Exercise apparatus with connection assembly

• US 7,749,140 B1
• Filed: 07/21/2005
• Issued: 07/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Life Fitness LLC
• Original Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
• Inventors: Kilgriff, Thomas M., Lindemeier, John R., Cassidy, John M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Donnelly; Jerome
• Application Number:
  US11/186,465
• Time in Patent Office: 1,811 Days
• Field of Search: 482/139, 482/121, 482/122, 482/126, 482/148, 482 96-104, 482/91, 482/81, 482/82, 482/124
• US Class Current: 482/82
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0557 Details of attachments, e.g. clips or clamps
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4017 to the upper limbs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4035 for operation by hand

Abstract

A quick disconnect and re-connect system is provided for exercise apparatus having a connection assembly for connecting a user-gripped handle to a resistance-bearing cable.

Claims

1. Exercise apparatus comprising a user-gripped handle, a resistance-bearing cable, and a connection assembly for connecting said user-gripped handle to said resistance-bearing cable, comprising a barrel extending axially along an axis and having first and second distally opposite axial ends, said first axial end engaging said handle, said second axial end engaging said cable, a retainer moveable relative to said barrel between a first locking position retaining engagement of said handle and said first axial end of said barrel, and a second release position releasing and enabling disengagement of said handle from said first axial end of said barrel, wherein said first axial end of said barrel has a hook portion engaging said handle in hooked relation, and said second axial end of said barrel has a trap portion engaging said cable in trapped relation, and comprising a first collar around said barrel at said second axial end and attached to said barrel to retain said cable in trapped relation engaging said barrel, and wherein said retainer comprises a second collar around said barrel and axially slidable along said barrel between a first axial position retaining engagement of said handle and said hook portion of said barrel in said hooked relation, and a second axial position releasing and enabling disengagement of said handle from said hook portion of said barrel.

2. The exercise apparatus according to claim 1 wherein:

said second collar slides axially toward said handle to said first axial position;

said second collar slides axially away from said handle to said second axial position.

3. The exercise apparatus according to claim 1 wherein:

said handle and said hook portion of said barrel disengage each other by radial movement away from each other transverse to said axis;

said second collar in said first axial position blocks said radial movement of said handle and said hook portion of said barrel away from each other.

4. The exercise apparatus according to claim 3 wherein:

said handle and said hook portion of said barrel disengage each other by initial axial movement relative to each other, followed by said radial movement away from each other;

said second collar in said first axial position blocks said initial axial movement of said handle and said hook portion of said barrel relative to each other.

5. The exercise apparatus according to claim 1 comprising a biasing member bearing between said first and second collars and resiliently biasing said second collar to said first axial position.

6. The exercise apparatus according to claim 5 wherein:

said second collar has a stop surface providing said retaining engagement of said handle and said hook portion of said barrel in said hooked relation in said first axial position of said second collar;

said biasing member comprises a compression spring;

said second collar has a skirt portion extending axially in an axial direction away from said handle and circumscribing and concentrically surrounding said compression spring in each of said first and second axial positions of said second collar, such that said compression spring is enclosed and covered by said skirt portion in each of said first and second axial positions of said second collar.

7. The exercise apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said skirt portion of said second collar circumscribes and concentrically surrounds at least a portion of said first collar in each of said first and second axial positions of said second collar and axially slides therealong during movement of said second collar between said first and second axial positions.

8. The exercise apparatus according to claim 7 wherein:

said second collar has an axially facing surface facing axially away from said handle;

said compression spring has a first axial end bearing against said axially facing surface of said second collar, and has a second distally opposite axial end bearing against said first collar.

9. The exercise apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said second collar has a second axially facing surface facing axially toward and engaging said handle in said first axial position of said second collar to block axial movement of said handle relative to said barrel, and enabling axial movement of said handle relative to said barrel upon compression of said compression spring, said second axially facing surface providing said stop surface.

