Exercise apparatus

• US 6,705,976 B1
• Filed: 10/04/2000
• Issued: 03/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Blackbird Tech LLC
• Original Assignee: BVP Holding, Inc.
• Inventors: Piane, Jr., Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi, Nicholas D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HWANG, VICTOR KENNY
• Application Number:
  US09/678,931
• Time in Patent Office: 1,259 Days
• Field of Search: 482/99-103, 482/123, 482/129, 482/130, 482/139, 482/138, 482/135, 482/909, 731/58, 242/912, 254/400
• US Class Current: 482/103
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0628 for vertical array of weights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/154 using special pulley-assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/156 the position of the pulleys being variable, e.g. for different exercises
• 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 23/03541 Moving independently from each other A63B22/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/12 for upper limbs or related muscles, e.g. chest, upper back or shoulder muscles bench press exercises A63B21/078; for teaching music G09B15/06
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/1209 Involving a bending of elbow and shoulder joints simultaneously

Abstract

Exercise equipment including a housing having a structural surface defining an arcuate path, multiple pairs of pulleys positioned along the arcuate path, each pair of pulleys having passed between them a cable the proximal end of which is located outside the curved path, the distal end of the cable being coupled to a source of resistance within the housing such that when the proximal end of the cable is pulled by a user, the resistance exerts a counterforce to the cable. Alternatively, a single cable may be provided which exits through a movable trolley which is fixable at different positions along the arcuate path.

Claims

1. Exercise equipment including a housing having a structural surface defining a prescribed concave arcuate contour, at least three cable exit points positioned along the structural surface, each exit point having passed therethrough a cable having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of each cable being located outside the structural surface and being attached to a device that enables a user to exert a tensile force to the cable by pulling the cable in any desired direction, the distal end of each cable being coupled to a common source of resistance within the housing such that when the proximal end of each cable is pulled by a user, the resistance exerts a counterforce to such cable and the distal end of each cable coupled to a counter-resistance.

2. Exercise equipment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the source of resistance is variable.

3. Exercise equipment as claimed in claim 1, wherein said counter-resistance restore the cables to their original positions after being pulled by a user.

4. An exercise equipment as claimed in claim 3, wherein a the distal end of each cable is attached to a respective counter-resistance positioned next to the source of resistance, but before being attached to the counter-resistances the cables pass through or by a substantially horizontal plate which is positioned above the counter-resistances and attached to a substantially vertically positioned guiding means traveling along a substantially vertical path next to the source of resistance, a single cable being attached to the underside of the substantially horizontal plate and directed downward to and over a third pulley below, redirected by fourth pulleys to the source of resistance, so that when the user selects a particular resistance to lift at a particular egress point, the user pulls the proximal end of a particular cable external to the exercise equipment, the counter-resistance at the distal end of this cable lifts the substantially horizontal plate which, in turn, pulls on the single cable below which lifts the source of resistance, while other cables in the equipment which are not engaged by the user at that time are held in place by their respective counter-resistances.

5. Exercise equipment as claimed in claim 3, wherein the counter-resistances include means for distributing the source of resistance between any or all of the cables to which a tensile force is applied by a user.

6. Exercise equipment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the source of resistance includes a set of weights which are lifted when said proximal end of each cable is pulled by a user.

7. Exercise equipment as claimed in claim 6, wherein said counter-resistance comprise at least one counterweight which retains the cables in a retracted position when they are not being pulled by a user.

8. Exercise equipment as claimed in claim 7, wherein each cable, from its proximal end to its distal end, passes through the exit point and then passes through a series of pulleys, the distal end of each cable being attached to a counterweight housed within a vertical set of guide tracks;

a horizontal plate with openings therein for passage of the cables therethrough, the plate being positioned above the counterweights and extending over and attached to a vertically positioned guide means traveling along a vertical shaft positioned between the set of weights and the counterweights, the plate being extended to reach out over the set of weights and being fastened to a set of guide tubes which guide the set of weights vertically along two upright guide rods extending downward through the set of weights; and

a rod extending downward through a center of the set of weights with holes cut in it to allow a selector pin to slide into the set of weights so the user can select the desired weight to lift so that when the user pulls on the cable proximal end at a point of egress, the counterweight is lifted thereby lifting the horizontal plate assembly and a selected weight, other cables in the system not engaged by a user at that time being held in the ready position by their respective counterweights.

