U.S. patent application number 11/132501 was filed with the patent office on 2006-11-23 for multi-press exerciser.
Invention is credited to Theodore G. Habing.
Application Number | 20060264304 11/132501 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37448973 |
Filed Date | 2006-11-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060264304 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Habing; Theodore G. |
November 23, 2006 |
Multi-press exerciser
Abstract
An upper body exerciser has an exercise arm that may be operated
either by rigid handles fixed on the arm or by handles attached to
the arm by flexible cables. The exerciser comprises a support
frame, an exercise arm assembly pivotally linked to the support
frame operable with at least one rigid handle and at least one
flexible handle assembly, the flexible handle assembly having a
hand grip portion and a flexible connecting portion attached to the
exercise arm. The exercise arm assembly may include means for
adjusting a starting position of the exercise arm. The exerciser
may include an adjustable back rest and may have additional
exercise stations, such as leg extension/leg curl, high pulley, low
pulley and mid pulley.
Inventors: |
Habing; Theodore G.;
(Tustin, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BLAKELY SOKOLOFF TAYLOR & ZAFMAN
12400 WILSHIRE BOULEVARD
SEVENTH FLOOR
LOS ANGELES
CA
90025-1030
US
|
Family ID: |
37448973 |
Appl. No.: |
11/132501 |
Filed: |
May 18, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/98 ;
482/100 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 23/1254 20130101;
A63B 21/4043 20151001; A63B 23/03541 20130101; A63B 23/1263
20130101; A63B 21/0628 20151001; A63B 2225/102 20130101; A63B 23/12
20130101; A63B 2208/0233 20130101; A63B 21/4047 20151001; A63B
23/0494 20130101; A63B 23/1209 20130101; A63B 23/03525 20130101;
A63B 23/03566 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/098 ;
482/100 |
International
Class: |
A63B 21/062 20060101
A63B021/062 |
Claims
1. An exercise apparatus, comprising: a support frame; an exercise
arm assembly pivotally coupled to the support frame, the exercise
arm assembly comprising a starting position adjustment, an exercise
arm with a rigid handle, and at least one flexible handle assembly,
the flexible handle assembly having a hand grip portion and a
flexible connecting portion securing the grip portion to the
exercise arm.
2. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a seat and
an adjustable back support.
3. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the exercise arm
assembly comprises first and second rigid, elongate exercise arms,
and first and second flexible handle assemblies attached to
respective ones of said exercise arms.
4. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the starting position
adjustment comprises an exercise arm adjustment sector pivotally
coupled to the support frame for swinging movement in at least one
fixed arc about a first pivot axis and wherein the exercise arm is
pivotally coupled to the exercise arm adjustment sector for
swinging movement in at least one fixed arc about a second pivot
axis.
5. An exercise apparatus, comprising: a support frame; an exercise
arm assembly pivotally coupled to the support frame for swinging
movement in at least one fixed arc about a first pivot axis and in
at least one fixed arc about a second pivot axis, the exercise arm
assembly having at least one exercise arm and at least one flexible
handle assembly secured to the exercise arm; the handle assembly
having a hand grip portion and a flexible connecting portion
securing the hand grip portion to the exercise arm.
6. The exercise apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a seat and
an adjustable back support.
7. The exercise apparatus of claim 5 further comprising at least
one rigid handle attached to the exercise arm.
8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the exercise arm assembly
comprises first and second rigid exercise arms, and first and
second flexible handle assemblies attached to respective ones of
said exercise arms.
9. The exercise apparatus of claim 8 further comprising first and
second rigid handles attached to respective ones of the exercise
arms.
10. An exercise apparatus comprising: a support frame; a combined
press and pec fly exercise station on the support frame; an
exercise arm assembly operable from the press and pec fly exercise
station, the exercise arm assembly comprising a starting position
adjustment, at least one rigid exercise arm with a rigid handle,
and at least one flexible handle assembly having a grip portion and
a flexible connecting portion securing the grip portion to the
exercise arm such that the flexible handle assembly can be used for
inward pressing and pec fly motion.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a seat and an
adjustable back support.
12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the press and pec
fly exercise station further comprises a row exercise station.
13. An exercise apparatus comprising: a support frame; a combined
press and pec fly exercise station on the support frame; an
exercise arm assembly operable from the press and pec fly exercise
station, the exercise arm assembly comprising a starting position
adjustment, an exercise arm and at least one fixed handle rigidly
fixed to the exercise arm to prevent lateral motion of the fixed
handle; a flexible handle assembly having a grip portion and a
flexible connecting portion securing the grip portion to the
exercise arm such that the grip portion is free to move in both
lateral and vertical directions relative to the exercise arm.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a seat and an
adjustable back support.
