Functional training exercise apparatus and methods

• US 7,909,742 B2
• Filed: 08/02/2007
• Issued: 03/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vectra Fitness
• Original Assignee: Vectra Fitness
• Inventors: Sanchez, Jose L., Ish, A. Buell III, Lines, L. Kent, Rasmussen, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rada; Rinaldi I
• Assistant Examiner(s): LONG, ROBERT FRANKLIN
• Application Number:
  US11/833,220
• Publication Number:
  US 20090036277A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,328 Days
• Field of Search: 482/908, 482 38- 39, 482 92-139
• US Class Current: 482/97
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 15/00 Clubs for gymnastics or the like , e.g. for swinging exercises
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0628 for vertical array of weights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/153 wound-up and unwound during exercise, e.g. from a reel
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/156 the position of the pulleys being variable, e.g. for different exercises
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4017 to the upper limbs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4043 Free movement, i.e. the only restriction coming from the resistance A63B21/00043, A63B21/072 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0204 Standing on the feet
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/007 American football
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0211 moving torso with immobilized lower limbs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/03533 With separate means driven by each limb, i.e. performing different movements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/03541 Moving independently from each other A63B22/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/12 for upper limbs or related muscles, e.g. chest, upper back or shoulder muscles bench press exercises A63B21/078; for teaching music G09B15/06
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/1209 Involving a bending of elbow and shoulder joints simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/1254 Rotation about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body, e.g. butterfly-type exercises
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0002 for baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3623 for driving A63B69/3608, A63B69/3658, A63B69/3661, A63B69/3667 and A63B69/3691 take precedence

Abstract

Exercise apparatus and methods are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an exercise assembly includes a load, a support assembly, a force-transferring assembly operatively coupled to the load and to the support assembly, and an exercise station operatively coupled to the force-transferring assembly. The exercise station includes a user interface, at least one adjustment assembly configured to adjust a position of the user interface, and an actuator assembly selectively engageable with the at least one adjustment assembly. The actuator assembly is configured to approximately simultaneously enable vertical and horizontal adjustment of the user interface when the actuator assembly is actuated to release the at least one adjustment assembly, and to approximately simultaneously disable adjustment of the user interface when the actuator assembly is actuated to lock the at least one adjustment assembly. Thus, movements of the user interface may be easily and efficiently performed using a single-touch actuation assembly.

Claims

1. An exercise assembly, comprising:

a load;

a support assembly operatively positioned relative to the load;

a force-transferring assembly operatively coupled to the load and to the support assembly; and

an exercise station operatively coupled to the force-transferring assembly, the exercise station including;

a user interface;

at least one adjustment assembly configured to adjust a position of the user interface;

an actuator assembly selectively engageable with the at least one adjustment assembly, the actuator assembly having a single actuator handle configured to enable adjustment of both elevational and azimuthal angles of the user interface when the single actuator handle of the actuator assembly is actuated to release the at least one adjustment assembly, and to disable adjustment of both elevational and azimuthal angles of the user interface when the single actuator handle of the actuator assembly is actuated to lock the at least one adjustment assembly; and

an outwardly-extending arm having a longitudinal axis and operatively coupled between the user interface and the at least one adjustment assembly, the single actuator handle being positioned at a distal location on the arm, the single actuator handle being coupled to an actuation member that is arranged to slideably engage and disengage a rotational portion of the adjustment assembly to enable and disable adjustment of at least one of an elevation angle and an azimuth angle of the arm, and wherein the actuation member is further arranged to slideably engage and disengage the rotational portion of the adjustment assembly in a direction substantially parallel to or along the longitudinal axis of the outwardly-extending arm.

2. The exercise assembly of claim 1, wherein the rotational portion of the adjustment assembly includes an arcuate indexing member arranged to control the elevation angle of the arm.

3. The exercise assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one adjustment assembly includes a first adjustment assembly configured to provide adjustability of an elevation angle of the arm, and a second adjustment assembly configured to provide adjustability of the azimuth angle of the arm.

4. The exercise assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one adjustment assembly comprises first and second adjustment assemblies, and wherein the actuator assembly is further configured to release the first and second adjustment assemblies, and lock the first and second adjustment assemblies.

5. The exercise assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one adjustment assembly includes:

a base member having a plurality of indexing holes disposed therein; and

wherein the actuator assembly comprises;

a locking mechanism having an indexing pin engageable into one or more of the plurality of indexing holes; and

a biasing member configured to bias the indexing pin into engagement with the one or more of the plurality of indexing holes.

6. The exercise assembly of claim 5, wherein the exercise station further includes an outwardly-extending arm operatively coupled to the at least one adjustment assembly, the user interface being positioned on the arm and the at least one adjustment assembly being configured to adjust an elevation angle and an azimuth angle of the arm.

7. The exercise assembly of claim 5, wherein the actuator assembly further includes a handle portion operatively coupled to the locking mechanism such that rotation of the handle portion in a first rotational direction from an initial position disengages the indexing pin from the base member, and rotation of the handle portion in a second rotational direction re-engages the indexing pin into one or more of the plurality of indexing holes.

8. The exercise assembly of claim 5, wherein the base member comprises a partially-spherical member.

9. The exercise assembly of claim 1, wherein when the force-transferring assembly includes a cable-and-pulley assembly.

10. A method of performing an exercise, comprising:

selecting a training load;

actuating an actuator to enable movement of a user interface of an exercise station, wherein actuating the actuator includes actuating a single actuator handle to disengage a locking pin from an adjustment assembly to enable movement along both elevational and azimuthal angles of the user interface, wherein the locking pin is disengaged by moving the locking pin in a plane that is defined by an azimuthal column associated with an instant location of the exercise station, wherein

the exercise station includes an outwardly-extending arm having a longitudinal axis and being operatively coupled between the user interface and the at least one adjustment assembly; and

wherein actuating a single actuator handle to disengage a locking pin from an adjustment assembly includes actuating a single actuator handle to slideably disengage the locking pin from a portion of the adjustment assembly in a direction substantially parallel to or along the longitudinal axis of the arm to enable adjustment of at least one of an elevation angle and an azimuth angle of the arm;

moving the user interface to a desired position;

actuating the actuator, including de-actuating the single actuator handle to engage the locking pin with the adjustment assembly, to prevent movement of the user interface; and

applying a training force to the training load via the user interface.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the exercise station includes an arm operatively coupled to the at least one adjustment assembly, and wherein enabling movement of the user interface includes enabling movement of the arm.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the exercise station includes a first adjustment assembly that enables vertical movement of the user interface, and a second adjustment assembly that enables horizontal movement of the user interface, and wherein actuating the actuator includes releasing both the first and second adjustment assemblies.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one adjustment assembly includes a base member having a plurality of indexing holes disposed therein, and wherein actuating an actuator includes withdrawing an indexing pin from one or more of the plurality of indexing holes.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein moving the user interface to a desired position includes simultaneously adjusting a vertical position and a horizontal position of the user interface.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein moving the user interface to a desired position includes sequentially adjusting a vertical position and a horizontal position of the user interface.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein actuating an actuator includes rotating a handle portion of the actuator.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the exercise station includes an arm coupled to the user interface, the first adjustment assembly being configured to enable adjustment of an elevation angle of the arm, and the second adjustment assembly being configured to enable adjustment of an azimuth angle of the arm.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the exercise station further includes an outwardly-extending arm operatively coupled to the at least one adjustment assembly, the user interface being positioned on the arm, and wherein enabling movement of the user interface includes enabling variation of both an elevation angle and an azimuth angle of the arm.