Press station with add-on weights

• US 7,591,770 B2
• Filed: 10/19/2004
• Issued: 09/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Precor Incorporated (Peloton Interactive, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Precor Incorporated (Peloton Interactive, Inc.)
• Inventors: Stewart, Jonathan M., Burns, Edward R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thanh; Loan H
• Assistant Examiner(s): HWANG, VICTOR KENNY
• Application Number:
  US10/968,752
• Publication Number:
  US 20050054495A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,799 Days
• Field of Search: 482 92- 94, 482 98-103, 482136-138, 482/908
• US Class Current: 482/99
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00065 by increasing or reducing the number of resistance units
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0628 for vertical array of weights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/063 Weight selecting means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4031 with parts of the bench moving against a resistance during exercise
• 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 23/12 for upper limbs or related muscles, e.g. chest, upper back or shoulder muscles bench press exercises A63B21/078; for teaching music G09B15/06
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/1209 Involving a bending of elbow and shoulder joints simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/1263 Rotation about an axis passing through both shoulders, e.g. cross-country skiing-type arm movements

Abstract

An exercise apparatus for performing press exercises is provided. The exercise apparatus includes a frame and a support assembly adjustably coupled to the frame. A first press arm is coupled to the support assembly and is pivotal about a first pivot axis between a rest position and an extended position. A mechanism for add-on weights is further provided. The mechanism for add-on weights includes at least one add-on weight having a first region of contact and a second region of contact. The first region of contact can be defined by a selector pin hole in the add-on weight adapted to receive a selector pin. The selector pin engages the add-on weight approximately in line with the center of gravity of the add-on weight. The second region of contact can be provided by a stabilization bracket defining an aperture into which a stabilization pin on the add-on weight extends.

Claims

1. An exercise apparatus comprising:

a frame with a support point;

a stack of weights comprising a first weight and plurality of additional weights, wherein the first weight includes a first selector pin aperture extending along a first axis in a first direction and wherein each of the plurality of additional weights including a second selector pin aperture extending in the first direction;

a lifting post extending along each of the plurality of additional weights including a plurality of second selector pin apertures spaced along the lifting post and aligned with the second selector pin apertures;

a load-bearing assembly connected to the frame;

an adjustment mechanism for altering the orientation of the load-bearing assembly relative to the support point; and

a mechanism that adds-on at least one additional load, wherein the load adding mechanism comprises;

a first add-on weight, the first add-on weight having a first region of contact; and

a stabilization bracket defining a second region of contact for the first add-on weight, wherein the first region of contact for the first add-on weight comprises a selector pin hole defined in the first add-on weight and adapted to receive a selector pin, wherein the selector pin hole is in alignment with the first selector pin aperture and extends in the first direction.

2. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises:

a telescoping strut including an exposed end region and a distal end, the exposed end region being connected to the load-bearing assembly;

a receiver tube having a proximal end and a distal end connected to the support point;

the strut being adjustably positioned within the receiver tube through its proximal end;

a locking member adapted to engage the strut exposed end region; and

a locking member positioning system that selectively releases the engagement of the locking member from the strut;

wherein release is possible when the strut is not experiencing a load;

when the strut is experiencing a load, the locking member continues engagement with the strut.

3. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 further including an add-on weight support bracket secured to the exercise apparatus, the add-on weight support bracket defining an add-on weight slot, the add-on weight slot acting with the stabilization bracket to cradle at least a portion of the first weight when the selector pin is received by the add-on weight selector pin hole.

4. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first add-on weight includes a stabilization pin and the second region of contact for the at least one add-on weight comprises a completely bounded bracket hole formed by the stabilization bracket and into which the stabilization pin extends.

5. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the load adding mechanism includes a second add-on weight, and wherein the user can select from three additional weight settings by selecting the first add-on weight, selecting the second add-on weight or selecting both the first and second add-on weights.

6. The exercise apparatus of claim 5, wherein the exercise apparatus includes a stack of weights comprising a first weight and plurality of additional weights, and further wherein the user can select additional weight settings via a selector pin hole in the add-on weights accessible through an aperture defined in the first weight.

7. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the stabilization bracket moves with the first add-on weight during lifting of the first add-on weight when a selector pin is inserted in the first selector pin aperture and in the selector pin hole and wherein the stabilization bracket moves away from the first add-on weight during lifting of the first weight when the selector pin is withdrawn from the first selector pin aperture and the selector pin hole.