15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the press and pec
fly exercise station further comprises a row exercise station from
which the exercise arm is operable with the fixed handle.
16. An exercise apparatus comprising the combination of: an
exercise station having a seat and an adjustable back support; an
exercise arm assembly comprising at least one rigid handle and a
starting position adjustment; a flexible handle assembly having a
grip portion and a flexible connecting portion securing the grip
portion to the exercise arm assembly at a connection point such
that the grip portion has six degrees of freedom of movement about
the connection point.
17. The exercise apparatus of claim 16, wherein the rigid handle on
the exercise arm assembly is operable for standard presses, incline
presses, shoulder presses and row exercises and the flexible handle
assembly is operable for free motion presses, incline presses,
shoulder presses and inward motion fly exercises.
18. A method of exercising wherein an operator adjusts a starting
position of a rigid press arm for press exercises and for row
exercises, and when adjusted for row exercises the user can use
flexible cable handles attached to the press arm for free motion
press and fly exercises.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates generally to the field of exercise
devices. More particularly, the invention relates to an upper body
exerciser with which a variety of press and row exercises may be
performed
[0003] 2. Background
[0004] A myriad of exercise machines have been developed for
exercising the various muscle groups of the body. Machines for
exercising the muscle groups of the upper torso are particularly
popular. Many such machines have a pivoting press arm with which an
operator can perform variations on the traditional bench press
exercise. The handles on a pivoting press arm are constrained to
move in a circular arc, which is not necessarily ideal for all
exercises.
[0005] Other types of exercise machines employ a handle attached to
the end of a flexible line, such as a rope or cable, which, in
turn, is attached to a weight or other form of exercise resistance.
This type of exercise machine allows the operator to control and
define the exercise path. This allows the machine to more readily
accommodate operators of different physiques. Furthermore, since
the operator's hands are not confined to movement along a
predetermined path, exercises involving multiple muscle groups may
be performed.
[0006] Exercise machines combining flexible lines and a pivoting
arm have been proposed. Such machines are shown, for example, in
U.S. Pat. No. 4,902,007 issued to Ferrari and in U.S. Pat. No.
6,561,960 issued to Webber.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention presents an upper body exerciser
having an exercise arm that may be operated either by rigid handles
fixed on the arm or by handles attached to the arm by flexible
cables. The exerciser comprises a support frame, an exercise arm
assembly pivotally linked to the support frame operable with at
least one rigid handle and at least one flexible handle assembly,
the flexible handle assembly having a hand grip portion and a
flexible connecting portion attached to the exercise arm. The
exercise arm assembly may include means for adjusting a starting
position of the exercise arm.
[0008] The fixed handles of the exercise arm are used for standard
bench press, incline press, shoulder press and seated row
exercises. The flexible handle assemblies are used for an inward
motion standard pectoral fly (pec fly) exercise, incline pec fly,
shoulder fly, free motion press, incline press and shoulder press
exercises. The flexible connecting portions of the flexible handle
assemblies are attached proximate the fixed handles, and the grip
portions are stowed on clips on the exercise arm when not in
use.
[0009] Additionally the seat back may be adjustably and/or
pivotally attached to the frame for the press exercises. By
adjusting the seat back out the operator is provided back support
while doing standard incline presses and shoulder presses with the
rigid handles of the exercise arm. For cable presses and fly
exercises, the operator simply adjusts the angle of pressing or fly
movement with the flexible cable and keeps his or her back against
the back rest for back support during these exercises. The
adjustable seat back may be used but is not necessary for back
support using the cable handles.
[0010] The exercise arm with multi position pre-stretch adjustment
and the cable handles in combination with the adjustable back
support provides an additional exercise, the incline press on the
regular press arm (this cannot be done without back support), and
also provides back support to the shoulder press exercises.
[0011] The exerciser may include additional exercise stations, such
as leg extension/leg curl, high pulley, low pulley and mid
pulley.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exerciser in accordance
with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the exerciser configured
for performing a chest press exercise;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the exerciser configured
for performing an incline press exercise;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the exerciser configured
for performing an incline press exercise using flexible handle
assemblies;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the exerciser configured
for performing a fly exercise;
[0017] FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of the exerciser configured
for performing a row exercise.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] In the following description, for purposes of explanation
and not limitation, specific details are set forth in order to
provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However,
it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present
invention may be practiced in other embodiments that depart from
these specific details. In other instances, detailed descriptions
of well-known methods and devices are omitted so as to not obscure
the description of the present invention with unnecessary
detail.