9. Exercise equipment as claimed in claim 8, wherein there is a second exercise equipment as recited in claim 8 positioned adjacent a first exercise equipment as recited in claim 8, said first and second exercise equipment being capable of being used simultaneously by a single user exercising two limbs or other parts of his body simultaneously or by two users simultaneously.

10. Exercise equipment as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first and second exercise equipment are placed side-by-side at a selected relative angle.

11. Exercise equipment as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first and second exercise equipment are integrated into a unitary construction.

12. Exercise equipment as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a chair or bench positioned adjacent the exercise equipment to enable a user to exert a tensile force to a cable while sitting or lying down.

13. Exercise equipment as claimed in claim 6, wherein the set of weights are lifted when said proximal ends of a plurality of said cables are pulled by a user.

14. Exercise equipment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device that enables the user to exert a tensile force to a cable is selected from the group consisting of a handle, strap, belt, rope, bar and leg curl.

15. Exercise equipment as claimed in claim 14, further comprising racks for holding handles, grips, bars and other attachments.

16. Exercise equipment as calaimed in claim 1, wherein there is a second exercise equipment as recited in claim 1 positioned adjacent a first exercise equipment as recited in claim 1, said first and second exercise equipment being capable of being used simultaneously by a single user exercising two limbs or other parts of his body simultaneously or by two users simultaneously.

17. Exercise equipment as claimed in claim 16, wherein the first and second exercise equipment are placed side-by-side at a selected relative angle.

18. Exercise equipment as claimed in claim 16, wherein the first and second exercise equipment are integrated into a unitary construction.

19. Exercise equipment as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a chair or bench positioned adjacent the exercise equipment to enable a user to exert a tensile force to a cable while sitting or lying down.

20. Exercise equipment as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one rub block at the exit point of said cables.

21. Exercise equipment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cable length between the proximal end of each cable and its associated exit point through which it passes is substantially equal, when no tensile force is applied thereto by a user.

22. Exercise equipment as claimed in claim 1, wherein a pair of pulleys are disposed at at least one cable exit point.

23. Exercise equipment as claimed in claim 22, further comprising a pair of rollers at said at least one exit point of said cables, said rollers having roller axes which are substantially parallel and substantially perpendicular to axes of said pulleys.

24. Exercise equipment as claimed in claim 22, further comprising a second pair of pulleys at said at least one exit point of said cables, said second pair of pulleys having pulley axes which are substantially parallel and substantially perpendicular to axes of said first pair of pulleys.

60. Exercise equipment as claimed in claim 48, wherein there is a second exercise equipment as recited in claim 13 positioned adjacent a first exercise equipment as recited in claim 13, said first and second exercise equipment being capable of being used simultaneously by a single user exercising two limbs or other parts of his body simultaneously or by two users simultaneously.

61. Exercise equipment as claimed in claim 60, wherein the first and second exercise equipment are placed side-by-side at a selected relative angle.

62. Exercise equipment as claimed in claim 60, wherein the first and second exercise equipment are integrated into a unitary construction.

25. Exercise equipment including a frame having a track extending along a prescribed arcuate path;

a movable trolley having an exit point for a cable, said trolley being repositionable to fixed positions along the track;

a said cable extending through said exit point and having a proximal end, located outside the track and attached to a device that enables a user to exert a tensile force to the cable, and a distal end coupled to a source of resistance within the frame;

means for maintaining a length of the cable between its proximal end and the exit point through which it passes substantially constant, independently of the position of the trolley along the track, when no tensile force is applied thereto by a user;

a counterweight, separate from said source of resistance, coupled to the cable for retaining the cable in a retracted position when it is not being pulled by a user; and

a one-step combination trolley locking and cable take-up mechanism for controlling the position and retraction of the cable to maintain the proximal end of the cable close to the trolley when the trolley is repositioned and no tensile force is applied by the user.

26. Exercise equipment as claimed in claim 25, wherein the source of resistance is variable.

27. Exercise equipment as claimed in claim 26, further comprising a counter-resistance which retains the cable in a retracted position when it is not being pulled by a user.

28. Exercise equipment as claimed in claim 26, wherein the source of resistance includes a set of weights which are lifted when the cable is pulled by a user.

