The present invention relates resistance training equipment.
Strength training involving resistance exercise is useful for building strength, anaerobic endurance, and size of skeletal muscles. When properly performed, strength training can produce significant health benefits, including increased bone, muscle, tendon and ligament strength and toughness, improved joint function, reduced potential for injury, increased bone density, increased metabolism, and improved cardiac function and mobility.
There are many types of resistance training equipment, and each has advantages and disadvantages. Some are more appropriate for home gyms, and others are better suited for public gyms. The biggest difference between the many types of resistance training equipment is the means by which they provide the resistance that is crucial to effective resistance training. The different types of resistance training equipment include free weights, weight machines, and resistance bands or tubes.
The most common form of resistance training equipment is free weights. This form of weight training equipment consists of some combination of dumbbells, barbells and weight benches and racks. Although the weights of some dumbbells are adjustable, fixed weight dumbbells are more common, requiring a large collection of them to facilitate a wide array of exercises.
Free weights have several distinct advantages and disadvantages. Free weights are effective for resistance training because they are inherently unstable, requiring the athlete to balance the weight during lifting thereby engaging the body's stabilizer muscles. As a result, free weights can provide for advanced, high-intensity strength training and can improve mobility. However, it can often be difficult to maneuver free weights into the proper position for lifting. As a result, free weights require additional equipment for proper and safe use, including racks and benches.
Unlike free weights, resistance bands and resistance tubes require far less equipment and can be much easier to use. Rather than requiring an extensive amount of equipment, resistance bands and tubes provide athletes with a variety of different levels of resistance simply by shortening or lengthening the band or adjusting the tube. Also, an athlete can reposition a single band or tube in a variety of ways in order to perform different lifts. However, resistance bands and tubes cannot provide high levels of resistance that free weights can provide. Resistance bands must stretch in order to provide the desired resistance and there are some angles of resistance that bands cannot provide, which limits their use.
Another form of resistance training equipment is weight machines. This form of weight training equipment can provide the same high levels of weight that free weights provide, all while tending to maintain proper lifting form. The drawback to weight machines is that each machine usually can allow an athlete to perform only one or two exercises. To get a complete workout, an athlete would need access to a large number of machines, which makes them ill-suited for most home gyms.
According to the principle of the invention, a resistance training apparatus includes a resistance member that provides resistance to movement, and a handle assembly arranged to reciprocate between proximal and distal positions against the resistance of the resistance member. The handle assembly includes a yoke. The yoke includes a first arm and an opposed second arm. The first arm has a first inner end and an opposed first outer end. The second arm has a second inner end an opposed second outer end. A first handle is carried by the first end of the first arm. A second handle is carried by the second end of the second arm. A third handle is connected between the first and second arms. The third handle extends between the first and second arms and is located between, on the one hand, the first and second handles and, on the other hand, the first and second inner ends of the first and second arms. The resistance member is pneumatic piston-cylinder assembly for providing resistance to movement of the handle assembly in a first direction from the proximal position of the handle assembly to the distal position of the handle assembly, and in a second direction from the distal position of the handle assembly to the proximal position of the handle assembly. The resistance training apparatus further includes a housing assembly for the resistance member. The housing assembly includes mutually reciprocal proximal and distal housing parts. The distal housing part is an extension of the handle assembly. The proximal and distal housing parts enclose the resistance member in the proximal and distal positions of the handle assembly, and at every position of the handle assembly between the proximal and distal positions. The first and second handles are mounted to the first and second outer ends of the first and second arms between inner positions, outer positions, and intermediate positions between the inner and outer positions. A first lock assembly is coupled between the first handle and the first outer end of the first arm for selectively releasably securing the first handle in the inner position, the outer position, and the intermediate position, and a second lock assembly is coupled between the second handle and the second outer end of the second arm for selectively releasably securing the second handle in the inner position, the outer position, and the intermediate position. The first and second handles are parallel relative to each other in the intermediate positions, share a common axis in inner positions and the outer positions, and are parallel relative to the third handle in the inner positions and in the outer positions.
