U.S. patent application number 11/478853 was filed with the patent office on 2007-01-25 for workout equipment.
Invention is credited to Timothy Tyree.
Application Number | 20070021280 11/478853 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 31494296 |
Filed Date | 2007-01-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070021280 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tyree; Timothy |
January 25, 2007 |
Workout equipment
Abstract
Exercise machines for the leg muscles using separate machines
for the biceps femoris and quadriceps and with the biceps femoris
machines configured so that the muscle attachment below the knee is
the "origin" and the muscle attachment on the upper leg and hip
bone is the "insertion".
Inventors: |
Tyree; Timothy; (Scottsdale,
AZ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BACON & THOMAS, PLLC
625 SLATERS LANE
FOURTH FLOOR
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314
US
|
Family ID: |
31494296 |
Appl. No.: |
11/478853 |
Filed: |
July 3, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10211553 |
Aug 5, 2002 |
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11478853 |
Jul 3, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
482/94 ; 482/121;
482/124; 482/97 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 21/4035 20151001;
A63B 23/0355 20130101; A63B 21/1663 20130101; A63B 21/08 20130101;
A63B 21/0442 20130101; A63B 2208/0214 20130101; A63B 21/0615
20130101; A63B 21/4007 20151001; A63B 21/1645 20130101; A63B
21/4047 20151001; A63B 23/03525 20130101; A63B 21/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/094 ;
482/121; 482/124; 482/097 |
International
Class: |
A63B 21/06 20060101
A63B021/06; A63B 21/08 20060101 A63B021/08; A63B 21/02 20060101
A63B021/02 |
Claims
1. Workout equipment for exercising the leg muscles, comprising: a
body harness including a torso strap and at least two shoulder
straps connected to the torso strap; and an elastic member
connected to said body harness at one end and to a rigid support at
the other end, said other end being connected to a rigid support at
a point above the head of the person engaged in exercising their
leg muscles.
2. The workout equipment as defined in claim 1, wherein each of the
straps is adjustable in length.
3. The workout equipment as defined in claim 1, further comprising:
a pair of anchor boots for engaging the rigid support when worn by
the person engaged in exercising their leg muscles.
4. The workout equipment as defined in claim 1, wherein the rigid
support is a door, and wherein said elastic member includes a clamp
at said other end for engaging the door.
5. (canceled)
6. (canceled)
7. (canceled)
8. (canceled)
9. (canceled)
10. The workout equipment as defined in claim 9, wherein: said
weight support means of said lever includes a curved portion of
varying radius; and said pulley system includes a cable which is
attached to said curved portion.
11. Workout equipment for exercising the leg muscles, comprising: a
support base; a pivotably mounted seat means connected to said
support base for vertical displacement relative to said support
base; weight support means connected to said seat means; and slide
means connected to said support base and adjustable relative
thereto, said slide means extending outwardly from said support
base substantially coextensively with said seat means.
12. The workout equipment as defined in claim 11, further
comprising: stopper means connected to said support means for
limiting the lower displacement of said vertical adjustment of said
seat means, such that the thighs of the user are parallel to said
support base.
13. Workout equipment for exercising the leg muscles, comprising: a
support base; ankle engaging means mounted to one side of said
support base; and a balance beam extending from the opposite side
of said support base which serves to produce a reaction force to
the force created by the user of the workout equipment when the
person engages said ankle engaging means and creates an active
force against said ankle engaging means.
14. The workout equipment as defined in claim 13, further
comprising: a knee pad mounted to said support base.
15. The workout equipment as defined in claim 13, wherein: said
ankle engaging means includes a cushion mounted to a post which in
turn is mounted to said support base.
16. The workout equipment as defined in claim 15, wherein said post
includes a plurality of spaced apart holes.
17. The workout equipment as defined in claim 13, wherein said
balance beam is slidable relative to said support base to thereby
produce different reaction forces as a function of its extension
from said support base.
18. (canceled)
19. The workout equipment wherein said weight support means
includes framework for supporting a pulley system for controlling a
selectorized weight stack of flat plates.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates in general to workout or
exercise equipment, and in particular to such equipment which can
be used for primarily exercising the leg muscles.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND PRIOR ART
[0002] The need for physical exercise and conditioning is well
known, especially in a culture where physical exertion is not
emphasized as it once may have been, and where the demand on
athletes of all ages to compete at a high level is on the rise. An
entire industry has developed for the purpose of affording people
the opportunity to exercise so as to maintain health, appearance,
and competitiveness. Gyms can be found in almost every city and
town in the country. All of them have a variety of machines which
one can use in their workouts. Some are quite complicated, and some
are designed for special muscle groups. To understand the present
invention better, a general review of the muscles of the human body
should help.