[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exerciser 10 constructed
in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
Exerciser 10 has a support frame 12 comprising an upright column
member 14, a rear support member 16, a front support member 18 and
a seat support 20. The various components of the support frame may
be constructed of steel tubing as is conventional in the field of
exercise machines and may be joined together by welding and/or by
mechanical fasteners, which again is conventional in the field of
exercise machines. Exerciser 10 is provided with a seat 22 and a
cushion 24, the latter serving as a back rest for some exercises
and a chest support for other exercises.
[0020] An exercise arm assembly 30 is pivotally suspended from
support brackets 26 at pivot 28. Exercise arm 32 is connected to
adjustment sector 34 at pivot 36. The exercise arm may be
positioned at any of several predetermined locations along
adjustment sector 34 and secured in place by a spring-loaded pin
assembly of the type commonly used for securing adjustable
assemblies of exercise machines or equivalent securing means.
[0021] Exerciser 10 may include a variety of exercise stations in
addition to exercise arm 30. As shown, exerciser 10 includes a leg
curl/leg extension arm 50 operable from seat 22 in a manner well
understood to those skilled in the art of exercise devices.
Exerciser 10 also includes a high pulley 52 for use in performing
lat pull and other exercises and a low pulley 54 for use in
performing bicep curl and other exercises. Headrest 56 may be
pivotally attached to column member 14, such as by pivot arm 58. A
pair of handles 57 may be provided so that an abdominal crunch
exercise may be performed by an operator seated in seat 22.
[0022] Exercise resistance is provided by a stack of weights 60
located behind column member 14 and guided along vertical rods 62.
A selected amount of weight is suspended on a cable, which is
guided over a first pulley (not shown) near the top of the guide
rods and a second pulley (also not shown) near the top of the
column. The cable is coupled to the adjustment sector 34 to provide
exercise resistance at exercise arm 32. Additional cables and
pulleys (not shown) may be operatively coupled to the weight stack
as is well known to provide exercise resistance at the various
other exercise stations. Other means of providing exercise
resistance may be employed, and the invention is not limited in
this regard. Equivalent means of providing exercise resistance
include free weights, elastic bands, friction plate assemblies,
electromechanical resistance and the like.
[0023] As will be explained in greater detail below, exercise arm
32 may be operated in several different ways. The exercise arm may
be operated either with outwardly extending rigid handles 38 or
downwardly extending rigid handles 39. Alternatively, the operator
may use handles 40, which are shown in a stowed position clipped to
exercise arm 32 on clips 43. Handles 40 are attached to respective
ones of the outwardly extending rigid handles 38 by cables 42. When
an operator desires to perform an exercise using handles 40, the
operator simply unclips them from their stowed locations on
exercise arm 32. It will be appreciated that, as a result of the
flexible coupling of handles 40, the handles have six degrees of
freedom of movement (i.e., translation and rotation in three
dimensions) about the respective coupling points.
[0024] FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of exerciser 10 configured
to perform a chest press exercise using the rigid handles 38 or 39.
The operator sits on seat 22 and uses cushion 24 in a generally
upright position as a back rest. Exercise arm 32 is secured at a
forward position along adjustment sector 34 so that the rigid
handles are placed at a convenient starting position for the
exercise.
[0025] FIG. 3 illustrates exerciser 10 configured to perform an
incline press exercise. This configuration is essentially the same
as that for the chest press exercise, except that cushion 24 is
rotated forward about pivot 50 and secured in position with a
spring-loaded pin or equivalent securing means.
[0026] FIG. 4 illustrates exerciser 10 configured to perform an
incline press exercise using flexible cable handles 40. It will be
noted that the exercise posture is essentially the same as that
shown in FIG. 3. However, in this case, the flexible cable handles
are used instead of the rigid handles. For this exercise, exercise
arm 32 is secured at an intermediate location along adjustment
sector 34.
[0027] FIG. 5 illustrates exerciser 10 configured to perform a fly
exercise using flexible cable handles 40. In this configuration,
cushion 24 is secured in its most upright position and exercise arm
32 is secured in its most rearward position along adjustment sector
34.
[0028] FIG. 6 illustrates exerciser 10 configured to perform a row
exercise. Cushion 24 and exercise arm 32 are secured in the same
positions as for the fly exercise, i.e., cushion 24 in its most
upright position and exercise arm 32 in its most rearward position
along adjustment sector 34. For the row exercise, however, the
operator sits facing cushion 24 and operates exercise arm 32 using
rigid handles 38 or 39.
[0029] It will be recognized that the above-described invention may
be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the
spirit or essential characteristics of the disclosure. Thus, it is
understood that the invention is not to be limited by the foregoing
illustrative details, but rather is to be defined by the appended
claims.
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