8. A mechanism for add-on weights in an exercise apparatus comprising:

a stack of weights comprising a first weight and plurality of additional weights;

a selector pin;

a first add-on weight including a stabilization member, the first add-on weight further defining a selector pin hole adapted to receive the selector pin, wherein the selector pin hole is accessible through an aperture defined in the first weight;

a stabilization bracket adapted to capture at least a portion of the first add-on weight and to vertically move with the first add-on weight during lifting of the first weight when the selector pin is received by the selector pin hole and to move independent of the first add-on weight during lifting of the first weight when the selector pin is withdrawn from the selector pin hole; and

the stabilization bracket further configured to engage the stabilization member.

9. The mechanism for add-on weights of claim 8 further including an add-on weight support bracket secured to the exercise apparatus, the add-on weight support bracket defining an add-on weight slot, the add-on weight slot acting with the stabilization bracket to cradle the weight when the selector pin is received by the add-on weight selector pin hole.

10. The mechanism for add-on weights of claim 8, further including a lifting post extending downwardly from the first weight through an aperture defined in the additional weights.

11. The mechanism for add-on weights of claim 8, further including a second add-on weight, and wherein the user can select from three additional weight settings by selecting the first add-on weight, selecting the second add-on weight or selecting both the first and second add-on weights.

12. The mechanism for add-on weights of claim 8, further wherein the stabilization member comprises a stabilization pin;

and the stabilization bracket further defines an aperture into which the stabilization pin extends when the selector pin is received by the selector pin hole.

13. The exercise device of claim 8 further comprising a lifting post including a plurality of apertures spaced along the post and extending through the post in a first direction, wherein the selector pin hole extends into the first add-on weight in the first direction.

14. An exercise apparatus comprising:

a frame;

a stack of main weights including a first main weight movably coupled to the frame;

a cable connected to the first weight;

a first add-on weight;

a first selector pin extending along a first axis and movable between a first position in which the first selector pin couples the first add-on weight to the cable such that the first add-on-weight is liftable with the cable and a second position in which the add and-on weight is decoupled from the cable;

a first stabilization bracket coupled to the first main weight, wherein one of the bracket and the add-on weight includes a first projection and the other of the bracket and the add-on weight includes a first detent configured to removably receive the projection, the first projection and the first detent extending along a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis;

a second add-on weight;

a second selector pin extending along a third axis and movable between a third position in which the second selector pin couples the second add-on weight to the cable such that the second add-on-weight is liftable with the cable and a fourth position in which the add-on weight is decoupled from the cable;

a second stabilization bracket coupled to the first main weight, wherein one of the second bracket and the second add-on weight includes a second projection and the other of the bracket and the second add-on weight includes a second detent configured to removably receive the second projection, the second projection and the second detent extending along a fourth axis of substantially perpendicular to the third axis, wherein a user may select from three additional weight settings by selecting the first add-on weight, selecting the second add-on weight or selecting both the first add-on weight and the second add-on weight by moving the first selector pin between the first and second positions and the second selector pin between the third and fourth positions.

15. The exercise apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first stabilization bracket extends on opposite sides of the add-on weight so as to sandwich the first add-on weight.

16. The exercise apparatus of claim 14 further comprising:

a support bracket stationarily fixed to the frame, the support bracket including a slot; and

a protuberance extending from the first add-on weight and configured to be received within the slot while the first selector pin is in the second position to support the first add-on weight while the first weight is being lifted.

17. The exercise apparatus of claim 16, wherein the protuberance extends along a fifth axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis and the second axis.

18. The exercise apparatus of claim 14 further comprising:

a first support bracket stationarily fixed to the frame and configured to retain the first add-on weight against movement along the first axis while permitting the first add-on weight to be lifted along the second axis and to be completely disconnected from a first support bracket and the first stabilization bracket without use of tools.

19. The exercise apparatus of claim 18 further comprising:

a second support bracket stationarily fixed to the frame and configured to retain the second add-on weight against movement along the third axis while permitting the second add-on weight to be lifted along the fourth axis and to be completely disconnected from a second support bracket and the second stabilization bracket without use of tools.

20. The exercise apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first add-on weight includes a first selector pin aperture receiving the first selector pin when the first selector pin is in the first position, wherein the first weight includes a second selector pin aperture in alignment with the first selector pin aperture and wherein the first selector pin extends through the second selector pin aperture of into the first selector pin aperture when in the first position.