U.S. patent number 3,640,525 [Application Number 04/856,040] was granted by the patent office on 1972-02-08 for frictional resistant-type exercise machine with waist-level-mounted oscillatable handgrips.
Invention is credited to Richard I. Proctor.
United States Patent |
3,640,525 |
Proctor |
February 8, 1972 |
FRICTIONAL RESISTANT-TYPE EXERCISE MACHINE WITH WAIST-LEVEL-MOUNTED
OSCILLATABLE HANDGRIPS
Abstract
An exercise apparatus including a seat structure defining front
and rear portions and including a standard portion projecting
upwardly from the rear portion thereof from which a generally
horizontally disposed transverse handle bar including forwardly
directed end portions is supported at a generally central location
for oscillation about a horizontal axis extending in front-to-rear
direction in a direction intersecting a user seated on the seat
structure. The handle bar and its axis of oscillation are disposed
at an elevation relative to the seat structure so as to generally
correspond to the elevation of the waist of a person seated on the
seat structure.
Inventors: |
Proctor; Richard I. (Loomis,
CA) |
Family
ID: |
25322736 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/856,040 |
Filed: |
September 8, 1969 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/115;
482/133 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B
21/015 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63B
21/012 (20060101); A63B 21/015 (20060101); A63b
023/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;272/79R,80,72,DIG.3,DIG.4 ;128/25 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Pinkham; Richard C.
Assistant Examiner: Browne; William R.
Claims
What is claimed as new is as follows:
1. An exercise apparatus including a seat structure defining front
and rear portions and adapted to be sat upon by a user of the
apparatus, a standard projecting upwardly rearwardly of the rear
portion of said seat structure, a mount portion supported on said
standard at an elevation generally corresponding to the elevation
of the waist of a person seated on said seat structure, said mount
portion including an oscillatable member movable about a horizontal
axis extending in a direction intersecting a user seated on said
seat structure in a front-to-back direction of the user and a
generally horizontal extending handlebar assembly transversely
positioned generally perpendicular to the horizontal axis and
centrally mounted on said oscillatable member, said handlebar
assembly being oscillatable about said axis by a user seated on
said seat structure.
2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said handlebar assembly has
opposite end portions, said opposite end portions of said handlebar
assembly being positioned to engage laterally extended arms of a
user of the apparatus while seated thereupon.
3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said handlebar assembly
having remote ends terminating in forwardly directed handgrip
portions.
4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said mount portion includes
resistance means yieldingly resisting oscillation of said handlebar
assembly relative to said standard.
5. The combination of claim 4 wherein the resistance means includes
means for variably resisting oscillation of said handlebar assembly
relative to said standard.
6. An exercise apparatus including a seat structure defining front
and rear end portions and adapted to be sat upon by user of the
apparatus, a mount portion stationarily supported relative to said
seat structure, a generally horizontal transversely extending
handlebar assembly, means supporting said handlebar assembly from
said mount portion for oscillation about a horizontal axis
extending in a direction intersecting a user seated on said seat
structure in a front-to-back direction of a user, said handlebar
assembly being generally centered transversely positioned generally
perpendicular to the horizontal axis and disposed at an elevation
above said seat structure generally corresponding to the elevation
of the waist of a person seated on said seat structure, said mount
portion including a stationary body having an axial bore formed
therein extending in front to rear direction relative to said seat
structure and opening at one end of said body, a shaft secured in
said bore, said shaft having a front end, the front end of said
bore including a shallow counterbore, an apertured friction disc
disposed on said shaft and seated in said counterbore, the
last-mentioned means including an oscillatable sleeve having a
central bore, a rear end, a front end, said bore formed
therethrough and mounted on said shaft with the rear end of said
sleeve seated against the outer side of said disc and received in
said counterbore, said sleeve bore including a counterbore into
which said shaft projects annular thrust bearing means disposed in
said sleeve counterbore and projecting outwardly lengthwise of said
shaft, said shaft including a threaded axial bore, a thumbscrew
including a threaded shank threadedly engaged in said axial bore
and including a spring retainer means and a compression spring
disposed about said shank between said spring retainer means and
said thrust bearing means, said handlebar assembly being supported
from said sleeve for oscillation therewith.
7. The combination of claim 1 wherein said mount portion includes
resistance means yieldingly resisting oscillation of said handlebar
assembly relative to said standard, resistance means including
means for variably resisting oscillation of said handlebar assembly
relative to said standard, said handlebar assembly having opposite
end portions, the opposite end portions of said handlebar assembly
being positioned to engage laterally extended arms of a user of the
apparatus seated thereupon.
8. The combination of claim 7 wherein the opposite end portions of
said handlebar terminate in forwardly directed handgrip defining
portions.
