BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY
The invention relates to resistance training exercise apparatus.
Various types of resistance training exercise apparatus are known in the prior art, including load systems for providing resistance.
Commonly owned co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/854,279, filed Aug. 11, 2010, is directed to resistance training exercise apparatus with a vacuum load system.
The present invention arose during continuing development efforts in the above technology.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGS. 1-5 are taken from commonly owned co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/854,279.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of resistance training exercise apparatus in accordance with the '279 disclosure.
FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a portion of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is like FIG. 2 and shows another embodiment.
FIG. 4 is like FIG. 2 and shows another embodiment.
FIG. 5 is like FIG. 2 and shows another embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a schematic view illustrating an adjustment mechanism for a vacuum load system in accordance with the present disclosure.
FIG. 7 is like FIG. 6 and shows another embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a schematic view illustrating a further embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a schematic view illustrating a further embodiment.
FIG. 10 is a schematic view illustrating a further embodiment.
FIG. 11 is a schematic view illustrating a further embodiment.
FIG. 12 is a schematic view illustrating a further embodiment.
FIG. 13 is a schematic view illustrating a further embodiment.
FIG. 14 is a schematic view illustrating a further embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The following description regarding FIGS. 1-5 is taken from the noted commonly owned co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/854,279, filed Aug. 11, 2010.
FIG. 1 shows resistance training exercise apparatus 10 including a seat 12 for supporting a seated user 14 and having a handle 16 for gripping by the user and connected through a cable 18 and pulley system 20 to a load system for providing resistance, as is known.
The system of the '279 application provides a load system 22 including an axially extending tubular housing 24, FIGS. 1, 2, having an inner cylinder wall 26 extending axially from an axial end wall 28. A piston 30 in the housing engages cylinder wall 26 in sealing relation and is axially slidable therealong, e.g. up-down in FIG. 2. An O-ring 32 may provide a seal, or other types of rings may be used or multiple rings may be used or a cup seal may be provided on each side of the piston or in another embodiment no sealing ring or gasket is used and instead a flush fit between the piston and the cylinder wall is relied upon for sealing purposes. A connector link 34, e.g. a rigid piston rod or other rod or a flexible cable 34a, FIG. 3, extends from piston 30 and is coupled to user-engaged exercise member 16, e.g. through the noted cable and pulley system 18, 20. Rod 34 is secured to piston 30 in any suitable manner, e.g. by being threaded thereinto as shown at threads 36 of rod 34 threaded into threaded bore 38 of piston 30. Piston 30 defines a chamber 40 in housing 24 between piston 30 and end wall 28. FIG. 2 shows the volume of such chamber 40 being at a minimum, in one embodiment substantially zero, with piston 30 touching end wall 28. Though the noted volume will never be perfectly zero, because there is always some volume at 40, the noted one embodiment provides substantially zero volume to minimize the relative amount of free space that will need to be expanded to create vacuum. Piston 30 is movable in a first axial direction (upwardly in FIG. 2) away from end wall 28 to increase the volume of chamber 40, whereafter piston 30 is movable in a second opposite axial direction (downwardly in FIG. 2) toward end wall 28 to decrease the volume of chamber 40. Movement of piston 30 in the noted first axial direction (upwardly in FIG. 2) creates vacuum in chamber 40. This vacuum provides load resistance resisting exercise movement of user-engaged exercise member 16, e.g. resisting downward and/or outward leftward movement of member 16 in FIG. 1.
Piston 30 has an axial travel stroke (up-down in FIG. 2) between a rest position as shown in solid line at 42, and a loaded position as shown in dashed line at 44. Piston 30 moves in the noted first axial direction (upwardly) from the rest position to the loaded position and is resisted by vacuum load resistance due to the vacuum created in chamber 40. Such vacuum urges piston 30 to move in a second axial direction (downwardly in FIG. 2) to return to the rest position from the loaded position. Housing 24 is open to atmosphere at its top, and accordingly atmospheric pressure is applied to the upper surface of piston 30, while vacuum is applied to the lower surface of piston 30 upon upward movement of the piston as pulled upwardly by rod 34 coupled to cable 18. In one embodiment, chamber 40 is selected to minimize the volume of such chamber when piston 30 is in its lowered rest position, to minimize the relative amount of free space that will need to be expanded to create the noted vacuum. Further in such embodiment, the volume of chamber 40 is substantially zero when piston 30 is in its rest position 42.
