U.S. patent application number 13/462295 was filed with the patent office on 2012-11-08 for system and method for controlling a stack pin in a weight stack of an exercise machine and for providing anatomically correct body movement on an exercise machine.
Invention is credited to Steven Jason Fox, Kenneth M. Hutchins.
Application Number | 20120283074 13/462295 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47090616 |
Filed Date | 2012-11-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120283074 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hutchins; Kenneth M. ; et
al. |
November 8, 2012 |
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A STACK PIN IN A WEIGHT STACK OF
AN EXERCISE MACHINE AND FOR PROVIDING ANATOMICALLY CORRECT BODY
MOVEMENT ON AN EXERCISE MACHINE
Abstract
A system for controlling a free end of a stack pin used with a
stack of weights, the system including a nesting device configured
to secure the free end of a stack pin when the stack pin is not
lifting a weight and a tuning device configured to adjust the
nesting device to exert a back up pressure on the stack pin to
counteract potential energy that accumulates when the stack pin is
being used to lift the weight.
Inventors: |
Hutchins; Kenneth M.;
(Altamonte Springs, FL) ; Fox; Steven Jason;
(Longwood, FL) |
Family ID: |
47090616 |
Appl. No.: |
13/462295 |
Filed: |
May 2, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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61481462 |
May 2, 2011 |
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61505627 |
Jul 8, 2011 |
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61511677 |
Jul 26, 2011 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
482/98 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 23/1209 20130101;
A63B 2225/09 20130101; A63B 23/0233 20130101; A63B 21/0023
20130101; A63B 23/03525 20130101; A63B 24/0062 20130101; A63B
69/0062 20200801; A63B 21/4009 20151001; A63B 21/4035 20151001;
A63B 2071/0072 20130101; A63B 2220/51 20130101; A63B 21/0628
20151001; A63B 21/063 20151001 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/98 |
International
Class: |
A63B 21/062 20060101
A63B021/062 |
Claims
1. A system for controlling a free end of a stack pin used with a
stack of weights, the system comprising: a nesting device
configured to secure the free end of a stack pin when the stack pin
is not lifting a weight; and a tuning device configured to adjust
the nesting device to exert a back up pressure on the stack pin to
counteract potential energy that accumulates when the stack pin is
being used to lift the weight.
2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the nesting device
comprises a pair of rollers configured to contact the free end of
the stack pin when weight is not lifted.
3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the nesting device
comprises a receiver which is in contact with the free end of the
stack pin when the stack pin is not being used to lift weight.
4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the nesting device is
configured to transfer potential energy stored in the stack pin
away from the stack pin when the stack pin is not being used to
lift weight.
5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the nesting device is
configured to exert a pressure on the stack pin to counteract
potential energy accumulated in the stack pin.
6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the tuning device is
configured to advance and retract the nesting device a distance
which defines an amount of pressure at which the nesting device
contacts the stack pin when the stack pin is not being used to lift
weight.
7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the tuning device
comprises a base, at least one fastening slot, and at least one
fastener.
8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the stack of weights
and stack pin are part of an exercise machine and/or a
rehabilitation machine.
9. The system according to claim 8, further comprising the exercise
machine and/or the rehabilitation machine comprising a wedge device
configured to position a user's ankles and extensional musculatures
into active insufficiency wherein securing legs of the user is
unnecessary for controlling inappropriate heel raise and/or leg
straightening.
10. The system according to claim 8, further comprising the
exercise machine and/or the rehabilitation machine comprising an
adjustable pulling handle system.
11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the adjustable
pulling handle system comprises: a support bar; a first threaded
rod and a second threaded rod, each threaded rod is located within
the support bar and connected together at adjacent ends, the first
threaded rod having threads allowing for rotation of a nut in a
first direction when the connected rods are rotated and the second
threaded rod having threads allowing for rotation of a second nut
in a second, opposite, direction when the connected rods are
rotated; a first grip and a second grip, each grip angularly
extending from the support bar, the first grip is connected to the
first nut and the second grip is connected to the second nut; and a
crank attached to an end of one of the threaded rods to allow for
the first nut to rotate in the first direction about its threaded
rod when the crank is rotated and for the second nut to rotate in
the second direction about its threaded rod when the crank is
rotated.
12. The system according to claim 1, wherein a gap is provided
between the stack of weights to delimit a flexional starting
position for a user who is flexionally limited.