[0003] All of the muscles on the exterior of the human body involve
a muscle "belly" with a tendon on each end attaching each end to a
respective bone. As the muscles flex and extend, they operate the
bones as levers. The tendon that attaches one end of a muscle to a
bone and remains fixed during flexion is termed the "origin" of the
muscle and the tendon that attaches the other end of the muscle to
a second bone and moves that bone during flexion is termed the
"insertion" of the muscle.
[0004] The most common and easily recognized example of these
relationships is the biceps brachii, located on the upper arm and
attached at two points at the upper arm and scapula and a single
lower point on the lower arm slightly past the elbow. The most
common exercise for the biceps brachii is the barbell curl (which
can be achieved by a dead weight or a machine). A barbell (dead
weight) is lifted off the floor with both arms extended, and with
the body fully vertical, the barbell is curled to a position below
the chin as the elbows are held at the sides of the body. The
"origin" of the biceps brachii in this exercise is the two-point
upper attachment (fixed) while the "insertion" is the lower
attachment that moves the lower arm in a pivotal motion from full
extension to full flexion to the position below the chin.
[0005] Another common exercise for the biceps brachii is the
chinning exercise. The arms grasp an overhead bar and the body is
pulled up until the chin is positioned over the bar at full
flexion. In this exercise, the "origin" and "insertion" are the
reverse of the barbell curl exercise. The attachment to the lower
arm is the "origin" (fixed) while the two-point attachment at the
upper arm and scapula becomes the "insertion" and performs the
movement of the entire body to the position where the chin is
positioned over the bar.
[0006] By changing the position of muscle flexion based upon the
"origin" and "insertion" of a muscle, the "belly" of the muscle
becomes more developed and adaptable in strength and
coordination.
[0007] One can appreciate the difficulty encountered in developing
the human muscles using dead weights. It is time consuming at the
minimum. Accordingly, there has been considerable development in
the past fifty years of exercise machines using various body
supports with pulleys and weights to position a user to isolate and
exercise specific muscles in a multitude of varying positions.
[0008] The present invention is directed to a novel group of
workout equipment and to a method to exercise the upper leg
muscles, the biceps femoris, commonly referred to as the
hamstrings, and also to the quadriceps. The biceps femoris is an
upper leg muscle somewhat analogous to the biceps brachii on the
upper arm. In a similar manner, the biceps femoris is attached
between two points at the upper leg bone and hip bone and a single
lower point on the lower leg slightly past the knee.
[0009] There are several exercise machines that are well known in
which the attachment of the upper leg bone and hip bone attachment
is the "origin" and the lower leg bone attachment is the
"insertion". For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,499,962, discloses a
sitting position in which the knees are fixed in front and the
heels are imposed on a padded roller on a lever that raises a stack
of weights as the biceps femoris is flexed to bring the heels close
to the buttocks. U.S. Pat. No. 4,575,077, discloses a bench on
which the user lies on his stomach with the knees fixed in front
and the heels, again, imposed on a padded roller on a lever that
raises a stack of weights as the biceps femoris is flexed to bring
the heels close to the buttocks.
[0010] Additional examples of machines of this type are the
following U.S. Pat. No.: 4,468,026; 4,725,056; 5,058,884;
5,094,450; 5,158,520; 5,334,120; 5,569,133; 5,628,714; 5,634,873;
5,711,749; 5,766,118; 6,059,698; 6,059,701; 6,106,444; 6,296,594;
and 6,231,486;
[0011] None of the known equipment is specifically directed to
exercising the upper leg muscles, such as the biceps femoris, and
the quadriceps, and to do so in an efficient manner which maximizes
muscle performance and development.
[0012] The prior art cited above has been cited in an Information
Disclosure Statement filed with this application.
[0013] In view of the present state of the art, it would be
desirable to have equipment available for use in specifically
exercising the upper leg muscles, such as the biceps femoris and to
provide a technique which one can utilize in using this equipment
for efficiently exercising the upper leg muscles.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0014] It is an object of the present invention to provide
equipment and a technique for specifically exercising the upper leg
muscles, such as the biceps femoris. The equipment and technique
according to the present invention reverses the "origin" and
"insertion" of the biceps femoris, for example, by fixing the
position of the heel to stabilize the lower leg and have the upper
leg bone pull the entire upper body to bring the buttocks close to
the heel. This results in the biceps femoris attachment to the
lower leg bone being the "origin" and the attachment at the upper
leg bone and hip bone being the "insertion".
[0015] The muscles of the leg are extremely strong with power
lifters having squatted with over 1000 pounds on the shoulders.
However, the main muscle mass performing the squat is the
quadriceps muscle on the front of the thigh bone. The biceps
femoris on the rear of the thigh bone acts mainly as a stabilizing
muscle during heavy squatting.
