BILATERAL SYMMETRY ASSISTED-LIFT DIP AND PULLUP EXERCISE MACHINE

Abstract

A bilateral symmetry assisted-lift dip and pullup exercise machine having first and second sets of bilaterally separated resistance bands with each set secured to the frame at a proximal end and selectively securable to opposite lateral ends of a carriage carrying a kneeling pad.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to assisted-lift dip and pullup exercise machines.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Performing dips and/or pullups can be a real challenge for those with limited upper body strength and/or excess body weight. Even those with adequate upper body strength can experience exhaustion during a set of dips and/or pullups that can result in an unexpected and undesired disengagement from the machine and potentially injurious drop to ground, poor form near the end of a set, or inability to complete a full set.

A variety of assisted-lift dip and pullup exercise machines are available, but a need continues to exist for a safe, inexpensive, lightweight, easy to reposition, portable, and easy to use machine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A bilateral symmetry assisted-lift dip and pullup exercise machine. The machine includes a base, a frame, a kneeling pad carried on a carriage, and first and second sets of resistance bands. The base is configured and arranged to stably contact ground. The frame extends vertically upward from the base and has a vertical height, a lateral width and a transverse depth. The frame includes laterally spaced right and left vertically extending guide posts. The carriage extends between and slidably engages the guide posts for guided vertical reciprocation of the carriage between a lower position and an upper position. The kneeling pad is secured to the carriage. The first set of resistance bands are secured to the frame at a proximal end and selectively securable at a distal end to a right side portion of the carriage for biased lifting of the kneeling pad when secured to the carriage. The second set of resistance bands are secured to the frame at a proximal end and selectively securable at a distal end to a left side portion of the carriage for biased lifting of the kneeling pad when secured to the carriage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1A is an enlarged isometric view of a portion of the invention depicted in FIG. 1.

FIG. 2 is an access end view of the invention depicted in FIG. 1.

FIG. 2A is an enlarged access end view of a portion of the invention depicted in FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 is a right side view of the invention depicted in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3A is an enlarged right side view of a portion of the invention depicted in FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 is a left side view of the invention depicted in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4A is an enlarged left side view of a portion of the invention depicted in FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Nomenclature Table
REF.
NO.   NAME
100   Exercise Machine
110   Base
120   Frame
125r  Right Side Guide Post
125s  Left Side Guide Post
126r  Stops on Right Side Guide Post
126s  Stops on Left Side Guide Post
130   Carriage
130r  Right End of Carriage
130s  Left End of Carriage
140   Kneeling Pad
151   First Set of Resistance Bands
1511  Proximal End of Resistance Bands in First Set of Resistance Bands
1512  Distal End of Resistance Bands in First Set of Resistance Bands
1513  Quick Release Clip on Distal End of Resistance Bands
152   Second Set of Resistance Bands
1521  Proximal End of Resistance Bands in Second Set of Resistance
      Bands
1522  Distal End of Resistance Bands in Second Set of Resistance Bands
1523  Quick Release Clip on Distal End of Resistance Bands
160r1 Loop on Right Side of Frame
160r2 Loop on Right End of Carriage
160s1 Loop on Left Side of Frame
160s2 Loop on Left End of Carriage
171r  Right Side Dip Handgrip
171s  Left Side Dip Handgrip
171x  Transverse Axis of Rotation
172r  Right Side Pullup Handgrip
172s  Left Side Pullup Handgrip
v     Vertical Reciprocation Path
x     Vertical or Longitudinal Axis
y     Lateral Axis
z     Transverse Axis

Construction

The exercise machine is a bilateral symmetry, assisted-lift, dip and pullup exercise machine 100.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, a frame 120 extends vertically upward x from a base 110. The base 110 is configured and arranged to stably support the machine 100 during normal intended use on a level surface. The frame 120 has a vertical x height, a lateral y width and a transverse z depth. The frame 120 includes laterally y spaced right side and left side vertically x extending guide posts 125r and 125s respectively.

