Exercise device

• US 7,892,155 B2
• Filed: 01/13/2006
• Issued: 02/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: BowFlex, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nautilus, Inc.
• Inventors: Pearson, Jeffrey Alan, Rauwerdink, Matthew, Christopher, Brent, Golesh, Eric D., Joehnk, Terrence, Dibble, Ryan R., Flick, Edward L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Donnelly; Jerome W
• Application Number:
  US11/331,544
• Publication Number:
  US 20060189462A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,866 Days
• Field of Search: 482/121, 482/142, 482/140, 482/130, 482/129, 482/126, 482/138, 482/137, 482/101
• US Class Current: 482/121
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/026 Bars; Tubes; Leaf springs A63B21/023 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/045 having torsion or bending or flexion element
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0455 having torsion element around its longitudinal axis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/055 extension element type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0628 for vertical array of weights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4031 with parts of the bench moving against a resistance during exercise
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4047 Pivoting movement weight pivoting A63B21/0615
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/09 Adjustable dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0211 moving torso with immobilized lower limbs
• 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 23/0494 primarily by articulating the knee joints A63B23/0405, A63B23/0476 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/1281 primarily by articulating the elbow joint

Abstract

The exercise devices disclosed herein are configurable to allow a user to perform various exercises. The exercise device can include an adjustable bench assembly connected with a frame supporting a cable-pulley assembly providing a user interface with a resistance system. A user can interface with an actuation component to pull resistance cables against resistance from the resistance system. Various exercise accessories can be provided that are easily connected with and removed from the exercise device to allow a user to perform different exercises. Some examples of exercise accessories are used to configure the exercise device for squat, abdominal, leg extension, leg curl, and arm curl exercises. The frame can also be configured to selectively place the exercise device in a stationary operating configuration supported by the frame on a support surface and a storage configuration wherein the exercise device is rollingly supported on the support surface by wheels.

Claims

1. An exercise device comprising:

a frame;

a resistance system operably coupled with the frame;

a rail arranged in a substantially vertical orientation;

an actuation assembly including;

a wheel car assembly movably supported on the rail to move along the rail during exercise use of the exercise device;

a seat connected to the wheel car assembly; and

an exercise accessory releasably connected to the wheel car assembly, the exercise accessory including a base plate and at least two shoulder bar members joined to the base plate with each of the at least two shoulder bar members including a hand grip portion;

at least one cable operably coupled between the actuation assembly and the resistance system; and

the wheel car assembly, the seat, and the exercise accessory move in conjunction along the rail during exercise use of the exercise device when the exercise accessory is connected to the wheel car assembly.

2. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the substantially vertical orientation of the rail defines a 15°

angle from vertical.

3. The exercise device of claim 2, wherein the 15°

angle is toward a user engaged with the actuation assembly while performing squat exercises.

4. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the substantially vertical orientation of the rail is sufficient for performing squat exercises.

5. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the resistance system comprises a plurality of resiliently flexible rods.

6. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the exercise accessory includes a grip housing operably connected with a pin to selectively engage apertures in the rail.

7. The exercise device of claim 6, further comprising a first spring operably connected with the pin and arranged to exert a first force on the pin to engage the rail.

8. The exercise device of claim 7, further comprising a second spring operably connected between the grip housing and the pin, wherein movement of the grip housing in a first direction causes the second spring to exert a second force on the pin to disengage the rail.

9. The exercise device of claim 8, wherein movement of the grip housing in the first direction does not disengage the pin from the rail until a third force is applied to the actuation device to move the actuation assembly along the rail.

10. The exercise device of claim 1, further comprising a lock pawl assembly releasably connecting the exercise accessory with the wheel car assembly.

11. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the rail includes a plurality of apertures and wherein the actuation assembly includes a pin adapted to selectively engage the plurality of apertures to lock the actuation assembly at a plurality of positions along the rail.

12. The exercise device of claim 11, further comprising a release mechanism operably connected with the pin to selectively engage and disengage the pin with the rail.

13. The exercise device of claim 12, wherein the exercise accessory includes a grip housing and wherein the release mechanism is operably connected with the grip housing.

14. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the rail is pivotally connected with the frame to pivot relative to the frame.

15. The exercise device of claim 14, further comprising:

a locking mechanism connected with the frame; and

wherein the rail defines a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion pivotally connected with the frame; and

wherein the locking mechanism is adapted to selectively connect with the rail between the first end portion and the second end portion to hold the rail in the substantially vertical orientation.

16. The exercise device of claim 15, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a handle operably connected with at least one pawl adapted to selectively engage an aperture in the rail.

46. The exercise device of claim 14, wherein the rail is pivotally connected with the frame to pivot between the substantially vertical orientation and a substantially horizontal orientation.

