Patent Grant
10322310
The present invention relates to physical exercise machines and more particularly to an exercise apparatus that enables users to perform an abdominal muscle exercise that is resisted by one or more resistance mechanisms.
Exercise machines for exercising abdominal muscles are known and used for directing movement of a user upper torso by forcing the user to use the user's abdominal muscles against a weight resistance. In such machines the force that the user is required to exert typically starts at zero and increases at a very high rate of increase immediately upon engagement by the user with the assembly, arm or the like that is interconnected to the weight resistance.
In accordance with the invention there is provided an exercise apparatus 10 for performing a back extension exercise by a user 5 having a lower back 7, legs 11 and a trunk T1, T2, T3, that has a longitudinal trunk axis LA and a trunk weight, the apparatus 10 comprising:
a frame 12,
a seat 16 having a seating surface PS and a pelvic stabilization pad 18 having a lower back engagement surface ES,
the seating surface PS and the pelvic stabilization pad 18 being mounted, adapted and arranged on the frame in a disposition relative to each other such that the user 5 can simultaneously sit on the seating surface PS and engage the user's lower back 7 against the lower back engagement surface ES,
an input arm assembly 30 interconnected by a first interconnection 47, 60, 70 to a first resistance mechanism 43 and by a second interconnection 48, 50 to a second manually selectively adjustable fixed weight resistance mechanism 42,
the input arm assembly 30 including a manually graspable mechanism 30h and being arranged on the apparatus 10 such that the input arm assembly is pivotable beginning from a start motionless position SMP along a path of travel PT forwardly away from the pelvic stabilization pad 18 under resistance R1, R2 exerted by one or both of the resistance mechanisms 42, 43,
the input arm assembly being arranged on the apparatus such that when the user (5) is seated on the seating surface and the user's lower back 7 is engaged against the lower back engagement surface ES, the seat 16 and the pelvic stabilization pad position 18 dispose the user in a position in which the user can manually engage ME the manually graspable mechanism 30h and exert a forwardly directed pushing force F on the input arm assembly beginning from the start motionless position continuing along the path of travel PT, PT2 against resistance R1, R2 exerted by one or both of the first 43 and second 42 resistance mechanisms.
The first resistance mechanism is adapted to increase resistance as the degree of pivoting of the input arm assembly increases along the path of travel PT, PT2 away from the start motionless position SMP toward the pelvic stabilization pad.
The seat and the pelvic stabilization pad are arranged on the apparatus such that when the user is seated on the seat with the user's lower back engaged against the lower back engaging surface and the input arm assembly is disposed in the start motionless position, the user's trunk axis LA is disposed at a generally vertical VP disposition when the user manually engages the manually graspable mechanism and wherein the user's trunk axis is disposed at a forwardly angled disposition relative to vertical leaning forwardly away from the pelvic stabilization pad 18 when the user manually engages ME the manually graspable mechanism 30h and pushes the input arm assembly forwardly away from the pelvic stabilization pad.
The seat and the pelvic stabilization pad are arranged on the apparatus such that when the user manually engages ME and pushes the input arm assembly from the start motionless toward the pelvic stabilization pad, the user's trunk axis LA pivots forwardly from the generally vertical VP disposition and travels PT from the generally vertical disposition toward a forwardly angled disposition, the user's lower back 7 being assisted by more force from the trunk weight and opposed by more resistance R1 from the first resistance mechanism 43 as the user's trunk axis travels forwardly toward a more forwardly angled disposition.
The first resistance mechanism can comprise an extendable spring that increases in resistance as the spring is increasingly extended, the spring being interconnected to the input arm assembly in an arrangement such that movement of the input arm assembly along the path of travel toward the pelvic stabilization pad increasingly extends the spring and movement toward the start motionless position reduces extension of the spring.
Alternatively, the first resistance mechanism can comprise an enclosed cylinder having a piston slidably mounted within the cylinder forming opposing fluid sealed chambers within the piston, the piston being interconnected to a rod that extends outside the enclosed cylinder for driving the piston, the chambers containing a selected compressible fluid, the rod being interconnected to the input arm assembly and driven by movement of the input arm assembly from the start motionless position toward the pelvic stabilization pad to cause fluid in at least one of the chambers to compress and increase resistance against movement of the input arm assembly with an increase in the degree of compression of the fluid.
