said first line has a first endpoint which is closer to
said first axis of rotation than a second endpoint of said first
line is to said first axis of rotation; and a second handle
rotatable about a second axis of rotation, said second handle being
moveable along a second extension vector wherein said second
extension vector forms a second line on a second cone formed about
said second axis of rotation wherein said second line has a second
endpoint which is closer to said second axis of rotation than a
second endpoint of said second line is to said second axis of
rotation; wherein said first cone and said second cone intersect;
wherein said first axis of rotation and said second axis of
rotation lie in a rotational plane; wherein said first extension
vector and said second extension vector lie in an extension plane;
and wherein said extension plane intersects said rotational
plane.
[0016] In yet another embodiment of the exercise machine, the
extension plane is inclined relative to the rotational plane, the
extension plane is declined relative to the rotational plane, the
extension plane is the same plane as the rotational plane, and/or
the exercise machine is used to exercise a human being's upper
torso.
[0017] In a still further embodiment, there is described herein, A
method of constructing an exercise machine comprising: supplying a
frame; providing a first axis of rotation; providing a second axis
of rotation intersecting said first axis of rotation at an
intersection point; defining a first extension vector along which a
first handle of said exercise machine can extend, said first
extension vector being a line on the surface of a first cone, said
first cone having said first axis of rotation as its axis, and said
first line having an endpoint closer to said first axis of rotation
than any other point on said first line; defining a second
extension vector along which a second handle of said exercise
machine can extend, said second extension being a line on the
surface of a second cone, said second cone having said second axis
of rotation as its axis, and said second line having an endpoint
closer to said second axis of rotation than any other point on said
second line; defining an extension plane including said first
extension vector and said second extension vector; defining a
rotational plane including said first axis of rotation and said
second axis of rotation; assembling said exercise machine by:
aligning said extension plane to be non-parallel to said rotational
plane; connecting said first handle to a first arm and said first
arm to, said frame such that said first arm and said first handle
rotate about said first axis of rotation; and connecting said
second handle to a second arm and said second arm to said frame
such that said second arm and said second handle rotate about said
second axis of rotation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0018] FIG. 1 depicts an embodiment of a perspective view of an
exercise machine incorporating an embodiment of arms allowing for
adjustable range of motion. The exercise machine is set up to
perform a lateral press exercise.
[0019] FIG. 2 depicts a side view of the exercise machine of FIG.
1.
[0020] FIG. 3 depicts a top view of the exercise machine of FIG.
1.
[0021] FIG. 4 depicts a front view of the exercise machine of FIG.
1
[0022] FIG. 5 depicts a perspective view of the exercise machine of
FIG. 1 set up to perform a chest (bench) press exercise.
[0023] FIG. 6 depicts a perspective view of the exercise machine of
FIG. 1 set up to perform a shoulder press exercise.
[0024] FIG. 7 depicts the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 6 in a
front view, with the upper portion of the arms shown in the
position where they are placed for a lateral press with the
positions for a chest press and a shoulder press shown in dashed
line. The extension vectors are also shown.
[0025] FIG. 8 depicts the resistance frame of the embodiment of
FIGS. 1 through 6 in a side view, with the upper portion of the
arms shown in the position where they are placed for a lateral
press, with the positions for a chest press and a shoulder press
shown in dashed line. The axes of rotation and extension vectors
are also shown.
[0026] FIG. 9 depicts the resistance frame of the embodiment of
FIGS. 1 through 6 in a top view, with the upper portion of the arms
shown in the position where they are placed for a lateral press,
with the positions for a chest press and a shoulder press shown in
dashed line. The axes of rotation and extension vectors are also
shown.
[0027] FIGS. 10A, B, C and D depict various views of an embodiment
of a lower arm for allowing adjustable relative range of converging
motion.
[0028] FIGS. 11A, B, C, D, E and F depict various views of an
embodiment of an upper arm for allowing adjustable relative range
of converging motion.
[0029] FIG. 12 depicts the embodiment of the resistance frame shown
on FIGS. 1 through 6 in a perspective view, with the left arm in
the raised position, and the right arm in the lowered position.
[0030] FIG. 13 shows an alternative embodiment of an exercise
machine incorporating an embodiment of arms allowing adjustable
relative range of motion set up to perform a lateral press
exercise. The axes of rotation and extension vectors are again
drawn in for reference.
[0031] FIG. 14 shows an alternative embodiment of an exercise
machine incorporating an embodiment of arms allowing adjustable
relative range of motion set up to perform a shoulder press
exercise. The axes of rotation and extension vectors are again
drawn in for reference.
[0032] FIGS. 15A, B, and C illustrate the different ranges of
motion for different exercises as viewed from the back. FIG. 15D
illustrates the different ranges of motion of FIGS. 15A, B, and C
in an overlapping depiction. FIG. 15E shows an embodiment of the
motions of FIG. 15D in a three-dimensional view.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
[0033] Although the exercise machines, arms, systems, and methods
described below are discussed primarily in terms of their
application to a particular layout of exercise machine(s), one of
ordinary skill in the art would recognize that what is described
herein could be used in a plurality of different exercise machines
of different layouts designed to have certain desired footprints
and space considerations. These can include, but are not limited
to, home and commercial exercise machines of all price ranges.
Also, while the exercise machines are primarily discussed as
performing arm press-type exercises (such as the chest press,
incline press, and shoulder press), they could be readily adapted
for use with other types of press exercises, other types of
exercises (such as, but not limited to, pull exercises), or
exercises involving other portions of the body (such as, but not
limited to, the legs). Further, additional components, to provide
for additional exercises could be added to any of the machines
discussed herein that either use the same mechanical arms, or use
different mechanisms for providing another exercise on the same
frame. Therefore, the below described preferred embodiments should
not be used to limit the scope of the disclosed invention.
