Leg exercise machine with self-aligning pivoting seat

• US 7,563,209 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2007
• Issued: 07/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hoist Fitness Sytems Incorporated (Hoist Fitness Systems)
• Original Assignee: Hoist Fitness Sytems Incorporated (Hoist Fitness Systems)
• Inventors: Webber, Randall T., Meredith, Jeffrey O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mathew; Fenn C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tecco; Andrew M
• Application Number:
  US11/846,472
• Publication Number:
  US 20080058177A1
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• Field of Search: 482/66, 482/80, 482 93-101, 482/130, 482133-137, 482/142
• US Class Current: 482/94
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0615 pivoting about a fixed horizontal fulcrum
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0628 for vertical array of weights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/08 anchored at one end
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/155 Cam-shaped pulleys or other non-uniform pulleys, e.g. conical
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/159 Using levers for transmitting forces
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4035 for operation by hand
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4047 Pivoting movement weight pivoting A63B21/0615
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/09 Adjustable dimensions
• 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 23/0494 primarily by articulating the knee joints A63B23/0405, A63B23/0476 take precedence

Abstract

An isolation exercise machine for exercising one muscle group has a user support which is pivotally mounted on a main frame by a pivotal mounting system. A user engaging exercise arm is pivotally connected to the user support, and a connecting link links movement of the user exercise arm to movement in the user support. A load provides resistance to movement of the user support, exercise arm and/or connecting link. The pivotal mounting system is configured to place the user support seat in a relatively flat position in the rest or exercise start position and to recline and change the seat angle to an inclined position as the exercise arm is moved.

Claims

1. A leg exercise machine, comprising:

a main frame having a front end and a rear end;

a user support pivot mount on the main frame;

a user support pivotally mounted on the user support pivot mount for rotation about a pivot axis relative to the main frame and moving in a first direction between a start position and an end position during a leg exercise, the user support having a seat portion and a backrest portion which support a user in a seated position during a leg exercise, the seat and backrest portions being in a fixed orientation relative to one another during an exercise movement and moving together in the same relative orientation to one another throughout the exercise movement, the seat portion having a rear end and a forward end and rotating downwardly at its rear end and upwardly at its forward end between the start and end positions of the leg exercise;

the user support pivot mount comprising a four bar linkage between the user support and main frame, the four bar linkage defining a theoretical pivot axis of the user support pivotal movement, all pivot connections between the four bar linkage and the main frame being located no higher than the seat portion of the user support;

at least one leg exercise arm movably mounted relative to the main frame and having a leg engaging device for engagement by the legs of a user seated on the user support to perform a leg exercise;

a connecting link which links movement of the exercise arm by a user performing a leg exercise to movement of the user support from the start position to the end position; and

a load which resists movement of at least one of the user support, exercise arm, and connecting link.

2. The machine of claim 1, wherein the four bar linkage comprises a first pivot link having a first end pivotally connected to the main frame for rotation about a first pivot axis and a second end pivotally connected to the user support for rotation about a second pivot axis, and a second pivot link having a first end pivotally connected to the main frame at a location spaced forward from the first pivot axis for rotation about a third pivot axis, and a second end pivotally connected to the user support at a location spaced forward from the second pivot axis for rotation about a fourth pivot axis.

3. The machine of claim 1, wherein the four bar linkage is configured to produce pivotal movement of the user support about a predetermined theoretical pivot axis.

4. The machine of claim 3, wherein the main frame has a base portion which engages the ground and the theoretical pivot axis is located no higher than the base portion.

5. The machine of claim 4, wherein the theoretical pivot axis is below the base portion.

6. A leg exercise machine, comprising:

a main frame having a front end and a rear end;

a user support pivotally mounted relative to the main frame and moving in a first direction between a start position and an end position during a leg exercise, the user support having a seat portion and a backrest portion which support a user in a seated position during a leg exercise, the seat and backrest portions being in a fixed orientation relative to one another during an exercise movement and moving together in the same relative orientation to one another throughout the exercise movement, the seat portion having a rear end and a forward end and rotating downwardly at its rear end and upwardly at its forward end between the start and end positions of the leg exercise;

at least one leg exercise arm movably mounted relative to the main frame and having a leg engaging device for engagement by the legs of a user seated on the user support to perform a leg exercise;

a connecting link which links movement of the exercise arm by a user performing a leg exercise to movement of the user support from the start position to the end position; and

a load which resists movement of at least one of the user support, exercise arm, and connecting link;

the user support being pivotally mounted relative to the main frame for rotation about a user support pivot axis defining a vertical gravitational center line of the pivotal movement of the user support, the user support pivot axis being positioned at a predetermined location such that portions of the combined weight of the user and user support are distributed on each side of the gravitational center line in at least one of the start and end positions of a leg exercise movement.

7. The machine of claim 6, further comprising a range of motion (ROM) adjuster between the seat portion and the back rest portion which adjusts the orientation of the back rest portion relative to the seat portion, and a locking device which releasably locks the back rest portion at a selected orientation.

8. The machine of claim 6, wherein the seat portion is oriented at or close to a horizontal orientation in the start position, and is reclined rearwards in the end position.

9. The machine of claim 6, further comprising a user support pivot mount comprising a four bar pivot linkage between the user support and main frame, the four bar pivot linkage defining a user support pivot axis comprising a theoretical pivot axis about which the user support rotates between the exercise start and end positions.

10. The machine of claim 6, wherein the seat portion of the user support has a forward end and the leg exercise arm is pivotally linked to the user support for rotation about an exercise arm pivot axis spaced forward from the forward end of the seat portion.

