U.S. patent application number 12/959335 was filed with the patent office on 2012-06-07 for pulley apparatus for resistance exercises.
Invention is credited to Yousef Ghandour, Chester Lake, Mardig Sevadjian.
Application Number | 20120142503 12/959335 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46162752 |
Filed Date | 2012-06-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120142503 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sevadjian; Mardig ; et
al. |
June 7, 2012 |
Pulley Apparatus for Resistance Exercises
Abstract
The present invention is a pulley apparatus for resistance
exercises comprising: a housing with an upper end, a lower end, an
interior channel extending through the housing, and an exterior
surface; a weight stack movable within the housing; and a pulley
system comprising in the interior: at least two upper pulleys
attached to the upper end of the housing, and at least one lower
pulley attached to the weight stack; and on the exterior surface:
at least two swivel pulleys attached to the upper end of the
housing, and first and second outer pulleys, the first outer pulley
located below the swivel pulleys and the second outer pulley
located below the first outer pulley; and a pulley rope received by
the upper pulleys, the lower pulleys, the swivel pulleys and the
outer pulleys such that a first end of the pulley rope is secured
to one of the outer pulleys and a second end of the pulley rope is
received lastly by the other outer pulley, whereby force exerted on
the second end of the pulley rope moves the weight stack. The
pulley apparatus may also contain an upper and lower housing that
may be disassembled and may be joined to form a combined
housing.
Inventors: |
Sevadjian; Mardig;
(Burlington, CA) ; Lake; Chester; (Ajax, CA)
; Ghandour; Yousef; (Santee, CA) |
Family ID: |
46162752 |
Appl. No.: |
12/959335 |
Filed: |
December 2, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/99 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 23/1254 20130101;
A63B 23/03508 20130101; A63B 21/0557 20130101; A63B 21/0628
20151001; A63B 21/4043 20151001; A63B 21/00065 20130101; A63B
21/0632 20151001; A63B 21/4035 20151001; A63B 21/154 20130101; A63B
21/075 20130101; A63B 21/0442 20130101; A63B 21/156 20130101; A63B
21/063 20151001 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/99 |
International
Class: |
A63B 21/062 20060101
A63B021/062 |
Claims
1. A pulley apparatus for resistance exercises comprising: a
housing with an upper end, a lower end, an interior channel
extending through the housing, and an exterior surface, a weight
stack movable within the housing, and a pulley system comprising in
the interior (i) at least two upper pulleys attached to the upper
end of the housing, (j) at least one lower pulley attached to the
weight stack, and on the exterior surface (k) at least two swivel
pulleys attached to the upper end of the housing, (l) first and
second outer pulleys, the first outer pulley located below the
swivel pulleys and the second outer pulley located below the first
outer pulley, and a pulley rope received by the upper pulleys, the
lower pulleys, the swivel pulleys and the outer pulleys such that a
first end of the pulley rope is secured to one of the outer pulleys
and a second end of the pulley rope is received lastly by the other
outer pulley, whereby force exerted on the second end of the pulley
rope moves the weight stack.
2. The pulley apparatus of claim 1, wherein the weight stack is
comprised of individual weights and additionally includes a weight
selection means to adjust the amount of resistance by increments of
the individual weights.
3. The pulley apparatus of claim 2, which additionally includes one
or more weight alignment rods in the channel of the housing and
holes in the individual weights, whereby the weight alignment rods
pass through the holes in the individual weights.
4. The pulley apparatus of claim 3, which additionally includes a
top plate that is secured to the upper end of the housing and a
bottom plate that is secured to the lower end of the housing, and
wherein the weight alignment rods are secured to the top plate and
bottom plate.
5. The pulley apparatus of claim 4, which additionally includes a
guide rail on the exterior surface of the housing and outer pulley
positioning devices, wherein the outer pulleys are affixed to the
pulley positioning devices, and the pulley positioning devices are
capable of being moved along the guide rail or fixed in position on
the guide rail.
6. A pulley apparatus for resistance exercises comprising: an upper
housing detachably connected to a lower housing that forms a
combined housing with an upper end, a lower end, an interior
channel extending through the combined housing, and an exterior
surface, a weight stack movable within the housing, and a pulley
system comprising in the interior (m) at least two upper pulleys
attached to the upper end of the housing, (n) at least one lower
pulley attached to the weight stack, and on the exterior surface
(o) at least two swivel pulleys attached to the upper end of the
housing, (p) first and second outer pulleys, the first outer pulley
located below the swivel pulleys and the second outer pulley
located below the first outer pulley, and a pulley rope received by
the upper pulleys, the lower pulleys, the swivel pulleys and the
outer pulleys such that a first end of the pulley rope is secured
to one of the outer pulleys and a second end of the pulley rope is
received lastly by the other outer pulley, whereby force exerted on
the second end of the pulley rope moves the weight stack.