[0034] The advent of the strength machine has made the positioning
of the body for weightlifting easier as it is no longer required
that the user always "lift" weights (e.g. move in a direction
opposing the Earth's gravitational field-to get resistance) but can
now push or pull on a handle in any direction. This push or pull
motion is then mechanically translated to the "lifting" or other
resistance. Many exercises are still traditionally performed on a
strength machine with the user pushing in a direction away from the
surface upon which the machine rests, as is discussed in
conjunction with an embodiment disclosed herein, but one of
ordinary skill in the art would understand that strength machines
can have multiple different layouts to perform similar exercises.
What matters is that the user's position relative to the range of
motion that the machine will provide while the exercise is
performed be predetermined for that particular exercise. Therefore,
the concepts related to adjusting the range of motion between
different exercises as discussed herein could readily be adapted to
machines of different types based on the below disclosed
embodiments. In particular, while the discussion herein presumes
the handles move generally vertically, the invention encompasses
handles moving in any direction, so long as the range of motion
relative to the user is as discussed.
[0035] During this discussion, there will be numerous references to
a machine's "range of motion." Generally, this term will be used to
refer to the available motion that can be traversed by the portion
of the machine the user is intended to grasp or otherwise
manipulate to perform the exercise (these will generally be
"handles") when the machine is configured for performance of that
exercise. The machine's range of motion therefore is interrelated
to the motions the hands (in the case of a torso press exercise) or
other portion of the body when the user is using the machine. In
most strength machines, the machine is designed so that the
mechanisms can only move such that the user is forced to move the
portion of the machine they interact with in a prescribed way (a
particular path of motion) to move the mechanisms at all. In this
way, the available range of motion of the machine attempts to
dictate that the user perform the exercise correctly.
[0036] In the broadest sense, a strength machine, such as exercise
machine (10), includes four components. There is some form of
resistance which the user will work against, there is a place where
the user is placed to interact with the machine, there is a
mechanism for transferring the work of the user to the resistance,
and there is a frame to support the structure. These general
components are described in greater detail with regards to FIGS. 1
through 6.
[0037] Within these general constraints it will be recognized that
there are a large number of strength machine designs and the
machines described herein represent only a couple of embodiments of
the invention. In an embodiment, some or all of the frame may be
shared by other mechanisms for transferring work from the user to
the resistance mechanisms, resistance mechanisms may be shared by
mechanisms for transferring work, and the place for the user to
interact with the machine may be moveable between different
mechanisms for transferring work, or may be positionable to access
different mechanisms. Further, mechanisms may be adjustable to
accommodate users of different size, shape, or ability.
[0038] FIGS. 1 through 6 show various different views of an
exercise machine (10). The exercise machine (10) is primarily for
use in performing exercises to strengthen and/or tone the muscles
of the torso and/or arms. Generally, the exercise machine (10)
comprises a frame (50) which is generally manufactured of steel,
aluminum, carbon fiber, or other strong and rigid construction
materials. In particular, the frame (50) is generally made of
hollow tubes composed of these materials. For the purposes of this
disclosure, it should be recognized that a tube can have any shape
as a cross-section and can be either hollow or solid. Therefore the
term "tubes" as used herein should be considered to include any
solid or hollow structure having any cross-sectional shape. In a
preferred embodiment, the tubes are hollow and have a cross-section
generally in the shape of a race track. The frame (50) is generally
comprised of two major sections. The first section is the
resistance frame (105) which provides for most of the apparatus
used to provide the resistance for the exercise and the moving
components of the exercise machine (10). The second portion is the
bench frame (107) which may be separable from the resistance frame
(105) as is the case in the depicted embodiment. The bench frame
(107), in the depicted embodiment, generally includes the
components of the exercise machine (10) for holding or supporting
the user to perform the exercise.
[0039] Resistance frame (105) comprises a first base member (101)
which serves as the primary support for the remaining components
and rests upon a surface where the exercise machine (10) is to be
placed. In the depicted embodiment, first base member (101) is
generally T-shaped to provide for a stable base, however other
shapes of the first base member (101) could be used as would be
understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. Attached to first
base member (101) is an upright portion of frame (50). The upright
portion and first base member (101) generally define the overall
shape of the resistance frame (105).
[0040] Resistance frame (105) generally includes the weights (151)
or other resistance object(s) for providing resistance to the
user's movement so that the movement requires work and results in
exercise. Resistance is created by weights (151) being lifted in an
upward direction forcing the movement of the mass of the weights
(151) against the force of a gravitational field (e.g. as shown in
FIG. 12). As would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the
art, the lifting of weights (151) is not the only way to create
work and other resistance object(s) could be used instead of or in
addition to weights (151). These include, but are not limited to,
flexible tubes or other shapes where work is used to bend,
pneumatic or hydraulic pistons where work is used to extend or
contract, elastic or rubber devices where work is used to extend,
or any combination of resistance objects. Weight support bars (153)
are provided which run through holes in the weights (151). As
weight support bars (153) are generally perpendicular to the base
(101), when the weights (151) are lifted, they are forced to be
lifted in a generally linear manner, and are not allowed to swing
which could render the exercise machine (10) unstable.
[0041] Weights (151) are generally lifted through an application of
force onto the arms (205R) and/or (205L). Arms (205R) and/or (205L)
then move in a prescribed way and transfer the work performed by
the user to the resistance mechanism upon which the work is
performed. The arms (205R) and/or (205L) are generally connected,
via mechanical process, to the weights in a manner where a
predetermined motion of the arms (205R) and/or (205L) is translated
into motion for raising the weights (151). In the depicted
embodiment, the mechanical process comprises the arms (205R) and/or
(205L) pulling a cable or cables (155) (shown in FIG. 2) attached
thereto at cable attachments (255R) and (255L) when the arms are
pushed at handles (403L) and (403R) in a generally upward
direction. The cables' (155) motion is translated by pulleys (157)
until it is transferred to weights (151) in a lifting motion. One
of ordinary skill in the art would, however, understand that cables
(155) are not necessary and other processes could be used so that
moving arms (205R) and/or (205L) requires the performing of work by
the user. Handles (403L) and (403R) provide the general point of
contact between the arms (205R) and (205L) and the user. The motion
traced by handles (403L) and (403R) is therefore the range of
motion of a particular layout of the machine.