29. Exercise equipment as claimed in claim 25, wherein there is a second exercise equipment as recited in claim 25, positioned adjacent a first exercise equipment as recited in claim 25, said first and second exercise equipment being capable of being used simultaneously by a single user exercising two limbs or other parts of his body simultaneously or by two users simultaneously.

30. Exercise equipment as claimed in claim 29, wherein the first and second exercise equipment are placed side-by-side at a selected relative angle.

31. Exercise equipment as claimed in claim 29, wherein the two units of first and second exercise equipment are integrated into a unitary construction.

32. Exercise equipment as claimed in claim 25, further comprising a chair or bench positioned adjacent the exercise equipment to enable a user to exert a tensile force to the cable while sitting or lying down.

33. Exercise equipment as claimed in claim 25, further comprising at least one rub block at the exit point of said cable.

34. Exercise equipment as claimed in claim 25, wherein a pair of pulleys is disposed at said cable exit point.

35. Exercise equipment as claimed in claim 34, further comprising a pair of rollers at the exit point of said cable, said rollers having roller axes which are substantially parallel and substantially perpendicular to axes of said pulleys.

36. Exercise equipment as claimed in claim 34, further comprising a second pair of pulleys at said at least one exit point of said cables, said second pair of pulleys having pulley axes which are substantially parallel and substantially perpendicular to axes of said first pair of pulleys.

37. Exercise equipment as claimed in claim 25, wherein the device that enables the user to exert a tensile force to the cable is selected from the group consisting of a handle, strap, belt, rope, bar and leg curl.

38. Exercise equipment as claimed in claim 37, further comprising racks for holding handles, grips, bars and other attachments.

39. Three-dimensional pulley cable exercise equipment having at least one swiveling element mounted on a frame to form an exit point of a cable;

at least one cable, with a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end of the cable being attached to a source of resistance and the proximal end of the cable exiting the equipment past said swiveling element; and

means to indicate a three-dimensional position of the exiting cable, whereby the three-dimensional position of the cable may be recorded.

40. Exercise equipment as recited in claim 39, wherein said swiveling element includes at least one pulley.

41. Exercise equipment as claimed in claim 40, wherein said at least one pulley includes at least three pulleys, two of which are arranged with their axes substantially in parallel.

42. Exercise equipment as claimed in claim 41, wherein said at least one pulley includes two pairs of pulleys, each pair having substantially parallel axes, with the axes of one pair being substantially perpendicular to the axes of the other pair.

43. Exercise equipment as claimed in claim 40, wherein said at least one pulley includes at least two pulleys which are arranged with their axes substantially in parallel.

44. Exercise equipment including a framed housing having a curved path, at least one cable exit point selectively positioned along the curved path, said exit point having passed therethrough a cable having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end being located outside the curved path and attached to means that enables a user to exert a tensile force to the cable against a selected resistance, with the distal end being coupled to a source of said selected resistance, such that when the proximal end of the cable is pulled by a user, the resistance exerts a counterforce at the distal end;

and cable take-up means, disposed between the proximal end and the distal end, for maintaining the length of the cable between its proximal end and the exit point through which it passes substantially constant, independent of the position of the exit point along the curved path, when no tensile force is applied thereto by a user and operating simultaneously with any repositioning of the cable exit point along the curved path.

45. Exercise equipment as claimed in claim 44, further comprising at least one rub block at the exit point of said cable.

46. Exercise equipment as claimed in claim 44, wherein a pair of pulleys is disposed at said cable exit point.

47. Exercise equipment as claimed in claim 46, further comprising a second pair of pulleys at said at least one exit point of said cables, said second pair of pulleys having pulley axes which are substantially parallel and substantially perpendicular to axes of said first pair of pulleys.

48. Exercise equipment including a housing having a structural surface defining a prescribed contour, multiple cable exit points positioned along the structural surface, each exit point having passed therethrough a cable having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of each cable being located outside the structural surface and being attached to a device that enables a user to exert a tensile force to the cable by pulling the cable in any desired direction, the distal end of each cable being coupled to a common source of resistance within the housing such that when the proximal end of each cable is pulled by a user, the resistance exerts a counterforce to such cable, and means for retaining each cable in a retracted position, when it is not being pulled by a user, even when one or more other cables are pulled by a user.

49. Exercise equipment as claimed in claim 48, wherein the source of resistance is variable.

50. Exercise equipment as claimed in claim 48, wherein the source of resistance includes a set of weights which are lifted when said proximal end of each cable is pulled by a user.