Referring to FIGS. 1A and 2A, a carriage 130 extends between and slidably engages the guide posts 125r and 125s for guided vertical reciprocation v of the carriage 130 between a lower position and an upper position along a vertical reciprocation path v. Travel stops 126r and 126s, preferably of a high durometer elastic material, are provided on the guide posts 125r and 125s respectively at fixed positions for limiting upward and downward travel of the carriage 130 along the vertical reciprocation path v.

A kneeling pad 140 is secured to the carriage 130 between the right and left guide posts 125r and 125s respectively.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 1A, 2, 2A, 3, 3A, 4 and 4A, a first set of resistance bands 151 is secured to the frame 120 at a proximal end 151₁ and selectively securable at a distal end 151₂ to the right end 130r of the carriage 130 for biased lifting of the kneeling pad 140 when secured to the carriage 130. To complete the bilateral symmetry, a second set of resistance bands 152 are secured to the frame 120 at a proximal end 152₁ and selectively securable at a distal end 152₂ to the left end 130s of the carriage 130 for biased lifting of the kneeling pad 140 when secured to the carriage 130.

Referring to FIGS. 1A, 2A, 3A and 4A, loops 160r₁ and 160s₁ can be provided on the right and left sides of the frame 120 for use in securing the proximal ends 151₁ and 152₁ of the first and second sets of resistance bands 151 and 152, respectively, to the frame 120. In similar fashion, loops 160r2 and 160s2 can be provided on the right and left ends 130r and 130s of the carriage 130 for use in releasably securing the distal ends 151₂ and 152₂ of the first and second sets of resistance bands 151 and 152, respectively, to the carriage 130.

Optionally, the frame 120 can include a plurality of right and left side frame attachment points (e.g., a plurality of loops 160r₁ and 160s₁) at which the proximal end 151₁ and 152₁ of each resistance band in the first and second sets of resistance bands 151 and 152 can be secured to the frame 120, with each of the right side frame attachment points spaced a different distance from the point at which the distal end 151₂ of each resistance band in the first set of resistance bands 151 can be secured to the carriage 130 and each of the left side frame attachment points spaced a different distance from the point at which the distal end 152₂ of each resistance band in the second set of resistance bands 152 can be secured to the carriage 130—thereby allowing each resistance band to provide different levels of upward bias.

Similarly, the carriage 130 can optionally include a plurality of right and left side carriage attachment points (e.g., a plurality of loops 160r₂ and 160s₂) at which the distal end 151₂ and 152₂ of each resistance band in the first and second sets of resistance bands 151 and 152 can be secured to the carriage 130, with each of the right side carriage attachment points spaced a different distance from the point at which the proximal end 151₁ of each resistance band in the first set of resistance bands 151 is secured to the frame 120 and each of the left side frame attachment points spaced a different distance from the point at which the proximal end 152₁ of each resistance band in the second set of resistance bands 152 is secured to the frame 120—thereby allowing each resistance band to provide different levels of upward bias.

Still referring to FIGS. 1A, 2A, 3A and 4A, quick release clips 151₃ and 152₃, such as a spring hook, snap hook or carabiner, are preferably provided on the distal ends 151₂ and 152₂ of each resistance band in the first and second sets of resistance bands 151 and 152, respectively, for providing the secure but quick release functionality.

Referring to FIG. 1A, a right 171r and a left 171s dip handgrip set can be attached to the frame 120 in a position operable for being gripped by the right hand and left hand of a user, respectively, for performing assisted-lift dips when kneeling upon the kneeling pad 140.

Still referring to FIG. 1A, the right 171r and left 171s dip handgrips are laterally spaced so as to define a lateral gap therebetween. In a preferred embodiment, each of the right 171r and left 171s dip handgrip is rotatable about a transverse axis 171x as between a locked wider position having a wider lateral gap and a locked narrower position having a narrower lateral gap position. This allows a user to selected the lateral distance most suited to them.

Referring to FIG. 1, a right 172r and a left 172s pullup handgrip set can be attached to the frame 120 in a position operable for being gripped by the right hand and left hand of a user, respectively, for performing assisted-lift pullups when kneeling upon the kneeling pad 140.