[0042] The second portion of the frame (50) is the bench frame
(107). Bench frame (107) includes a second base member (103). In
the depicted embodiment, the second base member (103) is generally
I-shaped and is designed to interact with first base member (101)
by sliding over the long portion of first base member's (101)
T-shape. The bench frame (107) is generally placed in a position
where the user can reach the handles (403R) and (403L) of the arms
(205R) and (205L) so as to be able to perform the work which
comprises the exercise. In particular, the bench frame (107) is
generally positioned so that a user on the bench (171) can reach
the arms (205R) and/or (205L) comfortably and to place the arms
(205R) and/or (205L) in a predetermined starting point relative to
the user's body for performing the exercise. As a general matter,
this positioning will generally require the handles (403R) and
(403L) to be near the upper portion of the user's torso.
[0043] Attached to bench frame (107) is bench (171) which is
designed to hold the user's body when the user is exercising on the
machine. To provide for the ability to perform different exercises
on the machine, and for the user's comfort when using the machine,
the bench (171) may be adjustable relative to the bench frame
(107). In the depicted embodiment the bench (171) has two portions,
the back portion (173) and the seat portion (175). The back portion
(173) is provided on rotator (177). Rotator (177) is positioned so
that the back portion (173) can be rotated through a plurality of
different positions and angles relative to the second base member
(103). This allows a user on the bench (171) to lie prone (as in
FIG. 5), be seated leaning back (as in FIGS. 1 through 4), or be
seated more upright (as in FIG. 6). Generally, the user will lie or
sit on the bench with their head at the position of the bench (171)
furthest from the seat portion (175) and will lie face up with
their back pressed against back portion (173). (A user seated in
another embodiment of bench (171) is shown in dashed line form in
FIGS. 13 and 14). A user so situated is therefore positioned such
that the different positioning of the bench (171) will allow the
user to perform different exercises.
[0044] Even with the rotator (177) rotating the back portion (173),
additional components may be provided to allow for additional
adjustment of the user's positioning to perform the different
exercises. For instance, the seat portion (175) may be shiftable
horizontally or vertically to allow for adjustment of that portion
relative to the frame (50). Alternatively or additionally, the seat
portion (175) may contain an automatic adjustment mechanism so that
the seat portion (175) maintains its angular alignment relative to
horizontal while the back portion's (173) angle is being adjusted.
In another embodiment, the angle of seat portion (175) relative to
back portion (173) can be altered with the back portion (173) in
any position. This type of adjustment allows users of different
builds to adjust the seat so that the desired exercise can be
performed. For instance, a larger user may need more space under
the handles (403R) and (403L) than a smaller user.
[0045] The position of the bench (171) will preferably be lockable
so that when the bench (171) is placed in a particular position, it
can be held there rigidly until the user wishes it to move. This
type of locking may be performed through a plurality of methods, as
would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. These can
include, but are not limited to a spring pin, clip or other locking
pin-type mechanism attached to or engaging with the bench frame
(107) and engaging one or more of a plurality of holes (179) in the
rotator (177). The holes (179) may correspond to predetermined
positions for particular exercises. In this way, the user can move
the bench (171) to a predetermined position, lock it into place,
and have a bench (171) positioned for a user to perform a
particular exercise. One of ordinary skill in the art would
recognize that bench (171) need not be a structure of the machine,
but could be a structure used as a bench when operating the
machine. For instance, in an embodiment, the floor of a room could
be a "bench."
[0046] FIGS. 13 and 14 show a user positioned as they would be for
performing an exercise in an alternative embodiment of an exercise
machine (70). The user here is at the resting stage (or the
position with the arms lowered and the user not currently
performing any work). To perform the exercise, the user would push
generally away from their body. As the user did so, the user would
exert a force on arms (205R) and/or (205L) which would result in a
performance of work to raise some number of weights (751). From the
raised position, the user then has to exert a force to lower the
arms (205R) and/or (205L) in a controlled manner (the user could
simply release the handles (403R) and/or (403L) or relax the
muscles in their arm(s) but that would be undesirable from an
exercise standpoint and potentially dangerous). Once lowered, a
single repetition of the exercise has been completed and the user
can repeat this motion as many times as desired.
[0047] Different exercises relate to different muscles exercised
and therefore relate to the relative positioning of the user
relative to the allowed range of motion of the handles (403R) and
(403L). In particular, a chest (bench) press will generally be
performed with the user prone (with the bench positioned as in FIG.
5), an incline press with the user leaning back (with the bench
positioned as in FIGS. 1 through 4), and a shoulder press with the
user seated more upright (with the bench positioned as in FIG. 6).
These positions are chosen because the general motion of handles
(403R) and (403L) in FIGS. 1-12 is generally upward, slightly back,
and converging relative to the plane of second base member (103).
In the embodiment of FIGS. 13 and 14 the user's positioning is
slightly different because the general direction of the handles'
range of motion is slightly different, but the relative positioning
of the user's torso to the machine's motion is generally the
same.
[0048] To be more specific, in a chest press, the user will
generally push straight out from the chest with the hands generally
beginning close to the front of the torso and moving outward from
the torso in a motion directed slightly towards the head from the
perpendicular to the plane of the torso. In an incline press the
user will generally start with the hands at the upper portion of
the torso (around the collar bone) and be pushed at an angle
relative to the plane of the torso and towards the head. In a
shoulder press, the hands will generally start at or around the
shoulders, and be pushed in a direction generally parallel to the
plane of the torso and over the head. This motion is generally the
same regardless of the actual position of the user (e.g. laying
down vs. sitting upright). For clarity, a user will be described as
moving "upward" when they move their body from performing a chest
press to a lateral press and then to shoulder press. This
definition is purely for clarification and like all definitions
herein should not be used to limit the scope of a term as would be
understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.