The seating surface (PS) is preferably generally disposed in a plane disposed at a downwardly sloping angle relative to horizontal, the seat having a downwardly disposed front end and an upwardly disposed rear end, the pelvic stabilization pad being mounted such that the lower back engagement surface is disposed at the upwardly disposed rear end of the seating surface in an arrangement that engages the user's lower back when the user is seated on the seating surface and pushing the user's lower back toward the pelvic stabilization pad with the user's legs.
The apparatus preferably includes a foot pad 20 mounted forwardly relative to the seat, the foot pad being arranged on the apparatus such that the user can engage the foot pad with the user's foot and push on the foot pad with the user's leg to push the user's lower back into engagement with the lower back engagement surface while seated on the seat.
The lower back engagement surface is typically generally circular CES, RA, CD,
The input arm assembly 32 is preferably interconnected to the first resistance mechanism 43 by a cable 70, the arm assembly being interconnected to a cam 60 having a receiving groove CP that receives the cable, the cam 60 being interconnected to the arm assembly such that the cam rotates together with pivoting of the input arm assembly, the receiving groove having a profile CP1, CP2 selected to create a lesser torque force F1a against the user's pulling force F1 when the user starts pulling the arm assembly from the start motionless position and gradually increase torque force F2a against the user's pulling force F2 as the user continues to pull the input arm assembly rearwardly.
In another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of performing a back extension exercise using the apparatus of claim 1 comprising the user's:
seating the user's trunk on top of the seat of the apparatus of claim 1,
pushing the user's lower back into engagement against the lower back engaging surface while seated on the seat,
manually engaging the manually graspable mechanism,
pivoting the user's trunk forwardly such that the user's trunk axis is disposed at a forward angle sufficient to push the input arm assembly from the start motionless position forwardly away from the pelvic stabilization pad.
In another aspect of the invention there is provided An exercise apparatus for performing a back extension exercise by a user having a lower back, legs and a trunk that has a longitudinal trunk axis and a trunk weight, the apparatus comprising:
a frame,
a seat 16 having a seating surface PS and a pelvic stabilization pad 18 having a lower back engagement surface ES,
the seating surface and the pelvic stabilization pad being mounted, adapted and arranged on the frame in a disposition relative to each other such that the user can simultaneously sit on the seating surface and engage the user's lower back against the lower back engagement surface,
an input arm assembly 30 interconnected by a first interconnection to a first resistance mechanism and by a second interconnection to a second manually selectively adjustable fixed weight resistance mechanism,
the input arm assembly including a manually graspable mechanism and being arranged on the apparatus such that the input arm assembly is pivotable beginning from a start motionless position along a path of travel forwardly away from the pelvic stabilization pad under resistance exerted by one or both of the resistance mechanisms,
wherein the first resistance mechanism is adapted to increase resistance as the degree of pivoting of the input arm assembly increases along the path of travel forwardly away from the pelvic stabilization pad.
In such an apparatus the input arm assembly is preferably arranged on the apparatus such that when the user is seated on the seating surface and the user's lower back is engaged against the lower back engagement surface, the seat and the pelvic stabilization pad position the user in a position at which the user can manually engage the manually graspable mechanism to push the input arm assembly forwardly beginning from the start motionless position away from the pelvic stabilization pad along the path of travel against resistance exerted by one or both of the first and second resistance mechanisms.
The seat and the pelvic stabilization pad are preferably arranged on the apparatus such that when the user is seated on the seat with the user's lower back engaged against the lower back engaging surface and the input arm assembly is disposed in the start motionless position, the user's trunk axis is disposed in a generally vertical disposition and the user's trunk is disposed at a forwardly angled position away from the stabilization pad when the user manually engages the manually graspable mechanism and pushes the input arm assembly forwardly.
