Exercise machine with adjustable grip positioning mechanism

• US 5,123,886 A
• Filed: 05/20/1991
• Issued: 06/23/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: BowFlex, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Brian R. Cook
• Inventors: Cook, Brian R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bahr, Robert
• Application Number:
  US07/703,588
• Time in Patent Office: 400 Days
• Field of Search: 272/117, 272/119, 272/130, 272/134, 272/135-142, 272/143, 272/118, 128/25 R
• US Class Current: 482/129
• 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

Abstract

Exercise machine having a base comprising a horizontally extending platform and an upstanding post. A swing arm comprising has a pair of arms and a crossbar is pivotally mounted on the post for movement about a horizontally extending axis, with the crossbar extending in a direction generally parallel to the axis. A first pair of pulleys are mounted on the base in alignment with the horizontally extending axis, and a second pair of pulleys are mounted on the crossbar. A pair of cables are trained about the pulleys, grips are connected to the cables near the second pulleys, and resistance elements are connected to the cables for yieldably resisting movement of the cables when a pull is exerted thereon. A pair of telescoping arms extend between the base and the crossbar for holding the crossbar and the grips at different heights above the platform.

Claims

1. In an exercise machine:

a horizontally extending platform for receiving a person using the machine, an upstanding post toward one end of the platform, a pair of elongated generally parallel arms pivotally mounted on the post and extending in a lengthwise direction over the platform for movement about a horizontally extending axis, a crossbar affixed to the arms and extending in a horizontal direction parallel to the axis for movement to different heights above the platform as the arms are pivoted about the axis, a first guide mounted in alignment with the axis, a second guide mounted on the crossbar, a cable trained about the guides and adapted to be pulled by the person using the machine, and means connected to the cable for yieldably resisting movement of the cable when a pull is exerted thereon.

2. The exercise machine of claim 3 including a strut of adjustable length connected between the swing arm and the base for holding the swing arm in different positions.

3. The exercise machine of claim 1 wherein the means for resisting movement of the cable comprises a resilient rod mounted on the post in cantilevered fashion with one end of the rod being secured in a fixed position and the other end being free.

4. The exercise machine of claim 1 including means for holding the arms in different positions with the crossbar at different heights above the platform.

5. The exercise machine of claim 1 including struts of adjustable length extending between the platform and the arms for holding the crossbar at different heights above the platform.

6. The exercise machine of claim 5 wherein the strut comprises a pair of telescoping arms and a cross arm extending between the telescoping arms.

7. The exercise machine of claim 1 including means for securing a wheelchair in a predetermined position on the platform.

8. The exercise machine of claim 1 wherein the swing arm includes a crossbar extending in a direction parallel to the axis and having the second guide mounted thereon.

9. In an exercise machine:

a base comprising a horizontally extending platform and an upstanding post, a swing arm comprising a pair of arms pivotally mounted on the post for movement about a horizontally extending axis and a crossbar affixed to the outer ends of the arms and extending in a direction generally parallel to the axis, a first pair of pulleys mounted on the base in alignment with the horizontally extending axis, a second pair of pulleys mounted on the crossbar, a pair of cables trained about the pulleys, gripping means connected to the cables near the second pulleys, means connected to the cables for yieldably resisting movement of the cables when a pull is exerted thereon, and a pair of telescoping arms extending between the base and the crossbar for holding the crossbar and the gripping means at different heights above the platform.

10. The exercise machine of claim 9 wherein the crossbar has a central portion which is generally parallel to the axis and end portions which extend at an angle toward the post from the central portion, the second pair of pulleys being mounted on the end portions of the crossbar and being free to swivel as the cables are pulled in different direction therefrom.

11. The exercise machine of claim 10 including means for holding a wheelchair in a predetermined position on the platform.

12. In an exercise machine:

a base, a swing arm pivotally mounted on the base for movement about a horizontally extending axis, said swing arm having a crossbar with a central portion which is generally parallel to the horizontally extending axis and end portions which extend at an angle from the central portion, a first pair of guides mounted on the base in alignment with the axis, a second pair of guides carried by the swing arm, a pair of cables trained about the guides, means connected to the cables for yieldably resisting movement of the cables when a pull is exerted thereon, grip means connected to the cables near the second guides, the second pair of guides comprising pulleys which are mounted on the end portions of the crossbar and are free to swivel as the cables are pulled in different direction therefrom, and means for holding the swing arm in different positions about the horizontally extending axis to adjust the height o the grip means without changing the tension in the cables.

13. In an exercise machine:

a horizontally extending platform for receiving a person using the machine, an upstanding post toward one end of the platform, a swing arm extending over the platform in an upward direction from one end of the platform toward the other and being movable about an axis extending transversely of the platform near the one end, said swing arm comprising a pair of arms having inner ends pivotally connected to the post and outer ends positioned above the platform and a crossbar connected to the outer ends of the arms, a headrest mounted on the crossbar, a first guide mounted in a substantially fixed position in alignment with the axis, a second guide carried by the swing arm for movement to different heights above the platform as the swing arm is moved to different positions about the axis, a cable trained about the guides and adapted to be pulled by the person using the machine, and means connected to the cable for yieldably resisting movement of the cable when a pull is exerted thereon.