Dual weight stack exercising machine with coupling arrangement

• US 6,719,672 B1
• Filed: 11/16/2000
• Issued: 04/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Northland Industries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Northland Industries, Inc.
• Inventors: Ellis, Patrick D., Waldron, Troy V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Richman, Glenn E.
• Application Number:
  US09/714,768
• Time in Patent Office: 1,244 Days
• Field of Search: 482/99, 482/93, 482/94, 482/97, 482/98, 482/100-103, 482/133, 482/148, 482/908
• US Class Current: 482/99
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0628 for vertical array of weights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/063 Weight selecting means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/155 Cam-shaped pulleys or other non-uniform pulleys, e.g. conical
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0494 primarily by articulating the knee joints A63B23/0405, A63B23/0476 take precedence

Abstract

A weight stack adjusting mechanism is provided for an exercise machine having a frame, an operating mechanism movably connected to the frame, a resisting structure on the frame and a connecting device entrained about a first pulley and a second pulley. Both pulleys are mounted on the frame and join the operating mechanism with the resisting structure so as to selectively allow moving the resisting structure between a raised position and a lowered position. The system includes a first guide rod, a second guide rod, a third guide rod, and a fourth guide rod, each being supported by the frame. The resisting structure is formed by a primary weight stack movably mounted on the first and second guide rods, and a supplementary weight stack movably mounted on the third and fourth guide rods. A coupling arrangement is disposed upon a top plate of the primary weight stack and a top plate of the supplementary weight stack and interconnects the primary weight stack and supplementary weight stack together such that a lifting force applied through the connecting device will simultaneously lift the primary weight stack and the supplementary weight stack in a balanced manner.

Claims

1. In a weight stack adjusting system for an exercise machine having a frame, an operating mechanism movably connected to the frame, resisting structure on the frame and connecting means entrained about a first pulley and a second pulley, both being mounted on the frame and joining the operating mechanism with the resisting structure so as to selectively allow moving the resisting structure between a raised position and a lowered position, the system including a first guide rod, a second guide rod, a third guide rod, and a fourth guide rod, each being supported by the frame, and the resisting structure being formed by a primary weight stack having a plurality of plates including a top plate movably mounted on the first and second guide rods and a supplementary weight stack having a plurality of weight plates including a top plate movably mounted on the third and fourth guide rods, the improvement comprising:

a coupling arrangement disposed upon the primary weight stack top plate and the supplementary weight stack top plate and interconnecting the primary weight stack and the supplementary weight stack together such that a lifting force applied through the connecting means will simultaneously lift the primary weight stack and the supplementary weight stack in a balanced manner, wherein the coupling arrangement includes a force distribution assembly attached to the primary weight stack top plate, and a carriage structure movably mounted on the second guide rod and the supplementary weight stack top plate,

a drive belt having a first end connected to the operating mechanism, an intermediate portion entrained about the second pulley so as to define a first vertical path tangent to the second pulley, and a second end joined to a center of the top plate of the primary weight stack wherein the second end of the drive belt is joined to the center of the top plate of the primary weight stack by a cable clamp,

wherein the carriage structure includes a pair of spaced apart, carriage plates, each of the carriage plates having a distal end supported on the cable clamp and a proximal end pivotally connected to the top plate of the supplementary weight stack, and

wherein the proximal ends of the carriage plates are interconnected by a horizontal member having a downwardly depending tab overlying an upwardly extending tab projecting from a collar located in the center of the top plate of the supplementary weight stack.

2. The improvement of claim 1, including a pair of rollers rotatably mounted between the carriage plates, each of the rollers being mounted for rolling movement along opposite sides of the second guide rod.

3. The improvement of claim 1, wherein the downwardly depending tab and the upwardly extending tab are pivotally joined together by a non-rigid connection.

4. The improvement of claim 1, including a first selector pin engagable with plates of the primary weight stack, and a second selector pin engagable with plates of the supplementary weight stack.

5. The improvement of claim 4, wherein the force distribution assembly and the carriage structure include cylindrical tubes for retaining the first selector pin and the second selector pin.

6. The improvement of claim 1, wherein the supplementary weight stack is located behind the primary weight stack.

7. The improvement of claim 1, wherein the force distribution assembly is connected between the first guide rod and the second guide rod, and is disposed along the longitudinal centerline of the primary weight stack top plate.