Exercise apparatus using weight and pneumatic resistances

• US 7,998,038 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2005
• Issued: 08/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Keiser Corp.
• Original Assignee: Keiser Corp.
• Inventors: Keiser, Dennis L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Donnelly; Jerome W
• Application Number:
  US11/102,545
• Publication Number:
  US 20050239612A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,322 Days
• Field of Search: 482104-108, 128/848, 128/861, 128/201.11, 428/121, 428/10, 428/11, 428/44
• US Class Current: 482/112
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 17/02 rigidly combined
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2023/0411 Squatting exercises
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/065 Visualisation of specific exercise parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00058 Mechanical means for varying the resistance A63B21/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00069 Setting or adjusting the resistance level; Compensating for a preload prior to use, e.g. changing length of resistance or adjusting a valve
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0087 of the piston-cylinder type using hydraulic piston-cylinder type force resistors A63B21/0083
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0628 for vertical array of weights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0724 Bar-bells; Hand bars
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/075 with variable weights , e.g. weight systems with weight selecting means for bar-bells or dumb-bells
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/078 Devices for bench press exercises , e.g. supports, guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0783 Safety features for bar-bells, e.g. drop limiting means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/154 using special pulley-assemblies
• 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 21/4045 Reciprocating movement along, in or on a guide weights moving along or in guiding means A63B21/06; for cardio-training A63B22/201
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/201 for moving a support element in reciprocating translation, i.e. for sliding back and forth on a guide track
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0204 Standing on the feet
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0252 supine
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/56 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/09 Adjustable dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/093 Height
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/30 : Maintenance
• 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 23/1209 : Involving a bending of elbow and shoulder joints simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/1236 : Push-ups in horizontal position, i.e. eccentric movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0087 : Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of groups A63B21/00 - A63B23/00, e.g. controlling load
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 : Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user

Abstract

An exercise apparatus is disclosed that comprises a frame, at least one user interface movably coupled to the frame, a pneumatic resistance device, and a weight stack coupled to the frame. The weight stack is arranged between and in series with the at least one user interface and pneumatic resistance device and is coupled to the at least one user interface by a first force transfer mechanism and to the pneumatic resistance device by a second force transfer mechanism.

Claims

1. An exercise apparatus comprising a user interface adapted to be moved during an exercise stroke, the exercise stroke occurring when the user is moving the user interface towards and away from a stationary position of the user'"'"'s body, a weight stack having a selector shaft coupled to the user interface, and a pneumatic resistance device coupled to the selector shaft and having at least one variable volume chamber and a piston rod which moves through the variable volume chamber during the exercise stroke, the variable volume chamber resisting movement of the piston rod during the exercise stroke, the pneumatic resistance device including at least one valve to regulate the amount of resistance that the pneumatic resistance device applies to oppose movement of the weight stack in at least one direction.

2. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the selector shaft of the weight stack is coupled to the user interface by a first cable, and wherein the pneumatic resistance device is coupled to the selector shaft by a second cable.

3. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pneumatic resistance device includes an accumulator that communicate with the variable volume chamber.

4. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pneumatic resistance device comprises a frame and a cylinder, the cylinder being disposed on the frame, a pulley wheel rotatably connected to the piston rod, and a cable wrapped about at least a portion of the pulley wheel and having a first cable end and a second cable end, the second cable end being fixed to the frame and the first cable end being coupled to the weight stack.

5. The exercise apparatus of claim 4, wherein the piston rod is connected to the pulley wheel at a location offset from a center of the pulley wheel.

6. The exercise apparatus of claim 5, wherein the pulley wheel is substantially circular.

7. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising a frame to which the pneumatic resistance device is connected, and at least one pair of supports that are repositionably connected to the frame and are configured to support the user interface.

8. An exercise apparatus comprising a frame, at least one user interface movably coupled to the frame, a pneumatic resistance device having at least one variable volume chamber and a piston rod which moves through the variable volume chamber during an exercise stroke, the exercise stroke occurring when the user is moving the user interface, the variable volume chamber resisting movement of the piston rod during the exercise stroke, and a weight stack coupled to the frame, the weight stack arranged between and in series with the at least one user interface and the pneumatic resistance device and coupled to the at least one user interface by a first force transfer mechanism and to the pneumatic resistance device by a second force transfer mechanism.

9. An exercise apparatus comprising a user interface adapted to be moved by a user towards and away from a stationary position of the user'"'"'s body, a weight stack having a selector shaft coupled to the user interface, and a pneumatic resistance device coupled to the selector shaft, the pneumatic resistance device including at least one valve to regulate the amount of resistance that the pneumatic resistance device applies to oppose movement of the weight stack in at least one direction, wherein the selector shaft of the weight stack is coupled to the user interface by a first cable, and wherein the pneumatic resistance device is coupled to the selector shaft by a second cable.

10. An exercise apparatus comprising a user interface adapted to be moved by a user towards and away from a stationary position of the user'"'"'s body, a weight stack having a selector shaft coupled to the user interface, and a pneumatic resistance device coupled to the selector shaft, the pneumatic resistance device including at least one valve to regulate the amount of resistance that the pneumatic resistance device applies to oppose movement of the weight stack in at least one direction, wherein the pneumatic resistance device includes a cylinder having at least on variable volume chamber within a body of the cylinder, and an accumulator that communicates with the variable volume chamber.

11. An exercise apparatus comprising a user interface adapted to be moved by a user towards and away from a stationary position of the user'"'"'s body, a weight stack having a selector shaft coupled to the user interface, and a pneumatic resistance device coupled to the selector shaft, the pneumatic resistance device including at least one valve to regulate the amount of resistance that the pneumatic resistance device applies to oppose movement of the weight stack in at least one direction, wherein the pneumatic resistance device comprises a frame, a pneumatic actuator having a cylinder and a piston rod that extends from the cylinder along a stroke axis, the pneumatic actuator being disposed on the frame, a pulley wheel rotatably connected to the piston rod, and a cable wrapped about at least a portion of the pulley wheel and having a first cable end and a second cable end, the second cable end being fixed to the frame and the first cable end being coupled to the weight stack.