[0049] The adjustment of the bench (171) allows for a general
positioning of the user relative to the handles (403R) and (403L)
in a manner that generally positions the user's body to perform the
different exercises. In particular; changing the position of the
bench changes the user's shoulder's position relative to the range
of motion of the handles so that the user is generally pushing in
the desired direction. However, the interrelationship of the user's
body to the positioning of the handles (403R) and (403L) involves
numerous variables. FIGS. 15A through 15D provide an indication of
the ranges of motion and the changes in the range of motion
preferred between the different exercises.
[0050] Research has shown that for a chest press it is best if the
hands begin the exercise in front of and below the shoulders. For a
lateral press, the hands are moved slightly further apart and
higher on the chest. For a shoulder press exercise, it is preferred
if the hands begin at a position out from the shoulders (e.g. the
hands are beside to the outside and slightly in front of the
shoulders). Further, it is preferable in these exercises if the
user's hands are raised to a converging point centered above the
user when the user has fully extended. Therefore, it is desirable
that the starting positions of the handles (403R) and (403L) be
wider horizontally as the user moves to a more upright position. At
the same time, with regard to the motion of the hands, it is also
desirable that the convergent point of the hands be closer to the
user in a chest press exercise than in an incline press exercise
which is in turn closer than in a shoulder press exercise, so that
the user can extend an increasing distance with each respective
exercise. Further, it is also preferable that the arc length
available to the user in a shoulder press be greater than in an
incline press which is in turn greater than that available in a
chest press. These increases are preferable as going from a chest
press, to a lateral press, to a shoulder press, the user generally
has greater available motion as their shoulders can provide for
additional movement on top of the extension of their arms (in
particular the rotation of the shoulder provides for a larger range
of motion). To put this another way, the range of motion for a
first exercise can be a first predetermined value, while the range
of motion for a second exercise can be a second predetermined value
different from the first and so on for any number of exercises. As
the handles (403L) and (403R) are preferably intended to trace the
preferred path of the hands, they would therefore trace a similar
pattern.
[0051] In order to understand what the desired motion of each
exercise looks like, FIGS. 15A-D provide various abstract
representations of motion as viewed from the back or as if one was
looking towards the handles from the weights (151) in the
embodiment of FIG. 1 (looking down from behind or on top of the
user's head or placing the line of the user's shoulders parallel to
the plane of the page of the figure). These FIGS. are not intended
to be to scale. FIG. 15A shows the motion of a chest press. The
dashed circles represent circular paths which could be traveled by
each hand if allowed to freely move. The solid portions of the arc
represent the portions actually traveled. In particular, at the
convergent point of the solid arcs, the handles have been raised by
the user to the apex of the exercise and are now touching (or close
to touching), the handles are at the bottom of FIG. 15A when the
exercise is just being begun. That is the start of the exercise.
This starting point will generally be defined by the machine and
will usually be the resting state of the machine. In the embodiment
of FIG. 1, the resting state is generally obtained because weights
(151) are stacked on base member (101) and are therefore in a
steady state. Further, arms (205R) and/or (205L) may be held in the
start point by plates or other objects that would prevent their
motion beyond the start point. While FIG. 15A shows the hands
traversing a circular path to get the desired convergent motion,
one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that each arc
could actually be linear or of any other arc shape including but
not limited to, hyperbolic arcs, parabolic arcs, or elliptical
arcs; in the linear case, the solid arc portion essentially forms
two sides of a triangle. Such arrangements comprise other
embodiments of the invention and where herein the term "arc" is
used it should be understood that the arc could be linear or of any
arc shape.
[0052] FIG. 15A provides for various references as to its size and
shape. In particular, the starting points of the handles (403R) and
(403L) are separated by a first separation (913). First separation
(913) will generally correspond to a distance generally equal to
about the width of the user's torso in the preferred case. First
separation (913) is generally chosen so that most users utilizing
the machine (10) will be able to comfortably reach handles (403R)
and (403L) when their hands are positioned in front of their torso.
Further, the converging point of the handles (the apex of the
exercise) is at a first height (903) this height will generally be
chosen so that the user comfortably extends their arms to the first
height (903) when they extend their arms from their torso in a
chest press exercise. The height (903) will therefore often
correspond to the approximate length of the user's arms. FIG. 15A
also includes two arc lengths (923R) and (923L) which correspond to
the length of the arcs traversed by the handles (403R) and (403L)
respectively. Mathematics would show that the interrelationship of
the arc lengths (923R) and (923L), the first separation (913), and
the first height (903) are dependent on the radius of the circles
used and the first distance (973) of the axes (933L) and (933R) of
the arcs from each other. In this case, as each hand follows an
essentially mirrored motion, the circles are both the same and
therefore each have a radius equal to R.sub.1.
[0053] FIG. 15B provides a similar diagram to FIG. 15A but now
looks at the exercise motion that is used for a lateral press. The
reader should recognize that there are various changes in the
preferable motion of the handles as the user moves from a chest
press to a lateral press. In particular, as the hands move more
upward toward the shoulder, they generally move slightly further
apart. Therefore, in the starting position, the separation between
the handles (403R) and (403L) should be slightly larger than for a
chest press. Therefore the second separation (915) is shown
slightly larger than the first separation (913). Further, at the
angled position of a lateral press, the shoulders are able to
provide some translation as the arms are extended. The second
height (905), therefore, is also preferably slightly greater than
the first height (903) as the shoulders are providing for
additional height. Similarly the second arc lengths (925R) and
(925L) are preferably slightly larger than first are lengths (923R)
and (923L) to accommodate the additional range of motion available
to the user through the rotation of their shoulder. The circles of
FIG. 15B achieve the above changes through a selection of
differences. In particular, radiuses R.sub.2 of each circle are
larger than the radiuses R.sub.1 and the axes of rotation (935R)
and (935L) have also been separated by a larger second distance
(975). One of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that the
starting point of the handles in FIG. 15B is also moved vertically
"up" the circles from FIG. 15A. This motion accommodates the
physical repositioning of the user's body between the two
exercises. One of the ordinary skill in the art would understand,
however, that in alternative environments, the same amount or more
of a larger arc could be used. In FIGS. 15A and 15B changes between
positions are exaggerated for clarity and to show concepts.