17. The exercise device comprising:

a frame including a first upright member, a second upright member spaced apart from the first upright member, and an axle connected to, and positioned between, the first and second upright members;

a resistance system supported on the frame;

a rail extending from the frame and connected to the frame to pivot between at least a substantially horizontal position and an upright position;

a first member supporting the rail;

an actuation device configured to actuate the resistance mechanism and removably coupled with the first member by way of at least one hook adapted to engage at least one protrusion;

a locking mechanism pivotally connected to the axle; and

the locking mechanism configured to selectively connect with the rail between a first end portion and a second end portion of the rail in the upright position.

18. The exercise device of claim 17, wherein the at least one protrusion is connected with the first member.

19. The exercise device of claim 17, wherein the at least one hook is connected with the first member.

20. The exercise device of claim 17, wherein the first member is pivotally connected with the frame.

21. The exercise device of claim 17, wherein the resistance system comprises a plurality of resiliently flexible rods.

22. The exercise device of claim 17, further comprising a seat movingly supported on the rail to move along the rail.

23. The exercise device of claim 22, wherein the seat is rollingly supported on the rail.

24. The exercise device of claim 17, wherein the at least one hook comprises four hooks and the at least one protrusion comprises four protrusions.

34. The exercise device of claim 17, wherein the actuation device includes a means for actuating the resistance system when performing leg extension exercises using the actuation device.

35. The exercise device of claim 17, wherein the actuation device includes a means for actuating the resistance system when performing leg curl exercises using the actuation device.

36. The exercise device of claim 17, wherein the actuation device includes a means for actuating the resistance system when performing arm curl exercises using the actuation device.

37. The exercise device of claim 17, wherein the actuation device includes a means for actuating the resistance system when performing abdominal exercises using the actuation device.

25. The exercise device comprising:

a frame;

a resistance system supported on the frame;

a rail extending from the frame;

a first member supporting the rail; and

an actuation device removably coupled with the first member by of at least one hook adapted to engage at least one protrusion, wherein the actuation device comprises;

a support member adapted to releasably connect with the first member;

a resistance arm adapted to operably connect with the resistance system;

at least one pivot member connected with the resistance arm; and

wherein the resistance arm and the at least one pivot member are pivotally connected with the support member.

26. The exercise device of claim 25, wherein the support member includes the at least one hook and the first member includes the at least one protrusion.

27. The exercise device of claim 25, further comprising:

a pop-pin supported by the at least one pivot member and adapted to selectively connect the at least one pivot member with the resistance arm at a plurality of pivotal positions relative to the resistance arm.

28. The exercise device of claim 25, further comprising:

an arm support assembly releasably connected with the support member.

29. The exercise device of claim 28, wherein the arm support assembly comprises a second support member having at least one hook adapted to releasably connect with at least one protrusion on the support member.

30. The exercise device of claim 25, further comprising a handle connected with the at least one pivot member.

31. The exercise device of claim 30, further comprising:

a first strap connected with the at least one pivot member;

a second strap connected with the handle;

a connector member releasably connecting the second strap with the first strap; and

a storage hook connected with the at least one pivot member adapted to support the first strap.

32. An exercise device comprising:

a frame;

a resistance system supported on the frame;

a rail extending from the frame;

a first member supporting the rail; and

an actuation device removably coupled with the first member by of at least one hook adopted to engage at least one protrusion, wherein the actuation device comprises;

a support member adapted to releasably connect with the first member; and

a handle member pivotally connected with the support member and adapted to operably connect with the resistance system.

33. The exercise device of claim 32, wherein the support member includes the at least one hook and the first member includes the at least one protrusion.

38. An exercise device comprising:

a frame including a first base frame pivotally coupled with a second base frame, the first base frame including a first end portion and a second end portion distal the first end portion;

a resistance system supported on the first base frame;

a bench frame assembly supported on the second base frame and pivotally coupled with the frame;

the second base frame is configured to pivot between at least a substantially horizontal position and an upright storage position;

at least one first wheel connected to the first base frame at the first end portion of the first base frame;

at least one second wheel connected to the first base frame at the second end portion of the first base frame;

when the second base frame is positioned in the upright storage position, the at least one first wheel and the at least one second wheel rollingly engage a support surface; and

when the second base frame is positioned in the substantially horizontal position, the at least one first wheel and the at least one second wheel are not engaged with the support surface.

39. The exercise device of claim 38, further comprising:

at least one hinge member including a first end portion and a second end portion, the at least one hinge member pivotally connected with the first base frame between the first end portion of the at least one hinge member and the second end portion of the at least one hinge member and wherein the first end portion of the at least one hinge member is connected with the second base frame.

40. The exercise device of claim 38, wherein the at least one first wheel comprises two wheels.

41. The exercise device of claim 38, wherein the at least one second wheel comprises two caster wheels.

42. The exercise device of claim 38, wherein the bench frame assembly includes a seat connected with a rail.

43. The exercise device of claim 38, wherein the resistance system comprises a plurality of resiliently flexible rods.

44. The exercise device of claim 38, further comprising a securing mechanism operably connected with the first base frame and the second base frame, the securing mechanism selectively locking the second base frame in at least one pivotal position relative to the first base frame.

45. The exercise device of claim 44, wherein the securing mechanism comprises at least one pop-pin.