Cable crossover exercise apparatus

• US 20030176261A1
• Filed: 02/05/2003
• Published: 09/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ICON Health & Fitness Incorporated (HF HOLDINGS INC)
• Original Assignee: FreeMotion Fitness (HF HOLDINGS INC)
• Inventors: Dalebout, William T., Simonson, Roy
• Granted Patent: US 7,169,093 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/103
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0628 for vertical array of weights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/152 Bowden-type cables
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/154 using special pulley-assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/156 the position of the pulleys being variable, e.g. for different exercises
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4017 to the upper limbs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4035 for operation by hand
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4043 Free movement, i.e. the only restriction coming from the resistance A63B21/00043, A63B21/072 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4047 Pivoting movement weight pivoting A63B21/0615
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/09 Adjustable dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/03533 With separate means driven by each limb, i.e. performing different movements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/03541 Moving independently from each other A63B22/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/12 for upper limbs or related muscles, e.g. chest, upper back or shoulder muscles bench press exercises A63B21/078; for teaching music G09B15/06
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/1209 Involving a bending of elbow and shoulder joints simultaneously

Abstract

A highly versatile exercise apparatuses is disclosed. More particularly, the invention relates to an exercise apparatus including a central weight stack and opposed extension arms. Upper and lower pulleys direct a cable into the opposed extension arms such that variations in the cable reaction and tension are minimized when either arm is moved.

Claims

1. An exercise apparatus, comprising:

a resistance assembly;

a cable linking a left extension arm and a right extension arm to the resistance assembly,

wherein the cable includes a first end and a second end;

wherein the right extension arm includes a proximal end pivotally coupled to the resistance assembly, and a free distal end from which the first end of the cable extends, the right extension arm having a first axis of rotation, the exercise apparatus further including a right first and a right second pulley mounted adjacent the proximal end of the right extension arm; and

wherein the left extension arm includes a proximal end pivotally coupled to the resistance assembly and a free distal end from which the second end of the cable extends, the left extension arm having a second axis of rotation, the exercise apparatus further including a left first and a left second pulley mounted adjacent the proximal end of the left extension arm.

2. An exercise apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein each of the first and second right and left pulleys are mounted on the resistance assembly, each of the right first and right second pulleys has an axis of rotation offset from and substantially parallel to the first axis of rotation, and each of the left first and left second pulleys has an axis of rotation offset from and substantially parallel to the second axis of rotation.

3. An exercise apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the right first pulley is mounted on the resistance assembly and the right second pulley is mounted on the resistance assembly lower than the right first pulley.

4. An exercise apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the left first pulley is mounted on the resistance assembly and the left second pulley is mounted on the resistance assembly lower than the left pulley.

5. An exercise apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein the first end of the cable contacts at least one of the right first and right second pulleys and then enters the proximal end of the right extension arm and exits the distal end of the right extension arm, and the second end of the cable contacts at least one of the left first and left second pulleys and then enters the proximal end of the left extension arm and exits the distal end of the left extension arm.

6. An exercise apparatus, comprising:

a resistance assembly;

a cable having a first end and a second end;

a right extension arm having a proximal end pivotally coupled to the resistance assembly and a free distal end from which the first end of the cable extends, the right extension arm having a first axis of rotation;

a left extension arm having a proximal end pivotally coupled to the resistance assembly and a free distal end from which the second end of the cable extends, the left extension arm having a second axis of rotation, wherein the cable selectively moves through the right and left extension arms against resistance provided by the resistance assembly;

first and second pulleys positioned such that at least one of the first and second pulleys directs the first end of the cable into the right extension arm; and

third and fourth pulleys positioned such that at least one of the third and fourth pulleys direct the second end of the cable into the left extension arm.

7. An exercise apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein the first end of the cable enters an opening in the proximal end of the first extension arm and exits an opening at the distal end of the first extension arm, and the second end of the cable enters an opening in the proximal end of the second extension arm and exits an opening at the distal end of the second extension arm, and wherein the first and second pulleys have axes of rotation that are parallel to and offset from an axis of rotation of the right extension arm and the third and fourth pulleys having axes of rotation that are parallel to and offset from an axis of rotation of the left extension arm.

8. An exercise apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein the first pulley is mounted on the resistance assembly adjacent the right extension arm and the second pulley is mounted on the resistance assembly lower than the first pulley.

9. An exercise apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein the third pulley is mounted on the resistance assembly adjacent the left extension arm and the fourth pulley is mounted on the resistance assembly lower than the first pulley.

10. The exercise apparatus of claim 6, wherein the resistance assembly comprises a support frame and a stack of weight plates, and wherein the cable is configured so as to engage a pulley system including a pulley coupled to the stack of weight plates, and wherein the cable moves through the right and left extension arms against resistance provided by the weight plates such that the cable links the right extension arm and the left extension arm to the resistance assembly.

11. An exercise apparatus, comprising:

a resistance assembly;

a cable having a first end and a second end;

a right extension arm having a proximal end pivotally coupled to the resistance assembly and a free distal end from which the first end of the cable extends, the right extension arm having a first axis of rotation;

a left extension arm having a proximal end pivotally coupled to the resistance assembly and a free distal end from which the second end of the cable extends, the left extension arm having a second axis of rotation, the cable extending through the right and left extension arms and selectively moving against resistance provided by the resistance assembly;

first and second pulleys mounted adjacent the proximal end of the right extension arm, each pulley having an axis of rotation that is parallel to the first axis of rotation of the right extension arm, the first end contacting at least one of the first and second pulleys and extending through the right extension arm; and

third and fourth pulleys mounted adjacent the first end of the left extension arm, each pulley having an axis of rotation that is parallel to the second axis of rotation of the left extension arm, the second end contacting at least one of the third and fourth pulleys and extending through the left extension arm.