Therefore, the exact magnitude of changes depicted is not
necessary.
[0054] FIG. 15C provides the exercise motion that is used for a
shoulder press. The change from FIG. 15B to FIG. 15C is generally
similar to the change from FIG. 15A to FIG. 15B. Again, as the
hands continue to move upward toward the shoulder, they generally
move still further apart. Therefore, in the starting position, the
distance between the handles (403R) and (403L) preferably increases
in a shoulder press compared to a lateral press. Therefore the
third separation (917) is slightly larger than the second
separation (915). Also, at the steeper angled position of a
shoulder press, the shoulders are able to provide still more
rotation making third height (907) preferably greater than second
height (905). Similarly, the third arc lengths (927R) and (927L)
also are preferably larger than second arc lengths (925R) and
(925L) to accommodate the additional range of motion available to
the user through the increased translation of their shoulder. As in
the difference from FIG. 15A to FIG. 15B, the circles drawn by FIG.
15C therefore have radiuses R.sub.3 which are greater than R.sub.2
and the axes of rotation (937R) and (937L) are separated by the
larger third distance (977). The dimensions are again exaggerated
to show concept.
[0055] As should be apparent from FIGS. 15A, 15B, and FIG. 15C, the
radius R.sub.3 is greater than the radius R.sub.2 which is in turn
greater than the radius R.sub.1 and the axes of rotation (933R) and
(933L) are separated by a first distance (973) which is less than
the second distance (975) separating axes of rotation (935R) and
(935L) which is in turn less than the third distance (977)
separating axes of rotation (937R) and (937L). By increasing the
radius of the available arcs, the arc length is increased between
exercises. In particular, in a shoulder press, the handles travel a
smaller portion of a larger circle than in the incline press, which
in turn has a similar relationship to the circles of a chest press.
This allows for an increasing arc length, that is still easily
controlled and deals with changes of the user's body position in
space.
[0056] The FIGS. 15A, 15B, and 15C show an abstract interpretation
of possible motion for each exercise. However, as has been
discussed previously, when the user adjusts relative to the
direction that the arms (205R) and (205L) move, the user's
shoulders may also move relative to the position of the machine
(10) and particularly move the desired starting point of the
exercise in three-space. To allow the user to grasp and manipulate
the handles (403R) and (403L) when the bench (171) is adjusted for
the different exercises, the arms (205R) and (205L) are preferably
adjustable. Specifically, the arms (205R) and (205L) need to be
able to extend longitudinally to reach the user's chest as it moves
upward when moving between the different exercises (moving from
FIG. 5 to FIG. 1 to FIG. 6). In particular, as is clear from FIGS.
1, 5, and 6, as the user switches from a prone to an angled to a
more upright position, the position of the upper portion of the
user's torso moves both horizontally away from the resistance frame
(105), and moves vertically higher. The handles (403R) and (403L)
therefore adjust so that they can be extended to be horizontally
extended and vertically higher. This change of position allows the
handles (403R) and (403L) to be placed at the start of each
particular exercise in a position generally in front of the user.
This adjustment is preferably performed simultaneously with the
adjustment of the range of motion shown in FIGS. 15A-C. That is,
the starting points of the handles (403R) and (403L) needs to be
upward and extended while simultaneously maintaining the
relationships of FIGS. 15A-C.
[0057] For the purpose of this discussion, the motion of a handle
when being extended will be described as traversing an "extension
vector." In the preferred embodiment, motion of the handles along
the extension vector is the only motion of the handles selected by
the user at the time of exercise. The extension vector will
therefore need to traverse the starting points of any exercise to
be performed on the machine.
[0058] To help make this discussion clearer, the following
additional definitions will generally be used. There is an
extension vector associated with each arm (403R) and (403L) of the
machine. This extension vector will connect three points of either
arm (403R) and (403L) which will generally be the position of the
hand at the start of the chest press exercise, the start of the
incline press exercise, and the start of the shoulder press
exercise or a subset thereof if fewer exercises are performed on
the machine (or will include these points plus others if additional
exercises are included). Further, the vector will have a direction
associated with moving through the exercises' starting points, in
the order above (although its direction may be reversed). An
embodiment of two extension vectors (750L) and (750R) are shown in
FIGS. 7-9. One of ordinary skill in the art would understand that
the extension vectors (750L) and (750R) are only some possible
extension vectors. In alternative embodiments of exercise machines
the extension vectors can have different magnitudes and
orientations depending on the relative positioning of the handles,
arms, bench or other components.
[0059] The "axis of rotation" defines the line of points that a
handle at any given extension on the extension vector would rotate
about. An embodiment is also shown in FIG. 9 as (305R) and (305L).
Again this axis of rotation is exemplary and in other embodiments
the line could have an alternative direction or magnitude. In still
another embodiment, the axis of rotation could be defined by a
single point and a singular circle thereabout. Finally, an
"exercise arc" relates to the arc traversed by the handle for any
given exercise. That is, it is the world of arcs traversed that
includes the arcs shown in FIGS. 15 A-C. From the above it should
be seen that if the extension vector rotates about the axis of
rotation in the exercise arcs, all the conditions have been met. It
should be recognized that these definitions are done solely for
clarification and should not be interpreted to limit these terms as
they would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.
[0060] Particularly, in the case of a linear arc or in another
embodiment of an arc, the axis of rotation may provide rotation in
a plane other than in the plane of the page shown in FIGS. 15A-15C.
