LEG PRESS EXERCISE MACHINE WITH SELF-ALIGNING PIVOTING SEAT

• US 20080153677A1
• Filed: 03/11/2008
• Published: 06/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hoist Fitness Sytems Incorporated (Hoist Fitness Systems)
• Original Assignee: Hoist Fitness Sytems Incorporated (Hoist Fitness Systems)
• Inventors: Hockridge, Bruce, Webber, Randall T., Meredith, Jeffrey O., Brennan, Christopher E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,878,953 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/96
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0079 with a pulling cable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0615 pivoting about a fixed horizontal fulcrum
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0628 for vertical array of weights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/068 using user's body weight
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/159 Using levers for transmitting forces
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4031 with parts of the bench moving against a resistance during exercise
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4035 for operation by hand
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4047 Pivoting movement weight pivoting A63B21/0615
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0002 involving an exercising of arms for strengthening the upper limbs A63B23/12
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0005 with particular movement of the arms provided by handles moving otherwise than pivoting about a horizontal axis parallel to the body-symmetrical-plane
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0089 a counterforce being provided to the support force-resisting aspects A63B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/203 in a horizontal plane
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0233 in 90/90 position, like on a chair
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0247 with legs in a kneeled 90/90 position
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/03525 Supports for both feet or both hands performing simultaneously the same movement, e.g. single pedal or single handle A63B21/0724 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/03541 Moving independently from each other A63B22/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0405 involving a bending of the knee and hip joints simultaneously A63B23/0476 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/1209 Involving a bending of elbow and shoulder joints simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/1218 Chinning, pull-up, i.e. concentric movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/1227 Dips, i.e. push-ups in a vertical position, i.e. eccentric movement, e.g. between parallel bars
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/1254 : Rotation about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body, e.g. butterfly-type exercises
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/1263 : Rotation about an axis passing through both shoulders, e.g. cross-country skiing-type arm movements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/1281 : primarily by articulating the elbow joint

Abstract

A leg press machine has a floor engaging main frame, a user support pivotally mounted relative to the main frame and having primary and secondary support portions which support spaced locations on a user'"'"'s body throughout an exercise, and a leg press exercise arm rotatably mounted relative to the main frame. The exercise arm has a first pivot connection which pivotally links the exercise arm to the user support and a second pivot connection which is associated with the main frame to link movement of the exercise arm to movement of the user support. A load resists movement of at least one of the moving parts.

Claims

1. A leg press exercise machine, comprising:

a main frame having a front end and a rear end;

a user support pivotally mounted relative to the main frame to support a user in an exercise position and moving about a user support pivot axis between a start position and an end position during a leg press exercise movement, the user support having a primary portion and a secondary portion which support spaced positions on a user'"'"'s body throughout an exercise, the primary and secondary portions being fixed relative to one another and moving together in the same relative orientation to one another throughout the exercise movement;

the primary portion of the user support supporting a user in a supine position at the start of the exercise movement;

at least one leg press exercise arm rotatably mounted relative to the main frame and having a leg engaging device for engagement by the legs of a user positioned on the user support to perform a leg press exercise;

a connecting linkage which links movement of the leg press exercise arm to movement of the user support;

a load which resists movement of at least one of the user support, exercise arm, and connecting linkage; and

wherein all movement of the leg press exercise arm, connecting linkage and user support throughout an exercise is rotational.

2. The machine of claim 1, wherein exercise movement of the leg press exercise arm simultaneously rotates the user support in the same direction as the leg press exercise arm.

3. The machine of claim 1, wherein the primary portion of the user support is substantially horizontal in the exercise start position.

4. The machine of claim 1, wherein the primary portion of the user support comprises a back pad which supports the user'"'"'s back and torso.

5. The machine of claim 4, wherein the secondary portion of the user support comprises head and shoulder rest pads.

6. The machine of claim 5, further comprising handles associated with the user support for gripping by a user during a leg press exercise.

7. The machine of claim 6, further comprising a secondary support assembly adjustably mounted on the user support, the handles and head and shoulder pads being mounted on the secondary support assembly, a releasable locking device which releasably locks the secondary support assembly in a selected position relative to the primary portion of the user support, and an additional handle which is gripped by a user to adjust the position of the secondary support assembly relative to the primary portion.

8. The machine of claim 1, wherein the end position of the primary portion of the user support is upwardly inclined relative to the start position.

9. The machine of claim 1, wherein the user support pivot axis is located under the primary portion of the user support.

10. A leg press exercise machine, comprising:

a main frame having a front end and a rear end;

a user support pivotally mounted relative to the main frame to support a user in an exercise position and moving about a user support pivot axis between a start position and an end position during a leg press exercise movement, the user support having a primary portion and a secondary portion which support spaced positions on a user'"'"'s body throughout an exercise, the primary and secondary portions being fixed relative to one another and moving together in the same relative orientation to one another throughout the exercise movement;

a leg press exercise arm movably mounted relative to the main frame and having a foot engaging device for engagement by the feet of a user positioned on the user support to perform a leg press exercise, the leg press exercise arm having a first pivot connection which pivotally links the leg press exercise arm with the user support and a second pivot connection spaced from said first pivot connection;

said second pivot connection being associated with the main frame to translate movement of the exercise arm to movement of the user support; and

a load which resists movement of at least one of the user support and exercise arm.

