Universal exercising machine

• US 4,620,704 A
• Filed: 04/27/1984
• Issued: 11/04/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: BowFlex, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Bow-Flex Of America, Inc.
• Inventors: Shifferaw, Tessema
• Primary Examiner(s): Apley, Richard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US06/604,948
• Time in Patent Office: 921 Days
• Field of Search: 272/135, 272/136, 272/142, 272/143, 272/117, 272/93, 272/72, 272/134, 272/145
• US Class Current: 482/130
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/026 Bars; Tubes; Leaf springs A63B21/023 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/04 attached to static foundation , e.g. a user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/045 having torsion or bending or flexion element
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4029 Benches specifically adapted for exercising for bench press exercises A63B21/078
• 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 2210/50 Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport

Abstract

Exercising machine having a plurality of resilient rods which are flexed and resist movement of a person using the machine. Forces are exerted on the resilient rods through cables to which a variety of attachments such as hand grips, foot stirrups and a sliding bench can be connected to exercise different parts of the body. The rods can be used in any combination to suit the requirements and physical abilities of the person using the machine.

Claims

1. In an exercising machine:

a base, a plurality of resilient rods mounted on the base in cantilevered fashion with one end of each rod being secured in a fixed position and the other end being free, a cable upon which an axial pull is exerted by a person using the machine, means for connecting the cable to the free end of at least one of the resilient rods, and guide means for the cable mounted on the base in a predetermined position relative to the fixed ends of the rods so that the pull on the cable causes the rods to flex and resist the pull in a predetermined manner regardless of the direction from which the pull is applied.

2. The exercising machine of claim 1 including a hand grip connected to the cable for engagement by the hand of a person using the machine.

3. The exercising machine of claim 1 including a bar connected to the cable for engagement by the hands of a person using the machine.

4. The exercising machine of claim 1 including a foot stirrup connected to the cable for engagement by the foot of a person using the machine.

5. The exercising machine of claim 1 including a belt connected to the cable for engagement with the waist of a person using the machine.

6. The exercising machine of claim 1 including a strap connected to the base for securing the body of the person using the machine in a predetermined position on the base.

7. The exercising machine of claim 1 including a seat movably mounted on the base and connected to the cable for receiving the body of the person using the machine.

8. The exercising machine of claim 1 wherein the base is adapted to rest on a horizontal supporting surface, and the seat includes wheels engageable with the supporting surface.

9. The exercising machine of claim 1 wherein the base and the fixed ends of the resilient rods are hingedly connected together for movement between a working position in which the rods extend in a direction generally perpendicular to the base and a collapsed position in which the rods are generally parallel to the base.

10. The exercising machine of claim 1 wherein the guide means comprises a sheave pivotally mounted on the base near the fixed ends of the resilient rods.

11. The exercising machine of claim 1 wherein the means for connecting the cable to the free end of at least one of the resilient rods includes means for selectively connecting the cable to any desired number of the rods.

13. A universal exercising machine according to claim 1 wherein said resilient arm means comprises a plurality of rods made of a resilient plastic material.

14. A universal exercising machine according to claim 13 wherein each of said resilient rods has a circular cross section with a diameter ranging from 1/4" (6 mm) to 2" (51 mm).

12. A universal exercising machine comprising:

a base;

resilient arm means having one end thereof attached to said base and an opposite end extending vertically up from said base in cantilever fashion;

a support horizontally movable with respect to said base and adapted to receive the body of a person using the machine; and

means for operatively connecting said support to said resilient arm means such that movement of said support will cause said resilient arm means to flex.

15. A universal exercising machine according to claim 12 together with a plurality of cables, each of said cables having one end connected to said resilient arm means and having its other end connected to a hand grip.

16. A universal exercising machine according to claim 12 together with a plurality of cables, each of said cables having one end connected to said resilient arm means and having its other end connected to a foot stirrup.

17. A universal exercising machine according to claim 12 wherein said support comprises a bench having a solid frame, a soft pad on said frame, and means for movably supporting said bench on the floor and on said base.

18. A universal exercising machine according to claim 17 wherein said means for movably supporting said bench comprises rails on said base, at least one pair of wheels for rolling on the floor, and at least one pair of wheels for rolling on said rails, both of said pairs of wheels being attached to said bench.

19. A universal exercising machine according to claim 17 wherein said bench frame consists of two hingedly connected parts, one of said parts being adapted to lean against the base and serve as a back rest for an individual sitting on the other part.

20. A universal exercising machine according to claim 12 further including foot supports attached to the sides of said base.

21. A universal exercising machine according to claim 12 wherein said base includes a horizontally extending section and an upright post connected pivotally together and adapted to be folded together for storage and transportation.

22. A universal exercising machine according to claim 21 wherein said horizontally extending section is pivotally connected to said upright post by at least one hinge, together with means including a hook for releasably securing the horizontally extending section in a horizontal position.

23. A universal exercising machine according to claim 12 wherein said base comprises an upright post having a U-shaped cross-sectional configuration with a retainer means inside said U-shaped profile for holding said one end of said resilient arm means, and fastening means for attaching said retainer means to said upright post, whereby said resilient arm means is rigidly secured at said one end to said upright post.

24. A universal exercising machine according to claim 12, wherein said means for connecting sid support to said resilient arm means comprises a flexible cable.

25. A universal exercising machine according to claim 12 including a cable connected to the resilient arm means for flexing said arm means when pulled, and a sheave connected to said base about which the cable is trained.

26. A universal exercising machine according to claim 25 wherein the cable is connected between said bench and said resilient arm means.