13. A system for reducing a build up of potential energy in a
length of a stack pin used to lift a stack of weights, the system
comprising at least two opposed stack-pin controllers, each
controller comprises a base upon which two posts are mounted,
between each pair of posts is a roller whose perimeter matches a
radius of the stack pin, and a base of each controller which
comprises a fastening device which allows for advancement or
retraction of the controller to or from the stack pin to adjust a
pressure applied to a free end of the stack pin by the rollers.
14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the stack of weights
are part of an exercise machine and/or a rehabilitation
machine.
15. The system according to claim 14, further comprising the
exercise machine and/or the rehabilitation machine comprising a
wedge device configured to position a user's ankles and extensional
musculatures into active insufficiency wherein securing legs of the
user is unnecessary for controlling inappropriate heel raise and/or
leg straightening.
16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the wedge device is
configured to be uniformly adjustable along a base of the exercise
machine and/or rehabilitation machine to ensure repeated similar
placement of the wedge.
17. The system according to claim 14, further comprising the
exercise machine and/or the rehabilitation machine comprising an
adjustable pulling handle system.
18. The system according to claim 17, wherein the adjustable
pulling handle system comprises: a support bar; a first threaded
rod and a second threaded rod, each threaded rod is located within
the support bar and connected together at adjacent ends, the first
threaded rod having threads allowing for rotation of a nut in a
first direction when the connected rods are rotated and the second
threaded rod having threads allowing for rotation of a second nut
in a second, opposite, direction when the connected rods are
rotated; a first grip and a second grip, each grip angularly
extending from the support bar, the first grip is connected to the
first nut and the second grip is connected to the second nut; and a
crank attached to an end of one of the threaded rods to allow for
the first nut to rotate in the first direction about its threaded
rod when the crank is rotated and for the second nut to rotate in
the second direction about its threaded rod when the crank is
rotated.
19. The system according to claim 17, wherein the exercise machine
and/or rehabilitation machine comprises a movement arm that permits
movement-arm range of motion to exceed a trunk extension of a
user.
20. The system according to claim 17, wherein the exercise machine
and/or rehabilitation machine comprises a crank-adjustable
cam-timing device to accommodate a user's variable endpoint
resistance decrease requirements.
21. The system according to claim 13, wherein a gap is provided
between the stack of weights to delimit a flexional starting
position for a user who is flexionally limited.
22. A method for reducing a build up of potential energy in a
length of a stack pin used with a stack of weights, the method
comprising: providing a stack pin with a top plate at a first end;
locating at least two rollers on opposite sides of the stack pin at
an end of the stack pin furthest away from the top plate into which
the stack pin is nested; and adjusting the rollers to reduce backup
pressure each time a selector pin is inserted and/or retracted
which, in turn, prevents a buildup of a spring effect or potential
energy in the length of the stack pin.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application Nos. 61/481,462 filed May 2, 2011; 61/505,627 filed
Jul. 8, 2011; and 61/511,677 filed Jul. 26, 2011, and each
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] A selectorized weight stack has been used for several
decades with respect to exercise machines and has been improved in
various ways over the years. FIG. 1 depicts an illustration of a
prior art selectorized weight stack. In its conventional form (in
those designs whereby it is pulled from above rather than pushed
from below), the selectorized weight stack has multiple plates 10,
usually made of steel, in denominations of weight, usually uniform
denominations. These plates 10 are optionally engaged by the user
with the insertion of a horizontally-oriented selector pin 12 that
is inserted to bridge between a respective plate 10 or a multiple
of plates and a vertically-oriented stack pin 14 (illustrated in
FIG. 2). FIG. 2 depicts an illustration of other prior art
components of the selectorized weight stack. At its top end, the
stack pin 14 is connected to force-transmitting connection 16 of
the weight apparatus that works to lift the stack pin 14 and its
load of weights 10 vertically. This lifting and reciprocal lowering
of the weights 10 by the stack pin 14 is controlled along a pathway
defined by guiderods 18.
