Patent Application
20240198161
Not applicable to this application.
Example embodiments in general relate to a reversible resistance exercise machine for reversing the direction of applied resistance against a movable platform of an exercising machine.
Any discussion of the related art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such related art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.
The body of works related to resistance-based exercise machines is voluminous and are well known to those skilled in the art. Such resistance exercise machines include, but are not limited to devices that provide for a variable stack of weights connected to a cable or mechanical linkage which is moved by an exerciser during an exercise, or a movable exercise platform that may be connected to one or more spring biasing members, the biasing members thereby providing for resistance against the exerciser will work as a means to move the movable platform. Many types of machines representative of the exercise machines just described include traditional Pilates apparatuses, universal gyms, lat pull down machines, leg press machines, chest press machines, to name just a few.
One universally accepted function of resistance training machines is that the resistance is typically provided for in only one direction, and the exercises are performed against that resistance in the opposite direction. Typical resistance training machines do not provide for the direction of resistance to be easily reversed to the opposite direction.
Trainers have long understood the advantages of exercising opposing muscles during a workout, and have long understood that specific exercise machines are designed to provide resistance for training certain muscles, and that exercisers who desire exercising opposing muscles must typically move from one exercise machine after exercising one muscle group, to a second exercise machine to exercise the opposing muscle group.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate the advantages of an exercise machine that provides for the reversing of the direction of resistance so that exercisers may quickly and easily change exercises that require a pushing exercise motion as opposed to a pulling motion, or a lift-up exercise motion as opposed to a pull-down motion.
An example embodiment is directed to a reversible resistance exercise machine. The reversible resistance exercise machine includes a frame, a carriage movably positioned upon the frame, and a plurality of biasing members. A plurality of first tension connectors are accessible near the first end of the carriage and are adapted for removably attaching selected biasing members near the first end of the carriage to resist motion of the carriage in the first direction. A plurality of second tension connectors are accessible near the second end of the carriage and are adapted for removably attaching selected biasing members near the second end of the carriage to resist motion of the carriage in the second direction. A user selectable amount of force may be applied to the carriage to resist movement in either of the first direction and the second direction.
In specific embodiments, the biasing members comprise a resistance element, for example an extension spring, and are coupled to the carriage by a pulley assembly. In other specific embodiments, biasing members are equipped with first tension knobs accessible near a first end of the platform and second tension knobs accessible near a second end of the platform. The first and second tension knobs are selectively removably attachable to the platform at or near the first and second ends respectively to selectively resist movement of the platform in either of the first and second directions.
An exemplary alternative embodiment is directed to a reversible exercise machine arranged vertically with a longitudinal axis and having a trolley movable in first and second substantially opposed directions along the longitudinal axis. A similar arrangement of biasing members and connectors is incorporated so that a selectable amount of force may be applied to the trolley to resist movement in either direction. One or more handles are coupled to the trolley to permit a user to lift-up or pull-down the trolley in either of the first and second directions against the applied force.
The various embodiments of the present invention provide for a novel exercise machine comprising an exercise platform bi-directionally movable substantially the length of and parallel to one or more longitudinal rails against a user-adjustable biasing resistance towards a first end, or against a user-adjustable biasing resistance towards a second end. The various embodiments of the present invention teach substantially horizontal and vertical variations of the novel exercise machine.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, some of the embodiments of the reversible resistance exercise machine in order that the detailed description thereof may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional embodiments of the reversible resistance exercise machine that will be described hereinafter and that will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the reversible resistance exercise machine in detail, it is to be understood that the reversible resistance exercise machine is not limited in its application to the details of construction or to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The reversible resistance exercise machine is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regarded as limiting.
Example embodiments will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements are represented by like reference characters, which are given by way of illustration only and thus are not limitative of the example embodiments herein.
An example reversible resistance exercise machine generally comprises a frame having a longitudinal axis and an exercise platform comprising a carriage or trolley movably positioned upon the frame. The platform is movable by a user performing an exercise in first and second substantially opposed directions along the longitudinal axis. A plurality of biasing members 218 are operative to provide a force resisting movement of the platform. A plurality of first connectors are accessible near a first end of the platform to allow a user to removably attach selected biasing members 218 at or near the first end of the platform to resist motion of the platform in the first direction. A plurality of second connectors are accessible near an opposite second end of the platform to allow a user to removably attach selected biasing members 218 at or near the second end of the platform to resist motion of the platform in the second direction. A user may thus select an amount of force to be applied to the platform to resist movement in either direction as desired for the exercise to be performed.
