Exercise apparatus

• US 7,335,141 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2006
• Issued: 02/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: BVP Holding, Inc.
• Original Assignee: BVP Holding, Inc.
• Inventors: Piane, Robert A. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mathew; Fenn C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lewin; Allana
• Application Number:
  US11/408,213
• Publication Number:
  US 20060240956A1
• Time in Patent Office: 677 Days
• Field of Search: 482/94, 482/99, 482/100, 482/103, 482/138, 482/101
• US Class Current: 482/99
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00061 Replaceable resistance units of different strengths, e.g. for swapping
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00065 by increasing or reducing the number of resistance units
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0083 of the piston-cylinder type using pneumatic piston-cylinder type force resistors A63B21/0087
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0087 of the piston-cylinder type using hydraulic piston-cylinder type force resistors A63B21/0083
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0428 the ends moving relatively by linear reciprocation
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/055 extension element type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0552 Elastic ropes or bands
• 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 2208/0204 Standing on the feet
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0233 in 90/90 position, like on a chair
• 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 apparatus is disclosed which enables a user to pull a cable against a source of resistance from a pulley arranged at one of a number of points around a substantially circular arc. The exercise apparatus includes: an arcuate frame member forming a segment of an approximate circle having a center, the circle with its center lying in an imaginary plane; (b) a frame support for supporting the frame member in a upright position such that the plane is substantially vertically oriented; (c) a first cable pulley adapted to be attached to the frame member at one of a plurality of positions along the arc; (d) a second cable pulley fixedly mounted in the vicinity of a substantially horizontal, imaginary first axis that extends perpendicular to the plane and passes through the center of the circle; (e) at least one source of resistance; (f) a handle adapted to be grasped by a user; and (g) a flexible cable having a proximate end attached to said handle and a distal end coupled to said at least one resistance source, the cable passing through both the first pulley and the second pulley.

Claims

1. Exercise apparatus comprising, in combination:

(a) a first arcuate frame member forming a segment of an approximate circle having a center, the circle and its center defining an imaginary plane;

(b) frame support for supporting the frame member in a upright position such that the plane is substantially vertically oriented;

(c) a first cable pulley adapted to be attached to the frame member at one of a plurality of positions along its arc;

(d) a second cable pulley fixedly mounted in the vicinity of a substantially horizontal, imaginary first axis that extends perpendicular to the plane and passes through the approximate center of the circle;

(e) at least one source of resistance;

(f) a first handle adapted to be grasped by a user; and

(g) a first flexible cable having a proximate end attached to said first handle and a distal end coupled to said at least one resistance source, the cable passing through both the first pulley and the second pulley,

whereby the length of the first cable remains substantially constant when said first pulley is repositioned from one location along the arc of the first frame member to another.

2. Exercise apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

(h) a second arcuate frame member forming a second segment of said approximate circle, said frame support supporting the second frame member in a upright position;

(j) a third cable pulley adapted to be attached to the second frame member at one of a plurality of positions along its arc;

(k) a fourth cable pulley fixedly mounted in the vicinity of said imaginary first axis;

(l) a second handle adapted to be grasped by a user; and

(m) a second flexible cable having a proximate end attached to said handle and a distal end coupled to said at least one resistance source, the cable passing through both the third pulley and the fourth pulley,

whereby the length of the second cable remains substantially constant when said second pulley is repositioned from one location along the arc of the second frame member to another.

3. Exercise apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a first arcuate track mounted on said first frame member and a first trolley mounted for movement along said first track and positionable at a plurality of locations along said first track, said first cable pulley being mounted on said first trolley and movable with said first trolley along said first track.

4. Exercise apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a second arcuate track mounted on said second frame member and a second trolley mounted for movement along said second track and positionable at a plurality of locations along said second track, said third cable pulley being mounted on said second trolley and movable with said second trolley along said second track.

5. Exercise apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of fittings, mounted in spaced relation along said first frame member, adapted for attachment of said first pulley to said first frame member at one of a plurality of positions thereon selected by the user.

6. Exercise apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a plurality of fittings, mounted in spaced relation along said second frame member, adapted for attachment of said third pulley to said second frame member at one of a plurality of positions thereon selected by the user.

7. Exercise apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said resistance source is selected from the group consisting of a weight stack, at least one spring and at least one damper.

8. Exercise apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said resistance source is selected from the group consisting of a weight stack, at least one spring and at least one damper.

9. Exercise apparatus according to claim 2, wherein each of said first cable and said second cable is attached, at its distal end, to a separate resistance source.

10. Exercise apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the distal ends of said first and second cables are connected together and to a common resistance source.

11. Exercise apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a fifth cable pulley attached to said common resistance source, said distal ends of said first and second cables passing through said fifth pulley.

12. Exercise apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising means for locking said first trolley at a selected one of said plurality of locations along said first track.

13. Exercise apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said first track includes a plurality of recesses disposed along said first track, and wherein said locking means includes detent means, disposed on said first trolley, for insertion in said recesses along said track.

14. Exercise apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said locking means includes mechanical means for biasing said detent means toward said recesses.

15. Exercise apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said locking means includes a third handle for withdrawing said detent means from one of said recesses.

16. Exercise apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second pulley is mounted on a gimbal that permits the second pulley to self-align itself with the cable as the first pulley is moved to different positions along the first frame member.

17. Exercise apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said second pulley and said fourth pulley are mounted adjacent each other, and wherein said second pulley and said fourth pulley are each mounted on a gimbal that permits the respective pulley to self-align itself with the first and second cable, respectively, as one of the first pulley and third pulley is moved to different positions along the first frame member and second frame member, respectively.

18. Exercise apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said first and second arcuate frame members are hinged at their ends such that they may be positioned and locked in a plurality of positions with respect to each other.

19. Exercise apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said first frame member and said second frame member are movable between a first position, wherein said first and second frame members form parts of an approximate, common circle, and a second position wherein said first and second frame members are spaced further apart from each other, thereby allowing a user to stand in a space between them.

20. Exercise apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said trolley comprises at least one trolley wheel arranged to travel is said track and wherein said track comprises top and bottom portions for supporting opposite sides of said trolley wheel.

21. Exercise apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said trolley comprises a set of two trolley wheels arranged in spaced apart relationship on a common axle, and wherein top portion of said track comprises a tube having an external diameter which is greater than the distance between said two wheels.

22. Exercise apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said trolley comprises two sets of trolley wheels, each set having two trolley wheels arranged in spaced apart relationship on a common axle.

23. Exercise apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

(h) a third cable pulley adapted to be attached to the frame member at one of a plurality of positions along its arc;

(i) a fourth cable pulley fixedly mounted in the vicinity of the second cable pulley;

(j) a second handle adapted to be grasped by a user;

wherein the flexible cable has a first section coupled at a proximate end to said first handle and at a distal end to said at least one resistance source, the first section of the cable passing through both the first pulley and the second pulley between said first handle and said resistance source; and

wherein the flexible cable has a second section coupled at a proximate end to said second handle and at a distal end to said at least one resistance source, the second section of the cable passing through both the third pulley and the fourth pulley between said second handle and said resistance source.

24. Exercise apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said distal ends of said first section and said second section of the flexible cable are joined and contiguous with each other.

25. Exercise apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said frame support supports said first arcuate frame member and said second arcuate frame member in an upright position in spaced apart relationship with a gap in at least a lowermost portion of said approximate circle, thereby to allow a user to stand in the space between the frame members.