Variable resistance squat exercise machine

• US 6,802,800 B1
• Filed: 06/30/2000
• Issued: 10/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rogers Athletic Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Pendulum Fitness, Inc.
• Inventors: Hobson, Tyler J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi, Nicholas D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HWANG, VICTOR KENNY
• Application Number:
  US09/607,472
• Time in Patent Office: 1,565 Days
• Field of Search: 482/93, 482/94, 482/97, 482/98, 482/100, 482/135-138
• US Class Current: 482/97
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2023/0411 Squatting exercises
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0615 pivoting about a fixed horizontal fulcrum
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/08 anchored at one end
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4047 Pivoting movement weight pivoting A63B21/0615
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0233 in 90/90 position, like on a chair
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/03525 Supports for both feet or both hands performing simultaneously the same movement, e.g. single pedal or single handle A63B21/0724 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/1281 primarily by articulating the elbow joint
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/908 Adjustable

Abstract

An exercise machine for performing squat exercises is provided for. The exercise machine comprises a support frame with a shaft horizontally mounted on the frame for rotation about its longitudinal axis. There is at least one weight arm connected to the shaft. The weight arm is adapted to carry a weight at a point distant from the connection between the weight arm and the rotating shaft. Thus, the weight arm provides resistance and load as the shaft rotates. The novel squat machines also comprise a work arm that is connected to the shaft such that actuation of the work arm causes the shaft to rotate. A yoke is connected to the work arm. The yoke is adapted to accommodate the shoulders of an exerciser such that the exerciser is able to provide upward force on the work arm in opposition to the resistance of the weight arm by performing a squat exercise. When the exerciser performs the squat, the work arm causes the shaft to rotate and the weight arm to travel along an arcuate path. Thus, the resistance to rotation provided by the weight arm varies as the weight arm travels along its arcuate path.

Claims

1. An exercise machine for performing squat exercises, said exercise machine comprising:

a support frame;

a shaft horizontally mounted on said frame for rotation about its longitudinal axis;

at least one weight arm connected to said shaft, said weight arm carrying one or more first weights at a point distant from said connection between said weight arm and said rotating shaft to provide resistance to rotation of said shaft, said first weights having a nominal weight;

a work arm connected to said shaft such that actuation of the work arm causes said shaft to rotate;

said work arm carrying one or more second weights at a point distant from said connection between said work arm and said rotating shaft to provide resistance to upward movement of said work arm;

a yoke connected to said work arm, said yoke adapted to accommodate the shoulders of an exerciser such that the exerciser may provide upward force on said work arm in opposition to said resistances by performing a squat exercise and thereby causing said work arm to travel along an arcuate path, said shaft to rotate, and said weight arm to travel along an arcuate path;

whereby said resistance to upward rotation of said work arm and said resistance to rotation provided by said first weight arm vary as said work arm and said weight arm travel along arcuate paths.

2. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein said shaft is mounted on said frame by pillow block bearings.

3. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein said yoke is releasably connected to said work arm.

4. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein said weight arm is adapted to releasably carry weights of different resistance.

5. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein said exercise machine comprises means for supporting said weight arm in one or more substantially non-vertical positions to adjust the resistance provided by said weight arm to movement from a resting position on said support means.

6. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein said yoke is pivotally connected to said work arm.

7. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein said first and second weights are selected to provide resistance approximating the resistance that would be experienced by an exerciser doing squat exercises with a predetermined amount of free weights.

8. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein said first and second weights are selected to focus resistance on the gluteus maximus and hamstring muscles of an exerciser.

9. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein said first and second weights are selected to focus resistance on the quadriceps of an exerciser.

10. An exercise machine for performing squat exercises, said exercise machine comprising:

a support frame;

a shaft horizontally mounted on said support frame for rotation about its longitudinal axis;

at least one weight arm connected to said shaft and extending substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said shaft, said weight arm carrying one or more first weights at a point distant from said connection to said shaft to provide resistance to rotation of said shaft;

a work arm connected to said shaft at a point distant from said connection between said shaft and said weight arm, said work arm being connected to said shaft such that actuation of said work arm causes said shaft to rotate;

said work arm carrying one or more second weights at a point distant from said connection between said work arm and said rotating shaft to provide resistance to upward movement of said work arm;

a yoke connected to said work arm, said yoke adapted to accommodate the shoulders of an exerciser such that the exerciser may provide upward force on said work arm in opposition to said resistance by performing a squat exercise, whereby said first and second weights, upon actuation of said work arm by the exerciser, are carried along arcuate paths relative to said longitudinal axis of said shaft from respective first positions corresponding to the initial, squatting position of the exerciser to respective second positions corresponding to the finish, upright position of the exerciser;

whereby said resistance to upward rotation of said work arm and said resistance to rotation provided by said first weight arm vary as said work arm and said weight arm travel along arcuate paths.

11. The exercise machine of claim 10, wherein said weight arm is adapted to carry weights from a first position of between 180°

and 270° and

a substantially horizontal second position.

12. The exercise machine of claim 10, wherein said work arm is adapted to carry said second weights from a first position of between 270°

and 0°

to a substantially vertical second position.

13. The exercise machine of claim 10, wherein said exercise machine comprises means for supporting said weight arm in one or more substantially non-vertical positions to adjust the resistance provided by said weight arm to movement from a resting position on said support means.

14. The exercise machine of claim 10, wherein said yoke is pivotally connected to said work arm.

15. The exercise machine of claim 10, wherein said first and second weights are selected to provide resistance approximating the resistance that would be experienced by an exerciser doing squat exercises with a predetermined amount of free weights.

16. The exercise machine of claim 10, wherein said first and second weights are selected to focus resistance on the gluteus maximus and hamstring muscles of an exerciser.

17. The exercise machine of claim 10, wherein said first and second weights are selected to focus resistance on the quadriceps of an exerciser.

18. An exercise machine for performing squat exercises, said exercise machine comprising:

a support frame;

a shaft horizontally mounted on said support frame for rotation about its longitudinal axis;

a pair of weight arms connected to said shaft at opposite ends thereof and extending substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said shaft, said weight arms carrying one or more first weights at a point distant from the respective connections of said weight arms to said rotating shaft to provide resistance to rotation of said shaft, said first weights having a nominal weight;

a work arm connected to said shaft at a point intermediate of said connections between said weight arms and said shaft, said work arm connected to said shaft such that actuation of the work arm causes said shaft to rotate;

said work arm carrying one or more second weights at a point distant from said connection between said work arm and said rotating shaft to provide resistance to upward movement of said work arm;

a yoke connected to said work arm, said yoke adapted to accommodate the shoulders of an exerciser such that the exerciser may provide upward force on said work arm in opposition to said resistance by performing a squat exercise, whereby said first and second weights, upon actuation of said work arm by the exerciser, are carried along arcuate paths relative to said longitudinal axis of said shaft from respective first and second positions;

whereby said resistance to upward rotation of said work arm and said resistance to rotation provided by said first weight arm vary as said work arm and said weight arm travel along arcuate paths from their respective first and second positions.

19. The exercise machine of claim 18, wherein said yoke is pivotally connected to said work arm.

20. The exercise machine of claim 18, wherein said first and second weights are selected to provide resistance approximating the resistance that would be experienced by an exerciser doing squat exercises with a predetermined amount of free weights.

21. The exercise machine of claim 18, wherein said first and second weights are selected to focus resistance on the gluteus maximus and hamstring muscles of an exerciser.

22. The exercise machine of claim 18, wherein said first and second weights are selected to focus resistance on the quadriceps of an exerciser.