Various aspects of specific embodiments are disclosed in the following description and related drawings. Alternate embodiments may be devised without departing from the spirit or the scope of the present disclosure. Additionally, well-known elements of exemplary embodiments will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure relevant details. Further, to facilitate an understanding of the description, a discussion of several terms used herein follows.
The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any embodiment described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments.
The phrase “biasing member” 218 is used herein to describe one or more connected components providing a means of inducing a resistance force of an exercise machine against which an exerciser must apply a greater muscle force to overcome. A “biasing member” 218 may therefore be an extension spring, elastic band, a weight, or any of a spring, elastic band or weight connected to a cable or linkage that redirects a force of one of more resistance-inducing components to a movable component (e.g. carriage, handles) used by an exerciser for performing an exercise against the resistance. A biasing member 218 may also comprise an electromechanical resistance device. The cables used in the various embodiments may be comprised of various elongated flexible members such as, but not limited to, metal cable, non-metal cable, rope, bands, chains and the like.
Exercise resistance is applied to the movable carriage 202 by removably attaching one or more of a plurality of front tension knobs 203 not shown, or one or more of a plurality of the back tension knobs 204 connected to extension springs 218 to a retainer bracket affixed to the movable carriage 202. The extension springs 218 may be removably connected to the carriage in various other manners.
In practice, an exerciser removably attaches one or more back tension knobs 204 from a lower retainer bracket not shown, to an upper retainer bracket not shown but located on the back end of the movable carriage 202, and subsequently exerts a variable exercise force F against the movable platform in a direction opposed to the direction of the biasing resistance for example, the position indicated by the dashed outline 209 of the repositioned movable carriage 202. The exercise cycle is then continued by reciprocally moving the movable carriage against the biasing members 218 in a first direction opposed to the biasing direction, then with the biasing direction as referenced by the double-headed arrow. It should be noted that a second retainer bracket not shown is provided for on the front end of the movable carriage.
In practice, an exerciser removably attaches one or more back tension knobs 204 which are connected to biasing members 218 not shown to a retainer bracket on the back end of the movable carriage, and exerts an exercise force against the movable carriage in a direction towards the distal back end of the machine, for example, to a position indicated by the dashed outline of the repositioned carriage 209.
In the drawing, the end view of a pulley cassette 208 contained within the tubular monorail member 200 with an upper set of a plurality of pulleys, and a lower set of a plurality of pulleys. The term “pulley cassette” is not meant to be limiting, and is merely used to reference an assembly comprising a plurality of pulleys. However, in some instances, the plurality of pulleys may be affixed directly or indirectly to the structure of an improved exercise machine.
The upper portion of the pulley cassette protrudes through the upper surface of the tubular monorail member providing for an exerciser to attach one or more of a plurality of biasing members 218 to the movable carriage 202. Each end of each biasing member 218 is terminated with a knob, each of the knobs when unused being retained in a designated location within a lower knob retainer bracket 214, said bracket being affixed directly or indirectly to the upper surface of the tubular monorail member.
The stationary platform of the second end, having been removed for clarity, reveals the proximate edge of the movable carriage 202 and the proximate upper knob retainer bracket 213. In practice, an exerciser relocates one or more knobs that terminate one end of a biasing member 218 from the lower knob retainer bracket 214 to the upper knob retainer bracket 213, thereby transferring the biasing force from a zero setting against the movable carriage 202 while the knobs are retained in the lower knob retainer bracket 214 to a dynamic force exerted upon the movable carriage when positioned in the upper knob retainer bracket 213. One back upper knob retainer bracket 213 is affixed substantially to the proximate end of the movable carriage 202, and one front upper knob retainer bracket not shown, but which is a mirror image of the back knob retainer bracket 213 is affixed substantially to the opposed end of the movable carriage 202.
Parallel trolley rails 201 are positioned on opposed sides of the monorail member. The movable carriage 202 engages the rails by means of a plurality of left trolley assemblies 206 and right trolley assemblies 207. Each trolley assembly comprises at least one upper trolley wheel 210 rolling substantially upon the upper surface of the rails 201, one horizontally positioned trolley wheel 211 rolling substantially upon the lateral vertical surface of the rails, and a lower trolley wheel 212 rolling substantially upon the lower horizontal surface of the parallel trolley rails providing a counter force to uplift forces placed upon the movable carriage.
