Claims
- 1. An exercise machine comprising:
- (a) a base support,
- (b) a seat mounted on the base support and a back rest mounted adjacent thereto and cooperating therewith to support a user in an exercising position,
- (c) a load member pivotably connected to the base support and having resistance means selectively and continuously movable theralong to bias the load member about its pivot by a selectively variable couple load,
- (d) a first exercise member movable by a part of the body to cause the load member to pivot against said resistance means and provide resistance exercise,
- (e) a second exercise member movable by another part of the body,
- (f) a rigid linkage connectable between the second exercise member and the load member in first and second selectively available configurations,
- (g) the linkage in said first configuration being so arranged that force applied to said second member assists movement of the load member against the resistance means,
- (h) the linkage in said second configuration being so arranged that force applied to said second member in the same direction as said assisting force resists movement of the load member against the resistance means,
- (i) said second exercise member being a pivotable lever so mounted that in said first configuration said linkage is connected to the lever on one side of its pivot axis and in said second configuration said linkage is connected to the lever on the other side of its axis, and
- (j) manual actuating means including groove-and-stud engageable means for selective engagement of the linkage to the lever on respective opposite sides of the pivot axis of the lever, whereby the linkage may be readily interchanged between said first and second configurations.
- 2. An exercise machine according to claim 1, in which the second exercise member has a footplate mounted thereon.
- 3. An exercise machine according to claim 1, in which the first exercise member has handgrip means connected thereto.
- 4. An exercise machine according to claim 1 in which said linkage is disposed within a housing of the machine and said manual actuating means consists of a handle connected to the linkage and protruding from said housing.
- 5. An exercise machine according to claim 1, in which said resistance means comprises a weight bearing carriage movable along said load member.
- 6. An exercise machine according to claim 1, in which said resistance means comprises spring means extending between the load member and a carriage movable along a guide rail parallel to the load member.
- 7. An exercise machine according to claim 5 or claim 6, including an overhead instrument bank consisting of a plurality of meters selected from the group consisting of a range-of-force meter, a pulsemeter, a stopwatch, and a repetition counter whereby the user can monitor his or her exercise.
Priority Claims (2)
| Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
| 8514360 |
Jun 1985 |
GBX |
|
| PCT/GB86/00326 |
Jun 1986 |
WOX |
|
Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation of copending application Ser. No. 014,070, filed Mar. 30, 1987, now abandoned.
This invention relates to exercise machines of the kind comprising a first member exercisingly moveable by a part of the body against the resistance of a weight or spring, and a second member operable by another part of the body to assist or resist movement of the first member.
Such a machine, henceforth called "of the kind described" is disclosed in United Kingdom Specification No. 2128885A. The machine, enables the user to exercise continual control over the force against which the particular exercise is being performed. The basic resisting force is provided by a weight or a spring, and during the exercise, whether it be a bench press, bicep curl, lateral pull down and so forth, the basic resisting force can be increased or decreased at will by actuation of the second member.
In practice, this facility is very important. For instance, when performing a bench press on a standard bench with a barbell, the maximum effort is required towards the end of the extension. For this reason, when exercising to one's limit it is necessary for other people to stand on either side of the bench to give if necessary a little help to enable the final push through to be made. The machine of the kind described obviates the need for helpers by enabling the exerciser to use his legs to assist the exercise.
Equally the bench presser may find towards the lowering end of the extension or more particularly on lowering the weight that the resistance force is insufficient. With the conventional barbell it is then necessary for an assistant standing by to apply a downward pressure to the middle of the bar. In a machine of the kind described however the user can increase the resistance force by using his legs, but the second member, such as a footplate, must be moved in the opposite direction from that which decreased the resistance force. This is a problem, because when, as in the case of most of the exercises, the user is sitting down, to pull up on the footplate can destabilise the sitting position, and endanger the user. Furthermore, pulling with the feet relies on abdominal muscles not particularly suited for the purpose resulting in the maximum force being low and moreover not readily controllable.
The said control is important because thereby the user is able to develop a force curve which suits them best. Machines are available which produce a force curve dependent on extension, rather than a uniform force, but these machines are not adjustable and therefore must be designed for the average of the intended users. By definition therefore these machines will not suit non-average users, but this is met by machines of the kind described.
We have now discovered that machines of the kind described can be modified according to the present invention to overcome the drawback mentioned above yet retain the other advantageous functions hereinbefore described.
According to the invention there is provided an exercise machine of the kind described including a linkage selectively engageable between the second member and the weight or spring in two modes in which force applied to the second member in the same direction respectively assists and resists movement of the first member.
The advantage of the machine according to the invention will be apparent. Taking the bench press exercise as an example, where the first member is a horizontal bar and the second member a foot pedal, in one configuration of the linkage pushing on the pedal will assist pressing the bar, whereas in the other configuration pushing on the pedal will resist pressing of the bar. Thus depending on the user's requirements, he is able to select either configuration to suit the exercise he wishes to perform.
Preferred features of the invention are as follows:
(1) The second member may comprise a pivotable lever to which the linkage is connectable on either side of the lever's pivotal axis.
(2) The linkage may comprise a pivotable coupling connectable between a pivotable load bar and the second member.
(3) The linkage may include a protruding handle whereby the user is able to move the linkage between said two configurations.
(4) The linkage may have a third configuration in which the second member is disconnected from the load.
(5) The second member may be adapted to selectively receive a foot plate or pedal or a manually actuable bar.
(6) The pivotable load bar may include weight receiving and supporting means adjustably moveable along its length.
(7) The pivotable load bar may include tension or compression spring supporting means and a reaction receiving carriage adjustably moveable along the length of the bar.
(8) The machine may include an overhead instrument bank consisting of one or more meters selected from the range of forcemeter, pulsemeter, stopwatch, repetition counter or the like, whereby the user can monitor his or her exercise.
(9) The machine may comprise a basic chassis including base support, seat, back support, linkage and load bar, to which said first and second members are mountable as desired to perform a selected exercise. Thus a full gymnasium may include many machines having the same basic chassis but with different arrangements of the actuable members for different exercises.
US Referenced Citations (9)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
| Number |
Date |
Country |
| 2128885 |
May 1984 |
GBX |
Continuations (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
| Parent |
14070 |
Mar 1987 |
|
Patent Grant
4902007
