Patent Grant
10682547
The present invention relates to physical exercise machines and more particularly to an exercise apparatus that enables users to perform pull down exercise that is resisted by a resistance mechanism.
Exercise machines for exercising latissimus dorsi muscles are known and used for directing movement of a user upper torso by forcing the user to use the user's lattisimus dorsi muscles against a weight resistance. It normally requires either three separate machines or at the very least, different accessory handles that would have to be switched to gain access to each configuration in order to fully exercise a user's lattisimus dorsi.
The present invention employs a system where the user can accomplish all three training methods in one machine without any separate adjustments or accessory handle changes to move between each pattern. By utilization of a dual axis arm configuration which allows for horizontal movement of the input grips as well as vertical movement of the arms, these three movements can be accomplished just by grabbing a different grip. Since each arm has three separate grips that are always attached, this requires no setup or modification. By grabbing the outermost horizontal grips, the user is pulling both down and toward their midline. Since the secondary axis is blocked from moving toward the user midline and the primary axis is horizontal to the ground, the arm moves in a substantially vertical direction very similar to a cable based straight lat bar. In the second exercise, the user grabs the grips that are oriented forward of the users frontal plane, point away from the user and are approximately one foot apart which would be identified as a close grip handle configuration. Due to the fact that the users arms are forward of their frontal plane, it encourages a range of motion that has no horizontal component and is substantially vertical. The last exercise is accomplished with the user grabbing the inner most horizontal grip. In this exercise, the users arms elbows are facing outward which encourages a divergent path of motion moving both down and away from the users midline. Since the arms secondary axis allows movement away from the midline, the divergent path is accomplished with ease. Since the resistive load is attached directly to the arm, any horizontal motion is accompanied by a significant vertical load in addition to a slight horizontal resistive component.
In accordance with the invention there is provided an apparatus 10 for performing a pull down exercise by a user 5 having a trunk T1 having a longitudinal axis LA, opposing anterior AS and posterior PS sides and arms extending from the trunk, the apparatus comprising:
The seat (16) and the input arm assembly (24) are typically arranged and adapted to enable the user (5) in a user standing position (USP) to manually engage (ME) the manually graspable mechanism (30h) with the input arm assembly in the start motionless position (SMP) and to manually pull (RDF) the manually graspable mechanism (30h) downwardly (DW) under user exerted force (RDF) to a start sitting exercise position (SSEP) where the user is sitting in a seated position (SP) on the seat surface (S) and manually engaging (ME) the manually graspable mechanism (30h),
The input arm assembly is typically interconnected to the resistance mechanism 42 at a point of interconnection 30de of the input arm assembly that is spaced a first selected orthogonal distance FOD apart from the first linear axis selected to create a first selected torque resistance FTR from the resistance mechanism 42 when the input arm assembly is pivoted away from the start motionless position SMP and a second selected orthogonal distance SOD from the second linear axis selected to create a second selected torque resistance STR from the resistance mechanism 42 when the input arm assembly is pivoted away from the start motionless position SMP.
The first selected orthogonal distance FOD is preferably greater than the second selected orthogonal distance SOD. The first selected orthogonal distance FOD is preferably greater than or equal to about 6 inches and the second selected orthogonal distance SOD is greater than or equal to about 3 inches.
The first linear axis and second linear axis can be disposed generally orthogonal relative to each other.
The input arm assembly can be interconnected to the resistance mechanism via a cable that is interconnected at a proximal end to a point of interconnection of the input arm assembly that is spaced a first selected orthogonal distance apart from the first linear axis selected to create a first selected torque resistance from the resistance mechanism and a second selected orthogonal distance from the second linear axis selected to create a second selected torque resistance from the resistance mechanism wherein a distal end of the cable is interconnected to the resistance mechanism.
The resistance mechanism can comprise a selectable fixed weight device or a device that increases degree of resistance against the user's application of force on increase in pivotable movement of the input arm assembly rearwardly away from the start motionless position.
The seat is preferably selectively adjustable 100 in vertical position relative to the manually graspable mechanism.
The apparatus can further comprise a stabilization pad mounted in a fixed position relative to the seat that is adapted to engage an anterior surface of the user's legs when the user is seated on the seat in an orientation where the longitudinal axis of the user's trunk is disposed generally upright and the anterior and posterior sides of the user's trunk are oriented generally in the forward to rearward direction.