The seat and the pelvic stabilization pad are preferably arranged on the apparatus such that when the user manually engages and pushes the input arm assembly from the start motionless forwardly away from the pelvic stabilization pad, the user's trunk axis pivots forwardly from the generally vertical disposition and travels toward a forwardly angled disposition, the user's lower back being opposed by less force from the trunk weight and more resistance from the first resistance mechanism as the user's trunk axis travels forwardly away from the vertical disposition.
The first resistance mechanism typically comprises an extendable spring that increases in resistance as the spring is increasingly extended, the spring being interconnected to the input arm assembly in an arrangement such that movement of the input arm assembly along the path of travel toward the pelvic stabilization pad increasingly extends the spring and movement toward the start motionless position reduces extension of the spring.
Alternatively, the first resistance mechanism can comprise an enclosed cylinder having a piston slidably mounted within the cylinder forming opposing fluid sealed chambers within the piston, the piston being interconnected to a rod that extends outside the enclosed cylinder for driving the piston, the chambers containing a selected compressible fluid, the rod being interconnected to the input arm assembly and driven by movement of the input arm assembly from the start motionless position toward the pelvic stabilization pad to cause fluid in at least one of the chambers to compress and increase resistance against movement of the input arm assembly with an increase in the degree of compression of the fluid.
The seating surface PS is typically generally disposed in a plane disposed at a downwardly sloping angle relative to horizontal, the seat having a downwardly disposed front end and an upwardly disposed rear end, the pelvic stabilization pad being mounted such that the lower back engagement surface is disposed at the upwardly disposed rear end of the seating surface in an arrangement that engages the user's lower back when the user is seated on the seating surface and pushing the user's lower back toward the pelvic stabilization pad with the user's legs.
The apparatus preferably includes a foot pad mounted forwardly relative to the seat, the foot pad being arranged on the apparatus such that the user can engage the foot pad with the user's foot and push on the foot pad with the user's leg to push the user's lower back into engagement with the lower back engagement surface while seated on the seat.
The lower back engagement surface is typically generally circular in radial cross-section.
In another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of performing a back extension exercise using the apparatus described immediately above comprising the user's:
seating the user's trunk on top of the seat of the apparatus,
pushing the user's lower back into engagement against the lower back engaging surface while seated on the seat,
manually engaging the manually graspable mechanism,
pivoting the user's trunk forwardly such that the user's trunk axis is disposed at a forward angle sufficient to push the input arm assembly from the start motionless position forwardly away from the pelvic stabilization pad.
In another aspect of the invention there is provided an exercise apparatus for performing a back extension exercise by a user having a lower back, legs and a trunk that has a longitudinal trunk axis and a trunk weight, the apparatus comprising:
a frame,
a seat 16 having a seating surface PS and a pelvic stabilization pad 18 having a lower back engagement surface ES,
the seating surface and the pelvic stabilization pad being mounted, adapted and arranged on the frame in a disposition relative to each other such that the user can simultaneously sit on the seating surface and engage the user's lower back against the lower back engagement surface,
an input arm assembly 30 interconnected by a first interconnection to a first resistance mechanism,
the input arm assembly including a manually graspable mechanism and being arranged on the apparatus such that the input arm assembly is pivotable beginning from a start motionless position along a path of travel forwardly away from the pelvic stabilization pad under resistance exerted by one or both of the resistance mechanisms,
wherein the first resistance mechanism is adapted to increase resistance as the degree of pivoting of the input arm assembly increases along the path of travel forwardly away from the pelvic stabilization pad.
Such an apparatus preferably includes a second interconnection to a second manually selectively adjustable fixed weight resistance mechanism.
The input arm assembly is preferably arranged on the apparatus such that when the user is seated on the seating surface and the user's lower back is engaged against the lower back engagement surface, the seat and the pelvic stabilization pad position the user in a position at which the user can manually engage the manually graspable mechanism to pull the input arm assembly beginning from the start motionless position forwardly away from the pelvic stabilization pad along the path of travel against resistance exerted by one or both of the first and second resistance mechanisms.
The seat and the pelvic stabilization pad are preferably arranged on the apparatus such that when the user is seated on the seat with the user's lower back engaged against the lower back engaging surface and the input arm assembly is disposed in the start motionless position, the user's trunk axis is disposed in a generally vertical disposition and the user's trunk is disposed in a forwardly angled disposition when the user manually engages the manually graspable mechanism and pushes the input arm assembly forwardly.