[0003] Keeping the weight stack controlled along its guided path is
often accomplished by a solid connection between the stack pin 14
and its corresponding top plate 11. The top plate 11 and its
connection to the stack pin 14 can be designed to further control
the upper end of the stack pin 14 and their unison travel along the
guiderods 18. However, control of a lower end of the stack pin 14
in the prior art has been neglected. Poor control of the lower end
of the stack pin 14 may result in several problems, generally
associated with a large amount of horizontal force. This force is
simultaneously leveraged to the top plate 11 and its guiderod
controls 20 (bushings, bearings, etc.). If these guiderod controls
20 are properly and tightly designed as both to reduce friction and
to prevent top-plate rocking, potential energy is stored in the
length of the stack pin, which may be released in a "spring
effect." This spring effect can serve to undesirably walk the
plates horizontally and choke the guiderods 18, thus, causing
undesirable friction in the weight stack system. In view of these
problems that exist currently, manufacturers and owners of such
weight machines would benefit from a system and method that reduces
experienced horizontal forces and the resulting undesirable
friction that may result if the lower end of the stack pin is not
effectively controlled.
[0004] Additionally, many exercise machines are built as
"one-size-fits-all," meaning that making adjustments to exercise
machines to best accommodate a person's physique is usually
limited. Usually, depending on the exercise machine, height
adjustment is provided, either based on leg length or torso length,
but that is usually the limitation of adjustments provided to
accommodate anatomically diverse individuals or users. One such
exercise machine that applies the one-size-fits-all approach in its
design is usually a trunk extension exercise machine.
[0005] A trunk extension movement is a general posterior movement
whereby the trunk and pelvis and hips of an individual rotate
collectively. This differs from a more specific extension of the
hip(s), pelvis, lumbar, or thoracic spine. The American Academy of
Orthopedic Surgeons applies the term hyperextension to denote any
movement or position beyond anatomical zero. Anatomical neutral or
anatomical zero is defined as that position of the trunk permitting
a straight line through shoulders, hips and knees as the human form
is viewed laterally. Inconsistency with hyperextension arises both
in technical context as well as in emotional interpretation.
[0006] If any position posterior to anatomical neutral is denoted
as hyperextension, then any position anterior to anatomical neutral
may be denoted as hyperflexion. Additionally, the prefix, hyper,
suggests an extreme condition, and this, along with other myths,
evokes hysteria regarding the design of exercises and exercise
equipment for the trunk.
[0007] In the Applicant's opinion, based on independent research
and evaluation, large exercise equipment companies such as
Nautilus.RTM., MedX.RTM., and Cybex.RTM., have a long history of
marketing equipment to avoid active hyperextension of the trunk on
their trunk extension or lumbar extension movements, but overlook
the fact that their so-called abdominal designs passively push the
trunk into hyperextension which results in a non-favorable
positioning of the lumbar region of a body.
[0008] In the 1980's, Nautilus.RTM. Sport/Medical Industries sold a
trunk extension machine dubbed a Lower Back machine. It
incorporated a "dog" on its movement arm to delimit extensional
movement beyond approximately anatomical neutral. Some versions of
these products delimited the excursion somewhat more. This
delimitation was incorporated, in part, to avoid condemnation from
the medical community. FIG. 3 depicts a reengineered Nautilus.RTM.
Lower Back (trunk extension) machine by SuperSlow.RTM. Systems,
Inc. where a correct form is depicted showing the knees slightly
flexed and the heels firmly planted on the pedestal. However, FIG.
4 depicts a user violating the positioning shown in FIG. 3 by both
straightening the legs and coming off the heels (slightly rising
off the heels). As illustrated, the heels are raised and the knees
are straightened, pushing the buttocks over the back of the seat
22. This violation is allowed due to the design of the machine.
[0009] Since 1986, MedX Company has designed and marketed its
Lumbar machines. Some of these were made for measurement and
exercise and some merely for exercise. In the Applicant's view,
these machines delimited extensional range to .about.50 degrees
short of anatomical zero while increasing flexional range (compared
to the Nautilus versions that preceded it) by .about.25 degrees.
FIG. 5 depicts a representation of a prior art MedX.RTM. Lumbar
machine. MedX.RTM. approaches the heel raising problem illustrated
in FIG. 3 with a thigh constraint 24 that forces the heels down
onto the pedestal 26. Note that this constraint does not curtail
the subject's inappropriate volition, the effort to raise the
heels, but merely blunts movement that would be powered by the
volition. MedX.RTM. solves the leg-straightening problem by
providing for an adjustable pressure 28 against the tibial
tuberocities that transmits through the femurs and pelvis to blunt
the posterior movement of the buttocks. Again, in the Applicant's
opinion, this constraint does not curtail the subject's
inappropriate volition, the effort to straighten the legs, but
merely blunts movement that is powered by the volition.