In one embodiment, chamber 40 has a one-way valve 46, FIG. 2, blocking ingress of air into chamber 40 and permitting egress of air from chamber 40. This accommodates leakage of air past piston 30 into chamber 40 and permits expulsion of such leakage air from chamber 40 downwardly through valve 46 upon downward movement of piston 30 in the noted second axial direction (downwardly in FIG. 2). This facilitates movement of piston 30 to its rest position at 42 and maintains minimized free space in chamber 40 that will need to be expanded to create the noted vacuum. One-way valve 46 may be a check valve having a ball 48 biased by spring 50 bearing against cage 52 and biasing ball 48 upwardly against valve seat 54.
User-engaged exercise member 16 is movable in at least two opposite exercise directions, e.g. downwardly and upwardly in FIG. 1. Load system 22 provides load in both directions of exercise movement of user-engaged exercise member 16. Load system 22 provides load in a first direction of exercise movement of user-engaged exercise member 16 (e.g. downwardly in FIG. 1) corresponding to the noted first direction of piston movement (upwardly in FIG. 2). Load system 22 provides load in a second opposite direction of exercise movement of user-engaged exercise member 16 (e.g. upwardly in FIG. 1) corresponding to the noted second direction of piston movement (downwardly in FIG. 2). Vacuum load 22 thus simulates a weight stack relying upon gravity to provide load in both directions of exercise movement of user-engaged exercise member 16. The first direction of exercise movement of user-engaged exercise member 16 (downwardly in FIG. 1) applies a first direction force on piston 30 (an upwardly directed pulling force in FIG. 2) which is resisted by the noted vacuum created in chamber 40. The noted vacuum applies a second opposite direction force on piston 30 (a downwardly directed force in FIG. 2) urging piston 30 to return to its rest position at 42 and urging user-engaged exercise member 16 in the noted second opposite direction of movement thereof (upwardly in FIG. 1).
In the embodiment of FIG. 2, rod 34 is axially extensible out of and retractable into housing 24 at an axial end 56 of the housing distally opposite end wall 28. In another embodiment, rod 34b, FIG. 4, extends axially through end wall 28 and is axially extensible out of and retractable into the housing at end wall 28 in axial sealing sliding relation, and may include a sealing O-ring 58.
In further embodiments, the load system includes a plurality of axially extending tubular housings as shown in FIG. 1 at 24, 62, 64, 66, 68, and so on, each housing having an inner cylinder wall, e.g. 26, FIG. 2, extending axially from an axial end wall 28. A plurality of pistons such as 30 are provided, one in each of the noted housings and engaging a respective cylinder wall in sealing relation and axially slidable therealong. A plurality of connector links such as 34 are provided, each extending from a respective piston 30 and couplable to a user-engaged exercise member 16 through a coupler bar 70 and the noted cable and pulley system 18, 20. Each piston defines a chamber such as 40 in its respective housing between the respective piston 30 and the respective end wall 28, as above. Each piston is movable in a first axial direction (e.g. upwardly in FIG. 2) away from the respective end wall 28 to increase the volume of the respective chamber 40. Each piston is movable in a second opposite axial direction (downwardly in FIG. 2) toward the respective end wall 28 to decrease the volume of the respective chamber 40. Movement of each piston in the noted first axial direction (upwardly in FIG. 2) creates vacuum in the respective chamber 40 of the respective housing, which vacuum provides load resistance resisting movement of the coupled user-engaged exercise member 16 coupled through coupler bar 70 to the respective connector link provided by rod 34. A plurality of push-pull pins such as 72, 74, 76, 78, 80 and so on, are provided, one for each of the noted rods such as 34. Each push-pull pin is user-actuatable, e.g. by pushing in or pulling out, to engage and disengage a respective rod 34 to select which rods are coupled to coupler bar 70. The cumulative vacuum load is determined by the number of rods engaged and coupled to coupler bar 70.
In various embodiments, the plurality of the noted housings include a subset of a plurality of housings providing different vacuum loads, e.g. housing 24 providing a 100 lb. vacuum load, housing 62 providing a 50 lb. vacuum load, housing 68 providing a 10 lb. vacuum load, and so on. Also in various embodiments, the plurality of noted housings includes another subset of a plurality of housings providing the same vacuum load, e.g. housing 64 providing a 20 lb. vacuum load and housing 66 providing a 20 lb. vacuum load. This offers the user selectivity in choosing the load desired by simply engaging or disengaging the rod 34 of a selected housing at the respective push-pull pin. In various embodiments, the push-pull pins may have magnets on their ends which can interact with Hall effect sensors or switches in a circuit which adds the cumulative load selected and then displays the total load on a display such as a liquid crystal display 82. In further embodiments, such circuit may be powered by a solar cell.
