Manually controlled and driven resistance exercise machine

• US 9,327,157 B1
• Filed: 01/07/2015
• Issued: 05/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Waide Lee Miller
• Original Assignee: Waide Lee Miller
• Inventors: Miller, Waide Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Ginsberg, Oren
• Application Number:
  US14/591,369
• Time in Patent Office: 482 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0081 Stopping the operation of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0694 Visual indication, e.g. Indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00069 Setting or adjusting the resistance level; Compensating for a preload prior to use, e.g. changing length of resistance or adjusting a valve
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0023 for isometric exercising, i.e. substantial force variation without substantial muscle motion
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/026 Bars; Tubes; Leaf springs A63B21/023 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/078 Devices for bench press exercises , e.g. supports, guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/151 Using flexible elements for reciprocating movements, e.g. ropes or chains
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/154 using special pulley-assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/28 Devices for two persons operating in opposition or in cooperation
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/285 in cooperation
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4029 Benches specifically adapted for exercising for bench press exercises A63B21/078
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4035 for operation by hand
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4043 Free movement, i.e. the only restriction coming from the resistance A63B21/00043, A63B21/072 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0204 Standing on the feet
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0233 in 90/90 position, like on a chair
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0252 supine
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/03525 Supports for both feet or both hands performing simultaneously the same movement, e.g. single pedal or single handle A63B21/0724 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/1209 Involving a bending of elbow and shoulder joints simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/1218 Chinning, pull-up, i.e. concentric movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/1236 Push-ups in horizontal position, i.e. eccentric movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0054 : Features for injury prevention on an apparatus, e.g. shock absorbers mats or the like for absorbing shocks for jumping A63B6/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 : Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user

Abstract

A manually controlled and driven resistance exercise machine is provided. The exercise machine enables a user to stimulate his/her muscles by various concentric, isometric and/or eccentric exercises. The machine has a generally horizontal platform and a vertical tower wherein both the generally horizontal platform and the vertical tower have an interior which contain a rope, gears and/or a pulley. A second person manually controls the resistance and velocity of the rope by controlling a crank or wench on the vertical tower. The person exercising consistently pushes up on the bar, handles, straps, hooks or the like while the second person alters the downward force of the bar, handles, straps, hooks or the like by controlling the crank or wench.

Claims

1. An exercise machine comprising:

a platform forming a housing wherein the platform has a top, a bottom, a front, a back, a first side, a second side and an interior;

at least one rope, strap or chain located within the interior of the platform wherein the rope, strap or chain has a first end and a second end;

at least one gear located within the interior of the platform wherein the rope, strap or chain is in contact with the gear and wherein the gear alters the direction of the rope, strap or chain within the interior of the platform;

at least one opening located on the top of the platform wherein the rope, strap or chain extends from within the interior of the platform and partially out of the opening on the top of the platform such that the second end of the rope, strap or chain is located on the top of the platform;

wherein the first end of the rope, strap or chain is controlled by a manual crank; and

wherein during use a first person is positioned on the top of the platform and wherein a second person controls the manual crank so that a downward force is applied to the rope, strap or chain and pulls the rope, strap or chain downward toward the top of the platform and wherein the first person pushes upward on the rope, strap or chain to perform an exercise.

2. The exercise machine of claim 1 further comprising:

a bar, handle, strap or hook secured to the second end of the rope, strap or chain wherein the first person grasps the bar, handle, strap or hook and pushes the bar, handle, strap or hook in an upward, vertical manner with respect to the platform.

3. The exercise machine of claim 1 further comprising:

a second housing wherein the second housing has a top, a bottom, a front, a back, a first side, a second side and an interior and wherein the second housing is secured to the platform housing wherein the second housing is generally in a vertical orientation with respect to the platform housing which is generally in a horizontal orientation and wherein the second housing and the platform housing form a right angle.

4. The exercise machine of claim 1 further comprising:

a slip resistant tape secured to the top of the platform housing.

5. The exercise machine of claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of adjustable feet secured to the bottom of the platform housing wherein each of the plurality of adjustable feet may be adjusted independently to level the platform housing.

6. The exercise machine of claim 3 further comprising:

a pad secured to an exterior of the second housing.

7. The exercise machine of claim 3 further comprising:

a handle secured to the second housing for stabilizing the second person.

8. The exercise machine of claim 3 further comprising:

a plurality of worm or planetary gears located within the interior of the second housing; and

a plurality of belts located within the interior of the second housing wherein turning of the manual crank by the second person controls the movement of the plurality of worm or planetary gears and the movement of the plurality of belts of the interior of the second housing and wherein movement of the plurality of worm or planetary gears and the movement of the plurality of belts pulls the second end of the rope, strap or chain downward toward the top of the platform housing.

9. The exercise machine of claim 1 further comprising:

a pipe having an interior located within the interior of the housing of the platform wherein the rope, strap or chain passes through the interior of the pipe and wherein the pipe keeps the rope, strap or chain substantially in a straight line and therein prevents the rope, strap or chain from becoming tangled.

10. A method of exercising comprising:

providing a platform forming a housing wherein the platform has a top, a bottom, a front, a back, a first side, a second side and an interior;

providing at least one rope, strap or chain located within the interior of the platform wherein the rope, strap or chain has a first end and a second end;

providing at least one gear located within the interior of the platform wherein the rope, strap or chain is in contact with the gear and wherein the gear alters the direction of the rope, strap or chain within the interior of the platform;

providing at least one opening located on the top of the platform wherein the rope, strap or chain extends from within the interior of the platform and partially out of the opening on the top of the platform such that the second end of the rope, strap or chain is located on the top of the platform;

wherein the first end of the rope, strap or chain is controlled by a manual crank;

wherein a first person is positioned on the top of the platform and wherein a second person controls the manual crank so that a downward force is applied to the rope, strap or chain and pulls the rope, strap or chain downward toward the top of the platform and wherein the first person pushes upward on the rope, strap or chain to perform an exercise; and

wherein the force generated by the second person using the manual crank to pull the rope, strap or chain downward toward the top of the housing plus the negligible weight of the rope, strap or chain is equaled by the first person pushing upward on the rope, strap or chain upward to counter the downward force.

11. The method of exercising of claim 10 wherein turning of the manual crank by the second person creates an 18:

1 ratio movement of the second end of the rope, strap or chain.