[0010] While it is obvious that the MedX.RTM. approach has helped
many with back issues, a major medical expense in today's society,
it is also probable that many other back issues are better served
with the deletion of most of the constraint and movement
restrictions incorporated into the MedX.RTM. Lumbar. A form of
exercises commonly known as William's Flexion Exercises (Paul C.
Williams, M.D.) has been prescribed to many patients' back issues
resulting in good results in this country since he described his
exercises in 1937. Another form of exercises known as the McKensie
Extension Exercises has been applied in New Zealand and Australia
with yet better outcomes. However, inconsistency exists between the
type forms of exercise since Dr. Williams preaches that trunk
extension is the cause of many back complaints while McKensie shows
that extension is the cure, especially of sciatica, as
decompression of the intervertebral discs occurs as the facets are
loaded and leveraged upon during extension. As McKensie
demonstrated, flexion actually compresses the discs.
[0011] A yet more concerning back issue is spondylolythesis. With
this condition the vertebral bodies can shift anterio-posteriorly
with grave consequences. Observation shows that that extreme
extension is relieving for many patients while extreme flexion
actually increases instability and pain. Another looming issue that
has not been addressed by any prior art inventions and/or
disclosures is the issue of motion speed. Many potentially fruitful
as well as worthless approaches to back problems have been
evaluated in the context of fast movement speed. Without a
controlled excursion speed like that of the SuperSlow.RTM. and
RenEx.RTM. protocols (positive excursion in ten seconds, negative
excursion in ten seconds) appropriate resistance curves cannot be
effected, friction cannot be assessed, and injurious acceleration
forces cannot be eliminated.
[0012] Additionally, isometric exercise is very valuable for many
patients for whom movement is painful. However, the traditional
approach to isometrics has been a contraction duration that is too
short and too violent due to abrupt application. Favored is a
staged duration of 90-120 seconds (termed Timed-Static Contraction)
rather than the traditional 5-15 second duration of all-out maximum
effort. Thus, an exercise machine is needed to address the
shortcomings of current trunk extension exercise machines.
[0013] Exercise machines also exist to allow individuals to perform
an exercise where the user grips a handle to experience resistance
from weight applied to the handle. FIG. 6 is an illustration of
such a prior art exercise machine, typically known as a pull down
exercise machine. The pull down exercise involves having the
individual's arms begin at a positive excursion, in preparation of
lifting a weight, with elbows extended and shoulders flexed (in
accordance with the American Society of Orthopaedic Surgeons'
standard for anatomical nomenclature). When ready to lift the
weight, the individual simultaneously flexes the elbows and extends
their shoulders until the forearms are abutted to the upper
chest.
[0014] In performing this exercise, the hands and wrists are
expected to travel toward (not to) the upper chest and just
medially to the anterior aspect of the shoulders, not directly to
the shoulders and not lateral to the shoulders. Proper placement
distance between the hands is permitted along the continuous grip
29 of the pictured handle 30. However, this handle 30, although
angled as far as structurally possible, does not accommodate the
necessary attitude (anatomical neutrality) of the hands and wrists.
This requires a much more severe angle. Though other shaped
gripping handles are available, since individuals differ in
shoulder breadth, chest geometry, and joint limitations, a
one-size-fits-all solution to an ideal gripping handle does not
work.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0015] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a system and
method for providing more effective use of a weight stack and
anatomically correct body movement. In one exemplary embodiment, a
system for controlling a free end of a stack pin used with a stack
of weights is disclosed. The system comprises a nesting device
configured to secure the free end of a stack pin when the stack pin
is not lifting a weight and a tuning device configured to adjust
the nesting device to exert a back up pressure on the stack pin to
counteract potential energy that accumulates when the stack pin is
being used to lift the weight.
[0016] Also disclosed is a system for reducing a build up of
potential energy in a length of a stack pin used to lift a stack of
weights where the system comprises at least two opposed stack-pin
controllers, each controller comprises a base upon which two posts
are mounted, between each pair of posts is a roller whose perimeter
matches a radius of the stack pin, and a base of each controller
which comprises a fastening device which allows for advancement or
retraction of the controller to or from the stack pin to adjust a
pressure applied to a free end of the stack pin by the rollers.
