Rocking exerciser system

• US 7,803,096 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2009
• Issued: 09/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JE Matadi Inc.
• Original Assignee: JE Matadi Inc.
• Inventors: Mehta, Pershant
• Primary Examiner(s): Thanh; Loan
• Assistant Examiner(s): HWANG, VICTOR KENNY
• Application Number:
  US12/636,602
• Publication Number:
  US 20100152005A1
• Time in Patent Office: 291 Days
• Field of Search: 482/95, 482/96, 482/111, 482/112, 482/114, 482/115, 482/118, 482/119, 482/121, 482130-132, 482146-148, 482/907
• US Class Current: 482/140
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/008 using hydraulic or pneumatic force-resisters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/012 using frictional force-resisters electromagnetically-controlled brakes A63B21/0056
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/02 using resilient force-resisters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/023 Wound springs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/14 Platforms for reciprocating rotating motion about a vertical axis , e.g. axis through the middle of the platform
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0228 Sitting on the buttocks

Abstract

An exercise machine which has a base with at least three spaced apart legs and two spaced apart handles attached to the base. A rocker assembly that includes a rocker fastener and first and second sets of spaced apart brackets is provided where the second set of brackets rotates relative to the first set of brackets along a longitudinal axis of rotation. The longitudinal axis of rotation passes between the handles and is substantially parallel to the handles and the second set of brackets rotates only about the longitudinal axis of rotation. The first set of brackets is secured to the base and the second set of brackets is secured to the underside of a rotation assembly. The rotation assembly is coupled to a seat to enable rotation of the seat relative to the second set of brackets. The rotation assembly includes a stop to limit rotation of the seat.

Claims

1. An exercise machine comprising:

a base having at least three spaced apart legs and two spaced apart handles attached to said base, said base further comprising a frame to which the legs attach, each leg having a proximal and distal end;

said frame characterized by a substantially horizontal longitudinal axis of rotation, said longitudinal axis of rotation passing between said handles and substantially parallel to said handles,

wherein the proximal end of the legs attach to the base;

a rocker assembly, said rocker assembly comprising a rocker fastener and first and second sets of spaced apart brackets, each bracket having an aperture there through, said first set of brackets secured to said base so that said apertures of said first spaced apart brackets are coaxial with the longitudinal axis of rotation, said second set of brackets disposed adjacent said first set of brackets so that the apertures of the second set of brackets are aligned with the apertures of the first set of brackets, wherein said rocker fastener extends through the aligned apertures and along said longitudinal axis of rotation so that the second set of bracket rotates approximately +/−

18 degrees or less about the axis of rotation in a side-to-side motion relative to the base frame and between the handles;

wherein said longitudinal axis of rotation is fixed in the direction defined by the first and second sets of spaced apart brackets and wherein the second set of spaced apart brackets rotates only about said longitudinal axis of rotation;

a seat having a top side with a generally planar upper surface and underside;

a rotation assembly coupled to and disposed between the underside of the seat assembly and the second set of brackets, the rotation assembly configured to enable rotation of the seat relative to the second set of brackets, wherein the axis of rotation of the seat is oriented generally perpendicular to the upper surface of the seat and perpendicularly intersects the longitudinal axis of rotation;

an adjustable stop to limit rotation of the seat relative to the second set of brackets, wherein the adjustable stop limits rotation of the seat around the axis of rotation to 360 degrees to some lesser amount;

at least one tensioning mechanism, wherein said tensioning mechanism provides tension against side-to-side motion of said second set of bracket relative to said base;

wherein the tensioning mechanism comprises one or more springs; and

wherein said spring has a first end and a second end, with one end of the spring attached to the base and the other end of the spring attached to the second set of brackets.

2. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein said rotation assembly further comprises a circular drum having an outer circumferential surface, said drum attached to the underside of said seat, said exercise machine further comprising a brake wherein the brake comprises a band disposed at least partially around the outer circumferential surface of said circular drum to frictionally engage the drum and an adjustable tensioner attached to the band for adjusting friction between the band and the first circular drum.