Therefore, in an alternative embodiment the axis of rotation may be
arranged so that there does not appear to be any rotational
movement relative to the plane of FIGS. 15A-15C or is different
rotational movement relative to the plane, but there is rotational
movement in an alternative plane.
[0061] FIGS: 15D-E show the three arcs of FIGS. 15A-C together to
represent an exemplary relationship between them. In addition, the
figures show a relationship between exemplary extension vectors,
user's position and axes of rotation which provides for the desired
exercise arc. The interrelationship of FIGS. 15D-E are not intended
to be limiting, but are chosen to show how one embodiment of the
invention can work. In alternative embodiments, non-overlapping
conical shapes for movement could alternatively be used as could
overlapping or non-overlapping circular, elliptical, parabolic,
hyperbolic, or other arcs. The exemplary motion of FIGS. 15D-E,
therefore, is intended to merely show one example of the
interrelationship of the axes of rotation and the extension
vectors.
[0062] The third dimension of FIG. 15D is directly into the page.
Therefore, in FIG. 15D the arc from FIG. 15B is deeper in the page
than the arc from FIG. 15A, and the arc from FIG. 15C is deeper
still. Further, FIG. 15D helps to clarify what is meant by a
smaller portion of a larger circle in the previous discussion. In
FIG. 15D, the arcs for the chest press include about a quarter of
the available circle, for a lateral press, the amount is
increasingly less than a quarter of a circle, and for a shoulder
press is significantly less than a quarter of the available circle.
However each circle's radius has increased. Presuming a sufficient
increase, the available arc length is therefore increased. As
should be clear from FIGS. 6-8 and the prior discussion, when the
user changes between exercises, the position that the handles
(403R) and (403L) at their starting point adjusts to accommodate
the moving position of the user's shoulders. In particular, as is
clear in FIG. 8, as the user switches between exercises, the
handles (403L) and (403R) will need to move both upward and extend
relative to the frame of the machine. This corresponds to the
forward and upward movement of the users shoulders when they are on
bench (171) and changing between the associated exercises. FIG. 15D
therefore adjusts the exercise arcs into the page and "upward"
relative to each other. It should be recognized that the use of
"upward" here is arbitrary and it corresponds to the upward motion
of the user. In particular, if FIG. 15D is rotated 90 degrees the
arcs are still moved "upward," as nothing has changed. Further, in
other embodiments the position of the user's shoulders between
exercises may have a different relative relationship. For these
embodiments, the interrelationship of FIGS. 15A-C may be different
from that shown in FIG. 15D.
[0063] To provide for the interrelated motions of FIG. 15D it is
best to think of a range of motion of the handles in any position.
This is generally shown in FIG. 15E. The extension vector is any
preselected line connecting at least two points on the surface of
the cone and having one endpoint closer to the axis of rotation
than the other endpoint. In an embodiment, the extension vector may
be a trace of the cone (as shown in FIG. 15E), but that is by no
means necessary. Obviously, the handle would not need to traverse
all this line and in most cases will not, but will traverse a
portion of it. For any given position on that line, the handle will
then rotate (on the surface of the cone or inside the surface of
the cone depending on the extension vector's placement) in an
exercise arc about the axis of rotation. The simple one hand case
therefore makes clear that as the handle moves down the extension
vector the radius of the circle generally increases. The two hand
motion is created by having similar cones for each hand which
intersect and have intersecting axes. In particular, the angle
separating the two axes of rotation is preferably less than the
angle formed at the vertex of each cone between the axis of
rotation and the sides of the cone and the angle between the two
extension vectors. This is shown in FIG. 15E. The user
(particularly the user's shoulders) is then placed inside the area
of intersection of the two cones, so as to be able to manipulate
the handles in the prescribed manner. As is also clear from FIGS.
15D-E, there is preferably a relationship between the plane
including the extension vectors (the extension plane) and the plane
including the axes of rotation (the rotational plane). In order to
decrease the amount of the circle traversed when the handle is
traversing a larger circle, the extension plane may be inclined
relative to the rotational plane in an embodiment. Such arrangement
deals with the adjustment of the user between exercises as
previously discussed. Inclined here is used to state that if one
moves on the plane in the general direction of the extension
vector, the distance between the two planes increases. In this way,
the smaller angular portion of the larger available arc is being
utilized. As discussed previously, the difference in the range of
motion can be differently controlled using the same or larger arc
portions in alternative embodiments. In these alternatives, the
extension plane could be parallel (same portion of arc for all
exercises) or declined (increased portion of arc as arc size
increases) relative to the rotational plane. In the depicted
embodiment, however, the extension plane is inclined relative to
the rotational plane as shown in FIGS. 15D-E. The incline angle
(830) is preferably less than 45.degree., still more preferably
less than 30.degree. and most preferably about 20.degree..
[0064] To have the motion of two intersecting cones shown in FIGS.
15D-E for the handles, the following relationships of components of
the exercise machine (10) are preferred. In particular, each arm
(205R) and (205L) has an axis of rotation (305R) ad (305L). Moving
toward where the axes cross the handle position, the axes are
diverging (non-parallel). Further, it is preferred that the
extension vectors be both non-parallel to each other and
non-parallel to both the axes of rotation. It is further preferred
that the extension plane be inclined relative to the
rotation/plane.
[0065] From FIG. 15E the above can be generalized from interrelated
conical motion that the adjustable range of motion can preferably
be obtained by controlling four different variables as the arms
(403R) and (403L) are extended to move to the positions where they
are used for the three different exercises. Firstly, as the arms
(205R) and (205L) extend, the handles preferably move apart from
each other and outward from the associated axis of rotation.
Secondly, the axes of rotation about which the handles rotate are
preferably non-parallel and directed outward in the same manner
with the movement of the handles, but at a shallower angle.
