Rigid arm pull down exercise machine

• US 7,361,125 B2
• Filed: 11/03/2003
• Issued: 04/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hoist Fitness Systems
• Original Assignee: Hoist Fitness Sytems Incorporated (Hoist Fitness Systems)
• Inventors: Hockridge, Bruce, Webber, Randall T., Meredith, Jeffrey O.
• Primary Examiner(s): DONNELLY, JEROME W
• Application Number:
  US10/699,995
• Publication Number:
  US 20050096197A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,632 Days
• Field of Search: 482/95, 482/96, 482/130, 482/137, 482/72, 482/57, 482/110, 482/111
• US Class Current: 482/95
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0628 for vertical array of weights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4017 to the upper limbs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4033 Handles, pedals, bars or platforms
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4035 for operation by hand
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4047 Pivoting movement weight pivoting A63B21/0615
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0233 in 90/90 position, like on a chair
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• 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 23/03533 With separate means driven by each limb, i.e. performing different movements
• 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 23/1263 Rotation about an axis passing through both shoulders, e.g. cross-country skiing-type arm movements

Abstract

An exercise machine for performing lat pull down exercises has a main frame having a user support pivot mount, a user support pivotally mounted on the user support pivot mount for supporting a user in a seated position, and an exercise arm having handles for gripping by a user movably mounted on the frame for movement between a start position located above the head of a user in a seated position on the user support and an end position lower than the start position and generally below the user'"'"'s chin. A connecting linkage connects movement of the exercise arm to movement of the user support. A load resists movement of at least one of the moving parts of the machine. The combined motion of the user support frame and exercise arm substantially replicates the natural movement of the human body when performing a free bar chin up exercise.

Claims

1. A rigid arm lat pull down machine, comprising:

a main frame having a base, a forward end, a rear end, a user support pivot mount located on said base, and an upright strut spaced forward of said pivot mount and having an upper end;

a user support frame pivotally mounted on the user support pivot mount for supporting a user in a seated position;

a user engagement device movably mounted on the frame which moves between a start position located above the head of a user in a seated position on the user support frame and an end position lower than the start position and generally below the user'"'"'s chin;

a connecting link connecting movement of the user engagement device to movement of the user support frame;

a load for resisting movement of at least one of the moving parts of the machine;

the combined motion of the user support frame and user engagement device between the start and end position substantially replicating the natural movement of the upper part of the human body when performing a free bar chin up exercise;

the user engaging device comprising an exercise arm pivotally mounted on said upper end of said upright strut and having a first portion extending from said exercise arm pivot towards the forward end of said frame and a second portion extending towards the rear end of said frame, and user engaging handles depending downwardly from said second portion above said user support frame for engagement by a user; and

a counterweight secured to the first portion of said exercise arm.

2. The machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the user support frame has a start position corresponding to the start position of the user engagement device and an end position corresponding to the end position of the user engagement means, the start position of the user support frame comprising a rearwardly reclined position.

3. The machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein the end position of the user support frame is a forwardly inclined position.

4. The machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the user engagement device is moveably mounted on the frame for rotation about an exercise arm pivot.

5. The machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein the exercise arm pivot is positioned forward of the user support.

6. The machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the user support pivot mount is positioned at a predetermined location under the user support frame and beneath the user'"'"'s body when supported on the frame, the pivot mount defining a vertical, gravitational center line, whereby movement of the user engagement device in an exercise movement simultaneously moves the user support frame between a start position and an end position, the user support pivot mount being positioned such that portions of the combined weight of the user and user support frame are distributed on each side of the gravitational centerline of the pivot mount in both the start and end position and only a portion of the combined weight passes through the gravitational centerline during the exercise movement.

7. The machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein;

the user support frame have a primary user support and a secondary user support held in fixed relative locations throughout an exercise movement, the primary support comprising a seat pad; and

the secondary support comprising a thigh hold down device.

8. The machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein the thigh hold down device comprises pads.

9. The machine as claimed in claim 7, including an additional user support for supporting a different part of the user'"'"'s body from the primary support and secondary support.

10. The machine as claimed in claim 9, wherein the additional user support is mounted on the user support frame and moves in fixed relationship with the primary and secondary supports.

11. The machine as claimed in claim 9, wherein the additional user support comprises a foot support for the user'"'"'s feet.

12. The machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein the user support frame has a base and an upright, the primary user support being mounted on the base.

13. The machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein the user support frame defines an initial position for the user'"'"'s body when supported on the frame in the start position of the exercise, and a finish position for the user'"'"'s body in the end position of the exercise, the user support pivot mount defining a gravitational centerline extending through the user'"'"'s thighs in each of said user positions.

14. The machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein the main frame has a base and the pivot mount is mounted on the base.

15. The machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein the user support pivot mount comprises a four bar linkage.