51. Exercise equipment as claimed in claim 50, wherein said retaining means comprises at least one counterweight which retains the cables in a retracted position when they are not being pulled by a user.

52. Exercise equipment as claimed in claim 51, wherein each cable, from its proximal end to its distal end, passes through the exit point and then passes through a series of pulleys, the distal end of each cable being attached to a counterweight housed within a vertical set of guide tracks;

a horizontal plate with openings therein for passage of the cables therethrough, the plate being positioned above the counterweights and extending over and attached to a vertically positioned guide means traveling along a vertical shaft positioned between the set of weights and the counterweights, the plate being extended to reach out over the set of weights and being fastened to a set of guide tubes which guide the set of weights vertically along two upright guide rods extending downward through the set of weights; and

a rod extending downward through a center of the set of weights with holes cut in it to allow a selector pin to slide into the set of weights so the user can select the desired weight to lift so that when the user pulls on the cable proximal end at a point of egress, the counterweight is lifted thereby lifting the horizontal plate assembly and a selected weight, other cables in the system not engaged by a user at that time being held in the ready position by their respective counterweights.

53. Exercise equipment as claimed in claim 52, wherein there is a second exercise equipment as recited in claim 50 positioned adjacent a first exercise equipment as recited in claim 50, said first and second exercise equipment being capable of being used simultaneously by a single user exercising two limbs or other parts of his body simultaneously or by two users simultaneously.

54. Exercise equipment as claimed in claim 53, wherein the first and second exercise equipment are placed side-by-side at a selected relative angle.

55. Exercise equipment as claimed in claim 53, wherein the first and second exercise equipment are integrated into a unitary construction.

56. Exercise equipment as claimed in claim 53, further comprising a chair or bench positioned adjacent the exercise equipment to enable a user to exert a tensile force to a cable while sitting or lying down.

57. Exercise equipment as claimed in claim 50, wherein the source of resistance includes a set of weights are lifted when said proximal ends of a plurality of said cables are pulled by a user.

58. Exercise equipment as claimed in claim 48, wherein the device that enables the user to exert a tensile force to a cable is selected from the group consisting of a handle, strap, belt, rope, bar and leg curl.

59. Exercise equipment as claimed in claim 58, further comprising racks for holding handles, grips, bars and other attachments.

63. Exercise equipment as claimed in claim 48, further comprising a chair or bench positioned adjacent the exercise equipment to enable a user to exert a tensile force to a cable while sitting or lying down.

64. An exercise equipment as claimed in claim 50, wherein the distal end of each cable is attached to a counter-resistance positioned next to the source of resistance, but before being attached to the counter-resistances the cables pass through or by a substantially horizontal plate which is positioned above the counter-resistances and attached to a substantially vertically positioned guiding means traveling along a substantially vertical path next to the source of resistance, a single cable being attached to the underside of the substantially horizontal plate and directed downward to and over a third pulley below, redirected by fourth pulleys to the source of resistance, so that when the user selects a particular resistance to lift at a particular egress point, the user pulls the proximal end of a particular cable external to the exercise equipment, the counter-resistance at the distal end of this cable lifts the substantially horizontal plate which, in turn, pulls on the single cable below which lifts the source of resistance, while other cables in the equipment which are not engaged by the user at that time are held in place by their respective counter-resistances.

65. Exercise equipment as claimed in claim 48, wherein a pair of pulleys are disposed at at least one cable exit point.

66. Exercise equipment as claimed in claim 65, further comprising a pair of rollers at said at least one exit point of said cables, said rollers having roller axes which are substantially parallel and substantially perpendicular to axes of said pulleys.

67. Exercise equipment as claimed in claim 65, further comprising a second pair of pulleys at said at least one exit point of said cables, said second pair of pulleys having pulley axes which are substantially parallel and substantially perpendicular to axes of said first pair of pulleys.

68. Exercise equipment as claimed in claim 48, further comprising at least one rub block at the exit point of said cables.

69. Exercise equipment as claimed in claim 48, wherein the cable length between the proximal end of each cable and its associated exit point through which it passes is substantially equal, when no tensile force is applied thereto by a user.

70. Exercise equipment as claimed in claim 48, wherein said prescribe contour is arcuate.

71. Exercise equipment as claimed in claim 48, wherein said retaining means includes means for distributing the source of resistance between any or all of the cables to which a tensile force is applied by a user.