Chest press exercise machine with self-aligning pivoting user support

• US 7,670,269 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2007
• Issued: 03/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hoist Fitness Sytems Incorporated (Hoist Fitness Systems)
• Original Assignee: Hoist Fitness Sytems Incorporated (Hoist Fitness Systems)
• Inventors: Hockridge, Bruce, Webber, Randall T., Meredith, Jeffrey O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thanh; Loan H
• Assistant Examiner(s): LONG, ROBERT FRANKLIN
• Application Number:
  US11/846,459
• Publication Number:
  US 20080058176A1
• Time in Patent Office: 917 Days
• Field of Search: 482 92- 94, 482/51, 434/29
• US Class Current: 482/94
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0615 pivoting about a fixed horizontal fulcrum
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0628 for vertical array of weights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/159 Using levers for transmitting forces
• 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 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 23/1209 Involving a bending of elbow and shoulder joints simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/1263 Rotation about an axis passing through both shoulders, e.g. cross-country skiing-type arm movements

Abstract

A chest press exercise machine has a self-aligning pivoting user support on a main frame and an exercise arm which is linked to the pivoting user support to translate movement of the exercise arm into movement of the user support. A user support pivot pivotally connects the user support to the main frame. A connecting link is movably associated with the user engagement device or exercise arm and at least one of the main frame, user support, or user support pivot. A user-activated positioning device controls positioning of the exercise arm in an exercise ready position at the start of an exercise. The user support pivot is positioned so that part of the combined weight of the user and user support is positioned on both sides of the gravitational centerline throughout the exercise movement and a portion of the combined weight passes through the centerline to redistribute the weight as the exercise arm is moved.

Claims

1. An exercise machine, comprising:

a main frame having a front end and a rear end;

a user support pivotally mounted relative to the main frame to support a user in an exercise position, the user support moving about a user support pivot axis in one direction between an exercise start position and an exercise end position during an exercise movement, the user support having a primary portion and a secondary portion which support spaced positions on a user'"'"'s body throughout an exercise movement, the primary portion supporting the majority of a user'"'"'s weight at least in the exercise start position of the user support, and the secondary portion being secured at a fixed angular orientation relative to the primary portion and not moving relative to the primary portion as the user support travels between the exercise start and end positions during the exercise movement;

at least one exercise arm movably mounted relative to the main frame and having at least one handle for gripping by a user positioned on the user support when performing an exercise;

a connecting link which links movement of the exercise arm to movement of the user support;

a load which resists movement of at least one of the user support, exercise arm, and connecting link; and

a positioning device which is both separate and spaced from the handle and which controls positioning of the exercise arm in an exercise ready position relative to the user support, the positioning device traveling with the exercise arm and pivotally associated with at least one of the main frame and user support, and including an actuating portion adapted for direct engagement by a user prior to an exercise in order to position the exercise arm in the exercise ready position.

2. The machine of claim 1, wherein the user engageable actuating portion of the positioning device comprises a foot engageable cocking mechanism adapted for engagement by one or both feet of a user prior to performing an exercise to move the exercise arm into an exercise ready position.

3. The machine of claim 2, wherein the foot engageable cocking mechanism is associated with the connecting link.

4. The machine of claim 1, wherein the exercise arm positioning device is pivotally associated with the user support whereby adjustment of the positioning device results in movement of the user support.

5. The machine of claim 1, wherein the primary portion of the user support comprises a seat portion which supports a user in a seated position, and the secondary portion comprises a backrest portion.

6. The machine of claim 5, wherein the exercise arm is movable in one direction between an exercise ready, start position in which the handle is located at a first position in front of the backrest portion proximate a user'"'"'s chest when seated on the user support, and an exercise end position spaced forwardly from the first position at the end of an exercise, whereby the combined motion of the user, user support and exercise arm substantially replicates the natural movement of the upper part of a human body when performing a free weight chest press exercise.

7. The machine of claim 6, wherein the exercise arm has a rest position in which the handle is located rearward of the exercise ready position and the arm positioning device moves the handle from the rest position to a selected exercise ready position which comprises an exercise start position.

8. An exercise machine, comprising:

a stationary main frame having a front end and a rear end;

a user support pivotally mounted relative to the main frame to support a user in an exercise position, the user support pivoting in an exercise movement in one direction between a start position and an end position;

at least one user engagement device movably mounted relative to the main frame and having at least one user engaging portion for engagement by a user positioned on the user support;

a connecting link which links movement of the exercise arm to movement of the user support;

a load which resists movement of at least one of the user support, user engagement device, and connecting link; and

a floating pivot link between the user support and main frame which has a first, fixed pivot connection to the main frame defining a first pivot axis and a second pivot connection to the user support defining a second pivot axis which moves during an exercise movement in a first direction during an initial stage of the exercise movement, and reverses in direction to move in a second, reverse direction opposite to the first direction during a subsequent stage of the exercise movement, the reverse in direction of the second pivot connection occurring while the user support is traveling in one direction between the start and end position of an exercise movement.