7. The pulley apparatus of claim 6, wherein the weight stack is
comprised of individual weights and additionally includes a weight
selection means to adjust the amount of resistance by increments of
the individual weights.
8. The pulley apparatus of claim 7, which additionally includes
grooves in the individual weights and one or more weight alignment
rods in the upper housing and an equal number of weight alignment
rods in the lower housing, whereby in the combined housing, the
weight alignment rods are aligned and glide along the grooves in
the individual weights.
9. The pulley apparatus of claim 8, wherein the weight alignment
rods in the upper housing are secured to the interior of the upper
housing and the weight alignment rods of the lower housing are
secured to the interior of the lower housing.
10. The pulley apparatus of claim 8, which additionally includes a
guide rail on the exterior surface of the lower housing and outer
pulley positioning devices, wherein the outer pulleys are affixed
to the pulley positioning devices, and the pulley positioning
devices are capable of being moved along the guide rail or fixed in
position on the guide rail.
11. The pulley apparatus of claims 1 and 6, which additionally
includes a base.
12. The pulley apparatus of claims 1 and 6, which additionally
includes mounting attachments on the housing whereby the pulley
apparatus may be secured to a surface.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates generally to a pulley apparatus for
resistance exercises, and specifically to a pulley apparatus that
may be used to warm up, practice a movement and improve physical
movements including those in high velocity sports, such as hitting,
swinging, throwing, kicking, as well as for use in physical
rehabilitation.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Resistance and weight training are used to improve and
rehabilitate muscle strength. Resistance can be created using the
individual's own weight or through ropes or bands with tension.
Tension bands have been used in the field of sports rehabilitation
and strengthening, particularly for shoulder injuries. Tension
bands may be made of elastic, latex and rubber tubing of different
lengths and sizes for different parts of the body, e.g. shoulder,
wrist, legs. Home gym systems have been made using pulleys and
resistance or weights for exercising all parts of the body.
[0003] Conventional exercise pulley machines typically have a large
footprint from the dual guide rods set about six to ten inches
apart with rectangular weights of eight to twelve inches long. The
pulley systems of conventional exercise pulley apparatus also limit
the range of motion of its users.
[0004] What is needed is a compact and adjustable pulley apparatus,
which is capable of modulating the amount of resistance and that
may be used for various body motions to simulate actual sports
movement or as needed to rehabilitate an injury. What is also
needed is a pulley apparatus that avoids the ballistic effects of a
single axis pulley system and provides a wide arc of motion,
resistance in a full circle, a superior means to test the range of
motion of a particular body part, and provides injury
rehabilitation motions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] This invention relates to a pulley apparatus for resistance
exercises.
[0006] In a first embodiment of the invention there is a pulley
apparatus for resistance exercises comprising: [0007] a housing
with an upper end, a lower end, an interior channel extending
through the housing, and an exterior surface, [0008] a weight stack
movable within the housing, and [0009] a pulley system comprising
in the interior [0010] (a) at least two upper pulleys attached to
the upper end of the housing, [0011] (b) at least one lower pulley
attached to the weight stack, [0012] and on the exterior surface
[0013] (c) at least two swivel pulleys attached to the upper end of
the housing, [0014] (d) first and second outer pulleys, the first
outer pulley located below the swivel pulleys and the second outer
pulley located below the first outer pulley, and [0015] a pulley
rope received by the upper pulleys, the lower pulleys, the swivel
pulleys and the outer pulleys such that a first end of the pulley
rope is secured to one of the outer pulleys and a second end of the
pulley rope is received lastly by the other outer pulley, whereby
force exerted on the second end of the pulley rope moves the weight
stack.
[0016] In the first embodiment of this pulley apparatus the weight
stack is comprised of individual weights and additionally includes
a weight selection means to adjust the amount of resistance by
increments of the individual weights.
[0017] In the first embodiment of this pulley apparatus there are
additionally one or more weight alignment rods in the channel of
the housing and holes in the individual weights, whereby the weight
alignment rods pass through the holes in the individual
weights.
