Antigravity full range of motion four limb dry swim exercise machine

• US 6,764,432 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2002
• Issued: 07/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joseph B. Hippensteel
• Original Assignee: Joseph B. Hippensteel
• Inventors: Hippensteel, Joseph B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi, Nicholas D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CANELLA, KAREN A
• Application Number:
  US10/091,475
• Publication Number:
  US 20030092533A1
• Time in Patent Office: 868 Days
• Field of Search: 482/55, 482/56, 482/62, 482/142, 482/51, 482/60, 482/138
• US Class Current: 482/56
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0041 one hand moving independently from the other hand, i.e. there is no link between the movements of the hands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0005 with particular movement of the arms provided by handles moving otherwise than pivoting about a horizontal axis parallel to the body-symmetrical-plane
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0012 the exercises for arms and legs being functionally independent
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0605 performing a circular movement, e.g. ergometers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0252 supine
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/03575 Apparatus used for exercising upper and lower limbs simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/14 Teaching frames for swimming ; Swimming boards

Abstract

An antigravity full range of motion four limb dry swim overall body exercise machine that allows virtually every muscle in the body to work anaerobically or aerobically, at the user'"'"'s choosing, while the user is lying down on their back to take pressure off the user'"'"'s spine, and working most muscles through a nominal or up to a full range of motion at the user'"'"'s choosing, which motions can be in one of several directions or arcs at the user'"'"'s choosing. The machine includes a base frame with parallel frame adjustable lengths and supporting cross segments horizontally and vertically to a second parallel frame length above the first, the entire base frame having a first end and a second end, the first end having frame adjustments to accept length and tension adjustable arm apparatuses with handles, the second end having frame adjustments to accept length and tension adjustable leg apparatuses with pedals. Mounted on top of the base frame top parallel lengths are padded bench apparatuses, one for the torso which can include a headrest and one for the hips. The middle of the length of the base frame has a spring or shock absorber type structure to allow the middle top level of the base frame, supporting the seat and torso apparatuses, to have an up and down motion to allow for abdominal flexion of the user permitted by a pivoting action of the seat and torso apparatus sections of the upper level of the base frame. The seat and torso apparatus sections are permitted to pivot in a seesaw type action by a fulcrum cross piece under and supporting the center of each bench section.

Claims

1. An exercise machine, comprising:

a bench having a length and width mounted on a frame for a user to lie on their back, said bench and frame being formed in two sections adjustable longitudinally;

a pair of adjustable arm exercise mechanisms mounted on a first end of said frame, each of said arm mechanisms including a rotatable arm to be rotated around an axis of rotation by the user'"'"'s arms;

at least one adjustable leg exercise mechanism mounted on a second end of said frame, said leg mechanism including a pair of rotatable pedals to be rotated by the user'"'"'s feet so that the user'"'"'s feet and pedals move in a circular motion around an axis of rotation transverse to a direction along the bench'"'"'s length, said leg mechanism longitudinally adjustable from said frame to accommodate the length of a user'"'"'s legs; and

a shock absorbing crosspiece mounted to the frame between said two sections and defining a fulcrum to allow said sections to be tilted relative to one another, and a shock absorber-like device mounted to the frame to provide spring support for the crosspiece at its fulcrum, the tilting of the sections by pivoting of the crosspiece as the shock absorber device moves allowing the user to bend abdominally.

2. The exercise machine of claim 1, including a headrest mounted to said bench at said first end of said frame.

3. The exercise machine of claim 2, including said headrest mounted to said frame by at least one spring mechanism to allow a range of motion for the user'"'"'s head and neck.

4. The exercise machine of claim 1, including each said arm mechanism being laterally adjustable from said frame width to accommodate the width of the user'"'"'s arms and shoulders.

5. The exercise machine of claim 4, including each said arm mechanism being vertically adjustable from said frame bench to accommodate the length of the user'"'"'s arms.

6. The exercise machine of claim 1, including each said arm mechanism being vertically adjustable from said frame bench to accommodate the length of the user'"'"'s arm.

7. The exercise machine of claim 1, including at least one of said arm mechanisms rotatable about an adjustable tension device.

8. The exercise machine of claim 1, including a bar attachable to said arm mechanisms to fix their relationship to cause such arm mechanisms to rotate together, and detachable to permit the arm mechanisms to rotate independently of one another.

9. The exercise machine of claim 8, including each of said arm mechanisms rotatable about an adjustable tension device mounted at said axis of rotation of said arm mechanism.

10. The exercise machine of claim 1, including said arm mechanism pivotable vertically to rotate said axis rotation.

11. The exercise machine of claim 1, including said leg mechanism vertically adjustable from said frame to adjust the circle of rotation of said pedals.

12. The exercise machine of claim 11, including said leg mechanism including said pedals being adjustable for said axis of rotation.

13. The exercise machine of claim 1, including said leg mechanism rotatable about an adjustable tension device.

14. The exercise machine of claim 13, including said adjustable tension device mounted at said axis of rotation.

15. An exercise machine, comprising:

a bench having a length and width mounted on a frame for a user to lie on their back, including a headrest mounted to said bench at a first end of said frame by at least one spring mechanism to allow a range of motion for the user'"'"'s head and neck, said bench and frame being formed in two sections adjustable longitudinally;

a pair of adjustable arm exercise mechanisms mounted on said frame, each of said arm mechanisms including a rotatable arm to be rotated around an axis of rotation by the user'"'"'s arms, each said arm mechanism being laterally adjustable from said frame width to accommodate the length of the user'"'"'s arms and including at least one of said arm mechanisms rotatable about an adjustable tension device;

at least one adjustable leg exercise mechanism mounted on a second end of said frame, said leg mechanism including a pair of rotatable pedals to be rotated by the user'"'"'s feet so that the user'"'"'s feet and pedals move in a circular motion around an axis of rotation transverse to a direction along the bench'"'"'s length, said leg mechanism longitudinally adjustable from said frame to accommodate the length of the user'"'"'s legs and vertically adjustable from said frame to adjust the circle of rotation of said pedals and said leg mechanism rotatable about an adjustable tension device; and

a shock absorbing crosspiece mounted to the frame between said two sections and defining a fulcrum to allow said sections to he tilted relative to one another, and a shock absorber-like device mounted to the frame to provide spring support for the crosspiece at its fulcrum, the tilting of the sections by pivoting of the crosspiece as the shock absorber device moves allowing the user to bend abdominally.

16. The exercise machine of claim 15, including a bar attachable to said arm mechanisms to fix their relationship to cause such arm mechanisms to rotate together, and detachable to permit the arm mechanisms to rotate independently of one another.

17. The exercise machine of claim 15, including each of said arm mechanisms rotatable about an adjustable tension device mounted at said axis of rotation of said arm mechanism.

18. The exercise machine of claim 15, including said arm mechanism pivotable vertically to rotate said axis of rotation.

19. The exercise machine of claim 15, wherein the spring mechanism extends at least part of the way across a space between the headrest and the frame.