One back upper knob retainer bracket 213 is affixed substantially to the proximate end of the movable carriage 202, the retainer bracket being used to retain removably attachable one or more knobs 204 and corresponding biasing members 218 to the movable carriage, thereby applying a resistance force to the platform substantially equal to the sum of the resistance forces of the attached biasing members 218. When the biasing members 218 are not engaged with the back upper knob retainer bracket 213, they are retained by a back lower knob retainer bracket 214, the lower retainer bracket being affixed directly or indirectly to the upper surface of the tubular monorail member.
In the drawing, as one illustrative example of increasing the resistance force applied to the movable carriage 202, two knobs 204 are shown having been repositioned from the lower knob retainer bracket 214 to the upper knob retainer bracket 213. Any of the knobs may be moved between the upper and lower retainer brackets at any time, and in any order. In the instant example, each of the knobs may be connected to biasing members 218 representing twenty-five pounds of force. Together, the two knobs represent a resistance force that will be applied to the movable carriage equal to fifty pounds. It should be noted that the biasing force of extension springs is not constant, but rather variable relative to the length of extension of the springs in accordance with Hooke's Law.
The drawing shows the revealed internal components of a reversible tension system comprising a pulley cassette 208, a plurality of looped cables 215 with one end of each looped cable terminated with front tension knob 203 and the opposed end of the looped cable terminated with a back tension knob 204, the just described cables each passing through a return pulley 216, each pulley affixed to a back end of at least one extension spring 218. Each just described biasing member comprising at least one looped cable with terminal tension knobs, a return pulley, and one extension spring. As can be readily seen, the plurality of the biasing members 218 are arranged within the interior of the tubular monorail member 200 with the front end of each of the springs affixed substantially to the front end of the machine. The plurality of tension knobs 203, 204 are retained by lower retainer brackets as previously described, the retainer brackets integral with or proximate to the pulley cassette 208. In practice, an exerciser would relocate one or more of the front tension knobs 203 or back tension knobs 204 from the retainer bracket just described to one of two upper retainer brackets not shown, said upper retainer brackets being proximate to the front end or back end of the movable carriage 201.
The pulley cassette just described provides for the retention of removably retained knobs of the biasing members 218. Specifically, each biasing member is comprised of a front knob 203 affixed to a first end of a looped cable 215 which is threaded over and wrapped around a preferred sector of the circumference of one upper pulley, continuing to and wrapped substantially about half of the circumference of a return pulley 216, continuing to and wrapped about a quarter sector of the circumference of a lower pulley 220, continuing upwardly and threaded through and wrapped around a preferred sector of a second upper pulley, the second end of the looped cable being terminated with a second knob 204. A biasing force is exerted upon each looped cable by means of at least one extension spring 218, one end of each extension spring securedly affixed to the exercise machine structure not shown, and the opposed end affixed to a return pulley shackle 217 comprising an axle passing through and rotatably securing one return pulley 216.
When the movable carriage of the exercise machine is in a neutral, non-biased state, all of the knobs 203, 204 are removably retained in respective positions within a front and back knob retainer bracket 214. One back tension knob 221 is shown in a state of being repositioned off of the back lower knob retainer bracket 214.
The pulley cassette just described provides for the retention of removably retained knobs of the biasing members 218, each biasing member comprised of a front knob 203 retained in a front lower retainer bracket 214 and affixed to a first end of a looped cable 215 which is threaded over and wrapped around a preferred sector of the circumference of one upper pulley 219, continuing to and wrapped substantially about half of the circumference of a return pulley 216, continuing to and wrapped about a quarter sector of the circumference of a lower pulley 220, continuing upwardly and threaded through and wrapped around a preferred sector of a second upper pulley 219, the second end of the looped cable being terminated with a second knob 204 retained within a back lower retainer bracket 230. Each return pulley is secured to a return pulley shackle 217 to which a movable end of at least one extension spring 218 is secured.
When an exerciser desires a resistance force be exerted upon a movable platform not shown, the exerciser relocates at least one of the front or back tension knobs 203, 204 from the respective lower retainer bracket 214, 230 to an upper retainer bracket 213, 232 on the movable carriage. One back tension knob 221 is shown in a state of being repositioned off of the back lower knob retainer bracket 214.