[0018] In the first embodiment of this pulley apparatus there is
additionally a top plate that is secured to the upper end of the
housing and a bottom plate that is secured to the lower end of the
housing, and the weight alignment rods are secured to the top plate
and bottom plate.
[0019] In the first embodiment of this pulley apparatus there is
additionally a guide rail on the exterior surface of the housing
and outer pulley positioning devices, wherein the outer pulleys are
affixed to the pulley positioning devices, and the pulley
positioning devices are capable of being moved along the guide rail
or fixed in position on the guide rail.
[0020] In a second embodiment of this invention there is a pulley
apparatus for resistance exercises comprising: [0021] an upper
housing detachably connected to a lower housing that forms a
combined housing with an upper end, a lower end, an interior
channel extending through the combined housing, and an exterior
surface, [0022] a weight stack movable within the housing, and
[0023] a pulley system comprising in the interior [0024] (e) at
least two upper pulleys attached to the upper end of the housing,
[0025] (f) at least one lower pulley attached to the weight stack,
[0026] and on the exterior surface [0027] (g) at least two swivel
pulleys attached to the upper end of the housing, [0028] (h) first
and second outer pulleys, the first outer pulley located below the
swivel pulleys and the second outer pulley located below the first
outer pulley, and [0029] a pulley rope received by the upper
pulleys, the lower pulleys, the swivel pulleys and the outer
pulleys such that a first end of the pulley rope is secured to one
of the outer pulleys and a second end of the pulley rope is
received lastly by the other outer pulley, whereby force exerted on
the second end of the pulley rope moves the weight stack.
[0030] In the second embodiment of this pulley apparatus the weight
stack is comprised of individual weights and additionally includes
a weight selection means to adjust the amount of resistance by
increments of the individual weights.
[0031] In the second embodiment of this pulley apparatus there are
additionally grooves in the individual weights and one or more
weight alignment rods in the upper housing and an equal number of
weight alignment rods in the lower housing, whereby in the combined
housing, the weight alignment rods are aligned and glide along the
grooves in the individual weights.
[0032] In the second embodiment of this pulley apparatus the weight
alignment rods in the upper housing are secured to the interior of
the upper housing and the weight alignment rods of the lower
housing are secured to the interior of the lower housing.
[0033] In the second embodiment of this pulley apparatus there is
additionally a guide rail on the exterior surface of the lower
housing and outer pulley positioning devices, wherein the outer
pulleys are affixed to the pulley positioning devices, and the
pulley positioning devices are capable of being moved along the
guide rail or fixed in position on the guide rail.
[0034] The pulley apparatus of this invention may additionally
include a base.
[0035] The pulley apparatus of this invention may additionally
include mounting attachments on the housing whereby the pulley
apparatus may be secured to a surface.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0036] In the drawings which illustrate by way of example only,
preferred embodiments of the invention:
[0037] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pulley apparatus according
to a first embodiment of the present invention;
[0038] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a pulley apparatus according
to the first embodiment with a transparent housing to show the
interior;
[0039] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of sections of the pulley
apparatus according to the first embodiment with a transparent
housing to show the interior;
[0040] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the bottom of the pulley
apparatus according to the first embodiment with a transparent
housing to show the interior;
[0041] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a pulley positioning device
of a pulley apparatus;
[0042] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of sections of the pulley
apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present
invention;
[0043] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of sections of the pulley
apparatus according to the second embodiment with a transparent
housing to show the inner workings;
[0044] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a pulley rope of a pulley
apparatus according to the second embodiment with no housing;
[0045] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of sections of a pulley rope of
the pulley apparatus according to the second embodiment with no
housing;
[0046] FIG. 10 is a side view of a pulley apparatus according to
the second embodiment showing the pulley rope set up with a handle
with a transparent housing to show the inner workings;
[0047] FIG. 11 is a side view of a pulley apparatus according to
the second embodiment showing the pulley rope set up with a handle
with a transparent housing to show the inner workings;
[0048] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of sections of the pulley
apparatus according to the second embodiment mounted to a base with
a transparent housing to show the inner workings;
[0049] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a pulley apparatus
according to the second embodiment with attachments for
mounting;
[0050] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the bottom of a pulley
apparatus according to the second embodiment in use with a
transparent housing to show the inner workings;
[0051] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a disassembled pulley
apparatus according to the second embodiment with a transparent
housing to show the inner workings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0052] Referring to FIG. 1, a pulley apparatus according to an
embodiment of the invention is shown generally at 10 comprising a
housing 15. The housing is in the shape of a tube and may be made
of steel, aluminum or other materials. The housing has a top plate
40 attached to an upper end of the housing. The upper end of the
housing is cut away to allow a pulley rope (not shown) to move
through from the interior of the housing to the exterior. The
pulley apparatus of FIG. 1 can be adapted to be mounted to a wall
or provided with a base to be used on the ground which is shown in
later figures.