[0017] A method for reducing a buildup of potential energy in a
length of a stack pin used with a stack of weights is also
disclosed. The method comprises providing a stack pin with a top
plate at a first end, locating at least two rollers on opposite
sides of the stack pin at an end of the stack pin furthest away
from the top plate into which the stack pin is nested, and
adjusting the rollers to reduce backup pressure each time a
selector pin is inserted and/or retracted which, in turn, prevents
a buildup of a spring effect or potential energy in the length of
the stack pin.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 depicts an illustration of a prior art representation
of a selector pin being engaged with a weight in the selectorized
weight stack;
[0019] FIG. 2 depicts an illustration of the prior art selectorized
weight stack;
[0020] FIG. 3 depicts a prior art lower back (trunk extension)
machine where a correct form is depicted showing the knees slightly
flexed and the heels firmly planted on the pedestal;
[0021] FIG. 4 depicts a user violating the positioning shown in
FIG. 3 by both straightening the legs and coming off the heels;
[0022] FIG. 5 depicts another prior art representation of a lower
back machine;
[0023] FIG. 6 discloses a prior art embodiment of the pull down
exercise machine;
[0024] FIG. 7 depicts an illustration of an exemplary embodiment of
a weight-stack tuner;
[0025] FIG. 8 depicts an illustration of another exemplary
embodiment of a weight-stack tuner;
[0026] FIG. 9A depicts an illustration of a side view of the
weight-stack tuner with a stack pin in a nested position;
[0027] FIG. 9B depicts an illustration of a side view of the
weight-stack tuner with the stack pin elevated from the
weight-stack tuner;
[0028] FIG. 10 depicts a method for reducing a buildup of potential
energy in a length of a stack pin;
[0029] FIG. 11 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a trunk extension
machine;
[0030] FIG. 12 depicts a comparison of excursion between prior art
machines and an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
[0031] FIG. 13 discloses an exemplary embodiment of an adjustable
pulling handle;
[0032] FIG. 14 discloses an exemplary embodiment of another view of
the adjustable pulling handle where an adjustment gauge is
visible;
[0033] FIG. 15 illustrates a top view of a uniformly adjustable
wedge with a gauge.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0034] Reference will be made below in detail to exemplary
embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in
the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference
numerals used throughout the drawings refer to the same or like
parts. Exemplary embodiments of the invention solve problems in the
art by providing control over a second end of a weight stack and
providing components to allow for anatomically correct body
movement during certain exercises.
[0035] Though exercise machines are disclosed herein when
describing the invention, exemplary embodiments of the invention
are applicable to other machines as well. For example,
rehabilitation machines would also benefit from exemplary
embodiments of the invention disclosed herein. Thus, the teaching
of exemplary embodiments of the invention with respect to exercise
machines shall not be considered limiting as they are applicable to
other machines as well.
[0036] FIGS. 7 and 8 depict illustrations of an exemplary
embodiment of a weight-stack tuner. The tuner 13 comprises two
opposed stack-pin controllers 15, or controller mounts. Each
controller comprises a base 39 upon which two pulley posts 40 are
mounted. Between each pair of posts 40 is a roller, or wheel, 42
whose perimeter matches the radius of the stack pin 14. The base 39
of each controller 15 contains fastening slots 44 which allow a
technician to advance or retract the controller 15 to or from the
stack pin 14 and precisely secure it with fastening bolts, or
fasteners, 45 to a mount below 17. Each wheel 42 has an opening
through a centerpoint. A guide 50, which connects between the pair
of posts 40, is positioned through the opening to receive the
wheels 42 through each wheel's centerpoint.
[0037] The tuner 13 results in a system with adjustable rollers 42
that precisely abut the lower end of the guiderod and/or stack pin
14 as it nests between the rollers 42 at the lower end of the
weight stack's stroke. Once adjusted correctly (tuned), it provides
perfect, or preferred, backup pressure each time the selector pin
12 is inserted and/or retracted from between (or in) a weight plate
10, thus, preventing a buildup of a spring effect or potential
energy in the length of the stack pin 14. No walking of the weight
plates 10 occurs, and no choking of the guiderods 18 occurs.
[0038] FIG. 9A depicts an illustration of a side view of the
weight-stack tuner 13 with the stack pin 14 in a nested position,
and FIG. 9B depicts an illustration of a side view of the
weight-stack tuner 13 with the stack pin 14 elevated from the
weight-stack tuner 13. The back pressure provided by the tuner 13
is not needed once the selector pin 12 is trapped inside the weight
stack 10 when under load.