The seat and the pelvic stabilization pad are preferably arranged on the apparatus such that when the user manually engages and pushes the input arm assembly from the start motionless forwardly away from the pelvic stabilization pad, the user's trunk axis pivots forwardly from the generally vertical disposition forwardly toward a forwardly angled disposition, the user's lower back being opposed by less force from the trunk weight and more resistance from the first resistance mechanism as the user's trunk axis pivots more forwardly.
The first resistance mechanism preferably comprises an extendable spring that increases in resistance as the spring is increasingly extended, the spring being interconnected to the input arm assembly in an arrangement such that movement of the input arm assembly along the path of travel toward the pelvic stabilization pad increasingly extends the spring and movement toward the start motionless position reduces extension of the spring.
Alternatively, the first resistance mechanism can comprise an enclosed cylinder having a piston slidably mounted within the cylinder forming opposing fluid sealed chambers within the piston, the piston being interconnected to a rod that extends outside the enclosed cylinder for driving the piston, the chambers containing a selected compressible fluid, the rod being interconnected to the input arm assembly and driven by movement of the input arm assembly from the start motionless position toward the pelvic stabilization pad to cause fluid in at least one of the chambers to compress and increase resistance against movement of the input arm assembly with an increase in the degree of compression of the fluid.
The seating surface (PS) is preferably generally disposed in a plane disposed at a downwardly sloping angle relative to horizontal, the seat having a downwardly disposed front end and an upwardly disposed rear end, the pelvic stabilization pad being mounted such that the lower back engagement surface is disposed at the upwardly disposed rear end of the seating surface in an arrangement that engages the user's lower back when the user is seated on the seating surface and pushing the user's lower back toward the pelvic stabilization pad with the user's legs.
The apparatus typically includes a foot pad mounted forwardly relative to the seat, the foot pad being arranged on the apparatus such that the user can engage the foot pad with the user's foot and push on the foot pad with the user's leg to push the user's lower back into engagement with the lower back engagement surface while seated on the seat.
The lower back engagement surface is preferably generally circular in radial cross-section.
In another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of performing a back extension exercise using the apparatus described immediately above comprising the user's:
seating the user's trunk on top of the seat of the apparatus,
pushing the user's lower back into engagement against the lower back engaging surface while seated on the seat,
manually engaging the manually graspable mechanism,
pivoting the user's trunk forwardly such that the user's trunk axis is disposed at a forward angle sufficient to push the input arm assembly from the start motionless position forwardly away from the pelvic stabilization pad.
In another aspect of the invention there is provided an exercise apparatus for performing a back extension exercise by a user comprising:
a frame,
an input arm assembly being interconnected by a first interconnection to a spring resistance mechanism
the input arm assembly being interconnected by a second interconnection to a manually selectively adjustable weight resistance mechanism,
a seat having a generally planar seating surface PS and pelvic stabilization pad having a lower back engagement surface ES having a central radial axis RA, the seating surface PS being generally disposed in a plane disposed at a downwardly sloping angle relative to horizontal,
the seating surface and the lower back engagement surface being mounted, adapted and arranged relative to each other such that the seating surface and the central radial axis are disposed at an obtuse angle relative to each other,
wherein the input arm assembly is mounted, arranged and adapted to enable the user to manually push on the arm assembly to perform a pushing exercise while seated on the seat with the user's lower back engaged against the lower back engagement surface.
The input arm assembly of such an apparatus is typically mounted to the frame to be rotatable around a pivot axis and the input arm assembly is interconnected to the spring resistance mechanism such that when the user pulls on the arm in a direction that causes the arm to rotate, the arm pulls on the spring which exerts an opposing resistance force against the exercise force of the user.
The lower back engagement surface is preferably generally circular in cross-section, the central radial axis RA extending from or intersecting the center of a circle in which the circular circumference is disposed through the center or half way around the circumference of the generally circumferential surface ES.
