Support apparatus for an exercise machine

• US 7,878,950 B1
• Filed: 09/22/2009
• Issued: 02/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bold Endeavors LLC
• Original Assignee: Bold Endeavors LLC
• Inventors: Bastian, James
• Primary Examiner(s): CROW, STEPHEN R
• Application Number:
  US12/564,216
• Time in Patent Office: 497 Days
• Field of Search: 482 51- 54, 482 57- 63, 482/148, 482/91
• US Class Current: 482/54
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4017 to the upper limbs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4035 for operation by hand
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0235 driven by a motor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/029 upright
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0064 Attachments on the trainee preventing falling
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 7/00 Freely-suspended gymnastic apparatus

Abstract

A user support apparatus for an exercise machine. The user support apparatus is interconnected to a frame of the exercise machine and includes at least one handhold interconnected to a user support. The user support is generally a fixed length member such as a rope or cable that a user of the exercise machine may grasp for support while exercising. The length of the user support may be adjustable. The position of an anchor point for the user support relative to the user may be adjustable, thus allowing the user support to be anchored generally above the user for overhead support, generally in front of the user for pulling support, or at an intermediate position for a combination of overhead and pulling support.

Claims

1. An exercise system comprising:

a. an exercise treadmill comprising;

a frame having a front end and a rear end;

a longitudinal axis; and

a movable endless belt disposed along said longitudinal axis;

b. a rigid sub-frame connected to said frame, wherein said sub-frame includes a first user support anchor point, wherein said rigid sub-frame comprises an inverted U shaped portion, wherein left and right end portions of the inverted U shaped portion are attached to left and right hand rails on said exercise treadmill, respectively, wherein a portion of each of the left and right end portions is substantially parallel to the left and right hand rails where the left and right end portions are attached to the left and right hand rails;

c. a first handhold;

d. a first user support,

wherein said first handhold is supportably interconnected to said first user support, wherein said first user support is anchored to said sub-frame at said first user support anchor point, wherein a length of said first user support between said first handhold and said first user support anchor point is adjustably fixed, wherein said first user support between said first handhold and said first user support anchor point is flaccid; and

e. a second user support, wherein said first handhold is supportably interconnected to said second user support, wherein said second user support is anchored to said sub-frame at a second user support anchor point, wherein a length of said second user support between said first handhold and said second user support anchor point is adjustably fixed, wherein said second user support between said first handhold and said second user support anchor point is flaccid, and wherein said first and second user support anchor points are disposed along a common portion of said sub-frame,

wherein said first handhold comprises an elongated bar with first and second ends, wherein said first user support is interconnected to said elongated bar at said first end, and wherein said second user support is interconnected to said elongated bar at said second end,

wherein an entirety of said length of said first user support between said first handhold and said first user support anchor point is substantially inelastic, wherein an entirety of said length of said second user support between said first handhold and said second user support anchor point is substantially inelastic.