[0039] Though the tuner 13 is depicted as having rollers 42 held in
place by a pair of posts 40, other configurations of the tuner 13
is possible. For example, the tuner 13 can actually be considered
two components, a tuner device and a nesting device. The nesting
device is configured to contact the free end, or bottom end, of the
stack pin 14. Based on the figures, the top end is not a free end
since it has a weight 11 affixed to it. The configuration of the
nesting device may actually be the rollers 42, which are used to
transfer the potential energy stored in the stack pin away from the
stack pin 14, or another device, a receiving device, which is also
in contact with the free end of the stack pin 14 when the stack pin
14 is not being used to lift weight. Though the receiver is not
expressly disclosed in the figures, the rollers 42 are
representative of the receiving device. As essentially disclosed
above, the tuning device is in essence the base 39, fastening slots
44, and fastening bolts 45, which allow the technician to advance
or retract the nesting device 42 to an amount of pressure that
would be applied by the nesting device 42 upon the stack pin 14
when in contact with the stack pin 14 when weight is not being
lifted. Thus, the tuner is used to advance and retract the nesting
device a distance where placement of the nesting device components
can be viewed as defining an amount of pressure at which the
nesting device contacts the stack pin when the stack pin is not
being used to lift weight. Furthermore, though the rollers 42 are
disclosed as being supported by posts, other configurations may be
used, such as having the rollers 42 configured to attach directly
to the base 39.
[0040] FIG. 10 depicts a method for reducing a buildup of potential
energy in a length of a stack pin. The method, in flowchart 50
form, comprises providing a stack pin with a top plate at a first
end, at 52. The method further comprises locating at least two
pulley wheels on opposite sides of the stack pin at an end of the
stack pin furthest away from the top plate into which the stack pin
is nested, at 54. The method further comprises adjusting the pulley
wheels to reduce backup pressure each time a selector pin is
inserted and/or retracted which in turn prevents a buildup of a
spring effect or potential energy in the length of the stack pin,
at 56.
[0041] FIG. 11 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a trunk extension
machine. As illustrated, the trunk extension machine puts the
ankles and their extensional musculatures into active insufficiency
where no clamping is necessary for controlling inappropriate heel
raise or leg straightening. This is done with a heel wedge 60. Also
disclosed are a hip-angled thigh constraint, or seatbelt, 62, a
vertically-adjustable deck 64, a shin padding 66, a timing crank
system 67, end-stop controls 68, and a height-adjustable seat 70.
Note particularly the two Class-L rods 72 that serve as inner races
for four linear bearings housed in aluminum blocks 74, 75. The
upper block 74 and its bearings bear force horizontally toward the
rear while the lower block 75 and its bearings bear force
horizontally toward the front. (This avoids all vertical force on
the aluminum blocks.) Thus, coupling contains the force applied to
them from the weight of the platform, the weight of the subject and
the force exerted by the subject into the movement arm of the
machine. Also, the ACME-threaded rod 76 driven by the hand wheel 78
drives a flange nut that is levered upwards on the front of the
coupled system to render the same and consistent force effect
against the aluminum bearing blocks 74, 75.
[0042] The exemplary embodiment of the trunk extension machines
comprises a seat 80 to supplant the saddle and pelvic buttress
supplied on the Nautilus Lower Back.RTM. machine. As illustrated,
the seat 80 is under the proximal thighs to permit full hip
extension concurrent with spine extension. In this configuration,
movement-arm range of motion to exceed the trunk is permitted.
Optional extensional stops, to protect a user experiencing
extensional limit issues, are provided. The timing crank system 67
is a crank-adjustable cam-timing system, or device, which may
accommodate a user's variable endpoint resistance decrease
requirements. The seat-belt 62 is provided to arrest reactionary
forces at the hip angle in such a way as to not delimit extension.
The weight-stack may be set with a gap at a desired amount to lift
to delimit the flexional starting position for users who are
flexionally limited.
[0043] A pedestal-height adjustment device is also provided. This
is done with a uniquely coupled cantilevered design that permits
adequate access and safe entry/exit and simultaneously enables
precise and accurate positioning and repositioning without the user
being required to step higher than 3.5 inches. Its design utilizes
components and force to lift and hold the largest of users plus the
force of effort against movement arm.
[0044] The wedge 60 is used to place the ankles into maximum
extension. In one exemplary embodiment, the position of the wedge
should accurately and precisely ensure repeatability by utilizing
etched grids and non-skid between the wedge and the pedestal or
base 61. Positioning into maximum ankle position solves two
problems at once. First, it prevents the user from rising off the
heels as the ankles are already run out as high as possible with
depleted height potential. Second, maximum ankle extension locks
the talus against the lower tibia and femur in the ankle to
preclude leg (knee) straightening as the proximal thigh is
constrained downward by the seat belt. Constraints around the
calves may also be used to prevent knee straightening in subjects
with feet issues which would disallow the use of the ankle wedge.