9. An exercise apparatus including a seat structure defining front
and rear portions and adapted to be sat upon by a user of the
apparatus, a mount portion stationarily supported relative to said
seat structure, a member oscillatably supported by said mount
portion for angular displacement about a horizontal axis extending
in a direction intersecting a user seated on said seat structure in
a front-to-back direction of a user, said member being generally
centered centrally of and transversely positioned generally
perpendicular to the horizontal axis and disposed at an elevation
above said seat structure generally corresponding to the elevation
of the waist of a person seated on said seat structure, and a
generally horizontal transversely extending handlebar assembly
centrally mounted on said oscillatable member said handlebar
assembly being oscillatable about said axis by user seated on said
seat structure, said apparatus including a pair of horizontally
spaced apart back-to-back seat structures between which said mount
portion is disposed and a pair of handlebar assembly each assembly
including a member supported from said mount portion for
independent oscillation relative thereto.
10. An exercise apparatus including a seat structure defining front
and rear end portions and adapted to be sat upon by a user of the
apparatus, a mount portion stationarily supported relative to said
seat structure, a member oscillatably supported from said mount
portion for angular displacement about a horizontal axis extending
in a direction intersecting a user seated on said structure in a
front-to-back direction of a user, said member being generally
centered centrally of and transversely positioned generally
perpendicular to the horizontal axis and disposed at an elevation
above said seat structure generally corresponding to the elevation
of the waist of a person seated on said seat structure, said member
having at least one crank arm means secured thereto, said crank arm
means including at least one outer end portion spaced radially
outwardly of said axis and including a handgrip portion
oscillatable with said crank arm means through an arc whose center
of curvature generally coincides with said axis.
Description
The exercise or side bend machine of the instant invention has been
designed to provide a means whereby the internal and external
oblique muscles of the sides of the waist may be thoroughly
exercised. In addition, the side bend machine is operative to
tighten, firm and tone the oblique muscles and it is also
beneficial in the reduction of excess fatty tissue which usually
accumulates in the waist area on overweight individuals.
The exercise machine of the instant invention is hereinafter
described in detail as a tandem machine with certain components
thereof being duplicated for simultaneous use by two persons.
However, the exercise machine may also be readily constructed so as
to accommodate only one person.
The exercise machine includes an elongated benchlike seat structure
having front and rear ends and which is adapted to be sat upon by a
person wishing to use the machine. The user of the machine sits
upon the seat structure at the rear end thereof with the upper
portions of his legs extending along the seat structure toward the
front end thereof. The lower legs of the user are bent downwardly
at the knees in vertical position forward of the forward end of the
seat structure and the user's feet rest upon the supporting surface
upon which the seat structure rests. The rear of the seat structure
includes an upright having a mounting portion disposed generally at
waist level from which a transverse handlebar assembly is
oscillatably supported for swinging about a horizontal axis
extending in front-to-rear direction relative to the seat
structure. The handlebar assembly includes forwardly directed
opposite end portions for gripping by the hands of the user and the
opposite end arms of the handlebar from which the handgrips are
supported are contoured and slightly forwardly convergent in a
manner such that the user of the exercise machine, with his hands
engaged with the handgrips, may rest his arms upon the opposite end
arm portions of the handlebar. A friction drag assembly is provided
in the mounting of the handlebar and is adjustable whereby a varied
amount of friction may be applied to resist oscillation of the
handlebar.
The main object of this invention is to provide an exercise machine
by which persons may thoroughly exercise internal and external
oblique muscles of the sides of the waist.
Another object of this invention is to provide an exercise machine
which may be utilized to reduce the excess fatty tissue which
usually accumulates in the waist area of overweight
individuals.
Another important object of this invention is to provide an
exercise machine in accordance with the preceding objects and
including adjustable friction resistance means whereby the movable
component of the exercise machine may have varied amounts of
resistance to its movement applied thereto.
A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated
herein is to provide an exercise machine which will conform to
conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and
easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically
feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free in
operation.
These together with other objects and advantages which will become
subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and
operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed,
reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part
hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and
in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the exercise machine of the instant
invention;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical sectional view taken
substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 2-2 of
FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the handlebar-mounting
portion of the exercise machine;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken
substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 4--4 of
FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view taken
substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 5-5 of
FIG. 4; and
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view taken
substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 6-6 of
FIG. 4.
Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10
generally designates the exercise machine of the instant invention.
The machine 10 includes a support frame including a lower center
longitudinal member 12 interconnecting a pair of opposite end
transverse members 14 at their midportions. A pair of upper
opposite side longitudinal members 16 are provided and
interconnected at corresponding ends by means of a pair of upper
transverse members 18. Each of the transverse members 18 is
supported from its opposite ends by the upper ends of a pair of
uprights 20 whose lower ends are secured in any convenient manner
to the opposite ends of the corresponding lower transverse member
14.