[0053] Referring to FIG. 3, the top plate 40 protrudes to allow
attachment of at least two swivel pulley brackets 50 each
containing the same number of swivel pulley wheels 60. The lower
end of each of the swivel pulley brackets 50 are attached to a
swivel pulley bottom plate 70.
[0054] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, in which the housing is
transparent to show the inner workings of the pulley apparatus, the
housing 15 is adapted to hold a weight stack 80 comprising of a
series of weight bars 90 stacked on top of one another. The weight
bars 90 are held on a weight bearing shaft 400 (visible in FIGS. 7
and 14) that runs through the centre of the weight bars. The weight
bearing shaft 400 is affixed to the top weight in the weight stack
and is free at its bottom end. The weight bearing shaft contains
holes through which the amount of weight stack to be lifted is
adjusted through the use of an adjustment pin 100 that may be
inserted in a hole in any individual weight. In this embodiment,
the holes in the individual weights are found in a groove in each
individual weight which lines up at opening 310. The adjustment pin
100 goes through one of the holes in the weight bearing shaft and
accordingly all of the weights in the weight stack at and above the
adjustment pin are lifted when the pulley is in use. The weight
bearing shaft is lifted up through the interior of the housing
along with the weights when the pulley is in use. Spacers 390 may
be placed in between or affixed to the individual weight bars 90 to
stop the weights from banging into one another.
[0055] Referring to FIG. 3, an embodiment of the pulley apparatus
is further shown with a transparent housing 15 to allow the inner
workings of the pulley apparatus, namely a pulley system, to be
seen. An upper pulley U-bracket 220 containing three upper pulley
wheels 230 is attached to the inside of the upper end of the
housing 15 and is substantially perpendicular to the swivel pulley
bracket 50.
[0056] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, in which the housing is also
transparent to show the inner workings of the pulley apparatus, two
or more weight alignment rods 255 run through the length of the
housing. The weight alignment rods 255 are held in place by the
bottom disc plate 420 attached to the lower end of the housing 15
and the top disc plate 410 attached to the upper end of the
housing. The top disc plate has been machined in its centre to
allow the movement of the ropes inside the plate. In one aspect of
the present invention the bottom and top disc plates are aluminum.
The weight alignment rods 255 may be threaded at the bottom end and
held on the plate by hex nuts at the bottom of the plate. On the
top plate the weight alignment rods 255 have threaded holes and may
be held in place by a screw and a hex nut. The hex nuts at each end
help create tension in the rods to minimize deflection. It should
be understood that other methods may be used to secure the weight
alignment rods to the bottom and top disc plates.
[0057] The weight bars 90 of the weight stack 80 have two or more
holes for the insertion of the weight alignment rods. In one aspect
of the present invention, there are nylon bushings (not shown)
placed in each hole; one on top, and one at the bottom, to help
minimize friction and improve alignment. The weight alignment rods
are extended all the way to the top disc plate allowing for a wider
range of motion.
[0058] A lower pulley U-bracket 290 with two lower pulley wheels
300 is attached to the uppermost weight bar 370. An adjustment pin
100 is used to choose the amount of weight bars selected and the
weight bars 90 are held in at the lower end by the bottom plate
420. As shown in FIG. 3, an opening 310 may be provided in the
housing so that the adjustment pin can be moved from one weight to
another, as desired, through the housing. As in traditional pulley
apparatus, by inserting the adjustment pin into a specific weight
bar when the weight stack is at rest, the weight lifted by the user
will be each of the weight bars above and including the weight bar
in which the adjustment pin is placed.
[0059] Mounted on the housing 15 is guide rail 120. One or more
pulley positioning devices 130 is slidably mounted on the guide
rail 120.