16. The machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein the user engagement device is movably mounted on the main frame.

17. The machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein the user engagement device comprises at least one rigid exercise arm.

18. The machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein the user engagement device comprises a pair of independently movable exercise arms.

19. The machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein the connecting link is a rigid link.

20. The machine as claimed in claim 19, wherein the connecting link has a first end pivoted to said user engagement device and a second end pivoted to said user support frame.

21. The machine as claimed in claim 7, including a slide member slidably mounted on said user support frame, the connecting link having an end pivoted to said slide member.

22. The machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the load comprises a selectorized weight stack.

23. The machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein the load is linked to said user support frame.

24. The machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the load is linked to said user engagement device.

25. The machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main frame has an upright strut spaced forward of said pivot mount and having an upper end, the user engaging device comprising an exercise arm pivotally mounted on said upper end of said upright strut and having a first portion extending from said exercise arm pivot towards the forward end of said frame and a second portion extending towards the rear end of said frame, and user engaging handles depending downwardly from said second portion above said user support frame for engagement by a user.

26. The machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said load comprises a weight stack, said frame having a weight stack housing containing said weight stack and extending upwardly at the forward end of said frame, said counterweight being located above said weight stack housing.

27. The machine as claimed in claim 1, including a slide member slidably mounted on said upright strut, said connecting link comprising a first linkage connected between said user support frame and said slide member, and a second linkage connected between said counterweight and said slide member.

28. The machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said connecting link comprises a cable and pulley linkage between said exercise arm and said user support frame.

29. The machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the load comprises a plurality of weight plates selectably mountable on the first portion of said exercise arm.

30. A rigid arm lat pull down machine, comprising:

a main frame having a base, a forward end, a rear end, a user support pivot mount located on said base, and an upright strut spaced forward of said pivot mount and having an upper end;

a user support frame pivotally mounted on the user support pivot mount for supporting a user in a seated position;

a user engagement device movably mounted on the frame for movement between a start position located above the head of a user in a seated position on the user support frame and an end position lower than the start position and generally below the user'"'"'s chin;

a connecting link connecting movement of the user engagement device to movement of the user support frame;

a load for resisting movement of at least one of the moving parts of the machine;

the combined motion of the user support frame and user engagement device between the start and end position substantially replicating the natural movement of the upper part of the human body when performing a free bar chin up exercise;

the user engaging device comprising an exercise arm pivotally mounted on said upper end of said upright strut and having a first portion extending from said exercise arm pivot towards the forward end of said frame and a second portion extending towards the rear end of said frame, and user engaging handles depending downwardly from said second portion above said user support frame for engagement by a user; and

said connecting link comprising an elongate member having a first end pivotally secured to said exercise arm and a second end pivotally secured to said user support frame.

32. The machine as claimed in claim 30, wherein the user support pivot mount is positioned at a predetermined location under the user support frame and beneath the user'"'"'s body when supported on the frame, such that portions of the combined weight of the user and user support frame are distributed on each side of the gravitational centerline of the pivot mount throughout the entire exercise movement between the start and end position, only a portion of the combined weight passing through the gravitational centerline during the exercise movement.

33. The machine as claimed in claim 30, wherein the exercise arm and user support frame are positioned relative to one another in the start position such that the user engaging portion is located above the head of a user seated on the user support frame whereby the user can grip the user engaging portion with their arms extending straight above their head and in line with the side centerline of their body, and are positioned relative to one another in the end position such that the user engaging portion is located below the chin and in front of the users shoulders.

34. The machine as claimed in claim 30, wherein the user support frame is in a rearwardly reclined orientation in the start position.

35. The machine as claimed in claim 34, wherein the user support frame is in a forwardly inclined orientation in the end position.

31. A rigid arm lat pull down machine, comprising:

a main frame having a base, a forward end, a rear end, a user support pivot mount located on said base, and an upright strut spaced forward of said pivot mount and having an upper end;

a user support frame pivotally mounted on the user support pivot mount for supporting a user in a seated position;

a user engagement device movably mounted on the frame which moves between a start position located above the head of a user in a seated position on the user support frame and an end position lower than the start position and generally below the user'"'"'s chin;

a connecting link connecting movement of the user engagement device to movement of the user support frame;

a load for resisting movement of at least one of the moving parts of the machine;

the combined motion of the user support frame and user engagement device between the start and end position substantially replicating the natural movement of the upper part of the human body when performing a free bar chin up exercise;

the user engaging device comprising an exercise arm pivotally mounted on said upper end of said upright strut and having a first portion extending from said exercise arm pivot towards the forward end of said frame and a second portion extending towards the rear end of said frame, and user engaging handles depending downwardly from said second portion above said user support frame for engagement by a user; and

said connecting link is adjustable in length.