[0016] It is a further object of the present invention to employ in
the technique use of part of the upper body weight as the
resistance that the biceps femoris muscle moves from full extension
to full flexion. This is accomplished by using levers and weights
to support part of the upper body weight during movement from full
extension to full flexion.
[0017] It is still a further object of the present invention to
provide an exercise machine for the quadriceps muscle on the front
of the legs. This machine will enable an elder person or a person
beginning an exercise program or a person recovering from a leg
injury to perform the squat exercise. It consists of a lever and
cable with a stack of weights combined with a pivotable seat on
which the user can sit while squatting to a parallel position with
the weight stack offsetting a portion of the user's body
weight.
[0018] It is still a further object of the invention to provide an
exercise machine that allows not only for the development of
strength but quickness as well.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] Seven figures have been selected to illustrate the present
invention in its various aspects.
[0020] FIG. 1 is the most simple apparatus for exercising the
hamstrings with the muscle attachment below the knees functioning
as the "origin".
[0021] FIG. 2 is a second apparatus for exercising the hamstrings
with the muscle attachment below the knees functioning as the
"origin" using a pivotable lever with a varying moment arm.
[0022] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the apparatus shown in FIG.
2.
[0023] FIG. 4 is a third apparatus for exercising the hamstrings
with the muscle attachment below the knees functioning as the
"origin" using a pivotable lever attached to a cable to raise and
lower a stack of selected weights.
[0024] FIG. 5 is an apparatus for exercising the quadriceps muscles
with a body weight offsetting seat that slides up and down on
vertical rods.
[0025] FIGS. 6a and 6b show a stand alone apparatus which can be
used with weights.
[0026] FIG. 7 is a variant of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION IN ITS VARIOUS
EMBODIMENTS
[0027] In FIG. 1, a hamstring exercise using the muscle attachment
of the biceps femoris below the knees as the "origin" can be
performed with a minimum of equipment in a person's home. This
exercise requires a door 1, and the equipment includes a knee pad
2, a set of anchor boots 3 with tips to slide under the door, an
elastic band 4 with a door clamp 5 and a body harness 6 with a hook
7 for attachment to the elastic band 4.
[0028] The harness 6 has as a minimum a torso strap 6a and two
shoulder straps 6b and 6c. The shoulder straps 6b and 6c are
connected to the torso strap 6a in an overlap fashion or separated
from each other. The torso strap 6a can be worn at the waist of the
user or above. The two shoulder straps 6b and 6c and the torso
strap 6a can each be provided with an adjustment capability, such
as would result from the use of a typical buckle arrangement. The
hook 7 is attached, preferably, to the torso strap 6a on the back
of the harness.
[0029] The user attaches the elastic band 4 to the top of the door
1, by engaging the clamp 5 with the top of the door 1, and to the
back of the harness 6, with any conventional clamp-type device, and
kneels on the knee pad 2 with the tips of the anchor boots 3
inserted under the door in the position shown. The user then leans
forward toward a horizontal position (full extension of the biceps
femoris) and, from that position, returns his or her body to the
original position by flexing the biceps femoris. The strain on the
biceps femoris is reduced by the elastic band 4 assisting the
hamstrings.
[0030] In FIGS. 2 and 3, the hamstring exercise apparatus comprises
a stand alone support base with a lever. A generally L-shaped base
8 provides a raised padded knee pad 9, and on substantially the
same plane, a pivot 10. The rear of the knee pad has a raised
padded roller 11 under which a user can place their ankles. A lever
12 is attached to the pivot and has an upper padded area 13 that
can contact a user's chest along with a handle bar 14 on each side.
The lever 12 has a lower rear extending portion 12a on which
different size weights 16 can be placed on horizontally extending
pins 17. An upper portion 12b is adjustable in height, preferably
telescopically, relative to the lower rear extending portion 12a,
and is fastened in place once adjusted by a fastening means,
preferably a set screw or locking pin and slot arrangement 15.
[0031] The user adjusts the chest pad 13 to a desired position and
kneels on the pad 9 with his ankles secured under the roller 11,
which can be a single roller or spaced rollers, one for each ankle,
and leans forward toward a horizontal position (full extension of
the biceps femoris) and, from that position, returns his body to
the original position by flexing the biceps femoris. The strain on
the biceps femoris is reduced by the weights on the lever.
[0032] In FIG. 4, the hamstring exercise apparatus comprises a
stand alone support base 18 with a lever and cable attached to a
weight stack. The support base 18 has a raised portion 19 attached
to one end with a padded knee pad 20 and a raised padded roller 21
on the rear portion of the knee pad 20. The roller 21 can be
similarly configured to roller 11. The opposite end of the support
base 18 has a raised framework 22 with descending guide rods 23
that contain a selectorized weight stack of flat plates 24. A cable
25 is attached to the top of the weight stack over two pulleys 26
and 27 at the top of the framework and down to a pulley 28 at the
base of the framework. Extending out from the framework 22 on the
same level of the knee pad is a horizontal support 29 for a pivot
30. The pivot supports a lever 31 comprising an upper adjustable
portion 31a that has an upper padded area 32 that can contact a
user's chest along with a handle bar 33 on each side. The lower
portion 31b of the lever on the other side of the pivot has a
curved portion 34 of varying radius with an attachment to the cable
25 as it extends horizontally from pulley 28.
