Apparatus for bi-directional upper body exercise movements

• US 7,833,138 B1
• Filed: 07/22/2008
• Issued: 11/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kent Fulks
• Original Assignee: Kent Fulks
• Inventors: Fulks, Kent
• Primary Examiner(s): Thanh; Loan
• Assistant Examiner(s): HWANG, VICTOR KENNY
• Application Number:
  US12/220,140
• Time in Patent Office: 847 Days
• Field of Search: 482/56, 482/92, 482/97, 482/100, 482/136, 482/137
• US Class Current: 482/97
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0615 pivoting about a fixed horizontal fulcrum
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/08 anchored at one end
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/154 using special pulley-assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/159 Using levers for transmitting forces
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4033 Handles, pedals, bars or platforms
• 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 23/03541 Moving independently from each other A63B22/00 takes precedence
• 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 23/1254 Rotation about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body, e.g. butterfly-type exercises
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/1272 Rotation around an axis perpendicular to the frontal body-plane of the user, i.e. moving the arms in the plane of the body, to and from the sides of the body

Abstract

A method and apparatus for bi-directional exercising of upper body muscle groups including the steps of mounting lever arms for pivotal movement about primary and secondary axes; arranging the axes so that they are essentially perpendicular and intersect at a shoulder of a user, wherein the user exercises by grasping the lever arms and pivoting each of them independently about both axes simultaneously moving them close together from an extended position, with resistance opposing such exercise movements.

Claims

1. Apparatus for bi-directional upper body exercise movements, comprising:

a main-frame including a base and an upwardly extending column at the rear thereof supporting a transverse top cross-member;

an adjustable height seat mounted on the main-frame below the cross-member for supporting a user;

a motion transfer member having proximal and distal ends, wherein the proximal end is mounted at an outer end of the cross-member for pivotal movement about a first axis inclined toward the seat;

a lever arm, with a hand grip, mounted on the distal end of the transfer member for pivotal movement about a second axis, the second axis being essentially perpendicular to the first axis, and configured to intersect the first axis approximately where the shoulder of a user seated on the seat is located, with the lever arm and the transfer member being operably connected such that the lever arm will pivot toward the seat, about both the first and second axes simultaneously and through similar ranges of motion; and

an incrementally adjustable weight opposing such pivotal movement of the lever arm about both axes, so that an exercise force must be exerted therefor.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a second motion transfer member having proximal and distal ends, wherein the proximal end is mounted at the other end of the transverse cross-member for pivotal movement about a third axis inclined toward the seat;

a second lever arm with a second hand grip, mounted at the distal end of the second transfer member for pivotal movement about a fourth pivot axis, the fourth axis being essentially perpendicular to the third axis and configured to intersect the third axis where the other shoulder joint of a user seated on the seat is located, with the second lever arm and transfer member being operably connected such that the second lever arm will pivot, independently of the first lever arm, about both the third and fourth axes simultaneously, and through similar ranges of motion about both; and

a second incrementally adjustable weight independently opposing such pivotal movement of the second lever arm about both axes, toward the seat.

3. Apparatus for bi-directional upper body exercise movements opposed by an incrementally set resistance, comprising:

a main frame including a first pivot axis;

a seat for a user mounted to the main frame so as to adjustably position a given user for upper body exercise movements;

a motion transfer member mounted to the main-frame for pivotal movement about the first axis, the transfer member including a second axis essentially perpendicular to the first axis and configured to intersect the first axis approximately where the shoulder of the given user seated on the seat is located;

a lever arm mounted for pivotal movement about the second axis, the lever arm including a hand grip exercise effort input location for forcing lever arm pivotal movement about both the first and second axes simultaneously through similar angular ranges; and

an incrementally adjustable weight attached to the transfer member acting to oppose lever arm movement about both the first and second axes from an outwardly extended position inwardly toward the seat.

4. Apparatus for upper body exercise movements according to claim 3 wherein the apparatus is symmetrical about an imaginary vertical plane of symmetry, so as to further comprise:

right and left side motion transfer members and lever arms; and

both right and left lever arms mounted to pivot independently about symmetrically disposed, essentially perpendicular axes through similar angular ranges.