Adjustable, reversible exercise apparatus with converging and diverging motion

• US 7,717,833 B1
• Filed: 07/25/2008
• Issued: 05/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Life Fitness LLC
• Original Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
• Inventors: Nelson, Westin W., Atwood, Lee M., Miller, Aaron J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thanh; Loan H
• Assistant Examiner(s): HWANG, VICTOR KENNY
• Application Number:
  US12/179,687
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• Field of Search: 482/92, 482/93, 482 97-100, 482133-138, 482/142
• US Class Current: 482/100
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0628 for vertical array of weights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/15 Arrangements for force transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/156 the position of the pulleys being variable, e.g. for different exercises
• 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 23/0355 A single apparatus used for either upper or lower limbs, i.e. with a set of support elements driven either by the upper or the lower limb or limbs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/03575 Apparatus used for exercising upper and lower limbs simultaneously

Abstract

Disclosed are adjustable exercise machines, apparatuses, and systems. The disclosed machines, apparatuses, and systems typically include an adjustable, reversible mechanism that utilizes pivoting arms and a floating pulley. The disclosed machines, apparatuses, and systems typically are configured for performing pushing and pulling exercises and may provide for converging and diverging motion.

Claims

1. Exercise apparatus comprising:

first and second arms that rotate about a common rotational axis, the first and second arms having a fixed orientation with respect to each other;

a resistance mechanism;

a fixed pulley;

a cable extending through the fixed pulley and coupling the second arm to the resistance mechanism; and

a floating pulley engaging the cable;

a docking device for docking the floating pulley; and

an engaging device that is coupled to the second arm at a location distal from the rotational axis;

wherein as the first and second arms are rotated about the rotational axis in one direction, the engaging device engages the floating pulley about its axle and removes the floating pulley from the docking device, and the second arm pulls the cable against the resistance mechanism; and

wherein as the first and second arms are rotated about the rotational axis in the opposite direction the docking device docks the floating pulley about its axle and the second arm pulls the cable against the resistance mechanism.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an adjustment mechanism that allows for adjustment of the fixed orientation between the first and second arms.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a slotted plate and a retractable pin for coupling the first and second arms.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the floating pulley engages the cable at a location that is between the fixed pulley and the second arm.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the resistance mechanism comprises a weight stack.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a mounting arm, wherein the docking device is fixed to the mounting arm.

7. An exercise machine comprising:

(a) a frame;

(b) a seat for a user mounted to the frame; and

(c) at least one exercise apparatus according to claim 6 mounted to the frame and configured for converging and diverging motion;

wherein the machine is configured such that the user can perform pushing exercises and pulling exercises without having to change seating orientation on the machine.

8. The machine according to claim 7, wherein the apparatus is adjustably mounted to the frame via the mounting arm about a mounting axis of rotation that is approximately perpendicular to an upright arm of the frame.

9. The machine according to claim 7, further comprising a mounting plate and a retractable pin for adjusting the mounting arm.

10. The machine according to claim 7, configured for performing upper body exercises, torso exercises, lower body exercises, or combinations thereof.

11. An exercise machine comprising:

(a) a frame;

(b) a seat for a user mounted to the frame; and

(c) at least one exercise apparatus according to claim 1 mounted to the frame and configured for converging and diverging motion;

wherein the machine is configured such that the user can perform pushing exercises and pulling exercises without having to change seating orientation on the machine.

12. The machine according to claim 11, wherein the apparatus is adjustably mounted to the frame.

13. The machine according to claim 11, configured for performing upper body exercises, torso exercises, lower body exercises, or combinations thereof.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the docking device comprises a pair of brackets comprising a pair of teeth on a forward side with a gap therebetween for docking the floating pulley at the floating pulley axle, and the engaging device comprises a pair of brackets comprising a pair of teeth on a forward side with a gap therebetween for engaging the floating pulley at the floating pulley axle and removing the floating pulley from the docking device when the engaging device is moved in a forward rotational direction.

