Exercise accessory device, kit and method of using

• US 6,685,600 B1
• Filed: 12/11/2002
• Issued: 02/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stuart G. Ullman
• Original Assignee: Stuart G. Ullman
• Inventors: Ullman, Stuart G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi, Nicholas D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HWANG, VICTOR KENNY
• Application Number:
  US10/317,379
• Time in Patent Office: 419 Days
• Field of Search: 482/100, 482/103, 482/138, 482/908, 482/107
• US Class Current: 482/103
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0628 for vertical array of weights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/156 the position of the pulleys being variable, e.g. for different exercises
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/908 Adjustable

Abstract

An exercise accessory device, kit and associated method of using the kit for assembling the device for attachment to an exercise machine is disclosed, in which the exercise machine having at least two upper pulleys connected to a resistive force element via a system of wire ropes. The device comprises a top and bottom brace, a pair of bolts and nuts, a pair of semicircular beams, a pair of track pulleys, a pair of handle grips, and a pair of cables. The top and bottom braces are attachable to a respective top and bottom portions of the exercise machine. The pair of semicircular beams is pivotally attached to the top and bottom braces in which the pair of semicircular beams defines a perimeter of an imaginary sphere between the top and bottom braces in which the semicircular beams are locked in place to the top and bottom braces with the pair of bolts and nuts. Each semicircular beam has an inside edge comprising a slide rail with a plurality of holes traversing into the inside edge of each semicircular beam. The each track pulley includes a slide track base, a lock pin, a swivel arm, a yoke, an axle, and a wheel. The slide track base is slidably attached to the slide rail of anyone semicircular beam. The lock pin traverses through the orifice of the slide track base wherein the distal end of the lock pin is slidably insertable into anyone hole in semicircular beam. The swivel arm is attached to the slide track base. The yoke is attached to the swivel arm. The axle is attached to the yoke. The wheel is attached to the axle. The distal end of each cable is attached to the resistive force element of the exercise machine. The proximate end of each cable is attached to anyone handle grip. The middle portion of each cable is slidably connected to anyone track pulley of the device and slidably connected to anyone upper pulley of the exercise machine. The kit comprises the unattached constituents of the device. The method comprises the steps of adjoining, affixing, joining, linking, obtaining, positioning, pushing, securing, sliding, and threading.

Claims

1. An exercise accessory device for attachment to an exercise machine, wherein the exercise machine having at least two upper pulleys connected to a resistive force element via a system of wire ropes, said device comprising:

a top brace attachable to a top portion of the exercise machine;

a bottom brace attachable to a bottom portion of the exercise machine;

a pair of bolts and nuts;

a pair of semicircular beams pivotally attached to said top and bottom braces, said pair of semicircular beams defining a perimeter of an imaginary sphere between said top and bottom braces when said pair of semicircular beams are pivotally rotated between said top and bottom braces, said pair of semicircular beams are locked in place relative to said top and bottom braces with said pair of bolts and nuts securely connecting together said pair of semicircular beams to said top and bottom braces, each semicircular beam having an inside edge comprising a slide rail with a plurality of holes traversing into said inside edge of each semicircular beam;

a pair of track pulleys, each track pulley including;

a slide track base having a collar defining an orifice extending through said slide track base, said slide track base is slidably attached to said slide rail of anyone semicircular beam of said pair of semicircular beams;

a lock pin having a distal and proximate ends, said lock pin is slidably attached to said collar of said slide track base, said lock pin traversing through the orifice of said slide track base with the distal end of said lock pin extending outwardly from said slide track base, the distal end of said lock pin is slidably insertable into anyone hole of said plurality of holes of anyone semicircular beam of said pair of semicircular beams;

a swivel arm attached to said slide track base;

a yoke attached to said swivel arm;

an axle attached to said yoke; and

a wheel attached to said axle;

a pair of handle grips; and

a pair of cables, each cable having a distal end, a proximate end and a middle portion, the distal end of each cable is attached to the resistive force element of the exercise machine, the proximate end of each cable is attached to anyone handle grip of said pair of handle grips, the middle portion of each cable is slidably connected to anyone track pulley of said pair of track pulleys and slidably connected to anyone upper pulley of the pair of upper pulleys of the exercise machine.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising a bench.

3. The device of claim 1 further comprising the exercise machine wherein said top brace is attached to the top portion of the exercise machine and said bottom brace is attached to the bottom portion of the exercise machine.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the resistive force element of the exercise machine comprises a plurality of weights.

5. The device of claim 3 wherein the resistive force element of the exercise machine comprises a pressure shock.

6. The device of claim 3 wherein the resistive force element of the exercise machine comprises a tensile spring.

7. The device of claim 3 wherein the resistive force element of the exercise machine comprises a bendable shaft.

8. The device of claim 1 further comprising a pair of washers, each washer is slidably attached between any bolt and nut of said pair of bolts and nuts.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein said swivel arm of each corresponding track pulley is pivotally attached to said slide track base of each corresponding track pulley.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein said yoke of each corresponding track pulley is pivotally attached to said swivel arm of each corresponding track pulley.