Use

The bilateral symmetry, assisted-lift, dip and pullup exercise machine 100 is used to perform dips and/or pullups by (i) selectively attaching a select number of resistance bands 151 and 152 to the right and left ends 130r and 130s of the carriage 130, respectively, to achieve the desired lifting force, with a preference for laterally symmetrical lifting forces, (ii) kneeling on the kneeling pad 140 and, while gripping either the right 171r and left 171s dip handgrips or the right 172r and left 172s pullup handgrips for stability, allowing the weight of the user to gravitationally pull the kneeling pad 140 down into the lower position against the bias of the resistance bands 151 and 152, and (iii) performing dips using the right 171r and left 171s dip handgrips, or performing pullups using the right 172r and left 172s pullup handgrips, with the resistance bands 151 and 152 providing lift assistance.

Claims

1. A bilateral symmetry assisted-lift dip and pullup exercise machine, comprising: (a) a base configured and arranged to stably contact ground,(b) a frame extending vertically upward from the base and having a vertical height, a lateral width and a transverse depth, including laterally spaced right and left vertically extending guide posts,(c) a carriage having a right side portion and a left side portion, with the right side portion slidably engaging the right guide post and the left side portion slidably engaging the left guide post for guided vertical reciprocation of the carriage between a lower position and an upper position,(d) a kneeling pad secured to the carriage,(e) a first set of resistance bands secured to the frame at a proximal end and selectively securable at a distal end to the right side portion of the carriage for biased lifting of the kneeling pad when secured to the carriage, and(f) a second set of resistance bands secured to the frame at a proximal end and selectively securable at a distal end to the left side portion of the carriage for biased lifting of the kneeling pad when secured to the carriage.

2. The bilateral symmetry assisted-lift dip and pullup exercise machine of claim 1 having a dip set of a right and a left handgrip attached to the frame, spatially configured and arranged for being gripped by a right hand and a left hand of a user kneeling upon the kneeling pad respectively to perform an assisted-lift dip.

3. The bilateral symmetry assisted-lift dip and pullup exercise machine of claim 2 wherein the right and left handgrips of the dip set of handgrips define a lateral gap therebetween and are each rotatable about a transverse axis as between locked positions as between a first position with a first lateral gap and a second position with a second lateral gap wherein the first lateral gap is wider than the second lateral gap.

4. The bilateral symmetry assisted-lift dip and pullup exercise machine of claim 1 having a pullup set of a right and a left handgrip attached to the frame, spatially configured and arranged for being gripped by a right hand and a left hand of a user kneeling upon the kneeling pad respectively to perform an assisted-lift pullup.

5. The bilateral symmetry assisted-lift dip and pullup exercise machine of claim 1 wherein: (A) the carriage includes a first carriage attachment point at which the distal end of each resistance band in the first set of resistance bands can be secured to the carriage, and the frame includes a plurality of first frame attachment points at which the proximal end of each resistance band in the first set of resistance bands can be secured to the frame, with each of the first frame attachment points spaced a different distance from the first carriage attachment point, and (B) the carriage includes a second carriage attachment point at which the distal end of each resistance band in the second set of resistance bands can be secured to the carriage, and the frame includes a plurality of second frame attachment points at which the proximal end of each resistance band in the second set of resistance bands can be secured to the frame, with each of the second frame attachment points spaced a different distance from the second carriage attachment point.

6. The bilateral symmetry assisted-lift dip and pullup exercise machine of claim 1 wherein: (A) the frame includes a first frame attachment point at which the proximal end of each resistance band in the first set of resistance bands can be secured to the frame, and the carriage includes a plurality of first carriage attachment points at which the distal end of each resistance band in the first set of resistance bands can be secured to the carriage, with each of the first carriage attachment points spaced a different distance from the first frame attachment point, and (B) the frame includes a second frame attachment point at which the proximal end of each resistance band in the second set of resistance bands can be secured to the frame, and the carriage includes a plurality of second carriage attachment points at which the distal end of each resistance band in the second set of resistance bands can be secured to the carriage, with each of the second carriage attachment points spaced a different distance from the second frame attachment point.