Adjustable-load unitary multi-position bench exercise unit

• US 7,922,635 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2001
• Issued: 04/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: BowFlex, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nautilus, Inc.
• Inventors: Harding, Michael H., Baker, William A., Trevino, Richard W., Lull, Andrew P., Krapfl, Zachary D., Warner, Patrick A.
• Primary Examiner(s): BAKER, LORI LYNN
• Application Number:
  US09/802,835
• Publication Number:
  US 20020077230A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,687 Days
• Field of Search: 452/142, 452/148, 452 95-100, 452/131, 452/907, 452/908, 452121-129, 601 24- 35, 606241-245
• US Class Current: 482/142
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00 Exercising apparatus for developing or strengthening the muscles or joints of the body by working against a counterforce, with or without measuring devices electric or electronic controls therefor A63B24/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/02 using resilient force-resisters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/155 Cam-shaped pulleys or other non-uniform pulleys, e.g. conical
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4029 Benches specifically adapted for exercising for bench press exercises A63B21/078
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4031 with parts of the bench moving against a resistance during exercise
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/10 Multi-station exercising machines
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/00 Exercising apparatus specially adapted for particular parts of the body A63B22/00 takes precedence; force-resisting aspects A63B21/00; electric or electronic controls therefor A63B24/00; devices for exercising or strengthening of fingers, or arms in teaching operation of keyboards G09B15/06
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/908 Adjustable

Abstract

An exercise unit that is a bench-based, has an easily adjustable load exercise system using a resistance engine that can provide a constant load level through the entire range of motion to approximate the use of free-weights, is portable, and reconfigures easily to several different shapes for different exercises. The exercise unit is compact, has a minimal vertical height, and weighs much less than the maximum resistance load that it can create. The bench unit can be stood on its end for compact storage.

Claims

1. An exercise unit comprising:

a frame;

a seat positioned on said frame;

a resistance engine attached to said frame and utilizing elastomere springs;

an actuator attached to said resistance engine wherein said resistance engine provides a constant load to a user when said actuator is actuated, and wherein said actuator comprises a cable;

means for adjusting the load provided by the resistance engine, the means for adjusting being continually engaged with the resistance engine.

2. An exercise unit as defined in claim 1, wherein said means comprises a rotary crank.

3. The exercise unit as defined in claim 1, further comprising at least one adjustable position arm structure attached to the frame.

4. The exercise unit as defined in claim 3, wherein the at least one adjustable position arm structure is configured to cooperate with the actuator to adjust a position of the actuator.

5. The exercise unit as defined in claim 4, wherein the at least one adjustable position arm structure includes an integral cable guide structure.

6. The exercise unit as defined in claim 4, wherein the at least one adjustable position arm structure includes at least one pulley configured to guide the cable.

7. The exercise unit as defined in claim 3, wherein the at least one adjustable position arm structure comprises two adjustable position arm structures extending outwardly from opposite sides of the frame.

8. The exercise unit as defined in claim 1, wherein:

said actuator is configured to compensate for a non-constant force of the elastomere springs.

9. The exercise unit as defined in claim 8, wherein:

said actuator includes a spiral pulley configured to compensate for the non-constant force of the elastomere springs.

10. The exercise unit as defined in claim 1, wherein:

said resistance engine and at least part of said actuator are located below said seat.

11. The exercise unit as defined in claim 10, wherein:

said frame defines a bench exercise unit.

12. The exercise unit as defined in claim 10, wherein:

said at least part of said actuator is configured to compensate for a non-constant force of the elastomere springs.

13. The exercise unit as defined in claim 12, wherein:

said at least part of said actuator includes a spiral pulley.

14. The exercise unit as defined in claim 1, wherein:

said resistance engine and at least part of said actuator are located at least partially beneath said seat.

15. The exercise unit as defined in claim 14, wherein:

said at least part of said actuator is configured to compensate for a non-constant force of the elastomere springs.

16. The exercise unit as defined in claim 15, wherein:

said at least part of the actuator includes a spiral pulley.

17. An exercise unit comprising:

a frame;

a seat positioned on said frame;

means for providing a constant load to a user, said means attached to the frame and utilizing resilient bands;

an actuator attached to said means for providing a constant load; and

means for adjusting the load provided by the means for providing a constant load, the means for adjusting being continually engaged with the means for providing a constant load.

18. An exercise unit as defined in claim 17, wherein:

said means for providing a constant load are located below said seat.

19. An exercise unit as defined in claim 18, wherein:

said frame defines a bench exercise unit.

21. The exercise unit as defined in claim 17, further comprising at least one adjustable position arm structure attached to the frame.

