Leg exercise machine with self-aligning pivoting seat
DC CAFCFirst Claim
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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.
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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.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A leg exercise machine, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A leg exercise machine, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An isolation exercise machine for performing an isolation exercise, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. A leg exercise machine, comprising:
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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.
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25. A leg exercise machine, comprising:
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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.
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Specification