In one embodiment, a 100 lb. load housing is provided by its piston 30 having an area of 6.80 sq. in., a radius 1.47 in., and a diameter of 2.94 in., and a 50 lb. load housing is provided by its piston 30 having an area of 3.40 sq. in., a radius of 1.04 in., and a diameter of 2.08 in., and a 20 lb. load housing is provided by its piston 30 having an area of 1.36 sq. in., a radius of 0.65 in., and a diameter of 1.131 in., and a 10 lb. load housing is provided by its piston having an area of 0.68 sq. in., a radius of 0.46 in., and a diameter of 0.93 in. Further in various embodiments, the system enables low overall pressure requirements such as 15 lb. per sq. in. maximum, and accordingly the housings such as 24 may be manufactured using plastic or other low cost material, including for cylinder walls 26.
FIG. 5 shows another embodiment and uses like reference numerals from above where appropriate to facilitate understanding. A bumper member 82 is provided in housing 24 and is disposed axially between piston 30 and end wall 28. Bumper member 82 dampens impact of piston 30 against end wall 28 upon movement of the piston in the noted second axial direction (downwardly in FIGS. 2, 5). This prevents the piston from smashing into the end wall should the load be released by user 14, which may otherwise allow the piston to slam back downwardly against end wall 28. The bumper dampens the impact of such piston movement should the user let go of the load. In one embodiment, bumper member 82 is composed of resilient material, e.g. rubber.
FIGS. 6-15 show various embodiments of adjustment mechanisms for the noted vacuum load system, and use like reference numerals from above where appropriate to facilitate understanding.
Resistance training exercise apparatus 10, FIG. 1, includes load system 22 for providing resistance, comprising a vacuum load assembly 23, FIG. 6 comprising an axially extending tubular housing 24, FIGS. 2, 6, having inner cylinder wall 26 extending axially from axial end wall 28, and piston 30 in the housing and engaging cylinder wall 26 in sealing relation and axially slidable therealong. Connector link 34 extends from the vacuum load assembly and is coupled to user-engaged exercise member 16, FIGS. 1, 6. Piston 30 defines chamber 40 in the housing between piston 30 and end wall 28. Piston 30 is movable in a first axial direction (upwardly in FIGS. 1, 2; rightwardly in FIG. 6) away from end wall 28 to increase the volume of chamber 40, whereafter piston 30 is movable in a second opposite axial direction (downwardly in FIGS. 1, 2; leftwardly in FIG. 6) toward end wall 28 to decrease the volume of chamber 40. Movement of piston 30 in the noted first axial direction (upwardly in FIGS. 1, 2; rightwardly in FIG. 6) creates vacuum in chamber 40. This vacuum provides load resistance resisting movement of user-engaged exercise member 16, e.g. resisting downward and/or outward leftward movement of member 16 in FIGS. 1, 6.
The connector link includes an adjustment mechanism 90, FIG. 6, controlling effective vector force between the vacuum load assembly and user-engaged exercise member 16. The adjustment mechanism includes a user-controllable adjustment assembly 92 adjustably varying the vector force between the vacuum load assembly and user-engaged exercise member 16. The adjustment mechanism includes a gym cable 18a having a first end 18a-1 coupled to user-engaged exercise member 16, and having a distally opposite second end 18a-2. The adjustment mechanism includes a cylinder cable 18b having a first end 18b-1 coupled to the vacuum load assembly, and having a distally opposite second end 18b-2. Adjustment assembly 92 is coupled to at least one and preferably both of the noted second cable ends 18a-2, 18b-2. In one embodiment, the adjustment assembly extends between second end 18a-2 of the gym cable and second end 18b-2 of the cylinder cable, to be described, and the second end 18a-2 of the gym cable and the second end 18b-2 of the cylinder cable are spaced from each other at different locations along the adjustment assembly. The adjustment assembly includes a coupling mechanism 94 adjustably varying a lever arm distance of at least one of the gym cable second end and the cylinder cable second end along the adjustment assembly, to be described.
In the embodiment of FIG. 6, the adjustment assembly includes a cam 96 rotatable about a pivot axis 98, and a lever arm 100 extending from the cam. The coupling mechanism 94 includes an adjustable attachment member 102 connectable to lever arm 100 at a plurality of selectable locations 104, 106, etc. therealong spaced at differing distances from pivot axis 98. For example, lever arm 100 may have a plurality of apertures 104, 106, etc. receiving a user-engaged push-pull pin 108 in a sleeve or collar or coupler 110 slidable along lever arm 100 as shown at arrow 112, and lockable thereto when the user pushes pin 108 into a respective aperture such as 104, 106, etc. One of gym cable 18a and cylinder cable 18b is connected to cam 96, and the other of gym cable 18a and cylinder cable 18b is connected to adjustable attachment member 102. In the embodiment of FIG. 6, gym cable 18a is connected to cam 96, and cylinder cable 18b is connected to adjustment attachment member 102. In the embodiment of FIG. 7, cylinder cable 18b is connected to cam 96, and gym cable 18a is connected to adjustable attachment member 102. First end 18b-1 of the cylinder cable is coupled to the vacuum load assembly 23, as above, and first end 18a-1 of the gym cable is coupled to the user-engaged exercise member 16 as above.