12. An exercise apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein the resistance assembly comprises a support frame and a stack of weight plates, and wherein the cable engages a pulley system including a pulley coupled to the stack of weight plates, and wherein the cable selectively moves through the right and left extension arms against resistance provided by the weight plates.

13. An exercise apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein the first pulley is mounted on the resistance assembly adjacent the right extension arm and the second pulley is mounted on the resistance assembly lower than the first pulley.

14. An exercise apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein the third pulley is mounted on the resistance assembly adjacent the left extension arm and the fourth pulley is mounted on the resistance assembly lower than the first pulley.

15. An exercise apparatus comprising:

a resistance assembly;

a cable having a first end and a second end;

a right extension arm having a proximal end pivotally coupled to the resistance assembly and a free distal end from which the first end of the cable extends, the right extension arm having a first axis of rotation;

a left extension arm having a proximal end pivotally coupled to the resistance assembly and a free distal end from which the second end of the cable extends, the left extension arm having a second axis of rotation, wherein the cable selectively moves through the right and left extension arms against resistance provided by the resistance assembly;

right upper and lower pulleys positioned such that at least one of the upper and lower pulleys directs the first end of the cable into a first opening of the right extension arm, the first end exiting a second opening of the right extension arm;

left upper and lower pulley positioned such that at least one of the upper and lower pulleys directs the second end of the cable into a first opening of the left extension arm, the second end exiting a second opening of the left extension arm.

16. The exercise apparatus of claim 15 wherein the right upper and lower pulleys are configured such that cable tension does not vary substantially as the right extension arm is moved from an upper position to a lower position.

17. The exercise apparatus of claim 15 wherein the left upper and lower pulleys are configured such that cable tension does not vary substantially as the left extension arm is moved from an upper position to a lower position.

18. The exercise apparatus of claim 15 wherein the right extension arm pivots between an upper position and a lower position and wherein, when the right extension arm is in the raised position, the first end of the cable passes around the upper pulley before passing into the first opening of the right extension arm, and, when the right extension arm is in the lower position, the first end of the cable contacts the upper and lower pulleys before passing into the first opening of the right extension arm.

19. The exercise apparatus of claim 15 wherein the left extension arm pivots between an upper position and a lower position and wherein, when the left extension arm is in the upper position, the second end of the cable passes around the upper pulley before passing into the first opening of the left extension arm, and, when the left extension arm is in the lower position, the second end of the cable contacts the upper and lower pulleys before passing into the first opening of the left extension arm.

20. An exercise apparatus, comprising:

a resistance assembly;

a cable extending through the resistance assembly, the cable having a first end and a second end;

a right extension arm having a proximal end pivotally connected to the resistance assembly, and a free distal end from which the first end of the cable extends, the exercise apparatus further including a first pulley and a second pulley mounted adjacent the proximal end of the right extension arm, such that, upon movement of the right extension arm into an upper position, the cable contacts the first pulley, and upon movement of the right extension arm into a lower position, the cable contacts at least the second pulley; and

a left extension arm having a proximal end pivotally connected to the resistance assembly and a free distal end from which the second end of the cable extends, the exercise apparatus further including a third pulley and a fourth pulley mounted adjacent the proximal end of the left extension arm, such that, upon movement of the left extension arm into an upper position, the cable contacts the third pulley, and upon movement of the left extension arm into a lower position, the cable contacts at least the fourth pulley.

21. The exercise apparatus of claim 20 wherein the first and second pulleys are configured such that cable tension does not vary substantially as the right extension arm is moved from an upper position to a lower position.

22. The exercise apparatus of claim 20 wherein the third and fourth pulleys are configured such that cable tension does not vary substantially as the left extension arm is moved from an upper position to a lower position.

23. The exercise apparatus of claim 20 wherein the pivot point of the second pulley is positioned lower than and proximally from the pivot point of the first pulley.

24. The exercise apparatus of claim 20 wherein the pivot point of the fourth pulley is positioned lower than and proximally from the pivot point of the third pulley.

25. An exercise apparatus as recited in claim 20, wherein the right and left extension arms have at least a first and a second position.

26. An exercise apparatus as recited in claim 25, wherein, when the right extension arm is in the first position, the first end of the cable contacts at least one of the first and second pulleys.

27. An exercise apparatus as recited in claim 26, wherein the first end enters the proximal end of the second extension arm after contacting the at least one pulley, and wherein the second end exits the distal end of the left extension arm.

28. An exercise apparatus as recited in claim 25, wherein, when the left extension arm is in the second position, the second end of the cable contacts at least one of the third and fourth pulleys.

29. An exercise apparatus as recited in claim 28, wherein the second end enters the proximal end of the second extension arm after contacting the at least one pulley, and wherein the second end exits the distal end of the left extension arm.

30. An exercise apparatus as recited in claim 20, wherein the resistance assembly comprises a support frame and a stack of weight plates and wherein movement of the cable moves the weight plates.