Leg press and abdominal crunch exercise machine

• US 7,070,545 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2002
• Issued: 07/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: BowFlex, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nautilus, Inc.
• Inventors: Webb, Gregory M., Lull, Andrew P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cronin, Stephen K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mathew, Fenn C.
• Application Number:
  US10/211,409
• Publication Number:
  US 20040023762A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,433 Days
• Field of Search: 482 97-103, 482133-138, 482/142, 482 92- 94
• US Class Current: 482/100
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0628 for vertical array of weights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0211 moving torso with immobilized lower limbs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0405 involving a bending of the knee and hip joints simultaneously A63B23/0476 takes precedence

Abstract

An exercise machine composed of a frame, a first four bar linkage system, a second four bar linkage system, and a means for transferring an incident force from the legs of a user is disclosed. The first four bar linkage system is operably mounted on the frame and operably connects the transferring means to the frame to allow for back and forth movement of the transferring means along a path of travel about an instantaneously changing axis of rotation. The second four bar linkage system operably engages the first four bar linkage system. Either or both of the first four bar linkage system and the second four bar linkage system are operably connected to a resistance means, whereby the second four bar linkage system operates in conjunction with the first four bar linkage system and the resistance means to create a mechanical disadvantage to the user.

Claims

1. An exercise machine comprising:

a frame;

a means for transferring an incident force from the legs of a user;

a first four bar linkage system operably mounted to the frame and operably connecting the transferring means to the frame, the first four bar linkage system for allowing back and forth movement of the transferring means along a path of travel about an instantaneously changing axis of rotation and for changing the angle of inclination of the transferring means to maintain the transferring means in a position normal to the length of the lower legs of the user during a corresponding leg extension movement of the user;

a second four bar linkage system operably engaging the first four bar linkage system;

a resistance means; and

a means for operatively connecting at least one of the first four bar linkage system and the second four bar linkage system to the resistance means; and

wherein the second four bar linkage system operates in conjunction with the first four bar linkage system and the resistance means to create a mechanical disadvantage to the user;

a first arm member connected to the frame;

a second arm member pivotally mounted to the first arm member; and

a handlebar operably connected to the second arm member; and

a means for operably connecting the handlebar to the resistance means; and

wherein

the handlebar is positioned above the head of the user for grasping by the hands of the user;

the handlebar is movable along an arcuate path together with the user while the user performs an abdominal crunch exercise; and

the handlebar resists a pulling force exerted by the user when the user performs an abdominal crunch exercise while grasping the handlebar, the handlebar operated on by the constant force of the resistance means in opposition to the pulling force.

2. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the means for operably connecting the handlebar comprises a cable threaded through a pulley system, and wherein at least a portion of the pulley system is operably mounted on the frame.

3. The exercise machine of claim 2, wherein a single means for connecting to the resistance means comprises both the means for connecting at least one of the first four bar linkage system and the second four bar linkage system and the means for connecting the handlebar.

4. The exercise machine of claim 3, wherein the single means comprises a cable threaded through a pulley system, and wherein at least a portion of the pulley system is operably mounted on the frame.

5. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein when the handlebar is in a rest position, a pivot point between the first arm member and the second arm member is located in a first plane spaced apart from and in front of a second plane encompassing a first mounting point where the first arm member connects to the frame and a second mounting point where the handlebar connects to the second arm member.

6. An exercise machine comprising:

a frame;

a foot plate for engaging the feet of a user and for receiving an incident force from the legs of the user;

a first four bar linkage system comprising;

a first substantially vertical member;

a second substantially vertical member spaced apart from the first vertical member, wherein the first member and second member are operably mounted at their lower ends to a portion of the frame in a first spaced relation to each other; and

a support member mounted to the foot plate and further operably mounted substantially transverse to each of the first member and the second member at their upper ends in a second spaced relation to each other, wherein the second spaced relation is a lesser distance than the first spaced relation; and

wherein

the first four bar linkage system allows for back and forth movement of the foot plate along a path of travel about an instantaneously changing axis of rotation and for changing the angle of inclination of the foot plate to maintain the foot plate in a position normal to the length of the lower legs of the user during a corresponding leg extension movement of the user;

a second four bar linkage system operably engaging the first four bar linkage system, the second four bar linkage system comprising;

a third member operably engaging at least one of the first member, the second member, the support member, and the frame; and

a fourth member operably engaging the third member and at least one of the first member, the second member, the support member, and the frame;

whereby a portion of the first four bar linkage system comprises a portion of the second four bar linkage system;

a resistance means; and

a means for operatively connecting at least one of the first four bar linkage system and the second four bar linkage system to the resistance means;

wherein

the second four bar linkage system, in conjunction with the first four bar linkage system, continually increases the incident force required of the user to exert on the foot plate during a leg extension movement to counteract a constant force exerted by the resistance means.

7. The exercise machine of claim 6, wherein the constant force exerted by the resistance means is translated through the second four bar linkage system and the first four bar linkage system as an opposing force substantially normal to the transferring means and substantially opposite the incident force.

8. The exercise machine of claim 6, wherein the resistance means comprises a weight stack.

9. The exercise machine of claim 6, wherein the means for operably connecting comprises a cable threaded through a pulley system, and wherein at least a portion of the pulley system is operably mounted on the frame.

10. The exercise machine of claim 9, wherein a portion of the pulley system is operably mounted to at least one of the first four bar linkage system and the second four bar linkage system.

11. The exercise machine of claim 6 further comprising:

a first arm member connected to the frame;

a second arm member pivotally mounted to the first arm member; and

a handlebar operably connected to the second arm member; and

a means for operably connecting the handlebar to the resistance means; and

wherein

the handlebar is positioned above the head of the user for grasping by the hands of the user;

the handlebar is movable along an arcuate path together with the user while the user performs an abdominal crunch exercise; and

the handlebar resists a pulling force exerted by the user when the user performs an abdominal crunch exercise while grasping the handlebar, the handlebar operated on by the constant force of the resistance means in opposition to the pulling force.

12. The exercise machine of claim 11, wherein the means for operably connecting the handlebar comprises a cable threaded through a pulley system, and wherein at least a portion of the pulley system is operably mounted on the frame.

13. The exercise machine of claim 12, wherein a single means for connecting to the resistance means comprises both the means for connecting at least one of the first four bar linkage system and the second four bar linkage system and the means for connecting the handlebar.

14. The exercise machine of claim 13, wherein the single means comprises a cable threaded through a pulley system, and wherein at least a portion of the pulley system is operably mounted on the frame.

15. The exercise machine of claim 6, wherein when the handlebar is in a rest position, a pivot point between the first arm member and the second arm member is located in a first plane spaced apart from and in front of a second plane encompassing a first mounting point where the first arm member connects to the frame and a second mounting point where the handlebar connects to the second arm member.