Another feature that can be provided is a force-cell pickup with
force-magnitude feedback via monitor to facilitate recordable and
comparable performances of a timed-static contraction (isometric)
exercise.
[0045] FIG. 12 depicts a comparison of excursion between prior art
machines and an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The
top row depicts the MedX machine. The middle row depicts the
Nautilus machine. The bottom row depicts an exemplary embodiment of
the present invention. As illustrated, total excursion is greatest
with the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. More
particularly, the MedX.RTM. machine ("Prior Art A") produces a
total excursion of about 46.5 degrees whereas the Nautilus.RTM.
machine ("Prior Art B") produces a total excursion of about 98.5
degrees. The exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides
a greater total excursion with a total excursion of about 122
degrees.
[0046] FIG. 13 discloses an exemplary embodiment of an adjustable
pulling handle. The adjustable pulling handle 80 may be used with
any exercise machine requiring such a handle. As illustrated, the
handle 80 has a support bar 82. Grips 84 are angled for neutrality
for a human hand and wrist, extending from the support bar 82. Ends
of the grips 84 possess a keeper 86. The keeper 86 may be in a form
of a disc, ball, and/or any suitable shape. The keeper 86 may be
configured to allow for an optional and safe use of wrist hooks,
attached to the grips 84, but not removed from the grips 84 by the
keepers 86. The handle 80, or at least the grips 84, may be
rubberized, such as by being covered with a rubberized material,
for palm comfort.
[0047] Variable hand spacing is also achieved with the use of an
opposing threaded rods 88,89, such as, but not limited to,
ACME-threaded rods, that are welded and timed from a center of the
support bar. One threaded rod 88 and its associated nut are right
threaded while the other threaded rod 89 and nut are left threaded.
The two threaded rods 88, 89 are fitted, connected, and/or fastened
together at the center of the support bar 82 so that their nuts
move either toward one another or away from one another at the same
rate and distance as the threaded rods 88, 89 are rotated by a
suitable hand crank 90 or knob from either end of the handle, or
support bar.
[0048] Each angled grip 84 may be welded to its associated nut in a
precise mirror image of the other. Each grip 84 moves with its nut
92 along the threaded rod 88 to a location (distance from the
other) deemed best by the user. Its angle remains controlled with
the square nut 92 as it traverses through a tube 93 within the
support bar 82. As illustrated, the support bar 82 may be a square
tube, with the tube being defined by the open area 94, or long
slot(s) within the support bar 82. Each handle 84 emerges through a
long slot 94 cut on a same side of the support bar 82. Both ends of
the threaded rods 88, 89 are supported as they rotate by bushings
mounted inside blocks, such as, but not limited to, steel blocks,
which are fastened to each end of the tube, or support bar 82.
Thus, when the hand crank 90 is turned, one of the threaded rods 88
will have a nut 92 which rotates in a clockwise rotation about the
rod 88, hence moving its associated grip 84 in a first direction
along the threaded rod 88. At the same time, the second threaded
rod 89 will have a nut 92 which rotates in a counter-clockwise
rotation about the rod 89, hence moving its associated grip 84 in a
second direction along the threaded rod 89. Such a uniform movement
allows for the grips 84 to remain equally spaced from the center of
the support bar 82.
[0049] FIG. 14 discloses an exemplary embodiment of another view of
the adjustable pulling handle where an adjustment gauge 97 is
visible. Since others may use the exercise machine in between uses
by a current user, the current user's ideal spacing may be
identified on the adjustment gauge. The current user will then be
able to quickly adjust the grips' configuration to the user's
preference rather quickly as opposed to having to adjust the grips
several times until a comfortable position is achieved each time
the current user later uses the exercise machine.
[0050] Returning to the trunk extension machine illustrated in FIG.
