Bench exerciser with upwardly diverging bungee cord supports

• US 6,585,626 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2000
• Issued: 07/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stamina Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Stamina Products Incorporated
• Inventors: McBride, Robert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Donnelly, Jerome W.
• Application Number:
  US09/737,548
• Publication Number:
  US 20020077228A1
• Time in Patent Office: 925 Days
• Field of Search: 482/129, 482/103, 482/121, 482/104, 482/142, 482/130-736, 128/125.R
• US Class Current: 482/130
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/025 on rollers or wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00065 by increasing or reducing the number of resistance units
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/04 attached to static foundation , e.g. a user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0428 the ends moving relatively by linear reciprocation
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0552 Elastic ropes or bands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0557 Details of attachments, e.g. clips or clamps
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/151 Using flexible elements for reciprocating movements, e.g. ropes or chains
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/154 using special pulley-assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4029 Benches specifically adapted for exercising for bench press exercises A63B21/078
• 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 2208/0233 in 90/90 position, like on a chair
• 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 23/1263 Rotation about an axis passing through both shoulders, e.g. cross-country skiing-type arm movements

Abstract

An exerciser featuring a frame assembly which includes a lower frame portion that is constructed and arranged to be stablely supported in an operative position on a horizontal surface. First and second rigid upright support members is fixed at lower end portions thereof on the lower frame portion and extends upwardly from the lower frame portion when in the operative position thereof. A user support assembly is operatively connected with the lower frame portion and is constructed and arranged to support a user thereon. The first and second rigid upright support members have first and second rigid upper free end portions respectively configured to curve upwardly from the lower portions thereof in outwardly diverging relation with respect to one another. A pair of separate moving assemblies is disposed in normal inoperative positions with respect to the user support assembly. Each moving assembly is constructed and arranged to be manually engaged and individually manually moved away from the normal inoperative position thereof into a desired extended position by a user supported on the user support assembly.

Claims

1. An exerciser comprising:

a frame assembly including a lower frame portion constructed and arranged to be stably supported in an operative position on a horizontal surface and first and second rigid upright support members fixed at lower end portions thereof on said lower frame portion and extending upwardly from said lower frame portion when in the operative position thereof;

a user support assembly operatively connected with said lower frame portion constructed and arranged to support a user thereon;

said first and second rigid upright support members having first and second rigid upper free end portions respectively configured to curve upwardly from the lower portions thereof in outwardly diverging relation with respect to one another; and

first and second moving assemblies disposed in normal inoperative positions with respect to said user support assembly constructed and arranged to be manually engaged and individually manually moved away from the normal inoperative position thereof into a desired extended position by a user supported on said user support assembly,

said first and second moving assemblies comprising;

first and second upper pulley members rotatably mounted on the upper free end portions of said first and second rigid upright support members;

first and second lower pulley members rotatably mounted on said frame assembly at fixed positions below said upper pulley members;

first and second flexible elongated structures trained around said lower pulley members and extending upwardly over said first and second upper pulley members respectively and then downwardly toward said lower frame portion;

movement preventing structures on said lower frame portion operatively associated with terminal portions of said first and second flexible elongated structures extending downwardly from said first and second upper pulley members constructed and arranged to prevent upward movements of said terminal portions; and

a pair of user hand grip units connected with first and second end portions of said first and second flexible elongated structures extending outwardly from said lower pulley members in positions to enable a user supported on said user support assembly to move said user hand grip units away from inoperative positions thereof into desired extended positions;

said first and second flexible elongated structures including first and second bungee cords constructed and arranged to resiliently resist movement of said user hand grip units and the end portions of said flexible elongated structures away from the inoperative positions thereof into desired extended positions and to resiliently return said user hand grip units to the inoperative positions thereof when no longer moved by the user.

2. An exerciser as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said first and second upper pulley members has an upper stop structure extending across a peripheral portion thereof and each of said lower pulley members has a lower stop structure extending across a peripheral portion thereof,

said first and second flexible elongated structures include first and second flexible elongated non-extensible elements trained around said lower pulley members so as to provide said first and second outwardly extending end portions respectively, each of said first and second non-extensible elements having a stop element fixed to the end portion thereof constructed and arranged to interengage with said lower stop structure to determine the inoperative position of said end portions of said first and second moving assemblies respectively

said bungee cords including:

a first and second series of resiliently extensible bungee cords associated with said first and second moving assemblies respectively, said first and second series of bungee cords including first and second upper end portions respectively trained around first and second upper pulley members and having hook connectors fixed on terminal ends of said first and second upper end portion constructed and arranged to be selectively engaged with first and second connecting terminal on adjacent ends of an associated non-extensible element or in the associated upper stop structure whereby the number of hook connectors connected to each connecting terminal determines the number of bungee cords resisting movement of the corresponding moving structure away from the inoperative position thereof.

3. An exerciser according to claim 2, wherein each bungee cord includes a lower end portion fixed to said frame assembly.

4. The exerciser of claim 3, wherein each first and second series of bungee cords includes three bungee cords each providing a different resilient resistance whereby the total resistance provided with respect to any moving assembly can be varied by virtue of a selection of any one, any two or all three bungee cord hook members to be connected to the associated connecting terminal.

5. The exerciser of claim 4, wherein said connecting terminal comprises a ring-like member.

6. An exerciser as defined in claim 5, wherein said first and second end sections have first and second looped end portions constructed and arranged to connect with said first and second hand grip units respectively and first and second stop elements respectively fixed thereon in spaced relation to the looped end portions thereof, said first and second stop elements cooperating with the lower stop structure of said lower pulley members to determine the inoperative positions of said first and second moving assemblies.