According to the principle of the invention, a resistance training apparatus includes a base, a resistance member, and a handle assembly. The resistance member provides resistance to movement, and the resistance member extends upright from the base. The handle assembly is arranged to reciprocate between lowered and raised positions against the resistance of the resistance member. The handle assembly includes a yoke. The yoke includes a first arm having a first outer end and an opposed second arm having a second outer end. A first handle is carried by the first end of the first arm. A second handle is carried by the second end of the second arm. The first and second handles are mounted for pivotal movement to the first and second outer ends of the first and second arms between inner positions, outer positions, and intermediate positions between the inner and outer positions. The base adapted to support a user in a standing position from which position said user can perform exercise against the resistance of the resistance member by manually applying pushing and pulling forces to the handle assembly at the first and second handles. The handle assembly reciprocates along a central axis, the first and second handles pivot about first and second axes, respectively, on either side of the central axis, and the central, first, and second axes are parallel relative to each other. A first lock assembly is coupled between the first handle and the first outer end of the first arm for selectively releasably securing the first handle in the inner position, the outer position, and the intermediate position. A second lock assembly is coupled between the second handle and the second outer end of the second arm for selectively releasably securing the second handle in the inner position, the outer position, and the intermediate position. The first and second handles are parallel relative to each other in the intermediate positions, and share a common axis in the inner and outer positions. The resistance member is pneumatic piston-cylinder assembly for providing resistance to movement of the handle assembly in a first direction from the proximal position of the handle assembly to the distal position of the handle assembly, and in a second direction from the distal position of the handle assembly to the proximal position of the handle assembly. The resistance training apparatus further includes a housing assembly for the resistance member. The housing assembly includes mutually reciprocal proximal and distal housing parts. The distal housing part is an extension of the handle assembly, and the proximal and distal housing parts enclose the resistance member in the proximal and distal positions of the handle assembly and at every position of the handle assembly between its proximal and distal positions. A third handle is connected between the first and second arms. The third handle positioned between, on the one hand, the first and second handles and, on the other hand, the resistance member.
According to the principle of the invention, a resistance training apparatus includes a base, a resistance member, and a handle assembly. The resistance member provides resistance to movement, and extends upright from the base. The handle assembly is arranged to reciprocate between proximal and distal positions against the resistance of the resistance member. The handle assembly includes a yoke. The yoke includes a first arm and an opposed second arm. The first arm has a first inner end and an opposed first outer end. The second arm has a second inner end an opposed second outer end. A first handle is carried by the first end of the first arm. A second handle is carried by the second end of the second arm, and a third handle is connected between the first and second arms. The third handle extends between the first and second arms and is located between, on the one hand, the first and second handles and, on the other hand, the first and second inner ends of the first and second arms. The base is adapted to support a user in a standing position from which position said user can perform exercise against the resistance of the resistance member by manually applying pushing and pulling forces to the handle assembly at, one the one hand, the first and second handles, and, on the other hand, the third handle. The resistance member is pneumatic piston-cylinder assembly for providing resistance to movement of the handle assembly in a first direction from the proximal position of the handle assembly to the distal position of the handle assembly, and in a second direction from the distal position of the handle assembly to the proximal position of the handle assembly. The resistance training apparatus further includes a housing assembly for the resistance member. The housing assembly includes mutually reciprocal proximal and distal housing parts. The distal housing part is an extension of the handle assembly, and the proximal and distal housing parts enclose the resistance member in the proximal and distal positions of the handle assembly, and at every position of the handle assembly between the proximal and distal positions. The first and second handles are mounted to the first and second outer ends of the first and second arms for pivotal movement between inner positions, outer positions, and intermediate positions between the inner and outer positions. The handle assembly reciprocates along a central axis, the first and second handles pivot about first and second axes, respectively, on either side of the central axis, and the central, first, and second axes are parallel relative to each other. A first lock assembly is coupled between the first handle and the first outer end of the first arm for selectively releasably securing the first handle in the inner position, the outer position, and the intermediate position. A second lock assembly is coupled between the second handle and the second outer end of the second arm for selectively releasably securing the second handle in the inner position, the outer position, and the intermediate position. The first and second handles are parallel relative to each other in the intermediate positions, share a common axis in inner positions and the outer positions, and are parallel relative to the third handle in the inner positions and in the outer positions.