[0060] Referring to FIG. 5, which shows the pulley positioning
device in more detail, each pulley positioning device 130 contains
a guide tube 140 that slides along the guide rail. Protruding from
the surface of the guide tube 140 is a plunger barrel 150 with an
internal supporting cup 160. The plunger barrel 150 is adapted to
receive a threaded bolt 165 with a turning knob 170 into the
supporting cup 160. In an embodiment of the present invention the
plunger barrel 150 contains neoprene 180 at the end point of the
plunger barrel 150, which is in contact with the guide rail 120.
The threaded bolt 165 is of a length greater than the plunger
barrel 150 and through rotation of the threaded knob 170, the guide
tube 140 may be either secured to the guide rail 120 or loosened to
move along the guide rail 120.
[0061] Mounted on the guide rail 120 by way of a bracket 190 is a
pulley wheel bracket 200 containing an outer pulley wheel 210. The
outer pulley wheel 210 of a first pulley positioning device is
off-set to the plunger barrel 150. A second outer pulley wheel 210
of a second pulley position device is off-set to the plunger barrel
150 in a different direction than the first pulley positioning
device, thus preventing tangling of the pulley rope 320.
[0062] By moving the guide tube along the guide rail via the
rotation of the knob, the outer pulley wheel may be moved along the
guide rail thereby accommodating different heights of its user's or
positioning of the outer pulley wheel relative to the user's body
part that will be pulling the weight, for example, the users'
ankle, knee, or wrist.
[0063] It is understood that different mechanisms may be used to
move the guide tube along the guide rail. For example, the plunger
barrel may contain a coil spring, for example those plunger barrels
150 shown in FIGS. 6 to 10 and 12 to 15, and the guide rail may
contain bores through which the plunger barrel may be moved between
(not shown). However, the movement of the guide tube along the
guide rail shown in the figures is advantageous as it permits
infinite adjustment of the guide tube along the guide rail, thereby
accommodating all users and uses of the pulley apparatus.
[0064] Referring to FIGS. 6 to 10 and 15, a pulley apparatus
according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown
generally at 10 comprising an upper housing 20 and lower housing
30. The difference from the earlier embodiment is that the upper
housing 20 is detachable from the lower housing 30 and in this
embodiment the weight alignment rods (260 and 270) are not
continuous through the upper housing and lower housing. The pulley
apparatus of FIGS. 6 to 10 and 15 can be adapted to be wall
mountable (FIG. 13) or provided with a base to be used on the
ground (FIG. 12).
[0065] Referring to FIG. 7 in which the upper housing 20 and lower
housing 30 are transparent to allow the inner workings to be seen,
a protuberance 240 is provided at the exterior surface of the upper
end of the lower housing that connects the upper housing 20 to the
lower housing 30 through a J-slot 250 at the lower end of the upper
housing. In order to assemble the upper and lower housing, the
protuberance 240 of the lower housing is aligned with the opening
of the J-slot 250 on the upper housing. The protuberance is
inserted into the J-slot and the lower housing is rotated so that
the protuberance is in end of the J-slot.
[0066] Three upper weight alignment rods 260 are fixed in the upper
housing and three lower weight alignment rods 270 are fixed in the
lower housing. The upper and lower weight alignment rods are
positioned so that when the upper and lower housings are connected
to one another by way of the protuberance and J-slot, each of the
three upper and lower weight alignment rods align with one another.
It is understood that different manner of attaching the upper and
lower housing may be used.
[0067] The weight bars 90 that form the weight stack 80 contain
grooves 280 (FIG. 9) so that they may slide over the lower weight
alignment rods 270, a close-up of which is seen in FIG. 14. A lower
pulley U-bracket 290 with two lower pulley wheels 300 is attached
to the uppermost weight bar 370. An adjustment pin 100 is used to
choose the amount of weight bars selected and the weight bars 90
are held in at the lower end by the bottom plate 110. As shown in
FIG. 14, an opening 310 is provided in the lower housing so that
the adjustment pin can be moved from one weight to another, as
desired, through the outer housing. As in traditional pulley
systems, by inserting the adjustment pin into a specific weight bar
when the weight stack is at rest, the weight lifted by the user
will be each of the weight bars above and include the weight bar in
which the adjustment pin is placed.