9. The machine of claim 8, wherein the floating pivot link floats in the same position during part of the exercise movement while the user support continues to travel in said one direction, before reversing in direction to move back in the second direction.

10. The machine of claim 8, wherein the user support has a seat portion and a backrest portion, the backrest portion being secured at a fixed angular orientation relative to the seat portion and not moving relative to the seat portion and backrest portion as the user support travels between the start and end positions during the exercise movement.

11. The machine of claim 10, wherein the user support has a foot rest portion secured at a fixed position on the user support relative to the seat and backrest portions and moving together with the seat and backrest portions throughout the exercise movement.

12. The machine of claim 8, wherein the connecting link is associated with the exercise arm and is pivotally linked to the user support.

13. The machine of claim 12, further comprising a positioning device engageable by a user positioned on the user support to move the exercise arm into an exercise ready position, the positioning device being located on the connecting link.

14. The machine of claim 8, wherein the user support is pivotally linked to the main frame at a second location spaced forward from the floating pivot link.

15. The machine of claim 8, wherein the connecting link is connected to the exercise arm and travels with the exercise arm.

16. The machine of claim 8, wherein the floating pivot link is generally V-shaped and has first and second end portions, the first pivot connection located on the first end portion of the connecting link and the second pivot connection located on the second end portion of the connecting link.

17. The machine of claim 16, wherein the user support has a seat pad for supporting a user in a seated position, the first pivot connection is located on the main frame under the user support and the second pivot connection is located on the user support to the rear of the seat pad.

18. The machine of claim 8, wherein the user support has a seat pad for supporting a user in a seated position and a backrest portion for engaging a user'"'"'s back when in a seated position on the user support, and the exercise arm is movable from an exercise ready, start position in which the handle is located at a first position in front of the backrest portion proximate a user'"'"'s chest when seated on the user support, and an end position spaced forwardly from the first position, whereby the combined motion of the user, user support and exercise arm substantially replicates the natural movement of the upper part of a human body when performing a free weight chest press exercise.

19. An exercise machine, comprising:

a main frame having a front end, a rear end, and opposite sides;

a user support pivotally mounted relative to the main frame to support a user in an exercise position, the user support moving about a user support pivot axis in one direction between an exercise start position and an exercise end position during an exercise movement, the user support having a primary support portion and a secondary support portion which support spaced positions on a user'"'"'s body, the primary support portion supporting the majority of a user'"'"'s weight at least in the exercise start position of the user support, and the secondary support portion being secured at a fixed angular orientation relative to the primary support portion and not moving relative to the primary support portion as the user support travels between the exercise start and end positions during the exercise movement;

at least one user engagement device movably mounted relative to the main frame and having at least one user engaging portion for engagement by a user positioned on the user support, the user engagement device moving in one direction between a first, exercise start position and a second, exercise end position during an exercise movement;

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

a load selectively positioned on either side of the main frame; and

a connecting assembly which connects the load to at least one of the user support, user engagement device, and connecting link, the connecting assembly having a mount selectively attachable to the first side or the second side of the main frame.

20. The machine of claim 19, wherein the load comprises a selectorized weight stack and the connecting assembly comprises a pulley and cable system.

21. A chest press exercise machine, comprising:

a main frame having a front end and a rear end;

a user support pivotally mounted relative to the main frame to support a user in a seated position, the user support moving about a user support pivot axis in one direction between an exercise start position and an exercise end position during a chest press exercise movement, the user support having a seat portion and a backrest portion, the backrest portion being secured at a fixed angular orientation relative to the seat portion and not moving relative to the seat portion as the user support travels between the exercise start and end positions during the exercise movement;

at least one exercise arm movably mounted relative to the main frame and having at least one handle for gripping by a user seated on the user support, the exercise arm moving in a first direction during a chest press exercise movement between a start position in which the handle is located at a first position in front of the backrest portion proximate a user'"'"'s chest when seated on the user support, and an end position spaced forwardly from the first position;

a connecting link linking movement of the exercise arm to movement of the user support and having a first end associated with the exercise arm, an elongate portion extending from the first end, and a first pivot connection between the connecting link and main frame located on the elongate portion and spaced from the exercise arm; and

a load which resists movement of at least one of the user support, exercise arm, and connecting link;

whereby the combined motion of the user, user support, and exercise arm substantially replicates the natural movement of the upper part of a human body when performing a free weight chest press exercise.

22. The machine of claim 21, wherein the connecting link is pivotally linked to the user support at a second pivot connection spaced from the first pivot connection.

23. The machine of claim 21, wherein the connecting link has an upward extension from said first pivot connection located forward of the user support and a foot engaging cocking mechanism on the upward extension for engagement by a user seated on the user support to move the exercise arm into an exercise ready position.