Referring to the drawings:
Turning now to the drawings, in which like reference characters indicate corresponding elements throughout the several views, attention is directed to
Handle assembly 53 is operatively coupled to operating rod 75 of assembly 70 and is arranged to reciprocate in the directions of double arrowed line A along a central axis X1 in
Referencing in relevant part
Inner ends 82 and 86 of arms 81 and 85, respectively, are rigidly connected to a hub 90 of yoke 80. Preferably, arms 81 and 85 are integrally formed with hub 90, such as by molding or machining. In an alternate embodiment, arms 81 and 85 may be welded to hub 90, connected to hub with mechanical fasteners, such as screws, rivets, or the like, or rigidly secured with suitable joinery. Arms 81 and 85 extend upright and diverge outward from inner ends 82 and 86 at hub 90 to outer ends 83 and 87 connected to handles 84 and 88, respectively. In other words, arms 81 and 85 diverge angularly upright from hub 90 to outer ends 83 and 87, respectively. Arms 81 and 85 diverge angularly outward from hub 90 in a V-shaped arrangement. Handle 89 is connected to arms 81 and 85 and is positioned between arms 81 and 85. Handle 89 extends between arms 81 and 85 and is located between, on the one hand, handles 84 and 88 connected to outer ends 83 and 87 of arms 81 and 85, and, on the other hand, inner ends 82 and 86 of arms 81 and 85 connected to hub 90. Handle 89 is an intermediate handle of apparatus 50, and is positioned between outer ends 83 and 87 of arms 81 and 85, and the middle of handle 89 is arranged about axis X1. In other words, axis X1 extends through the middle of handle 89. Open spaces 100 and 101 between arms 81 and 85 are defined on either side of handle 89. Space 100 is between handle 89 and outer ends 83 and 87 and handles 84 and 88, and space 101 is between handle 89 and hub 90 and inner ends 82 and 86 of arms 81 and 85. Handle 89, like handles 84 and 88, is provided specifically to be grasped or held by hand and subjected to the manual application of forces by a user for bidirectional resistance training. Handle 89 is located between spaces 100 and 101, wherein space 100 is vertically above handle 89 and space 101, space 101 is vertically below handle 89 and space 100, and space 101 is vertically above hub 90. Spaces 100 and 101 on either side of handle 89 allow a user to grip handle 89 by hand by wrapping his/her hand and fingers completely around handle 89 without restriction to facilitate an aggressive and comfortable grip for lifting/pulling and lowering/pushing handle assembly 53 up and down between its proximal, lowered, or retracted position and its distal, raised, or extended position. Handle 89 may be gripped by one hand for resistance training purposes, of by two hands for resistance training purposes. To facilitate gripping, the exterior surfaces of handles 84, 88, and 89 may be formed with gripping material, such as rubber or a high-friction surface application or jacket to enhance grip and reduce slippage.
Referencing
Extremity 111 is the lower or inner extremity of proximal housing part 110, and extremity 112 is the upper or outer extremity of proximal housing part 110. Referencing
Distal housing part 120 of housing assembly 52 is part of, or otherwise an extension of, handle assembly 53. Distal housing part 120 has opposed extremities 121 and 122, and depends vertically downward toward extremity 112 of proximal housing part 110 of housing assembly 52 from extremity 121, rigidly affixed to hub 90, to extremity 122, illustrated in
Distal housing part 120 is mounted extremity 122 first within proximal housing part 110 through extremity 112 of proximal housing part 110 for relative reciprocal movement therein in the direction of double arrowed line A in
With continuing reference to
Operating rod 75 is connected to housing assembly 53. To connect operating rod 75 to housing assembly 53 in a particular embodiment, a transverse intermediate wall or plate 130 is within distal housing part 120 of housing assembly between extremities 121 and 122, and is rigidly connected to the inside of distal housing part 120, such as by welding, adhesive, stays rigidly affixed to the inside of distal housing part 120, or the like. Plate 130 is located in distal housing part 120 of housing assembly 52 at an intermediate position between extremities 121 and 122. Plate 130 extends in a perpendicular or orthogonal direction relative to axis X1. Outer end 76 of operating rod 75 extends through a central opening 131 in plate 130. A collar 132 rigidly connected to operating rod 75 near outer end 76 is received against the underside of plate 130, a washer 133 applied onto outer end 76 of operating rod 75 is received against the upper side of plate 130, and a threaded fastener in the form of a threaded nut 134 is threaded onto outer end 76 of operating rod 75 and is tightened via rotation so as to clamp and secure plate 130 between collar 132 and washer 133, which distributes the load of threaded nut 134.