Thirdly, the extension vectors of the handle are preferably
directed forward relative to the user. Finally, the extension plane
is preferably generally inclined relative to the rotational plane.
In alternative embodiments, similar relationships between the
various vectors, planes, and axes may be obtained, even if
resulting motion is not conical in shape.
[0066] The shadow positions of FIGS. 7, 8, and 9 show generally how
in an embodiment of the invention the handles move to obtain
positioning for the different exercises related to that shown in
FIG. 15E. As described, the handles (403R) and (403L) moving apart
and away from the axis of rotation so as to increase the radius of
the circles. This can be accomplished by having the arm form an
angle of between 0.degree. and 90.degree. with the axes of
rotation. Such an arrangement is shown clearly in the view of FIG.
9 where the arms (and the extension vectors) each project outward
by an angle (803) from the axis of rotation for the appropriate
arm. The outward projection is also visible in FIG. 7. Further, by
angling the axis of rotation from the user (basically the bench
(171)) the separation of the radius is accomplished. FIG. 8 shows
that the extension plane is also inclined relative to the
rotational plane by having the extension vector form an angle (830)
with the rotational plane. From these FIGS., it can be seen that
preferably both the axes of rotation and extension vectors are
never parallel, and define the appropriate planes.
[0067] In the alternative embodiment of FIGS. 13 and 14, the
extension vectors and axes of rotation maintain the above
relationships relative to each other, but the relative position of
the machine has been changed making the projection appear to be
more horizontal.
[0068] FIGS. 10 and 11 specifically depict the design of an
embodiment of right arm (205R) shown in the exercise machines of
FIGS. 1 through 9 and 12 through 14 that maintains the
relationships discussed above. However, the right arm (205R)
depicted in FIGS. 10 and 11 is by no means the only shape of arm
which may be used and other shapes of arms may be used which also
maintains the above relationships. Further, it is preferable that
the right arm (205R) and left arm (205L) be arranged in a manner
that they can move independently of each other, but having
interlocked arms where movement of one arm necessitates movement of
the other could also be used.
[0069] The left arm (205L) is essentially a mirror image of the
right arm (205R). It would therefore be understood by one of
ordinary skill in the art about how to adapt the discussion below
and FIGS. 10 and 11 concerning the structure of right arm (205R) to
making left arm (205L). To provide for reference to the components
of the arms, the same reference numbers will be used on the right
arm (205R) as the left arm (205L) while letters will denote the
particular arm being discussed. E.g., (403R) indicates the handle
specifically on the right arm (205R) while (403L) indicates the
handle specifically on the left arm (205L).
[0070] The right arm (205R) is composed of two primary subparts.
The lower arm (301R) which is shown in multiple different views in
FIG. 10 and the upper arm (401R) which is shown in multiple
different views in FIG. 11. The two portions are extensibly engaged
with each other so that the total length of the resultant arm
(205R) may be shortened or lengthened by the user. This provides
for the movement of the handle (403R) to the different points on
the extension vector. Lower arm (301R) includes a pivot point about
which the arm rotates. The pivot point is created by having a pivot
tube (303R) which is allowed to rotate about (or to rotate with) a
smaller inner core (not visible) or other rotational object. The
rotation is relative to a portion of the frame (50) so that there
is a fixed axis of rotation (305R) of the lower arm (301R). As
represented in FIGS. 1 through 9 and 12 through 14 as appropriate,
this axis of rotation (305R) is arranged to project outward from
the position of the user and to be non-parallel with axis
(305L).
[0071] Attached to pivot tube (303R) is lever tube (307R). Lever
tube (307R) is arranged to be generally radially extended from the
axis of rotation (305R) to provide for a lever motion along a
radial of-the axis of rotation (305R). Essentially, the far end
(309R) of the lever tube (307R) can be moved in an arc about the
axis of rotation (305R) and lever tube (307R) acts as a lever
rotating about the axis of rotation (305R). Generally, the primary
axis of the lever tube (307R) will be arranged so as to be at an
angle (304R) with the pivot tube (303R). In the depicted
embodiment, angle (304R) is 90 degrees. Such arrangement is by no
means necessary, however.
[0072] Associated with the lever tube (307R) is cable connection
(255R) which is located toward the far end (309R) of the lever tube
(307R). Cable connection provides for the connection between the
lever tube (307R) and the weights (151) as discussed earlier. The
arrangement of the cable connection (255R) is selected in the
depicted embodiments to allow for the movement of weights (151) a
particular set distance, as can be seen from the FIGS.
(particularly FIG. 12). Because the cable (159) is connected near
the far end (309R) of the lever arm (307R) from the axis of
rotation (305R), for a small arc rotation about the axis of
rotation (305R), there is a significant angular distance moved by
the far end (309R) which is then translated to a significant pulled
distance of the cable (159) and raised distance of the weights
(151).
[0073] The pivot tube (303R) and the lever tube (307R) therefore
comprise the mechanical lifting apparatus for physically raising
the weights. To adjust the resulting position of the handle (403R),
connection tube (311R) is then rigidly attached to the lever tube
(307R). The connection tube (311R) in the depicted embodiment
generally has two portions, the first of these is the adjustment
tube (315R) and the second is the extension tube (317R). The exact
positioning of these two tube portions will depend on the
particular relationship of the axis of rotation (305R) relative to
the user. In particular, the portions are best described by the
function that they perform. The extension tube (317R) preferably
defines, along its major axis, the direction of the extension
vector discussed above (that is the axis of the extension tube
(317R) is parallel to the extension vector as the upper arm (401R)
will extend therefrom and all other connections are preferably
rigid). Therefore the extension tube (317R) is positioned such that
the plane passing through both the left extension tube (317L) and
right extension tube (317R) (the tube plane) is generally parallel
with the extension plane. Further, the extension tube (317R) will
also generally have a major axis projecting upward and forward
relative to the user and outward from the axis of rotation.