In one embodiment, cam 96 is a pulley, and the respective one of the gym cable and the cylinder cable is trained around such pulley and connected thereto at the respective cable end 18a-2, 18b-2. In one embodiment, an alignment pulley 114 is provided, around which the respective gym cable 18a, FIG. 7, or cylinder cable 18b, FIG. 6, is trained between its respective first and second ends 18a-2 and 18a-1, or 18b-2 and 18b-1, such that the respective end 18a-1 or 18b-1 moves rectilinearly (left-right in FIGS. 6, 7). In these embodiments, the respective second cable end 18a-2 or 18b-2 moves in an arc about pivot axis 98.
In a further embodiment, adjustment assembly 92a, FIG. 8, includes a two-sided lever arm teeter-totter 120 having first and second sections 122 and 124 on distally opposite sides of a fulcrum 126. In one embodiment, gym cable 18a is connected to first section 122, and cylinder cable 18b is connected to second section 124. In another embodiment, cylinder cable 18b is connected to first section 122, and gym cable 18a is connected to second section 124. Coupling mechanism 94a includes adjustable attachment member 102a connectable to one of the first and second sections, e.g. second section 124, at a plurality of selectable locations 104a, 106a, etc. therealong, e.g. as provided by apertures as above, spaced at differing distances from fulcrum 126. In one embodiment, cylinder cable 18b is connected at its second end 18b-2 to adjustable attachment member 102a. In another embodiment, gym cable 18a at it second end 18a-2 is connected to adjustable attachment member 102a. In FIG. 8, adjustable attachment member 102a is connected to second section 124 of the two-sided lever arm teeter-totter 120, and cylinder cable 18b is connected to adjustable attachment member 102a at second cable end 18b-2. The first end 18b-1 of the cylinder cable is coupled to the vacuum load assembly 23, as above. In this embodiment, gym cable 18a is connected at its second end 18a-2 to first section 122 of two-sided lever arm teeter-totter 120. In this embodiment, first end 18a-1 of the gym cable is connected to the user-engaged exercise member 16, as above. Adjustable attachment member 102a may be provided by a sleeve or collar, as above, slidable along lever arm teeter-totter 120, as shown at arrow 112a, and lockable thereto by the user pushing in pin 108a into a respective aperture 104a, 106a, etc. In FIG. 8, cylinder cable 18b is connected to adjustable attachment member 102a, and gym cable 18a is connected to first section 122 at a fixed distance from fulcrum 126. In another embodiment, gym cable 18a is connected to adjustable attachment member 102a, and cylinder cable 18b is connected to section 122 at a fixed distance from fulcrum 126.
In another embodiment, FIG. 9, first end 18b-1 of cylinder cable 18b is connected to piston 30, and an adjustable anchor assembly 130 is connected to housing 24. Adjustable anchor assembly 130 is slidable up-down in FIG. 9 along a stationary rod or frame 132 to move as shown at arrow 134 to differing selectable locations to concord with adjustment of adjustable attachment member 102b as shown at arrow 112b along two-sided lever arm teeter-totter 120a to a plurality of selectable locations spaced at differing distances from fulcrum 126a.
In another embodiment, coupling mechanism 94b, FIG. 10, includes an adjustable fulcrum location 126b along two-sided lever arm teeter-totter 120b between gym cable 18a and cylinder cable 18b. Second end 18a-2 of gym cable 18a is connected to a first section 122b of two-sided lever arm teeter-totter 120b at a first fixed location 134, and second end 18b-2 of cylinder cable 18b is connected to a second section 124b of two-sided lever arm teeter-totter 120b at a second fixed location 136. First and second fixed locations 134 and 136 are on distally opposite sides of adjustable fulcrum location 126b, which may be varied left-right in FIG. 10 as shown at arrow 138. Cylinder cable 18b may be trained around alignment or guide pulleys such as 137, 139.