11. The machine of claim 10, wherein the leg exercise arm is pivotally linked to a forward end of the user support at said first pivot connection.

12. The machine of claim 10, further comprising at least one rigid connecting link which pivotally connects the exercise arm to the main frame, the second pivot connection pivotally connecting one end of the connecting link to the exercise arm.

13. A leg press exercise machine, comprising:

a main frame having a front end and a rear end;

a user support pivotally mounted relative to the main frame to support a user in an exercise position and moving between a start position and an end position during a leg press exercise movement, the user support having a front end and a rear end, and a primary portion and a secondary portion which support spaced positions on a user'"'"'s body throughout an exercise, the primary and secondary portions being fixed relative to one another and moving together in the same relative orientation to one another throughout the exercise movement;

a leg press exercise arm movably mounted relative to the main frame and having a foot engaging device which is engaged by the feet of a user positioned on the user support to perform a leg press exercise;

the user support having a first pivot connection linking the exercise arm with the forward end of the user support and a second pivot connection spaced from the first pivot connection and pivotally linking the user support with the main frame;

a connecting linkage which translates movement of the leg press exercise arm to movement of the user support, all movement of the connecting linkage being rotational; and

a load which resists movement of at least one of the user support, exercise arm, and connecting linkage.

14. The machine of claim 13, wherein the second pivot connection defines a vertical center line, and portions of a user supported on the primary portion of the user support are located on both sides of the vertical center line in at least one of the start and end positions of an exercise movement.

15. The machine of claim 14, wherein portions of a user supported on the primary portion of the user support are located on both sides of the vertical center line in both the exercise start and end positions.

16. The machine of claim 15, wherein the vertical center line is located to the rear of the hips of a user supported on the user support in at least one of the start and end positions of an exercise movement.

17. The machine of claim 15, wherein the vertical center line extends through the user'"'"'s hips in at least one of the start and end positions.

18. A leg press exercise machine, comprising:

a stationary main frame having a front end and a rear end;

a user support pivotally mounted relative to the main frame to support a user in an exercise position and moving about a user support pivot axis between a start position and an end position during a leg press exercise movement, the user support having a primary portion and a secondary portion which support spaced positions on a user'"'"'s body throughout an exercise, the primary and secondary portions being fixed relative to one another and moving together in the same relative orientation to one another throughout the exercise movement;

a leg press exercise arm rotatably mounted relative to the main frame and having a foot engaging device for engagement by the feet of a user positioned on the user support to perform a leg press exercise, the leg press exercise arm having a first pivot connection which pivotally links the leg press exercise arm with the user support and a second pivot connection spaced above said first pivot connection;

a rigid connecting linkage system pivotally associated with said second pivot connection and linking movement of the leg press exercise arm to movement of the user support, all movement of the connecting linkage system being rotational; and

a load which resists movement of at least one of the user support, exercise arm, and connecting linkage system.

19. The machine as claimed in claim 18, wherein the user support pivot axis is located directly beneath the user engaging portion of the primary support.

20. The machine as claimed in claim 18, wherein the rigid connecting link system is linked to the main frame.

21. A leg press exercise machine, comprising:

a main frame;

a user support frame pivotally mounted relative to the main frame for rotation about a user support pivot axis, the user support pivot axis defining a vertical, gravitational center line and a horizontal line extending through the user support pivot axis transverse to the vertical, gravitational center line, the user support frame moving between a start position and an end position during an exercise movement;

the user support frame having at least a primary support and a secondary support for supporting spaced positions on a user'"'"'s body throughout an exercise movement, the secondary support being fixed at a predetermined angular orientation relative to the primary support, the primary support supporting the majority of a user'"'"'s weight in the start position of the support frame, and the secondary support remaining in the same predetermined angular orientation relative to the primary support throughout an exercise movement;

a leg press exercise arm rotatably mounted on one of the frames for engagement by the user in performing leg press exercises;

a connecting linkage which translates movement of the user engagement device to movement of the user support frame;

all movement of the user support frame, leg press exercise arm, and connecting linkage comprising rotational movement; and

a load for resisting movement of at least one of the user support frame, leg press exercise arm, and connecting linkage,

whereby the horizontal line is located below the entire user engaging part of the primary user support in at least one of the start and end positions of the exercise movement.

22. The machine of claim 21, wherein the leg press exercise arm is rotatably linked to a forward end of the user support.

23. The machine of claim 21, wherein the connecting linkage comprises at least one link arm located below the primary user support in at least one of the exercise start and end positions.

24. The machine of claim 21, wherein portions of a user supported on the primary portion of the user support are located on both sides of the vertical center line in at least one of the exercise start and end positions.

25. The machine of claim 24, wherein portions of a user supported on the primary portion of the user support are located on both sides of the vertical center line in both the exercise start position and the exercise end position.