10. Exercise apparatus comprising a user-gripped handle, a resistance-bearing cable, and a connection assembly for connecting said user-gripped handle to said resistance-bearing cable, said handle having a yoke, said cable having an enlarged ball end, comprising a barrel extending axially along an axis and having first and second distally opposite axial ends, said first axial end having a hook portion engaging said handle at said yoke in hooked relation, said second axial end having a trap portion engaging said cable at said enlarged ball end in trapped relation, a first collar around said barrel at said second axial end and attached to said barrel to retain said cable in said trapped relation engaging said barrel, a second collar around said barrel and axially slidable along said barrel between a first axial position retaining engagement of said yoke of said handle and said hook portion of said barrel in said hooked relation, and a second axial position releasing and enabling disengagement of said yoke of said handle from said hook portion of said barrel, wherein said second collar slides axially toward said yoke of said handle to said first axial position, said second collar slides axially away from said yoke of said handle to said second axial position, said yoke of said handle and said hook portion of said barrel disengage each other by radial movement away from each other transverse to said axis, said second collar in said first axial position blocks said radial movement of said yoke of said handle and said hook portion of said barrel away from each other, and comprising a biasing member bearing between said first and second collars and resiliently biasing said second collar to said first axial position, wherein said second collar has a stop surface providing said retaining engagement of said yoke of said handle and said hook portion of said barrel in said hooked relation in said first axial position of said second collar, said biasing member comprises a compression spring, said second collar has a skirt portion extending axially in an axial direction away from said yoke of said handle and circumscribing and concentrically surrounding said compression spring in each of said first and second axial positions of said second collar, such that said compression spring is enclosed and covered by said skirt portion in each of said first and second axial positions of said second collar, wherein said skirt portion of said second collar circumscribes and concentrically surrounds at least a portion of said first collar in each of said first and second axial positions of said second collar and axially slides therealong during movement of said second collar between said first and second axial positions.

11. A method for detaching and re-attaching a user-gripped handle to a resistance-bearing cable in a connection assembly for exercise apparatus, comprising providing a user-gripped handle, providing a resistance-bearing cable, providing a barrel extending axially along an axis and having first and second distally opposite axial ends, providing said first axial end with a hook portion engaging said handle in hooked relation, providing said second axial end with a trap portion engaging said cable in trapped relation, providing a first collar around said barrel at said second axial end and attached to said barrel to retain said cable in said trapped relation engaging said barrel, providing a second collar around said barrel and axially slidable along said barrel between a first axial position retaining engagement of said handle and said hook portion of said barrel in said hooked relation, and a second axial position releasing and enabling disengagement of said handle from said hook portion of said barrel, and comprising axially sliding said second collar from said first axial position to said second axial position to release and enable disengagement of said handle from said hook portion of said barrel, and axially sliding said second collar from said second axial position to said first axial position to retain engagement of said handle and said hook portion of said barrel in said hooked relation.

12. The method according to claim 11 comprising:

axially sliding said second collar toward said handle to said first axial position;

axially sliding said second collar away from said handle to said second axial position.

13. The method according to claim 11 comprising:

axially sliding said second collar to said second axial position and disengaging said handle and said hook portion of said barrel by radially moving said handle and said hook portion of said barrel away from each other transverse to said axis;

re-engaging said handle and said hook portion of said barrel by radially moving said handle and said hook portion of said barrel towards each other transverse to said axis;

axially sliding said second collar to said first axial position to block radial movement of said handle and said hook portion of said barrel away from each other.

14. The method according to claim 13 comprising disengaging said handle and said hook portion of said barrel by initially axially moving said handle and said hook portion of said barrel axially relative to each other, followed by said radial movement away from each other, and re-engaging said handle and said hook portion of said barrel by initially radially moving said handle and said hook portion of said barrel towards each other, followed by axial movement relative to each other, followed by axially sliding said second collar to said first axial position to block said initial axial movement of said handle and said hook portion of said barrel relative to each other and said radial movement away from each other.

15. The method according to claim 11 comprising resiliently biasing said second collar to said first axial position by providing a biasing member bearing between said first and second collars.

16. The method according to claim 15 comprising:

providing said second collar with a stop surface providing said retaining engagement of said handle and said hook portion of said barrel in said hooked relation in said first axial position of said second collar;

providing said biasing member as a compression spring;

providing said second collar with a skirt portion extending axially in an axial direction away from said handle and circumscribing and concentrically surrounding said compression spring in each of said first and second axial positions of said second collar;

enclosing and covering said compression spring with said skirt portion in each of said first and second axial positions of said second collar.

17. The method according to claim 16 comprising circumscribing and concentrically surrounding at least a portion of said first collar with said skirt portion of said second collar in each of said first and second axial positions of said second collar, and axially sliding said skirt portion of said second collar along said first collar while axially moving said second collar between said first and second axial positions.