11, FIG. 15 illustrates a top view of the wedge. As illustrated,
placement of the wedge 60 may be adjustable, or, more specifically
uniformly adjustable along a base 61 of the exercise machine to
ensure repeated similar placement of the wedge. This is
accomplished in part with an adjustment gauge 101 so that the user
can return the wedge 60 to a predetermined position. The wedge 60
is uniformly adjusted with a combination of rods 88, 89 nuts 92,
and a crank 90 as disclosed above with respect to the adjustable
pulling handle 80. However, each nut 92 is connected to a
respective extender 102 at a first end where the rods are connected
together at a center location and are attached to the wedge 60 at a
distal end. Thus, with respect to the wedge 60, when the hand crank
90 is turned, one of the threaded rods 88 will have a nut 92 which
rotates in a clockwise rotation about the rod 88, hence moving an
associated extender 102 in a first direction along the threaded rod
88. At the same time, the second threaded rod 89 has a nut 92 which
rotates in a counter-clockwise rotation about the rod 89, hence
moving its associated extender 102 in a second direction along the
threaded rod 89. Such a uniform movement allows for both front
corners 103 of the wedge 60 to remain equally spaced from the edges
of a platform (meaning the wedge 60 is not transitioned to a skewed
position with one corner extended further away from a front edge of
a platform than the other). This mechanism also provides for the
wedge 60 to remain stationary while an exercise is being performed.
The application of opposing rods/nuts with respect to the wedge 60
is similar to the rods/nuts utilized with respect to the adjustable
pull down handle.
[0051] Individually, in an exemplary embodiment a trunk extension
system may comprise a seat configured to be positioned to permit
full hip extension concurrent with spine extension, and a wedge
device configured to position a user's ankles and extensional
musculatures into active insufficiency wherein securing legs (or if
the user has lost a leg, such as through amputation, legs shall
mean a singular leg) of the user is unnecessary for controlling
inappropriate heel raise and/or leg straightening. The system may
further comprise a stack of weights wherein the lifting and
lowering of the stack of weights is performed with a stack pin, the
stack pin comprising a nesting device configured to secure a free
end of a stack pin when the stack pin is not lifting an added
amount of weight and a tuning device configured to adjust the
nesting device to exert a pressure on the stack pin to counteract
potential energy that accumulates when the stack pin is being used
to lift the added amount of weight.
[0052] In another exemplary embodiment, a system for providing for
a trunk extension exercise may comprise a seat configured to permit
full hip extension concurrent with spine extension, a wedge device
configured to put ankles of the user and their extensional
musculatures into active insufficiency, a device configured to
permit movement-arm range of motion to exceed the trunk, a
crank-adjustable cam-timing to accommodate a user's variable
endpoint resistance decrease requirements, a seatbelt to arrest
reactionary forces at the hip angle to not delimit extension, a
stack of weights where weight-stack gapping is provided to delimit
a flexional starting position for a user who is flexionally
limited, a seat height adjustment device, and a pedestal-height
adjustment.
[0053] A exemplary embodiment of an adjustable pulling handle
system may comprise a support bar, a first threaded rod and a
second threaded rod, each threaded rod is located within the
support bar, and connected together at adjacent ends, the first
threaded rod having threads allowing for rotation of a nut in a
first direction when the connected rods are rotated and the second
threaded rod having threads allowing for rotation of a second nut
in a second direction when the connected rods are rotated, a first
grip and a second grip, each grip angularly extending from the
support bar wherein the first grip is connected to the first nut
and the second grip is connected to the second nut, and a crank
attached to an end of one of the threaded rods to allow for the
first nut to rotate in the first direction about its threaded rod
when the crank is rotated and for the second nut to rotate in the
second direction about its threaded rod when the crank is rotated.
The grips may be equally spaced from a center of the support bar
when rotation of the threaded rods is ceased, at any location along
the length of the threaded rods.
[0054] In operation, the weight-stack tuner 13 may be used with any
exercise machine and/or rehabilitation machine that utilize stacked
weights. This includes trunk extension machines, leg extension
machines, chest exercise machines, arm exercise machines (such as
those requiring a pull handle), etc. Furthermore, a combination of
all three components may be applicable to a single exercise machine
and/or rehabilitation machine that may utilize stack weights, where
a user's ankles and their extensional musculatures may need to be
in active insufficiency (hence the use of the wedge 60), and where
a pull handle may be needed, such as to assist the user entering
and/or exiting the machine or where the machines is designed to
allow performance of more than one type of exercise
[0055] While the invention has been described with reference to
various exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those
skilled in the art that various changes, omissions and/or additions
may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In
addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular
situation or material to the teachings of the invention without
departing from the scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that
the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed
as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but
that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the
scope of the appended claims. Moreover, unless specifically stated,
any use of the terms first, second, etc., does not denote any order
or importance, but rather the terms first, second, etc., are used
to distinguish one element from another.
* * * * *