A tubular monorail member 200 with opposed end caps 205 extends longitudinally substantially the length of the exercise machine and provides for an internal open space of sufficient dimension and volume to enclose a plurality of biasing members 218 and a substantial portion of a pulley cassette 208, the cassette being comprised of two rows each of a plurality of upper pulleys 219, and one row of a plurality of lower pulleys 220. A plurality of biasing members 218 are each comprised of a front tension knob 203 securedly affixed to one end of a looped cable 215 that wraps substantially around a return pulley 216 and which returns to wrap through a lower and upper pulley 220, 219 with a second cable end securedly affixed to a back tension knob 204. An extension spring 218 extends from a front end affixed proximate to a front end cap 205 to a pulley shackle and return pulley 216.
In one example, when an exerciser desires to add tension in a first direction to a movable carriage 202 positioned substantially at the back end of the machine, they reposition at least one front tension knob 203 from the lower retainer bracket previously described, to an upper retainer bracket 213 affixed to the front end of a movable carriage 202.
More specifically, a tubular monorail member 200 is supported above the floor by a frame or base support structure 101 and various other components previously described. A movable carriage 202 is first positioned proximate to a back stationary platform 400. In such position, the upper knob retainer bracket 213 at the front of the carriage is positioned substantially above and aligned with the front tension knobs 203 that are retained by the lower knob retainer bracket as previously described. It can be readily seen that the distance between the retaining shoulder of the front tension knob 203 prior to exercising is a preferred L1 from the proximate upper pulley. The knob 203, once removably attached to the upper retainer bracket 213 will move with the movable carriage in a direction towards the stationary front platform 400, correspondingly pulling the looped cable 215 through the return pulley 216 which extends the extension spring 218 as the resistance means.
The trolley further provides for upper tension knobs 506 which are removably attached to the upper portion of the trolley for exercises that require an exerciser to lift the fixed handle 527 against a biasing member not shown, and for lower tension knobs 507 removably attached to the lower portion of the trolley for exercises that require an exerciser to push down on the fixed handle.
The instant exercise requires the exerciser 600 to raise the fixed handle, thereby lifting the trolley 528 upwardly against the resistance of the removably attached biasing members 218. This exercise is well known to those skilled in the art, and is frequently referred to as a biceps curl which activates the primary muscles 601 generally shown by the crosshatched areas on the exerciser's body.
Each tension cable is affixed to a movable end of one or more extension springs 515. The instant exercise requires the exerciser to depress the fixed handle, thereby lowering the trolley 528 against the resistance of the removably attached biasing members 218. This exercise is well known to those skilled in the art, and is frequently referred to as a triceps press which activates the primary muscles 601 generally shown by the crosshatched areas on the exerciser's body.
In the drawing, the previously discussed one or more extension springs have been replaced with a dead weight 530, the dead weight being of any size or configuration well known in the exercise equipment field. It should be known that the extension spring or weight stack may be used to provide substantially the same functionality previously described, namely that each biasing member, whether comprising a spring or dead weight, may be interchangeably used to provide resistance for exercises that require a lifting force or downward force by means or removably attaching the upper tension knobs, or the lower tension knobs to the retaining bracket on the vertical trolley.
However, the instant drawing illustrates a variation of the single movable carriage, providing for two movable trolleys, an upper trolley 503 to which upper knobs 506 may be removably attached, and a lower trolley 504 to which lower tension knobs 507 may be removably attached.
One significant advantage of a two-trolley configuration as shown in the drawing is that separate and different tensions may be preset for the pull-down direction of the lower trolley 504 and the pull-up direction of the upper trolley 503 without having to clear all tension knobs from a first end of the movable trolley before engaging tension knobs on a second end of the movable trolley. This benefit provides for an exerciser to move quickly from a pull-down exercise to a pull-up exercise without having to re-set any tension knobs.
In the drawing, a substantially vertical exercise machine 500 is shown with a support base 501, a front enclosure 502, an upper trolley 503 and lower trolley 504 vertically movable upon a pair or parallel rails not shown. A pull-down cable 509 is affixed to the upper trolley 503 by means of a cable-trolley clasp 526, and a pull-up cable 511 is affixed to the lower trolley 504 by means of a cable-trolley clasp 526. A pulley cassette 208 is affixed to the structure of the vertical exercise machine and retains upper tension knobs 506 and lower tension knobs 507 in respective retainer brackets that are too small to be clearly shown in the present illustration.
A side enclosure 505 is shown on the proximate side, but a mirror image side enclosure is provided on the distal side of the structure, thereby enclosing the vertical structure for safety and cosmetics. One of a pair of parallel upper vertical trolley rails 513 provide for the upper trolley 503 to move within a preferred vertical path and distance, and one of a pair of parallel lower vertical trolley rails 514 provide for the lower trolley 504 to move within a preferred vertical path and distance. During exercise, one or more upper tension knobs 506 may be removably attached to the upper retainer bracket of the upper trolley 503, and one or more lower tension knobs 507 may be removably attached to the lower retainer bracket of the lower trolley 504 as desired for exercising.