15. An exercise machine comprising:

(a) a frame;

(b) a seat for a user mounted to the frame; and

(c) at least two exercises apparatuses mounted to the frame, each of the two exercise apparatuses comprising;

first and second arms that rotate about a common rotational axis, the first and second arms having a fixed orientation with respect to each other;

a resistance mechanism;

a fixed pulley;

a cable extending through the fixed pulley and coupling the second arm to the resistance mechanism; and

a floating pulley engaging the cable;

a docking device for docking the floating pulley; and

an engaging device that is coupled to the second arm at a location distal from the rotational axis;

wherein as the first and second arms are rotated about the rotational axis in one direction, the engaging device engages the floating pulley about its axle and removes the floating pulley from the docking device, and the second arm pulls the cable against the resistance mechanism; and

wherein as the first and second arms are rotated about the rotational axis in the opposite direction the docking device docks the floating pulley about its axle and the second arm pulls the cable against the resistance mechanism.

16. The machine according to claim 15, configured such that the user can perform pushing exercises and pulling exercises without having to change seating orientation on the machine.

17. The machine according to claim 15, configured for performing upper body exercises, torso exercises, lower body exercises, or combinations thereof without having to change seating orientation on the machine.

18. The machine according to claim 15, wherein the docking device comprises a pair of brackets comprising a pair of teeth on a forward side with a gap therebetween for docking the floating pulley at the floating pulley axle, and the engaging device comprises a pair of brackets comprising a pair of teeth on a forward side with a gap therebetween for engaging the floating pulley at the floating pulley axle and removing the floating pulley from the docking device when the engaging device is moved in a forward rotational direction.

19. An exercise machine comprising:

(a) a frame;

(b) a seat for a user mounted to the frame;

(c) and at least two exercises apparatuses mounted to the frame via mounting arms that are adjustably rotatable about a mounting axis, each of the two exercise apparatuses configured for converging and diverging motion and comprising;

first and second arms that rotate about a common rotational axis, the first and second arms having a fixed orientation with respect to each other;

a resistance mechanism;

a fixed pulley;

a cable extending through the fixed pulley and coupling the second arm to the resistance mechanism; and

a floating pulley engaging the cable;

a docking device for docking the floating pulley; and

an engaging device that is coupled to the second arm at a location distal from the rotational axis;

wherein as the first and second arms are rotated about the rotational axis in one direction, the engaging device engages the floating pulley about its axle and removes the floating pulley from the docking device, and the second arm pulls the cable against the resistance mechanism; and

wherein as the first and second arms are rotated about the rotational axis in the opposite direction the docking device docks the floating pulley about its axle and the second arm pulls the cable against the resistance mechanism.

20. The machine according to claim 19, configured such that the user can perform pushing exercises and pulling exercises without having to change seating orientation on the machine.

21. The machine according to claim 19, configured for performing upper body exercises, torso exercises, lower body exercises, or combinations thereof without having to change seating orientation on the machine.

22. The machine according to claim 19, configured for performing one or more of a chest press, a shoulder press, a lateral pull, a low row, a leg press, a leg extension, and a leg curl.

23. The machine according to claim 19, wherein the first arm is a working arm and the machine is configured at a single setting for performing a shoulder press when the working arm is pushed and a lateral pull down when the working arm is pulled.

24. The machine according to claim 19, wherein the first arm is a working arm and the machine is configured at a single setting for performing a chest press when the working arm is pushed and a row when the working arm is pulled.

25. The machine according to claim 19, wherein the docking device comprises a pair of brackets comprising a pair of teeth on a forward side with a gap therebetween for docking the floating pulley at the floating pulley axle, and the engaging device comprises a pair of brackets comprising a pair of teeth on a forward side with a gap therebetween for engaging the floating pulley at the floating pulley axle and removing the floating pulley from the docking device when the engaging device is moved in a forward rotational direction.