[0074] The adjustment tube portion (315R), is used so as to allow
the extension tube (317R) to be attached to the lever tube (307R).
In an embodiment, the adjustment tube (315R) may be unnecessary as
it may be possible to position the extension tube (317R) in the
correct position and have it rigidly attach to the lever tube
(307R) without the need for an adjustment tube (315R). The
adjustment tube (315R) is arranged so as to have its primary axis
at an angle (319R) relative to the axis of rotation (305R) and is
also arranged so as to be generally perpendicular to the primary
axis of the lever tube (307R) in the depicted embodiment. The angle
(319R) will generally be less than 90 degrees and is preferably
around 60 degrees. The angle (313R) between the extension tube
(317R) and the adjustment tube (315R), however, will generally be
greater than 90 degrees. This can help extension tube (317R) to
project outward from the axis of rotation (305R) as is shown in
FIG. 9. In addition, the primary axis of the extension tube (317R)
will generally form an angle (321R) with the primary axis of the
lever tube (307R) as shown in FIG. 10C. The extension tube (317R)
may also include a hole (327R) or other mechanism for use in
locking.
[0075] FIG. 11 provides multiple images of an embodiment of the
upper arm (401R). The upper arm (401R) is comprised of a main tube
(405R) and handle (403R). The main tube (405R) may be bent at an
angle (407R), may include two separate tubes attached together at
angle (407R), or may be a single straight piece depending on the
embodiment. The main tube (405R) may also include holes (427R). In
practice, the main tube (405R) of the upper arm (401R) is generally
designed to be moveably attached to the extension tube (317R) of
the lower arm (301R) and generally provides the linear extension
when the arm (205R) is extended in the direction of the extension
vector. In a preferred embodiment, the main tube (405R) is designed
to slide into the open end (323R) of the extension tube (317R) and
be extensibly engaged thereto. The tubes therefore slideably engage
each other in a linear fashion and the resulting right arm (205R)
can be shortened or lengthened through the engagement of the upper
arm (401K) and lower arm (301R). This slideable engagement is
represented by the shadow positions of FIGS. 7 through 9. Each of
the extension tube (317R) and the main tube (405R) each contain
holes (327R) and (427R) respectively. These holes have been
placed,to go through the outer surface of the tubes. The holes can
also be positioned in a predetermined manner so as to allow for
positioning of the extension tube (317R) and main tube (405R) at
predetermined points relative to each other to create an arm of a
predetermined length. When the upper arm portion (401R) is slid
relative to the lower arm portion (301R), there are certain
relative positions where the holes of both overlap. At these points
a pin or other retaining device (such as but not limited to, a
cotter pin, a spring clip, a screw, or a bolt) can be placed
through the matching sets of holes to retain the two arm portions
(301R) and (401R) in their relative positions. These positions will
then correspond to the predetermined positions of the handle (403R)
to perform particular exercises.
[0076] Also included in upper arm portion (401R) is handle (403R).
In the depicted embodiment handle (403R) is generally "L" shaped or
bent into angle (431R). This is only one of many embodiments of
handle (403R) as handle (403R) can assume virtually any shape.
Handle (403R) is generally gripped by the user in their hand and is
the contact point for the transference of the force generated by
the user to the machine to perform the work to lift the weights
(151). The depicted design of the handle (403R), is preferred
because it allows for a more natural grip for performing the
desired exercises (the grip portion of the handle (403R) runs both
somewhat parallel to the main axis of the bench (171) and
perpendicular to it allowing a selection of different grip points).
Further, the handle (403R) is positioned using angles (409R),
(419R), and (429R) relative to the main tube (405R). These angles
will generally all be greater than 90 degrees to place the handle
(403R) in a generally forward position and angled back into the
bench (171) area so that they can easily be reached by a user on
the bench (171), even as the arm (205R) is projecting outward from
the bench.
[0077] The arms (205R) and (205L) as described in FIGS. 10 and 11
allow for the different positioning of the handles (403R) and
(403L) so they can be grasped to perform the different exercises,
and to change the range of motion of the handles (403R) and (403L)
while still keeping the handles' (403R) and (403L) motion within
desirable positioning for the different exercises as discussed
above.
[0078] For reference, FIG. 12 shows an embodiment of the arms of
FIGS. 10 and 11 with one arm raised and the other arm lowered, one
can see how the motion of the handles (403R) and (403L) would
generally correspond to that indicated by the motion in FIG. 15 by
comparing the starting and finishing positions as shown.
[0079] FIGS. 13 and 14 show the use of the arms (205R) and (205L)
on an alternative exercise machine (70). Exercise machine (70) is a
commercial machine where multiple exercises can be performed using
only a single collection of weights (751). In this case, the axes
of rotation (705R) and (705L) (not visible) has been moved so as to
project toward the surface of the Earth (as opposed to the
projection away from the surface of the Earth shown in the other
depicted embodiment), and have been moved so as to rotate at a
vertically higher point on the frame (57). The arms (205R) and
(205L), however, still are of the same shape and construction as
described in conjunction with FIGS. 10 and 11. Further, the
extension plane is still inclined relative to the rotational plane
and the relative range of motion is maintained for the various
different exercises. The extension vectors (703R) and (703L) (not
visible) project outward from the bench (771) and outward from the
axes of rotation (705R) and (705L) (not visible). In this
embodiment, the frame (57) prevents the bench (771) and from lying
flat for performing a chest press exercise. However, the principles
of the machine's motion are similar as to those in the embodiment
depicted in FIGS. 1 through 9 and 12 and the relationships are
still maintained. The alteration of the absolute direction of
rotation therefore has not affected the interrelationship discussed
herein.
[0080] While the invention has been disclosed in connection with
certain preferred embodiments, this should not be taken as a
limitation to all of the provided details. Modifications and
variations of the described embodiments may be made without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and other
embodiments should be understood to be encompassed in the present
disclosure as would be understood by those of ordinary skill in the
art.
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