Exercise machine for performing squats

• US 9,259,604 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2013
• Issued: 02/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elwood Bernard Jr. Miller
• Original Assignee: Elwood Bernard Jr. Miller
• Inventors: Miller, Elwood Bernard Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ginsberg, Oren
• Assistant Examiner(s): ANDERSON, MEGAN M
• Application Number:
  US13/886,725
• Publication Number:
  US 20140066275A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,019 Days
• Field of Search: 482/142
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2023/0411 Squatting exercises
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/027 using player's own weight, e.g. on a platform
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00047 Exercising devices not moving during use benches A63B21/4029; isometric exercising devices A63B21/0023; step exercisers A63B23/0458; walk exercisers A63B23/0464
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00181 comprising additional means assisting the user to overcome part of the resisting force, i.e. assisted-active exercising
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/068 using user's body weight
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4033 Handles, pedals, bars or platforms
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/17 Counting, e.g. counting periodical movements, revolutions or cycles, or including further data processing to determine distances or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/093 Height
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0405 involving a bending of the knee and hip joints simultaneously A63B23/0476 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user

Abstract

An exercise machine is provided for a user performing squats. A base supports the exercise machine, and an upright member having a free end and an attachment end is mounted to the base at the attachment end and configured to be straddled by the user. A leg pad assembly is adjustably attached to the upright member for vertically adjusting a height of the leg pad assembly. The leg pad assembly has a first leg pad member extending horizontally relative to the upright member and configured to engage a back of the user'"'"'s legs. A locking mechanism is provided for selectively releasably securing the leg pad assembly in a desired position on the upright member.

Claims

1. An exercise machine for a user performing squats, comprising:

a base for supporting the exercise machine;

an upright member having a free end and an attachment end, the upright member being mounted to the base at the attachment end and configured to be straddled by the user; and

a leg pad assembly adjustably attached to the upright member, the leg pad assembly having a pad assembly mount fitting and being slidable on the upright member, a first leg pad member extending horizontally relative to the upright member and configured to engage a back of the user'"'"'s legs, a second leg pad member extending horizontally relative to the upright member and configured to engage a front of the user'"'"'s legs, and a locking mechanism coupled to the pad assembly mount for selectively releasably securing the leg pad assembly in a desired position on the upright member,

wherein, during use, the first leg pad member engages the back of the user'"'"'s legs, and the second leg pad member engages the front of the user'"'"'s legs, wherein the user'"'"'s legs are disposed between the first and second leg pad members at the same vertical position with respect to the ground.

2. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the upright member comprises an upper member and a lower member, the upper member being extendable and retractable by telescoping relative to the lower member.

3. The exercise machine of claim 2, wherein the upright member has a locking pin for selectively vertically adjusting a height of the handlebar relative to the upright member.

4. The exercise machine of claim 3, wherein the upper member has a plurality of vertically spaced apertures configured for receiving the locking pin and securing the upper member.

5. The exercise machine of claim 2, wherein a releasably attachable handlebar is transversely attached near a distal end of the upper member opposite the base.

6. The exercise machine of claim 1, further comprising a removable handlebar transversely attached near the free end of the upright member.

7. The exercise machine of claim 6, wherein the handlebar is adjustable in height on the upright member.

8. The exercise machine of claim 6, further comprising a pair of handgrips attached to respective ends of the handlebar.

9. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the leg pad assembly includes a support arm having a distal end and a proximate end, and a second leg pad member mounted to the distal end of the support arm, the second leg pad member extending horizontally parallel to the first leg pad member and being configured to engage a front of the user'"'"'s legs.

10. The exercise machine of claim 9, wherein at least one of the first and second leg pad members are adjustably mounted on the support arm such that a distance between the first and second leg pad members can be adjusted.

11. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism includes a locking pin for selectively vertically adjusting the leg pad assembly relative to the upright member.

12. The exercise machine of claim 11, wherein the upright member has a plurality of vertically spaced apertures configured for receiving the locking pin and securing the leg pad assembly on the upright member.

13. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the first leg pad member comprises a first pair of roller pads, each roller pad extending horizontally outwardly relative to the upright member, one pad on each side of the upright member.

14. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the upright member is inclined at an angle relative to the base such that the free end of the upright member is positioned away from the user during exercise.

15. The exercise machine of claim 1, further comprising a monitoring device being attached near the free end of the upright member for recording and displaying information about the user'"'"'s activities during exercise.

16. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the base comprises a base support member being connected at one end to a base plate and at an opposite end to a panel configured for receiving the user'"'"'s feet, and wherein the upright member is mounted to the base support member.

17. An exercise machine for a user performing squats, comprising:

a base for supporting the exercise machine;

an upright member having a free end and an attachment end, the upright member being mounted to the base at the attachment end and configured to be straddled by the user;

a leg pad assembly slidably attached to the upright member, the leg pad assembly having a locking mechanism for releasably fixing a position of the leg pad assembly on the upright member, the leg pad assembly having a first leg pad member extending horizontally relative to the upright member and configured to engage a back of the user'"'"'s legs, and a second leg pad member extending horizontally relative to the upright member, substantially parallel to the first leg pad member and configured to engage a front of the user'"'"'s legs,

wherein the first and second leg pad members are disposed substantially horizontally at a same height relative to the base, such that the first leg pad member engages the back of the user'"'"'s legs, and the second leg pad member engages the front of the user'"'"'s legs when in use by the user; and

a handlebar adjustably attached to the upright member adjacent to the free end of and extending horizontally relative to the upright member.

18. The exercise machine of claim 17, wherein each of the first and second leg pad members comprises a pair of rotatably mounted roller pads.

19. The exercise machine of claim 17, further comprising a roller support arm being connected at one end to the second leg pad member and at an opposite end to the leg pad assembly, wherein the second leg pad member is horizontally adjustable on the support arm relative to the first leg pad member.

20. An exercise machine for a user performing squats, comprising:

a base for supporting the exercise machine;

an upright member having a free end and an attachment end, the upright member being mounted to the base at the attachment end and configured to be straddled by the user; and

a leg pad assembly attached to the upright member, the leg pad assembly having a first leg pad member extending horizontally relative to the upright member and configured to engage a back of the user'"'"'s legs, and a second leg pad member extending horizontally relative to the upright member and configured to engage a front of the user'"'"'s legs,

wherein the first and second leg pad members are disposed substantially horizontally at a same height relative to the base, such that the first leg pad member engages the back of the user'"'"'s legs, and the second leg pad member engages the front of the user'"'"'s legs when in use by the user; and

a handlebar attached to the upright member adjacent to the free end of the upright member.