11. An exercise accessory kit for attachment to an exercise machine, wherein the exercise machine having at least two upper pulleys connected to a resistive force element via a system of wire ropes, said kit comprising:

a top brace attachable to a top portion of the exercise machine;

a bottom brace attachable to a bottom portion of the exercise machine;

a pair of bolts and nuts;

a pair of semicircular beams pivotally attachable to said top and bottom braces, said pair of semicircular beams defining a perimeter of an imaginary sphere between said top and bottom braces when said pair of semicircular beams are pivotally rotated between said top and bottom braces, said pair of semicircular beams are lockable in place relative to said top and bottom braces when said pair of bolts and nuts securely connect together said pair of semicircular beams to said top and bottom braces, each semicircular beam having an inside edge comprising a slide rail with a plurality of holes traversing into said inside edge of each semicircular beam;

a pair of track pulleys, each track pulley including;

a slide track base having a collar defining an orifice extending through said slide track base, said slide track base is slidably attachable to said slide rail of anyone semicircular beam of said pair of semicircular beams;

a lock pin having a distal and proximate ends, said lock pin is slidably attached to said collar of said slide track base through the orifice of said slide track base, the distal end of said lock pin is slidably insertable into anyone hole of said plurality of holes of anyone semicircular beam of said pair of semicircular beams;

a swivel arm attached to said slide track base;

a yoke attached to said swivel arm;

an axle attached to said yoke; and

a wheel attached to said axle;

a pair of handle grips; and

a pair of cables, each cable having a distal end, a proximate end and a middle portion, the distal end of each cable is attachable to the resistive force element of the exercise machine, the proximate end of each cable is attachable to anyone handle grip of said pair of handle grips, the middle portion of each cable is slidably connectable to anyone track pulley of said pair of track pulleys and slidably connectable to anyone upper pulley of the pair of upper pulleys of the exercise machine.

12. The kit of claim 11 further comprising a bench.

13. The kit of claim 11 further comprising a pair of washers, each washer is slidably attachable between any bolt and nut of said pair of bolts and nuts.

14. The kit of claim 11 wherein said swivel arm of each corresponding track pulley is pivotally attached to said slide track base of each corresponding track pulley.

15. The kit of claim 11 wherein said yoke of each corresponding track pulley is pivotally attached to said swivel arm of each corresponding track pulley.

16. A method of using an exercise accessory kit for attachment to an exercise machine, wherein the exercise machine having at least two upper pulleys connected to a resistive force element via a system of wire ropes, said method comprising the steps of:

obtaining the kit comprising;

a top brace attachable to a top portion of the exercise machine;

a bottom brace attachable to a bottom portion of the exercise machine;

a pair of bolts and nuts;

a pair of semicircular beams pivotally attachable to the top and bottom braces, the pair of semicircular beams defining a perimeter of an imaginary sphere between the top and bottom braces when the pair of semicircular beams are pivotally rotated between the top and bottom braces, the pair of semicircular beams are lockable in place relative to the top and bottom braces when the pair of bolts and nuts securely connect together the pair of semicircular beams to the top and bottom braces, each semicircular beam having an inside edge comprising a slide rail with a plurality of holes traversing into the inside edge of each semicircular beam;

a pair of track pulleys, each track pulley including;

a slide track base having a collar defining an orifice extending through the slide track base, the slide track base is slidably attachable to the slide rail of anyone semicircular beam of the pair of semicircular beams;

a lock pin having a distal and proximate ends, the lock pin is slidably attached to the collar of the slide track base through the orifice of the slide track base, the distal end of the lock pin is slidably insertable into anyone hole of the plurality of holes of anyone semicircular beam of the pair of semicircular beams;

a swivel arm attached to the slide track base;

a yoke attached to the swivel arm;

an axle attached to the yoke; and

a wheel attached to the axle;

a pair of handle grips;

a pair of cables, each cable having a distal end, a proximate end and a middle portion, the distal end of each cable is attachable to the resistive force element of the exercise machine, the proximate end of each cable is attachable to anyone handle grip of the pair of handle grips, the middle portion of each cable is slidably connectable to anyone track pulley of the pair of track pulleys and slidably connectable to anyone upper pulley of the pair of upper pulleys of the exercise machine; and

a bench;

adjoining together the top brace to the top portion of the exercise machine, said adjoining step performed subsequent to said obtaining step;

affixing together the bottom brace to the bottom portion of the exercise machine, said affixing step performed subsequent to said obtaining step;

sliding separately each track pulley of the pair of track pulleys onto each corresponding semicircular beam of the pair of semicircular beams by aligning the slide track base of each track pulley of the pair of track pulleys onto the slide rail of each corresponding semicircular beam of the pair of semicircular beams, said sliding step performed subsequent to said obtaining step;

pushing the proximate end of each lock pin of each track pulley of the pair of track pulleys so that the corresponding distal end of each lock pin on each track pulley of the pair of track pulleys slides into anyone of the holes of the plurality of holes of each corresponding semicircular beam of the pair of semicircular beams, said pushing step performed subsequent to said sliding step;

securing together the pair of semicircular beams to the top and bottom braces with the pair of bolts and nuts, said securing step performed subsequent to said adjoining, affixing, and sliding steps;

joining together proximate end of each cable of the pair of cables to each corresponding handle grip of the pair of handle grips, said joining step performed subsequent to said obtaining step;

threading together the distal end of each cable of the pair of cables through each corresponding track pulley of the pair of track pulleys and through each corresponding upper pulley of the pair of upper pulleys of the exercise machine so that the middle portion of each cable of the pair of cables is slidably connected to each corresponding track pulley of the pair of track pulleys and to each corresponding upper pulley of the pair of upper pulleys of the exercise machine, said threading step performed subsequent to said securing step;

linking together the proximate end of each cable of the pair of cables onto the resistive force element of the exercise machine, said linking step performed subsequent to said securing step; and

positioning the bench between the top and bottom braces so that a portion of the bench is within the imaginary sphere defined by the pair of semicircular beams pivotally rotated between the top and bottom braces, said positioning step performed subsequent to said linking, joining, and threading steps.