The input arm assembly 32 is preferably interconnected to the first resistance mechanism 43 by a cable 70, the arm assembly being interconnected to a cam (60) having a receiving groove CP that receives the cable, the cam 60 being interconnected to the arm assembly such that the cam rotates together with pivoting of the input arm assembly, the receiving groove having a profile CP1, CP2 selected to create a lesser torque force F1a against the user's pushing force F1 when the user starts pushing the arm assembly from the start motionless position and gradually increase torque force F2a against the user's pushing force F2 as the user continues to push the input arm assembly forwardly
The above and further advantages of the invention may be better understood by referring to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
The present state of the art in back extension weight training machines allows for movement of the torso in a rotational pattern against some sort of variable resistance (typically from a weight stack). As the torso moves through its normal range of motion, gravity also has a variable effect on the torque developed around the axis of rotation. The more horizontal the torso is to the ground, the greater the effective moment arm which defined as the horizontal distance from the center of gravity to the instant center of rotation of the spine. The problem is created in the present art due to the difference in these two resistive loads (the resistance from the weight stack and the resistance from gravity) and how they vary based on the user capability. It is possible to have a user with a large heavy torso that has limited muscular capacity to create a high torque load around the spine, or a light small framed user that has a high capacity to create a high torque load around the spine. This would create a situation where the variation in the resistance would create the need for a completely different cam shape based on what the difference was in frame size and muscle capacity. One way to solve this problem is to create two different resistance sources. One to counterbalance the torso and the other to provide resistance for the abdominal muscles to work against as the trunk rotates anteriorly around the instant center of rotation in spinal flexion. In preferred embodiments, there is a spring that is connected through a flexible link to a main exercise engagement input arm via a variable ratio cam such that it is designed to apply a varying torque to the arm as it travels through its normal range of motion during the exercise. This allows a separate resistance source, the intensity of which can be selected by the user to be proportional to their muscular capacity, to be applied directly to the user's back.
The weight of the trunk creates a significant independent torque load from gravity as it moves through the range of motion to train spinal extension around an instant rotation axis about the lumbar spine. To address this, a separate resistance source originating from a spring or other force increasing mechanism can be provided to act directly on the input arm to effectively offset the gravity effect on the trunk. The highest trunk gravity effect is when the user's trunk is disposed at its most horizontal disposition relative to the ground in an anterior flexed posture or posterior extension posture. Unlike an abdominal configuration, the apparatus cannot be counterbalanced in the same way since without the user on the machine, the counterbalance would lift the arm up to the start. For that reason, instead of applying a load to make the trunk lighter as it moves forward into flexion, the apparatus applies a higher resistive load at the end of the range of the exercise in the same direction as the main resistive load of fixed weight, as the trunk moves rearward where gravity has less effective torque. Although it works opposite of an abdominal machine, the effect of offsetting gravitational torque effects though use of a separate spring or other force increasing based resistive source is the same.
In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, as shown in
An adjustable footrest 20 is attached to the front of the support frame 12, where the oblique angle A of the seat 16 substantially directs the seat 16 down towards footrest 20. The footrest 20 is positioned so the user can apply a force using the leg muscles to push the pelvis an lower back 7 rearwardly RW away from the user input arm 30 into engagement with the pelvic stabilization pad 18. The footrest 20 can be adjusted or pivioted back and forth (forward and backward) and up and down (vertically) with a footrest adjustment mechanism 22 to accommodate users of varying heights. When a user's feet are positioned on the footrest 20, the footrest 20 is typically adjusted such that the user's thighs are disposed in a position that is substantially parallel with the ground as shown in