A pair of tandem seat structures 22 including front and rear ends
24 and 26 are secured to the opposite ends of the upper opposite
side longitudinal members 16 and the corresponding upper transverse
members 18 in any convenient manner. In addition, a pair of closely
spaced uprights 28 have their lower ends supported from
longitudinally spaced central portions of the longitudinal member
12 and their upper ends are interconnected by means of a mounting
sleeve structure 30. The uprights 28 pass between and are secured
to the opposite side longitudinal members 16 by means of suitable
fasteners 32. Further, the uprights 28 extend between the adjacent
rear ends 26 of the seat structures 22.
The sleeve or mounting sleeve structure 30 has a central
longitudinal bore 34 formed therethrough and each end of the bore
34 includes a shallow counterbore 36. A mounting shaft 38 is
secured through the sleeve 30 by means of a pair of fasteners 40
secured through the sleeve 30, diametric bores 42 formed in the
shaft 38 and threaded in the upper ends of the uprights 28, see
FIG. 4. The opposite end portions of the shaft 38 project outwardly
of the corresponding ends of the sleeve 30 and are provided with
threaded blind bores 44.
A pair of centrally apertured friction discs 46 are seated in the
counterbores 36 and are snugly received on the opposite end
portions of the mounting shaft 38. In addition, a pair of
oscillatable mounting sleeves 48 having bores 50 formed
therethrough are oscillatably disposed on the remote ends of the
mounting shaft 38 with the terminal ends of the mounting shaft 38
projecting into counterbores 52 formed in the outer ends of the
bores 50. The adjacent ends of the mounting sleeves 48 are seated
in the outer ends of the counterbores 36 outwardly of the friction
discs 46 and each of the mounting sleeves 48 has a semicylindrical
groove 54 formed in its outer end whose center axis of curvature is
generally tangent to the outer cylindrical surfaces of the mounting
sleeve 48.
The central portions 56 of a pair of transverse handlebars referred
to in general by the reference numerals 58 are secured in the
grooves 54 by means of suitable fasteners 60 and each of the
counterbores 52 has a plurality of antifriction thrust bearing
washers 62 disposed therein and about the opposite terminal ends of
the mounting shaft 38 to serve as thrust bearings for engagement
with a pair of shouldered spring retainers 64. Each of the
shouldered spring retainers 64 is disposed in each counterbore 52
slightly outwardly of the adjacent terminal end of the shaft 38 and
a threaded thumbscrew 66 is passed through each spring retainer 64
and threadedly engaged in the corresponding threaded blind bore 44.
Each thumbscrew 66 has a diametrically enlarged head 68 on its
outer end and a second spring retainer disc 70 is disposed upon
each thumbscrew 66 and abuts the inner end of the corresponding
head 68. A compression spring 72 is disposed on each thumbscrew 66
between the corresponding pair of spring retainers 64 and 70 and it
will be noted that the spring retainers 70 are receivable in the
outer ends of the counterbores 52 whereby threading the thumbscrews
66 inwardly will further compress the springs 72 and thus apply
greater force upon the corresponding mounting sleeve 48 so as to
urge it into tighter frictional engagement with the corresponding
friction disc 46.
When it is desired to use the machine 10, a person may be seated
upon either of the seat structures 22 with his back opposing the
corresponding thumbscrew 66 and his knees disposed at the forward
end 24 of the seat structure 22. Then, the user of the machine may
rest his arms on the opposite ends of the corresponding handlebar
assembly 58 with his hands gripping the forwardly directed handgrip
portions 74 of that handlebar assembly. The machine 10 may now be
utilized by the user bending from side to side at the waist with
his hands and arms supported from the corresponding handlebar
assembly 58. If it is desired to have oscillation of the handlebar
58 resisted with increased friction, the corresponding thumbscrew
66 may be turned inwardly so as to further compress the
corresponding spring 72.
It will be noted that the mounting shaft 38 extends in a
front-to-rear direction relative to both of the seat structures 22
and that the shaft 38 is disposed generally at waist level of a
person or persons seated upon the seat structures 22. Therefore, as
the person seated on either of the seat structures 22 bends at the
waist from side to side his arms and hands will be supported from
the corresponding handlebar assembly 58 without movement relative
thereto and the user of the machine will not only be bending at the
waist and alternately shortening the various oblique muscles of the
waist in order to cause oscillation of the handlebar 58, but will
also be alternately foreshortening various shoulder and arm muscles
in order to exert alternating downward pressure on the opposite
ends of the handlebar assembly 58.
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles
of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes
will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired
to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation
shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and
equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the
invention.
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