Further, a pull up cable 511 removably attached to a pull up handle 512 extends downward, wrapping over a portion of a first pulley retained within a pull up boom 525, further wrapping around a second pulley retained within the pull up boom, and extending upward with the distal end of the cable connected to an lower trolley 504 by means of a cable-trolley clasp. A tension knob retaining bracket 518 is provided on the substantially upper end of the lower trolley wherein one or more of the upper tension knobs can be removably attached.
A resistance force may be applied to one or more of the upper and lower trolleys by means of one or more of a plurality of biasing members 218, each biasing member being comprised of a looped cable 521 with each end terminated with an upper tension knob and lower tension knob. The looped cable wraps around two outer pulleys 519 and an inner pulley 520 of a pulley cassette 208 as shown. Each looped cable further wraps around one return pulley 522 which, by means of a shackle is connected to a tension cable 524 after wrapping around an idler pulley 523 affixed to substantially the upper structure of the vertical exercise machine. Each tension cable is affixed to a movable end of one or more extension springs 515, the opposed end of each of the extension springs affixed to a spring mounting member 516.
As shown in
A plurality of biasing members 218 are provided to selectively provide an adjustable amount of resistance force for resisting movement of the carriage 202 in either the first direction or the second direction. A user selectable amount of force may be applied to the carriage 202 to resist movement in either of the first direction and the second direction.
A plurality of first tension connectors 203 are accessible near the first end of the carriage 202 and are adapted for removably attaching selected biasing members 218 at or near the first end of the carriage 202 to resist motion of the carriage 202 in the first direction. A plurality of second tension connectors 204 are accessible near the second end of the carriage 202 and are adapted for removably attaching selected biasing members 218 at or near the second end of the carriage 202 to resist motion of the carriage 202 in the second direction.
In an embodiment, at least one biasing member has a first end and a second end wherein the first end is attached to the frame and the second end comprises one of the plurality of first tension connectors 203. In an embodiment, at least one biasing member has a first end and a second end wherein the first end is attached to the frame and the second end comprises one of the plurality of second tension connectors 204. In another embodiment shown in
As further shown in
As illustrated in
The first retention member 213 and the second retention member 232 preferably extend downwardly from the carriage 202 as illustrated in
In use, the exerciser attaches a first tension connector 203 at or near the first end of the carriage 202. The exerciser then mounts the carriage 202 if not already on the carriage 202. The exerciser then moves the carriage 202 alternately in the first direction against the force resisting motion of the platform and the second direction while performing an exercise. The exerciser then detaches the first tension connector 203 from the carriage 202 and attaches a second tension connector 204 at or near the second end of the carriage 202 thereafter moving the carriage 202 alternately in the second direction against the force resisting motion of the platform and the first direction while performing an exercise. Various numbers of biasing members 218 may be connected to the first end or the second end of the carriage 202 to provide various levels of resistance force in either the first direction or the second direction of movement of the carriage 202.
Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a wide variety of alternate and/or equivalent implementations may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown and described without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the embodiments discussed herein.
Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although methods and materials similar to or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the reversible resistance exercise machine, suitable methods and materials are described above. All publications, patent applications, patents, and other references mentioned herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety to the extent allowed by applicable law and regulations. The reversible resistance exercise machine may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. Any headings utilized within the description are for convenience only and have no legal or limiting effect.
The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 18/306,468 filed on Apr. 25, 2023 (Docket No. LAGR-309), which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 17/503,573 filed on Oct. 18, 2021 now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 11,673,014 (Docket No. LAGR-259), which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/797,958 filed on Feb. 21, 2020 now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 11,147,999 (Docket No. LAGR-207), which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/657,415 filed on Jul. 24, 2017 now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,569,118 (Docket No. LAGR-127), which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/365,519 filed Jul. 22, 2016 (Docket No. LAGR-069). Each of the aforementioned patent applications, and any applications related thereto, is herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62365519 | Jul 2016 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 18306468 | Apr 2023 | US |
| Child | 18589865 | US | |
| Parent | 17503573 | Oct 2021 | US |
| Child | 18306468 | US | |
| Parent | 16797958 | Feb 2020 | US |
| Child | 17503573 | US | |
| Parent | 15657415 | Jul 2017 | US |
| Child | 16797958 | US |