22. The exercise unit as defined in claim 21, wherein the at least one adjustable position arm structure is configured to cooperate with the actuator to adjust a position of the actuator.

23. The exercise unit as defined in claim 22, wherein the actuator comprises a cable.

24. The exercise unit as defined in claim 23, wherein the at least one adjustable position arm structure includes an integral cable guide structure.

25. The exercise unit as defined in claim 23, wherein the at least one adjustable position arm structure includes at least one pulley configured to guide the cable.

26. The exercise unit as defined in claim 21, wherein the at least one adjustable position arm structure comprises two adjustable position arm structures extending outwardly from opposite sides of the frame.

27. The exercise unit as defined in claim 26, wherein:

said two adjustable arms are interconnected by at least one gear.

28. The exercise unit as defined in claim 27, wherein:

said at least one gear is part of a chain drive mechanism.

29. The exercise unit as defined in claim 21, wherein:

said at least one adjustable arm is configured to pivot in a horizontal plane relative to the frame.

30. The exercise unit as defined in claim 17, wherein:

said means for providing a constant load to the user includes a structure configured to compensate for a non-constant force of the resilient bands.

31. The exercise unit as defined in claim 30, wherein:

said structure comprises a spiral pulley.

32. The exercise unit as defined in claim 17, wherein:

at least part of said means for providing a constant load to the user is located beneath said seat.

33. The exercise unit as defined in claim 32, wherein:

said at least part of said means for providing a constant load to the user is configured to compensate for a non-constant force of the resilient bands.

34. The exercise unit as defined in claim 33, wherein:

said at least part of said means for providing a constant load to the user includes a spiral pulley.

20. An exercise unit as defined in 17, wherein:

said means for adjusting comprises a crank arm.

35. An exercise unit comprising:

a frame including a member selectively rotatable relative to the frame;

a seat positioned on said frame;

a resistance engine supported by the member and utilizing elastomere springs;

an actuator attached to said resistance engine wherein said resistance engine provides a substantially constant load to a user when said actuator is actuated; and

a load adjustment mechanism continually engaged with the resistance engine and operatively associated with the member, the load adjustment mechanism configured to selectively rotate the member relative to the frame to adjust a magnitude of the substantially constant load provided by the resistance engine.

36. The exercise unit as defined in claim 35, wherein the load adjustment mechanism comprises a crank arm.

37. The exercise unit as defined in claim 35, further comprising at least one adjustable position arm structure attached to the frame.

38. The exercise unit as defined in claim 37, wherein the at least one adjustable position arm structure is configured to cooperate with the actuator to adjust a position of the actuator.

39. The exercise unit as defined in claim 38, wherein the at least one adjustable position arm structure includes an integral cable guide structure.

40. The exercise unit as defined in claim 38, wherein the actuator comprises a cable, and the at least one adjustable position arm structure includes at least one pulley configured to guide the cable.

41. The exercise unit as defined in claim 37, wherein the at least one adjustable position arm structure comprises two adjustable position arm structures extending outwardly from opposite sides of the frame.

42. The exercise unit as defined in claim 41, wherein:

said two adjustable arms are interconnected by at least one gear.

43. The exercise unit as defined in claim 42, wherein:

said at least one gear is part of a chain drive mechanism.

44. The exercise unit as defined in claim 37, wherein:

said at least one adjustable arm is configured to pivot in a horizontal plane relative to the frame.

45. The exercise unit as defined in claim 35, wherein:

said actuator is configured to compensate for a non-constant force of the elastomere springs.

46. The exercise unit as defined in claim 45, wherein:

said actuator includes a spiral pulley configured to compensate for the non-constant force of the elastomere springs.

47. The exercise unit as defined in claim 35, wherein:

said resistance engine and at least part of said actuator are located below said seat.

48. The exercise unit as defined in claim 47, wherein:

said frame defines a bench exercise unit.

49. The exercise unit as defined in claim 47, wherein:

said at least part of said actuator is configured to compensate for a non-constant force of the elastomere springs.

50. The exercise unit as defined in claim 49, wherein:

said at least part of said actuator includes a spiral pulley.

51. The exercise unit as defined in claim 35, wherein:

said resistance engine and at least part of said actuator are located at least partially beneath said seat.

52. The exercise unit as defined in claim 51, wherein:

said at least part of said actuator is configured to compensate for a non-constant force of the elastomere springs.

53. The exercise unit as defined in claim 52, wherein:

said at least part of the actuator includes a spiral pulley.

54. The exercise unit of claim 35, wherein the actuator comprises a cable.

55. The exercise unit of claim 54, wherein the actuator further comprises a handle coupled to the cable.