Functional Training Exercise Apparatus and Methods

• US 20090036277A1
• Filed: 08/02/2007
• Published: 02/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vectra Fitness
• Original Assignee: Vectra Fitness
• Inventors: Sanchez, Jose L., Ish, A. Buell III, Lines, L. Kent, Rasmussen, Robert A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,909,742 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/94
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 15/00 Clubs for gymnastics or the like , e.g. for swinging exercises
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0628 for vertical array of weights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/153 wound-up and unwound during exercise, e.g. from a reel
• 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 21/4043 Free movement, i.e. the only restriction coming from the resistance A63B21/00043, A63B21/072 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0204 Standing on the feet
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/007 American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0211 moving torso with immobilized lower limbs
• 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
• 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 69/0002 for baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3623 for driving A63B69/3608, A63B69/3658, A63B69/3661, A63B69/3667 and A63B69/3691 take precedence

Abstract

Exercise apparatus and methods are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an exercise assembly includes a load, a support assembly, a force-transferring assembly operatively coupled to the load and to the support assembly, and an exercise station operatively coupled to the force-transferring assembly. The exercise station includes a user interface, at least one adjustment assembly configured to adjust a position of the user interface, and an actuator assembly selectively engageable with the at least one adjustment assembly. The actuator assembly is configured to approximately simultaneously enable vertical and horizontal adjustment of the user interface when the actuator assembly is actuated to release the at least one adjustment assembly, and to approximately simultaneously disable adjustment of the user interface when the actuator assembly is actuated to lock the at least one adjustment assembly. Thus, movements of the user interface may be easily and efficiently performed using a single-touch actuation assembly.

Claims

1. An exercise assembly, comprising:

a load;

a support assembly operatively positioned relative to the load;

a force-transferring assembly operatively coupled to the load and to the support assembly; and

an exercise station operatively coupled to the force-transferring assembly, the exercise station including;

a user interface;

at least one adjustment assembly configured to adjust a position of the user interface; and

an actuator assembly selectively engageable with the at least one adjustment assembly, the actuator assembly being configured to approximately simultaneously enable adjustment of the user interface in a vertical direction and in a horizontal direction when the actuator assembly is actuated to release the at least one adjustment assembly, and to approximately simultaneously disable adjustment of the user interface in the vertical and horizontal directions when the actuator assembly is actuated to lock the at least one adjustment assembly.

2. The exercise assembly of claim 1, wherein the exercise station further includes an arm operatively coupled to the at least one adjustment assembly, the user interface being positioned on the arm, and the at least one adjustment assembly being configured to adjust a vertical position and a horizontal position of the arm.

3. The exercise assembly of claim 2, wherein the at least one adjustment assembly includes:

a first adjustment assembly coupled to the arm; and

a second adjustment assembly coupled to the arm.

4. The exercise assembly of claim 3, wherein a first one of the first and second adjustment assemblies is configured to provide adjustability of an elevation angle of the arm, and wherein the other of the first and second adjustment assemblies is configured to provide adjustability of the azimuth angle of the arm.

5. The exercise assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one adjustment assembly comprises first and second adjustment assemblies, and wherein the actuator assembly is further configured to approximately simultaneously release the first and second adjustment assemblies, and to approximately simultaneously lock the first and second adjustment assemblies.

6. The exercise assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one adjustment assembly includes:

a base member having a plurality of indexing holes disposed therein; and

wherein the actuator assembly comprises;

a locking mechanism having an indexing pin engageable into one or more of the plurality of indexing holes; and

a biasing member configured to bias the indexing pin into engagement with the one or more of the plurality of indexing holes.

7. The exercise assembly of claim 6, wherein the exercise station further includes an outwardly-extending arm operatively coupled to the at least one adjustment assembly, the user interface being positioned on the arm and the at least one adjustment assembly being configured to adjust an elevation angle and an azimuth angle of the arm.

8. The exercise assembly of claim 6, wherein the actuator assembly further includes a handle portion operatively coupled to the locking mechanism such that rotation of the handle portion in a first rotational direction from an initial position disengages the indexing pin from the base member, and rotation of the handle portion in a second rotational direction re-engages the indexing pin into one or more of the plurality of indexing holes.

9. The exercise assembly of claim 6, wherein the base member comprises a partially-spherical member.

10. The exercise assembly of claim 1, wherein when the force-transferring assembly includes a cable-and-pulley assembly.

11. A method of performing an exercise, comprising:

selecting a training load;

actuating an actuator to enable movement of a user interface of an exercise station, wherein actuating the actuator includes approximately simultaneously enabling movement of the user interface vertically and horizontally;

moving the user interface to a desired position;

actuating the actuator to prevent movement of the user interface; and

applying a training force to the training load via the user interface.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the exercise station includes an arm operatively coupled to the at least one adjustment assembly, and wherein approximately simultaneously enabling movement of the user interface includes enabling movement of the arm.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the exercise station includes a first adjustment assembly that enables vertical movement of the user interface, and a second adjustment assembly that enables horizontal movement of the user interface, and wherein actuating the actuator includes approximately simultaneously releasing the first and second adjustment assemblies.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the exercise station includes an arm coupled to the user interface, the first adjustment assembly being configured to enable adjustment of an elevation angle of the arm, and the second adjustment assembly being configured to enable adjustment of an azimuth angle of the arm.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one adjustment assembly comprises first and second adjustment assemblies, and wherein actuating the actuator to prevent movement of the user interface includes approximately simultaneously locking the first and second adjustment assemblies.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one adjustment assembly includes a base member having a plurality of indexing holes disposed therein, and wherein actuating an actuator includes withdrawing an indexing pin from one or more of the plurality of indexing holes.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the exercise station further includes an outwardly-extending arm operatively coupled to the at least one adjustment assembly, the user interface being positioned on the arm, and wherein approximately simultaneously enabling movement of the user interface includes approximately simultaneously enabling variation of an elevation angle and an azimuth angle of the arm.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein moving the user interface to a desired position includes simultaneously adjusting a vertical position and a horizontal position of the user interface.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein moving the user interface to a desired position includes sequentially adjusting a vertical position and a horizontal position of the user interface.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein actuating an actuator includes rotating a handle portion of the actuator.