An input assembly 24 comprised of a user engagement arm 30 is mounted to the frame, arranged, adapted and interconnected to a weight resistance (in this embodiment a weight stack 42 and a spring 43) with an input 30 that is positioned forwardly of the seat 16. The arm 30 is adapted and mounted to the support frame 12 for pivoting arcuate rotation about a horizontal axis AA. The horizontal arm 30 is pivotable about axis AA for arcuate front to back FW-RW movement by forcible pushing F on the handles 30h interconnected to the arm 30 starting from the start motionless position SMP of the arm 30 while the user 5 is properly seated on seat surface PS facing forwardly with the user's lower back 7 engaged against the engagement surface ES of the pelvic stabilization pad 18. The horizontal arm 30 is attached to a curved offset arm 32 that is attached to a bushing 33 that is rotatably CC mounted to the frame. As shown,
Similarly as arm 32 is pivoted CC forwardly beginning from the start motionless position SMP to a forward position 32us, 32f, the spring 43 is pulled into an extended disposition by a second cable 70 interconnected between the arm 32 and the spring 43. As shown in
In a preferred embodiment, the circumferential groove CP in the cam member 60 is contoured and configured with a profile CP1, CP2 to control the degree of torque force exerted by the user against the spring according to the degree of rotation of the arm 32 such that the user feels a more smooth transition of force exertion F1,
A selected number of incremental weights 42w making up a weight stack 42 are selectively interconnectable via a pin 42p to the pivoting arm 30, 32 via connection of one end of a cable 48 to a manifold or lifting post 50 that is selectively interconnectable to a selected number of the incremental weights by inserting a pin 42p in one of a plurality of holes provided in a lifting post 50 that passes vertically through the incremental weights or plates 42w, as is well known in the art. For example, the weight stack 42 is formed by a stack of rectangular, brick-shaped plates. Each plate 42w typically has at least one horizontal channel or hole, wherein the pin 42p may be disposed to slidably engage any of a series of horizontal channels which are vertically spaced on the lifting post 50 to match the vertical spacing of the stacked weight plates 52. The pin thereby engages a portion of the stack of weight plates 52, such that when vertical force is applied to the lifting post 50 via the cable that is interconnected to pivotable arm 30, 32, the selected stack of weight plates 52 is moved upwards to create a resistance. Typically, the weight stack 42 apparatus is oriented such that the further down the pin is entered into the lifting post 50, the greater the number of plates 52 are engaged, thereby increasing the resistance R2 of the weight stack 42 machine.
In the present invention the apparatus includes a second cable 70, one end of which is connected to the input arm assembly, the cable 70 being mounted within the outer circumferential groove of a guide cam member 60. The opposite end of the cable 70 is connected to an increasing force resistance mechanism such as a spring 43. The cable 70, spring 43, arms 30, 32 and cam 60 are arranged, interconnected and adapted such that when the arms 30, 32 are forcibly pushed by the user in a clockwise direction CL, the cable 70 pulls on a connector 47 attached to the end of the spring 43 which exerts an opposing resistance force to whatever pulling force F is applied to arms 30, 32 by the user or otherwise. The circumferential groove CP1 in the cam member 60 is contoured and configured to control the degree of force exerted by the user against the spring such that the user feels a more smooth transition of force exertion from a start, no force position and an operational position when the user starts pulling F on the arms 30, 32.
In performing a typical abdominal exercise, the user 5,
With reference to
As shown in the embodiment of
In alternative embodiments, other mechanisms for providing increasing resistance R1, such as friction fittings, springs, elastic bands, pneumatic, hydraulic or electromagnetic resistance, or an air resistance fan could be employed (either alone or in combination) and still practice the invention.
This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 14/995,513 filed Jan. 14, 2016, which is a continuation of PCT/US2015/019866, filed Mar. 11, 2015 which claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/951,011 filed Mar. 11, 2014 and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/951,059 filed Mar. 11, 2014 and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/951,026 filed Mar. 11, 2014 and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/951,034 filed Mar. 11, 2014 and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/951,046 filed Mar. 11, 2014 the disclosures of all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety as if fully set forth herein. This application incorporates by reference the disclosures of all of the following in their entirety as if fully set forth herein: U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,717,831, 4,725,054, 7,666,123, 8,070,658, 7,278,955, 8,025,609, 7,727,128, 486,535, 490,127, U.S. Patent Publication No. 2003/0092541, U.S. Patent Publication No. 2007/0173384, U.S. Patent Publication No. 2006/0270531, U.S. Patent Publication No. 2008/0167169, U.S. Patent Publication No. 2010/0204021.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
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| Parent | 14995513 | Jan 2016 | US |
| Child | 16042112 | US | |
| Parent | PCT/US2015/019866 | Mar 2015 | US |
| Child | 14995513 | US |