The input arm assembly can comprise an arm interconnected to a first axle that pivots about the first linear axis, the first axle being fixedly interconnected to a second axle that pivots about the second linear axis.
The first axle is preferably adapted to rotate around the first linear axis and the second axle is non-rotatable around the second linear axis, the first and second axles being pivotably mounted to first and second brackets forming a gimbal assembly.
In another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of performing a pull down exercise comprising:
In another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of performing a pull down exercise comprising:
In another aspect of the invention there is provided an apparatus for performing a pull down exercise by a user having a trunk having a longitudinal axis, opposing anterior and posterior sides and arms extending from the trunk, the apparatus comprising:
The first selected orthogonal distance is preferably greater than the second selected orthogonal distance.
The first selected orthogonal distance is typically greater than or equal to about 9 inches and the second selected orthogonal distance is greater than or equal to about 3 inches.
The first linear axis and second linear axis can be disposed generally orthogonal relative to each other.
The input arm assembly is preferably interconnected to the resistance mechanism via a cable that is interconnected at a proximal end to a point of interconnection of the input arm assembly that is spaced a first selected orthogonal distance apart from the first linear axis selected to create a first selected torque resistance from the resistance mechanism and a second selected orthogonal distance from the second linear axis selected to create a second selected torque resistance from the resistance mechanism wherein a distal end of the cable is interconnected to the resistance mechanism.
The resistance mechanism can comprise a selectable fixed weight device or a device that increases degree of resistance against the user's application of force on increase in pivotable movement of the input arm assembly rearwardly away from the start motionless position.
The seat is preferably selectively adjustable in vertical position relative to the manually graspable mechanism.
Such an apparatus can further comprise a stabilization pad mounted in a fixed position relative to the seat that is adapted to engage an anterior surface of the user's legs when the user is seated on the seat in an orientation where the longitudinal axis of the user's trunk is disposed generally upright and the anterior and posterior sides of the user's trunk are oriented generally in the forward to rearward direction.
The input arm assembly can comprise an arm interconnected to a first axle that pivots about the first linear axis, the first axle being fixedly interconnected to a second axle that pivots about the second linear axis.
The first axle is preferably adapted to rotate around the first linear axis and the second axle is non-rotatable around the second linear axis, the first and second axles being pivotably mounted to first and second brackets forming a gimbal assembly.
In another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of performing a pull down exercise comprising:
In another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of performing a pull down exercise comprising:
In another aspect of the invention there is provided an apparatus 10 for performing a pull down exercise by a user 5 having a trunk T1 having a longitudinal axis LA, opposing anterior AS and posterior PS sides, the user having arms extending from the trunk, the apparatus comprising:
In such an apparatus the manually graspable mechanism can include two or more of a first travel director 30ho that directs lateral travel of the manually graspable mechanism along a lateral path of travel laterally outwardly away from a midline MID of the apparatus, a second travel director 30hs that directs lateral travel of the manually graspable mechanism along a lateral path of travel generally parallel to the midline MID and a third travel director 30hi that directs the manually graspable mechanism along a lateral path of travel laterally inwardly toward the midline MID.
In another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of performing a pull down exercise comprising:
In accordance with the invention there is provided an apparatus for performing a pull down exercise by a user, the apparatus comprising:
The first and second linear axes are typically generally orthogonal or perpendicular to each other.
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:
In an exemplary embodiment, as shown in
The arms 30 are mounted to the frame, arranged, adapted and interconnected to a weight resistance such as a weight stack 42. The arms 30 are adapted and mounted to the support frame 12 for pivoting in an arcuate rotation about a generally horizontal axis AA. The arms 30 are rotatably pivotable about axis AA for arcuate generally forward (FW) to rearward (RW) and up (UW) and down (DW) movement by forcible pulling down (RDF) on the handles 30h.
In the embodiment shown, the handles or manually graspable mechanism(s) 30h,
For example as shown in
As shown in
At the start of an exercise cycle, the arm assembly 24 is in the start motionless position SMP and the user stands up in a user standing position USP in order to manually reach and engage ME a selected one of the travel directors 30ho, 30hs, 30hi of the handles 30h in the start exercise position SEP. The user 5 typically stands in the user standing position with the user's feet 9 and legs straddling the left and right sides of the seat 16 as shown in
Next the user 5 continues to exert downwardly and rearwardly directed force RDF until the arm 30 travels from the start sitting exercise position SSEP rearwardly and downwardly to the fully pulled down position PDP,
During the course of the user's pulling RDF on the handle 30h from the start exercise position SEP to the start sitting exercise position SSEP to the pull down position PDP, the arm 30 assembly rotates around axis AA with the cable 48, 49 pulling the weight stack 42 upwardly and exerting a resistance force R1 against the user's muscles which are performing the pulling RDF.
