Exercise apparatus with adjustable lever arm

• US 5,800,321 A
• Filed: 07/25/1997
• Issued: 09/01/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hoist Fitness Sytems Incorporated (Hoist Fitness Systems)
• Original Assignee: Randall T. Webber
• Inventors: Webber, Randall T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Apley, Richard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MULCAHY, JOHN M
• Application Number:
  US08/900,569
• Time in Patent Office: 403 Days
• Field of Search: 482/99-103, 482/133, 482/136-138, 482/95, 482/96, 482/142
• US Class Current: 482/103
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00072 by changing the length of a lever
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0628 for vertical array of weights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/156 the position of the pulleys being variable, e.g. for different exercises
• 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

Abstract

An exercise apparatus having a support frame, an exercise resistance device such as a weight stack, and a linkage such as a cable and pulley linkage extending from the weight stack to various exercise stations, has a lever arm pivotally mounted on the frame for rotation about a first horizontal pivot axis into any one of a plurality of selected orientations relative to the frame, and a locking device for locking the lever arm in the desired orientation. A cable linked to the exercise resistance extends around a first pulley attached to the arm for rotation about a second horizontal axis spaced forwardly from the first and a second pulley at the end of the arm on the lever arm and has a connector at its free end for connecting the cable to a selected exercise device or to a tie-off point. Adjusting the orientation of the lever arm raises and lowers the point of connection to the exercise resistance or tie-off, and allows adjustment for different types of exercises.

Claims

1. Exercise apparatus, comprising:

a vertical support frame;

resistance means on said frame for providing resistance to exercises performed on said apparatus;

an elongate lever arm having a rear end pivotally mounted on said frame for rotation about a first, horizontal axis, and a forward end spaced outwardly from said rear end;

releasable locking means for releasably locking said lever arm in a selected orientation about said first axis;

a first pulley attached to said lever arm for rotation about a second axis adjacent said rear end parallel to and spaced forwardly from said first axis and a second pulley attached to said lever arm adjacent the forward end of said lever arm; and

a cable having a first end linked to said resistance means and a second end, the second end of said cable extending first around at least part of said first pulley and then around at least part of said second pulley for attachment to an exercise device or tie-off.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, including an exercise device comprising a handle attached to the second end of said cable adjacent said second pulley, whereby adjustment of the orientation of said lever arm adjusts the height of a take-off position for performing different exercises.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said releasable locking means comprises a first member comprising a plate having a series of spaced holes at spaced intervals along an arc centered on said first axis and a second member comprising a pin for releasable engagement in a selected one of said holes, one of said members being mounted on said lever arm and the other member being mounted on said frame, whereby engagement of said pin in a selected hole in said plate releasably locks said lever arm in a selected orientation relative to said frame.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said pin is mounted on said lever arm and said plate is secured to said frame.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said plate is mounted on said lever arm and said pin is secured to said frame.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lever arm comprises a substantially rectangular housing having an upper wall, a lower wall, spaced side walls, a rear end and a forward end, said housing having aligned pivot openings in said side walls adjacent the rear end of said housing, and pivot means mounted on said frame and pivotally secured to said aligned pivot openings for pivotally connecting said housing to said frame.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said lever arm has an open forward end, and said second pulley is mounted in said housing and projects partially out of said open end.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said first pulley is mounted in said housing adjacent said rear end, said housing upper wall having an opening above said first pulley, and said second end of the cable extending downwardly through said opening and around part of said first pulley and then around said second pulley, and out through the open forward end of said housing.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said first pulley is mounted in said housing adjacent said rear end, said housing lower wall having an opening below said first pulley, and said second end of the cable extending upwardly through said opening and around part of said first pulley and then around said second pulley, and out through the open forward end of said housing.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, including a seat mounted on said support frame, the frame including an upright member and the seat having a back rest secured to the upright member to face in a forward direction from said frame, and the lever arm is pivotally secured to said upright member at a location behind said back rest.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, including a mounting member rotatably mounted on said frame for rotation about a second axis perpendicular to said first axis, the second end of the lever arm being pivotally secured to said mounting member for rotation about said first axis, whereby the orientation of said first, pivot axis is adjustable by rotation of said mounting member about said second axis.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said releasable locking means comprises a plate mounted on said mounting member, said plate having a series of spaced holes, and a locking pin mounted on said lever arm and movable between a retracted position and an extended position extending through an aligned hole in said plate to lock said lever arm in a selected orientation.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, including a bidirectional pulley attached to the second end of said cable adjacent said second pulley, and an exercise device secured to said pulley.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein said exercise device comprises leg extension/leg curl exercise means for performing seated leg extension and leg curl exercises.

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, including a seat pad secured to the lever arm for supporting a seated user, whereby said seat pad may be adjusted into selected horizontal or upwardly inclined orientations by adjustment of said lever arm.

16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein said vertical support frame includes an upright strut and a base strut, the rear end of said lever arm being pivotally mounted on said upright strut, and said releasable locking means comprises an adjustment assembly of adjustable length secured between said base strut and lever arm.