3. An exercise machine comprising:

a base having at least three spaced apart legs and two spaced apart handles attached to said base, said base further comprising a frame to which the legs attach, each leg having a proximal and distal end;

said frame characterized by a substantially horizontal longitudinal axis of rotation, said longitudinal axis of rotation passing between said handles and substantially parallel to said handles,

wherein the proximal end of the legs attach to the base;

a rocker assembly, said rocker assembly comprising a rocker fastener and first and second sets of spaced apart brackets, each bracket having an aperture there through, said first set of brackets secured to said base so that said apertures of said first spaced apart brackets are coaxial with the longitudinal axis of rotation, said second set of brackets disposed adjacent said first set of brackets so that the apertures of the second set of brackets are aligned with the apertures of the first set of brackets, wherein said rocker fastener extends through the aligned apertures and along said longitudinal axis of rotation so that the second set of bracket rotates approximately +/−

18 degrees or less about the axis of rotation in a side-to-side motion relative to the base frame and between the handles;

wherein said longitudinal axis of rotation is fixed in the direction defined by the first and second sets of spaced apart brackets and wherein the second set of spaced apart brackets rotates only about said longitudinal axis of rotation;

a seat having a top side with a generally planar upper surface and underside;

a rotation assembly coupled to and disposed between the underside of the seat assembly and the second set of brackets, the rotation assembly configured to enable rotation of the seat relative to the second set of brackets, wherein the axis of rotation of the seat is oriented generally perpendicular to the upper surface of the seat and perpendicularly intersects the longitudinal axis of rotation;

a stop to limit rotation of the seat relative to the second set of brackets, wherein the stop limits rotation of the seat around the axis of rotation to approximately +/−

20 degrees or less;

at least one tensioning mechanism, wherein said tensioning mechanism provides tension against side-to-side motion of said second set of bracket relative to said base;

wherein the tensioning mechanism comprises one or more pistons; and

wherein said piston has a first end and a second end, with one end of the piston attached to the base and the other end of the piston attached to the second set of bracket.

4. The exercise machine of claim 3, wherein said rotation assembly further comprises a circular drum having an outer circumferential surface, said drum attached to the underside of said seat, said exercise machine further comprising a brake wherein the brake comprises a band disposed at least partially around the outer circumferential surface of said circular drum to frictionally engage the drum and an adjustable tensioner attached to the band for adjusting friction between the band and the first circular drum.

5. The exercise machine of claim 3, wherein said piston has an adjustable volume.

6. An exercise machine comprising:

a base having at least three spaced apart legs and two spaced apart handles attached to said base, said base further comprising a frame to which the legs attach, each leg having a proximal and distal end;

said frame characterized by a substantially horizontal longitudinal axis of rotation, said longitudinal axis of rotation passing between said handles and substantially parallel to said handles,

wherein the proximal end of the legs attach to the base;

a rocker assembly, said rocker assembly comprising a rocker fastener and first and second sets of spaced apart brackets, each bracket having an aperture there through, said first set of brackets secured to said base so that said apertures of said first spaced apart brackets are coaxial with the longitudinal axis of rotation, said second set of brackets disposed adjacent said first set of brackets so that the apertures of the second set of brackets are aligned with the apertures of the first set of brackets, wherein said rocker fastener extends through the aligned apertures and along said longitudinal axis of rotation so that the second set of bracket rotates approximately +/−

18 degrees or less about the axis of rotation in a side-to-side motion relative to the base frame and between the handles;

wherein said longitudinal axis of rotation is fixed in the direction defined by the first and second sets of spaced apart brackets and wherein the second set of spaced apart brackets rotates only about said longitudinal axis of rotation;

a seat having a top side with a generally planar upper surface and underside;

a rotation assembly coupled to and disposed between the underside of the seat assembly and the second set of brackets, the rotation assembly configured to enable rotation of the seat relative to the second set of brackets, wherein the axis of rotation of the seat is oriented generally perpendicular to the upper surface of the seat and perpendicularly intersects the longitudinal axis of rotation;

an adjustable stop to limit rotation of the seat relative to the second set of brackets, wherein the adjustable stop limits rotation of the seat around the axis of rotation to 360 degrees to some lesser amount;

at least one tensioning mechanism, wherein said tensioning mechanism provides tension against side-to-side motion of said second set of bracket relative to said base;

wherein the tensioning mechanism comprises one or more pistons; and

wherein said piston has a first end and a second end, with one end of the piston attached to the base and the other end of the piston attached to the second set of brackets.

7. The exercise machine of claim 6, wherein said rotation assembly further comprises a circular drum having an outer circumferential surface, said drum attached to the underside of said seat, said exercise machine further comprising a brake wherein the brake comprises a band disposed at least partially around the outer circumferential surface of said circular drum to frictionally engage the drum and an adjustable tensioner attached to the band for adjusting friction between the band and the first circular drum.

8. The exercise machine of claim 6, wherein said piston has an adjustable volume.