The weight stack 42 is selectively connected to one end of a cable 48 by inserting a pin 42p in one of a plurality of holes in a lifting post 50 that passes vertically through the plates, as is well known in the art. For example, the weight stack 42 is formed by a stack of rectangular, brick-shaped plates 42w. Each plate 42w further has at least one horizontal channel or hole, wherein a pin 42p may be disposed to slidably engage any of a series of horizontal channels which are vertically oriented on the lifting post 50 in a spaced apart manner to match the vertical spacing of the stacked weight plates 42w. The pin 42p thereby engages a portion of the stack of weight plates 42w, such that when vertical force is applied to the lifting post 50, the selected stack of weight plates 42 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 42w are engaged, thereby increasing the resistance of the machine.
As shown the weight stack is interconnected to the arm assembly 24, 30, 30x by a series of pulleys 120 and cables 48, 49 and can be interconnected by other known means such as belts, cables, chains, or tethers, so as to inhibit rotation thereof.
In alternative embodiments, other mechanisms for providing resistance, such as friction fittings, springs, elastic bands, pneumatic or electromagnetic resistance, or an air resistance fan could be employed (either alone or in combination) and still practice the invention. Additionally, free weights could be operably engaged to the transmission assembly to resist the movement.
In addition to being rotatable around horizontal axis AA the arms 30 are rotatable around the U-joint or gimbal-like second axis Z which in the embodiment shown is perpendicular to axis AA although other angular relationships could be used between axis AA and axis Z. The user can therefore pull RDF the arms 30 in both the back RW and forth FW arcuate direction RDA around axis AA as well as in the side-to-side SS or lateral LAT direction around axis Z.
In the embodiments shown,
The arms 30 are interconnected via leverage arm 30x to the weight stack 42 via cable 49. Leverage arm 30x is fixedly attached at the base 30b of arm 30 near the pivot axis AA to provide ready leverage in pulling on the weight stack elements 42w. Cable 49 is connected to a distal point of connection 30de of the leverage arms 30x.
The point of interconnection 30de is selected to provide a resistance from resistance mechanism 42 to lateral LAT or side to side SS movement as well as resistance to rearward RW and downward DW movement of arm 30. Point of interconnection 30de is disposed an orthogonal distance FOD from axis AA and an orthogonal distance SOD from axis Z which together with a preselected configuration and arrangement of the arm assembly 24 and the cable 49 and other interconnections between point 30de of arm 30x and the weight resistance 42 to create a resistance against lateral LAT or SS movement as well as against rearward RW or downward DW movement of the handle 30 and arm assembly 24 beginning from the start motionless SMP position.
In the embodiment shown a stabilization spring mechanism SB is mounted around an axial spacer 200s within the U-shaped recess of U-shaped bracket 301 in an arrangement that biases arm 30 laterally inwardly LATI to assume the start motionless position SMP when the arms 30 are not subject to an external force such as RDF.
The stabilization pad 18 is fixedly mounted and arranged relative to the seat 16 such that when the user 5 exerts a force RDF on the apparatus 10, the user's torso T1 is prevented from moving in an upward UW direction as a result of engagement of the anterior surface ASL of the user's legs 11 with a downwardly facing user leg engagement surface 18s of the pad 18. The seat 16 and seat surface S are typically selectively adjustable to a selected vertical height or position via vertical height adjuster 100 such that the start exercise position of the anterior surface ASL of the user's legs 11 can be closely positioned in close adjacency or in engagement with the undersurface 18s of the pad 18.
This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/654,767 filed Jul. 20, 2017 which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/989,145 filed Jan. 6, 2016 which is a continuation of PCT/US2015/019841 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. 7,666,123, 7,717,831, 4,725,054, 8,070,658, 7,278,955, 8,025,609, 7,727,128, U.S. Pat. No. D486,535, U.S. Pat. No. D490,127, 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 15654767 | Jul 2017 | US |
| Child | 15986502 | US | |
| Parent | 14989145 | Jan 2016 | US |
| Child | 15654767 | US | |
| Parent | PCT/US2015/019841 | Mar 2015 | US |
| Child | 14989145 | US |
