Inner and outer thigh exercise machine

• US 7,396,319 B1
• Filed: 04/08/2005
• Issued: 07/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Northland Industries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Northland Industries, Inc.
• Inventors: Ellis, Patrick D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thanh; Loan
• Assistant Examiner(s): GINSBERG, OREN ISAAC
• Application Number:
  US11/102,053
• Time in Patent Office: 1,187 Days
• Field of Search: 482/100, 482133-138, 482 92- 94, 482 97-103, 482/907, D21/673, D21/675, D21/676, D21/685, D21/686, D21/690
• US Class Current: 482/100
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0628 for vertical array of weights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/155 Cam-shaped pulleys or other non-uniform pulleys, e.g. conical
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4047 Pivoting movement weight pivoting A63B21/0615
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0488 by spreading the legs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/907 Stretching

Abstract

An inner and outer thigh exercise apparatus has a framework, and a seat and backrest mounted on the framework. Right and left leg supports are pivotally mounted on the framework about spaced apart pivot shafts relative to the seat and are interconnected with one another so as to pivot simultaneously in opposite angular directions between start and finish positions. A resistance arrangement is operatively connected to the leg supports for imposing a resistive force on the leg supports during pivoting movement thereof between start and finish positions. A motion transfer assembly is controllably mounted for selective rotation about a single pivot axis on one of the leg supports for enabling changing of the start positions of the leg supports, and allowing the imposition of resistive force on the leg supports during pivoting movement of the leg supports between start and finish positions.

Claims

1. A combination inner and outer thigh exercise machine comprising:

a framework;

a seat and a backrest joined to the framework;

right and left leg supports pivotally mounted on the framework on spaced apart pivot shafts relative to the seat and the backrest, and interconnected so as to pivot one with the other in opposite angular directions between start and finish positions;

thigh engaging structure freely rotatably secured on the leg supports for selectively engaging inner and outer portions of an exerciser'"'"'s thighs;

a resistance arrangement operatively connected to the leg supports for imposing a resistive force on the leg supports during pivoting movement thereof between start and finish positions;

an adjustment assembly associated with one of the leg supports for selectively enabling changing the start positions of the leg supports without imposing the resistive force of the resistance arrangement thereon, the adjustment assembly having a portion mounted for selective rotation on the pivot shaft associated with the one leg support and including a range limiter plate mounted for selective rotation on the pivot shaft associated with the one leg support; and

a resistive force imposing assembly having a portion mounted for selective rotation on the pivot shaft associated with the one leg support and directly engaged with the portion of the adjustment assembly to impose the resistive force on the leg supports as the leg supports are pivoted between the start and finish positions,

wherein the portion of the resistive force imposing assembly includes an upper cam plate and a lower cam plate, each cam plate being separately engageable with the range limiter plate and

wherein the resistive force imposing assembly also includes an elongated swing arm having one end pivotably connected about a first vertical axis on the framework and an opposite end directly attached to the resistance arrangement, the swing arm having a pulley rotatably mounted thereon adjacent the one end about a second vertical axis spaced from the first vertical axis, the pulley moving with the swing arm as the swing arm pivots, there being a cable commonly engageable about peripheral surfaces of the pulley, the upper cam plate and the lower cam plate.

2. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the resistance arrangement includes a weight stack having a cable operatively connected to the resistive force imposing assembly.

3. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the leg supports include right and left foot supports on forward ends thereof.

4. The exercise machine of claim 3, wherein the leg supports include a pair of bearing tubes between the foot supports and the pivot shafts for receiving the thigh engaging structure.

5. An adductor and abductor exercise apparatus comprising:

a framework;

a seat and a backrest joined to the framework;

right and left leg supports pivotally mounted on the framework on spaced apart pivot shafts relative to the seat and the backrest, and interconnected so as to pivot one with the other in opposite angular directions between start and finish positions;

thigh engaging structure freely rotatably secured on the leg supports for selectively engaging inner and outer portions of an exerciser'"'"'s thighs;

a resistance arrangement operatively connected to the leg supports for imposing a resistive force on the leg supports during pivoting movement thereof between the start and finish positions;

an actuating lever connected to one of the leg supports for selectively pivoting a spring-biased pin between a non-engagement position and an engagement position to establish selected start positions for the leg supports without imposing the resistive force thereon;

a range limiter plate engageable and disengageable with the pin of the actuating lever, and mounted for selective rotation on the pivot shaft associated with the one leg support, the range limiter plate being provided with an engagement pin fixed thereon;

an upper cam plate mounted for selective rotation on the pivot shaft associated with the one leg support and formed with a slot for selectively receiving the engagement pin on the range limiter plate;

a lower cam plate mounted for selective rotation on the pivot shaft associated with the one leg support and formed with a slot for selectively receiving the engagement pin of the range limiter plate;

an elongated swing arm having one end pivotally attached about a first vertical axis to the framework rearwardly of the leg supports and an opposite end directly connected to a first cable attached to the resistance arrangement;

a pulley rotatably mounted on the swing arm about a second vertical axis spaced from the first vertical axis and movable with the swing arm as the swing arm pivots about only the one end; and

a second cable directly engaged with peripheral surfaces of the upper cam plate, the pulley and the lower cam plate,

whereby disengagement of the spring-biased pin from the range limiter plate allows movement of the leg supports to various start positions without rotation of the range limiter plate, and

whereby pivoting of the leg supports between start and finish positions with the spring-biased pin engaged in the range limiter plate, enables rotation of the range limiter plate and only one of the upper and lower cam plates causing a corresponding movement of the second cable, pulley and swing arm to impose the resistive force on the leg supports during movement between the start and finish positions.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the upper and lower cam plates have cable retaining and guide structure provided thereon.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, including a pair of sheaves rotatably mounted on the pivot shafts and interconnected by a third cable for enabling pivoting of the leg supports in opposite angular directions.