Proximal and distal housing parts 110 and 120 form housing assembly 52 and cooperate to completely enclose resistance member 54. The reciprocal attachment between proximal housing part 110 of housing assembly 52 and distal housing part 120 of housing assembly 53 permits handle assembly 53 to reciprocate in the directions of double arrowed line A in
In use, resistance training apparatus 50 is set upright on the floor by setting the underside of lower section 60 of base 51 on the floor. While standing on footplate 61 on either side of extremity 111 of proximal housing part 110 of housing assembly 52 facing resistance training apparatus 50, handle assembly 53 is taken up by hand and is subjected to the manual application of forces by the user shown in
In use for resistance training purposes, handle assembly 53 can be taken up or otherwise gripped by hand at handles 84 and 88, and at handle 89, for the application of pulling and pushing forces against handle assembly 53. Handle 89 is a fixed handle, whereas handles 84 and 88 are mounted to outer ends 83 and 87 of arms 81 and 85 between inner positions, shown in
Handles 84, 88, and 89 thus provide different gripping points for applying pushing and pulling forces against handle assembly 53 for strength training exercising. Handles 84 and 88 provide for narrow gripping points in the inner positions thereof to provide narrow gripping, wide gripping points in the outer positions thereof to provide wide gripping, and parallel gripping points in the intermediate/parallel positions thereof to provide parallel gripping. Handle 89 is centered at axis X1 between outer ends 83 and 87 of arms 81 and 85, and is useful for a double-hand narrow grip, or for a single hand grip, all of for strength training exercising. Because handle 89 is centered at axis X1, in which the middle of handle 89 is arranged about axis X1, pushing and pulling forces may be applied to handle 89 at and along axis X1, which makes handle 89 useful for one-handed resistance training exercising. Depending on how handle assembly 53 is taken up, the different gripping positions provided by handles 84, 88, and 89 allows a user to use apparatus 50 for a variety of bidirectional strength training exercise for recruitment of opposed muscle groups, including, for instance, standing calf raises, standing squats, standing hamstring curls/pull downs going in the opposite direction of squats, split leg squats (one legged squats), split leg hamstring curls (one legged pull downs using hamstrings going in the opposite direction of one legged squats), deadlifts, abdominal pushdowns going in the opposite direction of deadlifts, abdominal crunches, low back hyperextensions going in the opposite direction of abdominal crunches, oblique curls, oblique low back hyperextensions going opposite direction of oblique curls, dips, close grip rows going in the opposite direction of dips, Bent over chest press, bent over back rows going in opposite direction of the bent over chest press, one armed shoulder lift gripping handle 89, one armed push down using handle 89 going in the opposite direction of the one armed lift, kneeling or seated shoulder press, kneeling or seated pull down going in the opposite direction of shoulder press, standing biceps curls, standing triceps push downs going in the opposite direction of biceps curls, trap shrugs, to name but a few.
