Exercise machine to train the hamstring group of muscles

• US 8,007,414 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2002
• Issued: 08/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TEE & Ell Weight Lifting & Exercise Enterprises, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Louis Simmons
• Inventors: Mattingly, Brady Joseph, Riney, Dennis P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Donnelly; Jerome W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HWANG, VICTOR KENNY
• Application Number:
  US10/195,804
• Publication Number:
  US 20040209745A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,333 Days
• Field of Search: 482 93- 98, 482/137, 482/138, 482/140, 482/141
• US Class Current: 482/95
• 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 21/4035 for operation by hand
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4047 Pivoting movement weight pivoting A63B21/0615
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0214 Kneeling
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0494 primarily by articulating the knee joints A63B23/0405, A63B23/0476 take precedence
• 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 machine to train the hamstring group of muscles including a base, said base being formed of frame members, a knee rest provided upon the base, a frame member extending rearwardly supporting a cross support, whereby the exerciser rests upon the kneel rest and places his/her ankles under the ankle support, a vertical framework pivotally mounted to the base, the upper end of the vertical framework including a chest support, while various weights may be attached to the proximate bottom of the vertical framework to regulate the amount of stress exerted upon the user while exercising upon the exercise machine.

Claims

1. An exercise machine to train the hamstring group of muscles, said machine comprising:

a base, said base being formed of a plurality of frame members and provided for resting upon the ground or other level surface, said plurality of frame members including a pair of upright frame members, each upright frame member having an upper end;

a knee rest spanning a space between said upright frame members;

said plurality of frame members including rearward extensions, said rearward extensions having a horizontally adjustable rearward frame located at a position above said knee rest, whereby the user kneels upon the knee rest and locates his/her ankles under the rearward frame;

a vertical framework, said vertical framework being pivotally mounted to the upright frame members, said vertical framework including a pair of side frameworks;

a chest support spanning between the pair of side frameworks, and provided for encountering by the chest of the user during exercising;

an end of said framework the opposite to the chest support incorporating a support for holding select weights, whereby upon the addition of weights to the weight support, the exerciser may incline forwardly upon the machine while his/her ankles are held by the rearward frame and pivot forwardly to provide stretching of the hamstring group of muscles during exercising.

2. The exercise machine of claim 1 wherein the exerciser, upon reverse pivoting to an erect position, further stretches the hamstring group of muscles during continuing exercising.

3. The exercise machine of claim 2 wherein the ankle rearward frame includes a roller.

4. The exercise machine of claim 3 wherein the roller is a padded roller.

5. The exercise machine of claim 2 wherein the chest support includes a roller.

6. The exercise machine of claim 5 wherein the chest support roller is a padded roller.

7. The exercise machine of claim 5 wherein the chest support is adjustable in its height upon the vertical framework.

8. The exercise machine of claim 2 wherein the knee rest comprises a padded knee rest.

9. The exercise machine of claim 3 wherein the ankle roller is adjustable through manipulation of its rearward frame.

10. The exercise machine of claim 2 wherein the vertical framework includes an L-shaped frame, said L-shaped frame having a lengthy segment and a shortened segment, the shortened segment being at the bottom of the L-shaped frame, the lengthy segment extending substantially vertically, in its steady state, and having the chest brace extending therebetween, the short segment of the L-shaped frame having a mount thereon for attachment of variable weights to regulate the resistance to the exerciser while operating upon the exercise machine.

11. The exercise machine of claim 10 wherein the weight mounts extend from the bottom of each L-shaped frame of the vertical framework and therein accommodating the addition of select weights to regulate the degree of stress exerted by the user when operating upon the exercise machine.

12. The exercise machine of claim 11 wherein the mounts for supporting the weights is adjustable upon its short segment of the vertical framework.

13. The exercise machine of claim 2 wherein said base includes a lower frame member for extending along the ground, an upper frame member spaced from the lower frame member, a pair of approximate vertical frame members interconnecting between the lower ground frame member and the upper frame member, and cross braces provided between the frame members to fully integrate the base into a stable structure for supporting the various knee and ankle rests, in addition to the pivotal vertical framework for holding the select weights.