[0033] The upper portion 31a is adjustable in height similarly to
the upper portion 12b and is fastened by a set screw or pin and
slot arrangement-35, which is similar to the screw or pin and slot
arrangement 15.
[0034] The user adjusts the chest pad 32 to a desired position and
kneels on the pad 20 with his or her ankles secured under the
roller 21 and leans forward toward a horizontal position (full
extension of the biceps femoris) and, from that position, returns
his or her body to the original position by flexing the biceps
femoris. The strain on the biceps femoris is reduced by the weights
supported on the cable.
[0035] FIG. 5 is an exercise apparatus for the front thigh muscles,
the quadriceps (or quads), and comprises a stand alone support base
36 with a sliding pivotable seat and cable attached to a weight
stack. The support base 36 has an upper horizontal and raised
framework 37 supported on two cylindrical vertical bars 38.
Descending from the upper framework 37 is a vertical plate 39
positioned between the vertical bars and attached to each vertical
bar. A horizontal support 40 with circular holes is slidably
mounted on the two cylindrical bars 38 with a pivotable padded seat
41 extending away from the base. The upper framework 37 on the
vertical bars 38 has a cantilevered portion containing two pulleys
42 and 43 with a cable 44 attached to the top of a selectorized
weight stack 45 on guide rods 46. Vertical plate 39 contains holes
47 and a surrounding slide 48 with a single hole with a pin 49 in
the hole positioning the slide with respect to one of the vertical
plate holes. The slide has a bar 50 on each side extending to an
area adjacent and above the padded seat 41. The horizontal support
40 has an attachment point 51 directly below pulley 43 with the
cable 44 attached thereto.
[0036] The user positions a stopper 52 on the vertical bar 38 so
that the user does not go below a point at which the thighs are
parallel to the floor. With the weight selected on the weight stack
45, the user backs up between and grasps the bars 50 with his
buttocks contacting padded seat 41 with the legs fully extended.
From this position, the user can slowly squat to the horizontal
position, pause, and return to the legs fully extended position.
This squat exercise can be performed with one or two legs,
depending on the amount of weight selected on weight stack 45 to
assist and offset the user's body weight.
[0037] The four apparatuses described above are very beneficial in
rehabilitating and developing the hamstring and quad muscles of the
legs of users who have not developed their muscles to a great
degree. The biceps femoris muscle is exercised in a novel way by
reversing the locations of the "origin" and "insertion" of the
biceps femoris muscle that is not available in currently known
machines.
[0038] FIGS. 6a and 6b illustrate a stand alone apparatus 53
intended to be used without weights.
[0039] The stand alone apparatus has a base structure 54 to which a
pad 55 is attached by any conventional manner. At one end of the
base structure 54 there extends a post 56 to which a slidable
cushion 57 is mounted. The post 56 includes a plurality of spaced
holes 58 for accommodating a pin 59 inserted therein for use in
retaining the cushion 57 fixed onto the post 56. For this purpose a
pin 59 would be inserted in the hole above and below the cushion
57. At its front end the base structure 55 has an opening 60 in
which a balance beam 61 is slidable relative to the base structure
54.
[0040] In use, an individual kneels as shown in FIG. 6b on the pad
55 with their ankles 62 engaging the cushion 57. The balance beam
61 has been withdrawn from the base structure 54 a sufficient
extent to produce the reaction force R. The reaction force R
differs depending on its extension from the base structure 54. The
individual so position extends forwardly in the direction M.sub.1.
This movement creates the action force A due to the engagement of
the ankles 62 with the cushion 57, and also the reaction force R
due to the engagement of the balance beam 61 with the floor. The
forces A-R created a moment which counter-acts the moment created
by the individuals body weight as the upper body moves in the
direction M.sub.1.
[0041] The individual can then reverse their movement and repeat it
to exercise the biceps femoris muscles. No weights other than body
weight is necessary.
[0042] FIG. 7 shows a variant of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2. The
variant resides in the addition of a bar 64 attached to the upper
12b of the lever 12. The bare 64 is adapted to receive a pin 66 to
hold a plate weight 68. The addition of the plate weight 68
provides the user with the option of adding an additional restraint
in the return movement of the exercise.
[0043] In each embodiment, the pad (9, 55) can be adjusted
longitudinally to accommodate the different leg sizes of the
users.
* * * * *