In a preferred embodiment, handle 84 is mounted for pivotal movement with a pivotal coupling to outer end 83 of arm 81 for pivotal movement about axis X1 between its inner, outer, and intermediate positions. Handle 88 is also mounted for pivotal movement with a pivotal coupling to outer end 87 of arm 85 for pivotal movement about axis X2 between its inner, outer, and intermediate positions. Axes X1 and X2 about which handles 84 and 88 pivot, respectively, are on either side of central axis X1, all of which extend in the same, upright, vertical direction, and are parallel relative to each other. Central axis X1 is equidistant with respect to axes X2 and X3. Axes X1, X2, X3, and Y are arranged along common vertical plane in this embodiment. The pivotal coupling between handle 84 and outer end 83 of arm 81 is arranged about axis X2. The pivotal coupling between handle 88 and outer end 87 of arm 85 is, in turn, arranged about axis X3. A lock assembly is coupled between handle 84 and outer end 83 of arm 81 for selectively releasably securing handle 84 in the inner position, the outer position, and the intermediate position. Also, a lock assembly is coupled between handle and outer end 87 of arm 85 for selectively releasably securing handle 88 in the inner position, the outer position, and the intermediate position. The pivotal attachment and locking assemblies between handles 84 and 88 and outer ends 83 and 87 of arms 81 and 85, respectively, are identical. As such, the details thereof will now be discussed in connection with handle 84 and outer end 83 of arm 81, with the understanding that the ensuing discussion applies equally with respect to handle 88 and outer end 87 of arm 85.
Referring to
The locking assembly between handle 84 and outer end of arm 81 used to selectively lock handle 84 in its inner position, its outer position, and its intermediate position includes a compression spring 170 in socket 142 that encircles pin 161 between outer head 163 of plunger 160 and lug 150, and an engagement assembly formed between inner head 162 and lug 150 that adjusts between an unlocked position/orientation to permit lug 150 to pivot about pin 161 between the inner, outer, and intermediate positions of handle 84, and a locked position/orientation to selectively lock lug 150 in the inner position of handle 84, the outer position of handle 84, and the intermediate position of handle 84. Spring 170 is a conventional tension spring that applies constant tension against outer head 163 and lug 150 constantly biasing/urging plunger 160 vertically upward in the direction of arrowed line D into a locked position urging inner head 162 toward lug 150 in the direction of arrowed line D and urging outer head 163 outwardly through opening 145 in the direction of arrowed line D so as to lock the locking assembly between inner head 162 and lug 150 selectively in the inner position of handle 84, the outer position of handle 84, and the intermediate position of handle 84. To unlock the locking assembly between handle 84 and outer end 83 of arm 81, outer head 163 is provided specifically as a button to be subjected to the manual application of a pressing force in the direction of arrowed line E in
In this example, the engagement assembly formed between inner head 162 and lug 150 includes interlocking elements that interlock/engage in the locked position of the engagement assembly so as to selectively secure handle in the inner position, the outer position, and the intermediate position, and that disunite or disengage in the unlocked position of the engagement assembly to permit handle 84 to pivot without restriction between its inner, outer, and intermediate positions. In this embodiment, the interlocking elements of the engagement assembly include a series of interlocking pins 180 and corresponding sockets 181 that interlock/engage in the locked position of the engagement assembly and that disunite/disengage in the unlocked position of the engagement assembly. In this example, pins 180 are carried by inner head 162 and corresponding sockets 181 are formed in lug 150, and this arrangement can be reversed in one embodiment, and mixed-and-matched in another embodiment. Other forms of interlocking elements can be used between inner head 162 and lug 150 if so desired, including complementing sets of interlocking teeth, interlocking detents, interlocking surface texturing, or the like. As a matter of illustration and reference,
The invention has been described above with reference to preferred embodiments. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that changes and modifications may be made to the embodiments without departing from the nature and scope of the invention. For instance, base 51 can be provided in a variety of shapes and sizes as may be desired, such as round, oval, triangular, rectangular as in the present embodiment, square, or the like. Also, proximal housing part 110 of housing assembly 52 may be fashioned with intermediate steps on either side of housing part 110 between base 51 and extremity 112 onto which a user may step for raising his body position relative to base 51 in preparation for using apparatus 50 for resistance training exercising. Various further changes and modifications to the embodiments herein chosen for purposes of illustration will readily occur to those skilled in the art. To the extent that such modifications and variations do not depart from the spirit of the invention, they are intended to be included within the scope thereof.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61689093 | May 2012 | US |