[0068] Referring to FIG. 15, showing the second embodiment of the
present invention with a detachable upper and lower housing, a stow
pin 380 may be inserted in a hole below the uppermost weight bar
from one side of the housing to the other. The stow pin 380 acts to
retain the weight stack in the lower housing 30 when the upper and
lower housing are detached; for example, during shipment of the
pulley system. When the stow pin 380 is in place, the upper housing
and lower housing may be completely detached by moving the
uppermost weight bar 370 and weight bearing shaft 400 into the
upper housing 30, thereby moving the pulley rope 320 out of the
lower housing and into the upper housing, and disengaging the
protuberance 240 from the J-slot 250. Detaching the upper housing
and lower housing makes the pulley system easy to transport and
store.
[0069] Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, a pulley system without the
housing or guide rail is shown, demonstrating the movement of the
pulley rope 320 through the pulley system, in particular the path
of the pulley rope 320 around the pulleys of the pulley system. In
an embodiment of the present invention, a single pulley rope is
used. The pulley rope extends from one of the one or more outer
pulley wheels 210, where the end of the pulley rope is secured,
through one of the swivel pulley wheels 60 and then one of the
upper pulley wheels 230. The pulley rope then extends from the
upper housing into the lower housing through the first lower pulley
wheel 300 and back up to the second upper pulley wheel 230. The
pulley rope again extends down through the second lower pulley
wheel 300 and back up through the third upper pulley wheel 230, and
out of the upper housing and through the second swivel pulley wheel
60, through the second outer pulley and secured onto itself. Each
end of the pulley rope may be secured to an outer pulley wheel 210
in any manner, for example a knot or a karabiner.
[0070] The ratio of three upper pulley wheels to two lower pulley
wheels has the effect of lightening the amount of weight being
lifted by the user so that the user of the pulley system does not
lift, swing, kick, etc. the full weight that is being raised from
the weight stack. The lifting of a smoothly liftable weight is
desirable in a sport training setting as the user may still move
quickly, for example, to swing the baseball bat or tennis racket
that is attached to the handle, or may still quickly kick their
foot that is attached to the pulley system by the strap.
[0071] The liftable weight load is also more desirable when the
pulley system is being used in a physiotherapy setting or other
therapeutic/rehabilitation setting as the injured party often
starts recovery training with lower weights in order to build
muscle strength for recovery or initial resistance training.
[0072] Referring to FIG. 10, a pulley apparatus is further shown
with a pulley rope 320 extending through an outer pulley wheel
ideal for hand or arm movements, for example, throwing. One end of
the rope has a handle 340. The choice of weight provides more or
less resistance to the throwing action.
[0073] In an aspect of the present invention the pulley apparatus
shown in FIG. 10 may be used by a baseball player to improve their
swing by attaching a baseball bat to the handle thereby allowing
the player to practice their swing.
[0074] Referring to FIG. 11, a pulley apparatus is further shown
with a pulley rope 320 extending through an outer pulley close to
the bottom of the pulley system which is ideal for ankle or leg
use, such as kicking. One end of the pulley rope 320 has a strap
340 for attachment to a body part, for example, the ankle.
[0075] The present invention may be transformed from the pulley
apparatus of FIG. 10 in which the handle is attached to an end of
the pulley rope attached to an upper pulley positioning device to
the pulley apparatus of FIG. 11 in which the handle is attached to
an end of the pulley rope attached to the lower pulley positioning
device by removing the handle and securing the first end of the
pulley rope onto itself and over the outer pulley wheel by any
means, such as tying a knot or using a karabiner. The second end of
the pulley rope is then detached from itself and secured to the
handle. It is understood that the pulley apparatus of the present
invention may be used by pulling on either end of the pulley rope,
using a handle or other device or by pulling on the pulley rope
directly. The user may also use both ends of the pulley rope at the
same time.
[0076] FIGS. 10 through 12 show a pulley apparatus attached to a
base support 350 for stand-alone use. The base support consists of
two bent tubes welded or otherwise attached to a base plate 345.
The base support may include furniture glides 355 or suction cups
for even contact with the floor or ground. The base plate 345 is
preferably detachable from the pulley apparatus. In one embodiment,
the base plate 345 has a collar 357, with a large cut out slot,
welded or otherwise attached to the centre of the base plate. The
collar 357 has three holes substantially 120.degree. apart,
centered in each hole is a plunger barrel welded on the collar,
with a threaded knob 359 screwed in each barrel (which is the
barrel/knob mechanism described in more detail in FIG. 5). When the
pulley apparatus is placed vertically in the collar and all three
knobs are tightened, the pulley is secured in the stand and is
ready for standalone use. The base support 350 allows the pulley
system to be used for on-site training, for example, on sports
fields, tennis courts or in gymnasiums without having to be mounted
to the ground, wall or any other support. It is understood that the
base is of sufficient weight such that the pulley apparatus of the
present invention is stable when in use.
