Leg exercising apparatus

Abstract

An exercising apparatus of the leg-press type having foot pedals which are pivotally suspended from a box-like frame. The foot pedals are connected through mechanical linkage to a stack of weights positioned for vertical movement to the side of the foot pedals. An exerciser seated in a seat in front of the foot pedals may exercise his legs against the foot pedals. The exerciser may reach the weights from the seat.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to exercising apparatus for physical development and muscular rehabilitation. The importance of physical exercise to good health has long been recognized. The present invention is directed to providing a compact leg exercising apparatus which permits the user to obtain the beneficial results of leg exercise. In my co-pending Patent Application, Ser. No. 171,525, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,820,782, filed on Aug. 13, 1971, and entitled "Leg Exercising Apparatus," I disclose and claim an exercising apparatus in which foot pedals move along a track to raise a series of weights through a chain and sprocket assembly.

While my earlier invention is useful in leg exercising development, I have found that some maintenance problems have developed with the chain and sprocket arrangement, notably the requirement for lubrication of the chain and sprockets and the track along which the foot pedals move.

The present invention utilizes a linkage between the foot pedals and the weights. All of the pivoting points of the linkage are formed with graphite impregnated nylon bearings so that they are self-lubricating. The present invention provides a compact, maintenance-free exercising apparatus.

SUMMARY

The present invention is directed to an improved exercising apparatus wherein an exerciser seated in front of the apparatus may bear against foot pedals that move the varying number of weights to provide graduated exercise for the legs. The linkage connecting the foot pedals and the weights is designed at a mechanical disadvantage and is selflubricating and maintenance free.

With the foregoing considerations in mind, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved leg exercising apparatus.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a leg exercising apparatus which is substantially maintenance free.

These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent as this description proceeds in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of the leg exercising apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational section of the apparatus of FIG. 1 taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the linkage arrangement of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a leg exercising apparatus 10 having a box-like frame composed of front upright members 12 and rear upright members 14. The upright members are connected at top and bottom by cross members 16.

At the center of the front of the apparatus, an upright member 18 divides the front into two approximately equal sides. Extending between center upright 18 and one front upright 12 is a horizontal pivot 20. A foot pedal support member 22 is pivoted on horizontal pivot 20 by a graphite impregnated nylon bearing. The foot pedal support member 22 has two pairs of foot pedals 24 and 26 formed integrally therewith. The foot pedals 24 are above the foot pedals 26 and, accordingly, foot pedals 24 provide a shorter lever arm from pivot 20 and therefore require a greater force to move the linkage as will hereinafter more fully appear.

At the top end of foot pedal support member 22, a link 28 is pivotally connected to the support member 22 through a pivot connection 30 formed with a graphite impregnated nylon bearing. At the other end, link 28 is connected through pivot connection 32 to a bellcrank 34. Again, a graphite impregnated nylon bearing is utilized at the pivot connection 32.

Bellcrank 34 consists of an offset bellcrank arrangement having an arm 34a which is connected to link 28. Arm 34a is rigidly fixed to a tubular offset 34b extending across the front of the apparatus 10. Tubular offset 34b has fixed thereto a second arm 34c that is laterally offset to the other side of center upright 18 as is best seen in FIG. 1. The bellcrank 34 is pivotally connected to the frame by pivot connections 36 at each end of the tubular offset 34b. These pivot connections 36 have a graphite impregnated nylon bearing.

Arm 34c of bellcrank 34 is pivotally connected to link 40 through pivot connection 38. Link 40 extends in a generally vertical fashion to weight supporting means 44 to which it is connected by a pivot connection 42. Pivot connections 38 and 42 are both formed with graphite impregnated nylon bearings.

