Chest press exercise machine with self-aligning pivoting user support
First Claim
1. An exercise machine, comprising:
- a main frame having a front end and a rear end;
a user support pivotally mounted relative to the main frame to support a user in an exercise position, the user support moving about a user support pivot axis in one direction between an exercise start position and an exercise end position during an exercise movement, the user support having a primary portion and a secondary portion which support spaced positions on a user'"'"'s body throughout an exercise movement, the primary portion supporting the majority of a user'"'"'s weight at least in the exercise start position of the user support, and the secondary portion being secured at a fixed angular orientation relative to the primary portion and not moving relative to the primary portion as the user support travels between the exercise start and end positions during the exercise movement;
at least one exercise arm movably mounted relative to the main frame and having at least one handle for gripping by a user positioned on the user support when performing an exercise;
a connecting link which links movement of the exercise arm to movement of the user support;
a load which resists movement of at least one of the user support, exercise arm, and connecting link; and
a positioning device which is both separate and spaced from the handle and which controls positioning of the exercise arm in an exercise ready position relative to the user support, the positioning device traveling with the exercise arm and pivotally associated with at least one of the main frame and user support, and including an actuating portion adapted for direct engagement by a user prior to an exercise in order to position the exercise arm in the exercise ready position.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A chest press exercise machine has a self-aligning pivoting user support on a main frame and an exercise arm which is linked to the pivoting user support to translate movement of the exercise arm into movement of the user support. A user support pivot pivotally connects the user support to the main frame. A connecting link is movably associated with the user engagement device or exercise arm and at least one of the main frame, user support, or user support pivot. A user-activated positioning device controls positioning of the exercise arm in an exercise ready position at the start of an exercise. The user support pivot is positioned so that part of the combined weight of the user and user support is positioned on both sides of the gravitational centerline throughout the exercise movement and a portion of the combined weight passes through the centerline to redistribute the weight as the exercise arm is moved.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. An 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 to support a user in an exercise position, the user support moving about a user support pivot axis in one direction between an exercise start position and an exercise end position during an exercise movement, the user support having a primary portion and a secondary portion which support spaced positions on a user'"'"'s body throughout an exercise movement, the primary portion supporting the majority of a user'"'"'s weight at least in the exercise start position of the user support, and the secondary portion being secured at a fixed angular orientation relative to the primary portion and not moving relative to the primary portion as the user support travels between the exercise start and end positions during the exercise movement; at least one exercise arm movably mounted relative to the main frame and having at least one handle for gripping by a user positioned on the user support when performing an exercise; a connecting link which links movement of the exercise arm to movement of the user support; a load which resists movement of at least one of the user support, exercise arm, and connecting link; and a positioning device which is both separate and spaced from the handle and which controls positioning of the exercise arm in an exercise ready position relative to the user support, the positioning device traveling with the exercise arm and pivotally associated with at least one of the main frame and user support, and including an actuating portion adapted for direct engagement by a user prior to an exercise in order to position the exercise arm in the exercise ready position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An exercise machine, comprising:
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a stationary main frame having a front end and a rear end; a user support pivotally mounted relative to the main frame to support a user in an exercise position, the user support pivoting in an exercise movement in one direction between a start position and an end position; at least one user engagement device movably mounted relative to the main frame and having at least one user engaging portion for engagement by a user positioned on the user support; a connecting link which links movement of the exercise arm to movement of the user support; a load which resists movement of at least one of the user support, user engagement device, and connecting link; and a floating pivot link between the user support and main frame which has a first, fixed pivot connection to the main frame defining a first pivot axis and a second pivot connection to the user support defining a second pivot axis which moves during an exercise movement in a first direction during an initial stage of the exercise movement, and reverses in direction to move in a second, reverse direction opposite to the first direction during a subsequent stage of the exercise movement, the reverse in direction of the second pivot connection occurring while the user support is traveling in one direction between the start and end position of an exercise movement. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An exercise machine, comprising:
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a main frame having a front end, a rear end, and opposite sides; a user support pivotally mounted relative to the main frame to support a user in an exercise position, the user support moving about a user support pivot axis in one direction between an exercise start position and an exercise end position during an exercise movement, the user support having a primary support portion and a secondary support portion which support spaced positions on a user'"'"'s body, the primary support portion supporting the majority of a user'"'"'s weight at least in the exercise start position of the user support, and the secondary support portion being secured at a fixed angular orientation relative to the primary support portion and not moving relative to the primary support portion as the user support travels between the exercise start and end positions during the exercise movement; at least one user engagement device movably mounted relative to the main frame and having at least one user engaging portion for engagement by a user positioned on the user support, the user engagement device moving in one direction between a first, exercise start position and a second, exercise end position during an exercise movement; a connecting link which links movement of the user engagement device to movement of the user support; a load selectively positioned on either side of the main frame; and a connecting assembly which connects the load to at least one of the user support, user engagement device, and connecting link, the connecting assembly having a mount selectively attachable to the first side or the second side of the main frame. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A chest press 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 to support a user in a seated position, the user support moving about a user support pivot axis in one direction between an exercise start position and an exercise end position during a chest press exercise movement, the user support having a seat portion and a backrest portion, the backrest portion being secured at a fixed angular orientation relative to the seat portion and not moving relative to the seat portion as the user support travels between the exercise start and end positions during the exercise movement; at least one exercise arm movably mounted relative to the main frame and having at least one handle for gripping by a user seated on the user support, the exercise arm moving in a first direction during a chest press exercise movement between a start position in which the handle is located at a first position in front of the backrest portion proximate a user'"'"'s chest when seated on the user support, and an end position spaced forwardly from the first position; a connecting link linking movement of the exercise arm to movement of the user support and having a first end associated with the exercise arm, an elongate portion extending from the first end, and a first pivot connection between the connecting link and main frame located on the elongate portion and spaced from the exercise arm; and a load which resists movement of at least one of the user support, exercise arm, and connecting link; whereby the combined motion of the user, user support, and exercise arm substantially replicates the natural movement of the upper part of a human body when performing a free weight chest press exercise. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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Specification