11. The machine of claim 10, wherein the connecting link comprises a pivot link between the leg exercise arm and the main frame.

12. The machine of claim 10, wherein the leg exercise arm has a first end portion pivotally mounted on the user support on one side of the seat portion and a second end portion extending forward from the seat portion, the leg engaging device extending transversely from the second end portion in front of the seat portion.

13. The machine of claim 10, wherein the leg engaging device comprises a pad which is adapted to engage a front portion of the legs above the feet of a user seated on the user support and performing a leg extension exercise.

14. The machine of claim 10, wherein the leg engaging device comprises a first pad which is adapted to engage behind the legs of a user seated on the user support and performing a leg curl exercise, and a second, hold down pad spaced above the first pad which is adapted to engage in front of the user'"'"'s legs.

15. The machine of claim 10, wherein the leg exercise arm is movable between a start position extending downward from the exercise arm pivot axis and an end position extending forward from the exercise arm pivot axis.

16. The machine of claim 10, wherein the leg exercise arm is movable between a start position extending forward from the exercise arm pivot axis and an end position extending generally downward from the exercise arm pivot axis.

17. The machine of claim 10, wherein the exercise arm comprises a bi-directional exercise arm rotatable in a first direction about said exercise arm pivot axis to perform a leg extension exercise and in a second, opposite direction about said exercise arm pivot axis to perform a leg curl exercise.

18. The machine of claim 17, further comprising an adjustment device between the exercise arm and user support for user adjustment of the start position of the exercise arm between a first start position extending generally downwardly from the exercise arm pivot axis for performing a leg extension exercise and a second start position extending generally forward from the exercise arm pivot axis for performing a leg curl exercise.

19. The machine of claim 6, further comprising support handles fixed on opposite sides of the user support for gripping by a user when performing a leg exercise.

20. The machine of claim 6, wherein

the load comprises an adjustable load which provides at least a major portion of the exercise resistance during an exercise and the location of the user support pivot axis is unchanged by adjustment of the load.

21. An isolation exercise machine for performing an isolation exercise, comprising:

a main frame having a front end and a rear end;

a user support pivotally mounted relative to the main frame and moving in a predetermined arcuate path between a start position and an end position during an isolation exercise, the user support having a seat portion and a backrest portion which support a user in a seated position during an isolation exercise, the seat and backrest portions being in a fixed orientation relative to one another during an exercise movement and moving together in the same relative orientation to one another throughout the isolation exercise, the seat portion moving between a first orientation in the start position and a second, more rearwardly reclined orientation in the end position of the isolation exercise, the seat portion having a rear end which is at a first elevation at the start position of an isolation exercise and is at a second, lower elevation at the end position of the exercise;

at least one user engagement device movably mounted relative to the main frame and having a user engaging portion for engagement by a user seated on the user support when performing an isolation exercise;

a connecting link which links movement of the user engagement device by a user performing an exercise to movement of the user support from the start position to the end position; and

a load which resists movement of at least one of the user support, user engagement device, and connecting link.

22. The machine of claim 21, wherein the connecting link is a flexible link.

23. The machine of claim 21, further comprising a user support pivot mount between the user support and main frame, the user support pivot mount defining a user support pivot axis located directly beneath the seat portion of the user support.

24. A leg exercise machine, comprising:

a main frame having a front end and a rear end;

a user support pivotally mounted relative to the main frame and moving in a first direction between a start position and an end position during a leg exercise, the user support having a seat portion and a backrest portion which support a user in a seated position during a leg exercise, the seat and backrest portions being in a fixed orientation relative to one another during an exercise movement and moving together in the same relative orientation to one another throughout the exercise movement, the seat portion having a rear end and a forward end and rotating downwardly at its rear end and upwardly at its forward end between the start and end positions of the leg exercise;

a user support pivot assembly between the main frame and user support, the assembly comprising at least one pivot link having a first end pivoted to the main frame for rotation about a first pivot axis and a second end pivoted to the user support for rotation about a second pivot axis, the first pivot axis being located directly below the seat portion of the user support;

at least one leg exercise arm movably mounted relative to the main frame and having a leg engaging device for engagement by the legs of a user seated on the user support to perform a leg exercise;

a connecting link which links movement of the exercise arm by a user performing a leg exercise to movement of the user support from the start position to the end position; and

a load which resists movement of at least one of the user support, exercise arm, and connecting link.

25. A leg exercise machine, comprising:

a main frame having a front end and a rear end;

a user support pivotally mounted for rotation about a pivot axis relative to the main frame and moving in a first direction between a start position and an end position during a leg exercise, the user support having a seat portion and a backrest portion which support a user in a seated position during a leg exercise, the seat and backrest portions being in a fixed orientation relative to one another during an exercise movement and moving together in the same relative orientation to one another throughout the exercise movement, the seat portion having a rear end and a forward end and rotating downwardly at its rear end and upwardly at its forward end between the start and end positions of the leg exercise;

a user support pivot assembly between the main frame and user support, the user support pivot assembly having a plurality of pivots which are all located below the level of a user engaging surface of the seat portion at least in the exercise start position;

at least one leg exercise arm movably mounted relative to the main frame and having a leg engaging device for engagement by the legs of a user seated on the user support to perform a leg exercise;

a connecting link which links movement of the exercise arm by a user performing a leg exercise to movement of the user support from the start position to the end position; and

an adjustable load which resists movement of at least one of the user support, exercise arm, and connecting link.