A plurality of weights 46 are stacked one on top of the other for vertical movement along tracks 48. The tracks 48 are fixed to the frame and the weights 46 slide up and down the tracks 48. The weight supporting means 44 extends down through the stack of weights 46 and, in conventional fashion, the weight supporting means 44 has a plurality of holes formed therein. By properly positioning a key pin through one of the weights and into the weight supporting means 44, all of the weights above the pinned weight are lifted when weight supporting means 44 is moved upwardly. Thus, the positioning of the key pin enables the user of the apparatus to vary the effective weight with which he is exercising.

Extending from the front of the frame is a seat bar 50 as best seen in FIG. 2. The seat bar 50 extends below the seat 52 which has a telescoping tube 54 fixed to the bottom thereof. The seat 52 has an upright support 52a which contacts the floor behind the seat. With the telescoping tube, the distance between seat 52 and the frame of the apparatus may be varied and then the distance may be locked by use of key 56 which places through mating holes in the telescoping tube 54 and the seat bar 50.

The linkage arrangement of the present invention has been designed so that the weights 46 are lifted with a mechanical disadvantage to the exerciser who pushes upon said pedals 24 or 26. This permits fewer weights to provide the greater exercise which ordinarily requires a greater number of weights. Further, by providing two sets of foot pedals, 24 and 26, a greater variation in the amount of weights which can be lifted is provided.

As viewed in FIG. 2, and also in the schematic representation of FIG. 3, it may be seen that when the foot pedals 24 or 26 are forced to the left as viewed in those figures, the foot pedal support member 22 moves in a clockwise direction about pivot 20. This movement causes the link 28 to be moved to the right and to rotate arm 34a of bellcrank 34 in a counterclockwise direction about pivot connection 36. The movement of arm 34a in the counterclockwise direction causes the other arm 34c of bellcrank 34 to move in a counterclockwise direction thereby moving link 40 upwardly so that weight supporting means 44 is also moved upwardly.

The unique linkage of the present invention permits the weights 46 to be within reach of an exerciser seated upon the seat 52. The exerciser can operate the key pin for the weights in order to vary the number of weights that will be lifted during each of his exercising movements.

All of the pivoting connections of the present invention utilize graphite impregnated nylon bearings so that they are maintenance free, require no lubrication, and the entire apparatus is free of oil dripping beneath it as so often occurs on present exercising machines.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, I have explained the principle, preferred construction, and mode of operation of my invention and have illustrated and described what I now consider to represent its best embodiment. However, I desire to have it understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An exercising apparatus of the leg-press type comprising:

a. an upstanding box-like frame,

b. at least one pair of foot pedals,

c. a vertically positioned foot pedal supporting member fixed to said foot pedals and pivotally mounted on a horizontal member attached to said frame for pivoting about a horizontal axis,

d. a weight supporting means extending vertically through a plurality of weights slideably mounted on said box-like frame for vertical movement relative to said frame whereby a predetermined number of said weights may be attached to said weight supporting means for movement therewith,

e. linkage means pivotally mounted on said box-like frame connecting said foot pedal supporting member and said weight support means so that force exerted upon said foot pedals acts at a mechanical disadvantage to raise said weight supporting means, said linkage means consisting of a bellcrank pivotally supported by a horizontal pivot means fixed to the top of said box-like frame, a first rigid link pivotally secured at one end to the end of said foot pedal supporting member and at the other end to said bellcrank, and a second link pivotally secured at one end to the opposite end of said bellcrank and pivotally secured at the other end to said weight supporting means, and

f. a seat adjustably fixable to said frame in front of said foot pedals whereby an exerciser seated in said seat may exert a force upon said foot pedals to exercise his legs.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein two pairs of foot pedals are attached to said foot pedal supporting member so that each pair of foot pedals provides a different mechanical disadvantage when raising said weight supporting means.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein all of the pivoting connections are formed with self-lubricating bearings whereby said apparatus requires no external lubrication.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plurality of weights are stacked one on top of the other to one side of said foot pedals so that the exerciser, while seated in said seat, may adjust the number of weights effectively attached to said weight supporting member.