7. An exerciser as defined in claim 6, wherein said first and second end sections include first and second intermediate loops respectively between associated stop elements and looped end portions thereof, said intermediate loops being constructed and arranged to selectively receive said first and second hand grip units respectively in connected relation thereto.

8. An exerciser as defined in claim 7, wherein said user support assembly includes:

a user seat member;

a user seat back member;

an elongated support member having one end connected to said upright frame assembly and extending in an operative position generally horizontally outwardly therefrom;

an outer leg structure constructed and arranged to engage and be supported on the horizontal surface in spaced relation to said frame extending in an operative position in supporting relation with respect to said elongated support member to maintain the elongated support member in said generally horizontally outwardly extending relation from said lower frame portion;

seat back mounting structure disposed in supporting relation to said seat back member constructed and arranged to be fixedly disposed in an upright position extending generally inwardly in inclined relation to said user seat member.

9. An exerciser as defined in claim 8, wherein said outer leg structure is fixed to an outer end of said elongated support member.

10. An exerciser as defined in claim 9, wherein said seat back mounting structure includes a pivoted support frame unit supporting said user seat back member pivotally connected to a pivoted strut frame pivotally connected between said pivoted support frame unit and said elongated support member.

11. An exerciser as defined in claim 10, wherein said lower frame portion has a pair of horizontally spaced rollers rotatably mounted thereon for rotation about a horizontal axis in a position to facilitate the transport of said exerciser to different locations of use by tilting said upright frame assembly in a direction opposed to the direction of the outer leg structure.

12. An exerciser as defined in claim 11, wherein said first and second end sections include first and second intermediate loops respectively between associated stop elements and looped end portions thereof, said intermediate loops being constructed and arranged to selectively receive said first and second hand grip units respectively in connected relation thereto.

13. An exerciser comprising:

a frame assembly including a lower frame portion constructed and arranged to be stablely supported in an operative position on a horizontal surface and left and right rigid upright support members fixed at lower end portions thereof on said lower frame portion and extending upwardly from said lower frame portion when in the operative position thereof;

a user support assembly operatively connected with said frame assembly and constructed and arranged to support a user thereon;

an exercising system carried by said frame assembly and constructed and arranged to enable a user supported on said user support assembly to perform arm exercises with either or both arms;

said left and right rigid upright support members having integral laterally spaced left and right upper free ends disposed above said lower frame portion in outwardly diverging relation with respect to one another,

said exercising system including (1) left and right pulleys mounted on the left and right free ends of said left and right upright support members respectively (2) elongated structures, some of which are trained over said left and right pulleys and (3) left and right hand grips constructed and arranged to be gripped by both hands of a user and to be moved individually or simultaneously through exercising strokes,

said elongated structures including left and right flexible non-extendable elongated structures connected to said left and right hand grips respectively for movement through operative strokes in response to the exercising strokes of said left and right band grips by the user, and resiliently extensible and retractable elongated structures constructed and arranged to (1) resiliently extend so as to provide yielding resistance to the operative strokes of said flexible non-extensible elongated elements and the exercising strokes of said hand grips by the user and (2) resiliently retract so as to provide return strokes for said flexible non-extensible elongated elements and said hand grips after the operative and exercising strokes thereof.

14. An exerciser as defined in claim 13, left and right free ends on which said left and right pulleys are mounted forming parts of left and right free end portions, respectively, which are configured to curve upwardly from the lower end portions of said left and right rigid upright support members fixed on said lower frame portion.

15. An exerciser as defined in claim 14, wherein said resilient extensible and retractable elongated structures are elongated resilient bungee cards and constitute the elongated structures trained over said left and right pulleys.

16. An exerciser as defined in claim 15, wherein said left and right flexible non-extensive elongated structures are (1) connected bungee cords constituting the left and right elongated structures trained over said left and right pulleys respectively and (2) trained about left right lower pulleys mounted on said frame assembly below the left and right pulleys mounted on the left and right free ends of said left and right upright support members.

17. An exerciser comprising:

a frame assembly including a lower frame portion constructed and arranged to be stablely supported in an operative position on a horizontal surface and left and right rigid upright support members fixed at lower end portions thereof on said lower frame portion and extending upwardly from said lower frame portion when in the operative position thereof;

a user support assembly operatively connected with said lower frame portion constructed and arranged to support a user thereon;

said left and right rigid upright support members having integral laterally spaced left and right upper free ends disposed above said lower frame portion in outwardly diverging relation with respect to one another, and

left and right exercising assembles on said frame assembly constructed and arranged to be manually moved through exercising strokes by both hands of a user supported on said user support assembly,

said left and right exercising assembles including left and right operative structures carried by said upper free ends of said left and right rigid upright support members, respectively.

18. An exerciser as defined in claim 17, wherein said left and right exercising assembles include left and right hand grips constructed and arranged to be gripped by both hands of a user and to be moved individually simultaneously through exercising strokes.

19. An exerciser as defined in claim 18, wherein said left and right hand grips are operatively connected with a set of elongated extensible and retractable resilient resisting structures.

20. An exerciser as defined in claim 19, further comprising connecting structure enabling any number of said set of elongated resilient resistance structures to be operatively connected to said left and right hand grips.

21. An exerciser as defined in claim 17, wherein said left and right operative structures of said left and right exercising assemblies include (1) left and right pulleys mounted on the left and right free ends of said left and right upright support members respectively and (2) flexible elongated structures trained over said left and right pulleys.

22. An exerciser as defined in claim 17, wherein said left and right free ends on which said left and right pulleys are mounted form parts of left and right free end portions, respectively, which are configured to curve upwardly from the lower end portions of said left and right rigid upright support members fixed on said lower frame portion.