In another embodiment, FIG. 11, adjustment assembly 92c includes a one-sided lever arm 100c rotatable about a pivot 98c and extending along an extension section 140 from pivot 98c. Gym cable 18a and cylinder cable 18b are connected to extension section 140 on the same side of pivot 98c. Coupling mechanism 94c includes adjustable attachment member 102c connectable to extension section 140 at a plurality of selectable locations 104c, 106c, etc., as above, spaced therealong at differing distances from pivot 98c. In the embodiment of FIG. 11, gym cable 18a at second cable end 18a-2 is connected to adjustable attachment member 102c, and gym cable 18a at first cable end 18a-1 is connected to user-engaged exercise member 16, as above. In this embodiment, cylinder cable 18b at second cable end 18b-2 is connected to extension section 140 at a fixed location 142 at a fixed distance from pivot 98c, and cylinder cable 18b at first cable end 18b-1 is connected to the vacuum load assembly 23, as above. Cylinder cable 18b at second cable end 18b-2 is spaced from pivot 98c by a distance greater than the spacing of gym cable 18a at second cable end 18a-2 from pivot 98c. In another embodiment, gym cable 18a at second cable end 18a-2 is spaced from pivot 98c by a distance greater than the spacing of cylinder cable 18b at second cable end 18b-2 from pivot 98c. In another embodiment, cylinder cable 18b at second cable end 18b-2 is connected to adjustable attachment member 102c, and gym cable 18a at second cable end 18a-2 is connected to extension section 140 at a fixed location at a fixed distance from pivot 98c.
In another embodiment, FIG. 12, second end 18b-2 of cylinder cable 18b, which may be flexible or may be a rigid rod cable, is connected to adjustable attachment member 102d, and first end 18b-1 of the cylinder cable is connected to piston 30. Adjustable anchor assembly 130d is connected to housing 24 at a pair of sleeves or collars 150, 152 slidable up-down in FIG. 12 along respective stationary rods or frames 154, 156, and lockable in position at a locking member such as push-pull pin 15R pushed by the user into a respective aperture 160 along vertical rail 162. Adjustable anchor assembly 130d is movable to move the vacuum load assembly up-down in FIG. 12 as shown at arrow 164 to concord with adjustment of adjustable attachment member 102d along extension section 140d of one-sided lever arm 100d to a plurality of selectable locations spaced at differing distances from pivot 98d. Cylinder cable 18a may be coupled to one-sided lever arm 100d at a variable location therealong at sleeve or collar 166. In one version, the location of one or both members 102d and 166 are chosen by sliding the respective member up-down along one-sided lever arm 100d and then fixing the member to one-sided lever arm 100d at such selected location. In a further embodiment, sleeve or collar 166 may include a pulley 168 around which gym cable 18a is trained and then anchored at end 18c.
In a further embodiment, FIG. 13, adjustment mechanism 90e includes cylinder cable 18b, which may be flexible or a fixed rod cable, having a first end 18b-1 connected to the vacuum load assembly 23, and a distally opposite second end 18b-2. User-engaged exercise member 16e, rather than a handle as at 16 in FIG. 6, is instead rotatable about a pivot 180 and has an extension arm 182 extending from pivot 180. Adjustment assembly 92e includes coupling mechanism 94e adjustably varying a lever arm distance of cylinder cable second end 18b-2 along extension arm 182. Coupling mechanism 94e includes adjustable attachment member 102e as above connectable to extension arm 182 at a plurality of selectable locations therealong, e.g. up-down in FIG. 13, at differing distances from pivot 180. Cylinder cable second end 18b-2 is connected to adjustable attachment member 102e. First end 18b-1 of cylinder cable 18b is connected to piston 30, and adjustable anchor assembly 130d is provided as above and connected to housing 24 and movable to differing selectable locations, e.g. up-down in FIG. 13, to concord with adjustment of adjustable attachment member 102e along extension arm 182 to the plurality of selectable locations spaced at differing distances from pivot 180.
In another embodiment, FIG. 14, one of the gym cable and cylinder cable, e.g. gym cable 18a, is connected to cam 96 through a rack and pinion assembly 186 and 188.
In various embodiments, the gym cable and the cylinder cable can be reversed, including as noted above. In further embodiments, the cylinder cable first end 18b-1 may be coupled to the piston 30, with the housing 24 being held stationary, or alternatively may be coupled to the housing 24, with the piston 30 being held stationary.
In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be inferred therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. The different configurations, systems, and method steps described herein may be used alone or in combination with other configurations, systems and method steps. It is to be expected that various equivalents, alternatives and modifications are possible within the scope of the appended claims. Each limitation in the appended claims is intended to invoke interpretation under 35 U.S.C. §112, sixth paragraph, only if the terms “means for” or “step for” are explicitly recited in the respective limitation.
Patent Grant
8864636