[0077] FIGS. 13 and 14 show mounting attachments 360 for a pulley
apparatus 10 to be mounted to a surface, for example, a wall. Two
or more mounting attachments 360 are attached to the housing, by
for example, being welded onto the housing, or fastened in any
other manner so that they do not significantly move when the pulley
apparatus is in use. The mounting apparatus contain bores through
which traditional fastening devices may be inserted in order to
secure the apparatus to a surface, such as a wall. The mounting
attachments 360 may be mounted on the housing such that they do not
interfere with the guide rail or guide tube. In an embodiment of
the present invention, the mounting attachments are 180 degrees
opposite the guide rail. It is understood that the pulley apparatus
may be mounted to a surface using any other means so that it is
secured to the surface for stable use.
[0078] The pulley apparatus of the present invention is adjustable
to accommodate different users' heights and body parts.
[0079] The pulley apparatus of the present invention may be used
for sports training, rehabilitation, warm up and also general
physiotherapy for light muscle workouts, for example, patients
experiencing scapular retractors injury, rotator cuff injury and
knee injury. The pulley apparatus of the invention avoids the
ballistic effects of a single axis pulley system. It also provides
a wider arc of motion, resistance in a full circle, and superior
means to test the range of motion of a particular body part on an
individual by the individual doing different exercises or patterns
on the pulley apparatus.
[0080] The pulley apparatus may be constructed of lightweight
materials such as nylon, rope, aluminum housing, and powder coated
steel components.
[0081] In one example of an embodiment of the present invention the
housing may be made of steel or aluminum tube and may have an
outside diameter of 1 inch and a wall thickness of 0.123 inches.
The top plate and swivel pulley bottom plate may also be
constructed of a steel or aluminum plate with a thickness of 1/4
inch. All of the pulley wheels are constructed of delrin, aluminum
or nylon having an outside diameter of 106 inches and a thickness
of 19/32 inches. The swivel pulley bracket 50 is constructed of a
steel sheet having a thickness of 0.048 inches. The pulley wheel
bracket 200, upper pulley bracket 220 and lower pulley bracket 290
are constructed of a steel sheet and have a thickness of 0.065
inches. The bracket 190 is also constructed of a steel plate having
a thickness of 3/16 inches. The weight alignment rods 255 is steel
or stainless steel having an outside diameter of 5/16 inches. The
upper and lower weight alignment rods 260, 270 are nylon, steel or
stainless steel, also having an outside diameter of 5/16
inches.
[0082] In this example of an embodiment of the present invention
each weight bar is steel or cast iron having an outside diameter of
3.5 inches and a thickness of 1 9/32 inches. The uppermost weight
bar 370 is made of steel, aluminum or both. The spacers are nylon
and the weight bearing shaft 400 is constructed of aluminum with an
outside diameter of 0.75 inches. The top disc plate 410 and bottom
disc plate 420 are similarly constructed of aluminum with an
outside diameter of 3.75 inches.
[0083] The guide rail 120 is constructed of steel or stainless
steel and measures 0.75 inches by 0.75 inches with a wall thickness
of either 0.125 inches or 0.083 inches. The guide tube 140 is made
of steel telespar and measures 1 inches by 1 inches with a wall
thickness of 0.105 inches. The plunger barrel 150 and internal
supporting cup 160 are constructed of steel round bar, and the
plunger barrel has an outside diameter of 0.75 inches and the
internal supporting cup has an outside diameter of 0.632 inches.
The pulley rope 320 is synthetic or steel wire having an outside
diameter of 5.00 millimeters. Both the base and mounting
attachments of this example are of steel construction.
[0084] The pulley apparatus is lightweight and compact in design
allowing for easy transportation with other sports equipment. It is
self contained and easy to transport for indoor and outdoor use,
for example, at batting cages for injury prevention and warm up
purposes.
[0085] The pulley apparatus is easy to transport, for use by a
clinical practitioner for patient rehabilitation in a clinical
setting, as well as a sports trainer for training athletes in
sports facilities.
[0086] Various embodiments of the present invention having been
thus described in detail by way of example, it will be apparent to
those skilled in the art that variations and modifications may be
made without departing from the invention. The invention includes
all such variations and modifications as fall within the scope of
the appended claims.
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