Patents Examined by Robert Bahr
  • Patent number: 5342270
    Abstract: A machine for exercising the pectoral muscles having a pair of synchronous movement arms pivotable about oblique axes by the user moving the arms from the user's sides to outstretched convergent positions. A constrained linkage connects the movement arms to a vertical drive rod which drives a lever at the base of the machine. The lever drives a weight stack pin upwardly to lift one or more resistance weights keyed to the pin. The user is supported by a seat and backrest and linkages are provided to adjust the seat vertically and the backrest horizontally relative to the movement arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1994
    Inventor: Arthur A. Jones
  • Patent number: 5338277
    Abstract: A body building apparatus with a neck massager including a rocker arm pivotally fastened to a bridge-like base frame, and two vertical pedals bilaterally disposed at one end, the rocker arm having a horizontal handle at the top end covered with a cylindrical member with raised portions, whereby a user sits on a seat to exercise the arms by pushing or pulling the handle downwards and upwards alternately; and alternatively, the user may sit on the seat with the back of the neck biased against the cylindrical member to exercise the legs and the trunk by stepping on the pedals and bending the trunk downwards and upwards alternately while allowing the back of the neck to be rubbed by the raised portions of the cylindrical member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1994
    Inventor: Li H. Yang
  • Patent number: 5338274
    Abstract: A machine for exercising leg muscles including a movement arm rotatable about a horizontal axis, a seat for receiving a user with the legs engageable with the movement arm to rotate it in one direction about the axis, and a weight stack including a resistance weight and a vertical stack pin connectable to the resistance weight. A sprocket is connected to the movement arm to rotate with the movement arm, and a drive connection including a chain or cable is established between the sprocket and the bottom of the stack pin to raise the stack pin when the movement arm is rotated in one direction. In one embodiment a drive lever is pivotally connected to the bottom of the stack pin to raise the stack pin when the movement arm is rotated in one direction in opposition to the resistance weight. The chain is connected to an intermediate portion of the drive lever. The movement arm is provided with a convenient handle for rotating the movement arm while the user is seated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1994
    Inventor: Arthur A. Jones
  • Patent number: 5336150
    Abstract: A pneumatic strength training device that utilizes a sealed vacuum cylinder with an air pressure powered piston. The vacuum is obtained by removing the air from said cylinder and sealing said cylinder. The cylinder is then attached to a lever style lifting bar through a series of pulleys. The resistance encountered by the lifter is varied by positioning the pulleys at different locations on the lifting bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Inventors: King L. Mueller, Reno A. Mueller
  • Patent number: 5336149
    Abstract: A vertical type abdominal and hip exercising apparatus including two swivel frames bilaterally and revolvably fastened to two angle bars on two opposite sides of a back rest being fastened to a bevel frame above a machine base and turned by the player's chest or legs to lift weights through traction cables and a pulley block for trunk bending or leg pressing exercises. The swivel frames are linked for synchronous movement. Each swivel frame has two position-adjustable actuating members for turning with the chest or the leg in lifting the weights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Assignee: Greenmaster Industrial Corp.
    Inventor: Leao Wang
  • Patent number: 5336148
    Abstract: An exercise machine has a head unit connected to a load and mounted on a parallel linkage such as to move up and down while remaining parallel to a starting position, A press frame is adjustably mounted on the head unit and presents a pair of arms with horizontal handles for manually pushing the press frame vertically in opposition to the load which may comprise a weight stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Assignee: Vectra Fitness, Inc.
    Inventor: Arthur B. Ish, III
  • Patent number: 5334120
    Abstract: A Gravity Sled Exercise Machine wherein leveraged body forces act to overcome gravity to move a two piece body sled and client upward, along biangular support rails, from a horizontal to a vertical orientation. To support the torso during the change in spatial orientation, a fixed angle sled seat reciprocates in lineal motion on the lower of two differentially inclined rails. In concurrent action, the lower section of a back rest pivots on an axle at the rear of the seat, while its upper end rides via a pivot guide on the upper, more vertically inclined rail. That kinetic linkage produces a curvilinear motion that constantly repositions the sled and introduces variable resistance to the exercise cycle.An arrangement of handrings, lines and pulleys provides the leverage for arm and upper body exercises, while Class I and II levers enable leg and lower body exercises. A flexible coupling attaches a leg lever assembly to either the static lower rail or to the moving sled seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1994
    Inventor: Aaron P. Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 5334121
    Abstract: An interchangeable/adjustable hurdle component assembly made of a collection of interchangeable parts. The assembly has a plurality of leg support pairs of varying lengths which can be utilized as vertical leg supports or horizontal leg supports. One leg support pair is utilized as a first and second vertical leg support, and one leg support pair is utilized as a first and second horizontal leg support. The first vertical leg support is connected to a first tee and to a first elbow, and the second vertical leg support is connected to a second tee and second elbow. The vertical leg supports determine the height of the hurdle. The first horizontal leg support is connected to the first tee and the second horizontal leg support is connected to the second tee to provide support to the hurdle assembly. A crossbar connects to the first and second elbows. The component parts are tubular for realizing snap-fit connections. Both tees of the assembly are identical and interchangeable as are both elbows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1994
    Inventor: Charles E. McPhilomy
  • Patent number: 5334118
    Abstract: An exercise device is provided that is useful for exercising various muscle groups of the body including the arms, shoulders, upper and lower back, abdomen, and to a certain extent the legs. The device comprises a rod that has a sliding weight. The sliding action of the weight is restricted or dampened by springs. To exercise with this device one holds the rod and causes the weight to slide back and forth along the length of the rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1994
    Inventor: Harry E. Dantolan
  • Patent number: 5330401
    Abstract: A treadmill with a trampoline-like surface having an endless belt adapted to travel between two guide rails. The treadmill includes an improved suspension system formed from a flexible wire cable that connects two adjacent reinforced openings formed near the lateral edges of the belt to a carrier that moves on the guide rails of the treadmill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1994
    Assignee: Orbiter Royalty Trust
    Inventor: James W. Walstead
  • Patent number: 5330405
    Abstract: A multi-station exercise machine has a movable subframe on which a user sits while performing various exercises. The subframe is pivotally attached to a stationery frame and is supported by a lever arm that is also pivotally attached to the stationery frame. The pivot arms coupling the subframe to the stationery frame bear against a carriage that is movable located on the lever arm. A cable and pulley system couples the lever arm to the various operable members of the apparatus so that a selectable ratio of the weight of the subframe, including the user, is communicated as exercise resistance. The amount of weight that is coupled to the operable members is selected by positioning the carriage along the lever arm. This adjustment also varies the height to which the subframe is lifted by the exercise stroke and hence the effort that must be exerted by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1994
    Assignee: Pacific Fitness Corporation
    Inventors: Theodore G. Habing, Yong S. Chu, Douglas J. Habing
  • Patent number: 5330406
    Abstract: An exercise apparatus (10) includes a hydraulic resistance member (50) with a single sided hydraulic cylinder (53) for pumping fluid through a fluid circuit (80). Lever members (31, 32) pivot in a common plane and extend outward to embrace the hydraulic resistance member (50) between them. Stop members (221,223) limit movement of the lever members (31, 32), and biasing member (230) biases 10 the lever members (31,32) apart. An immobilizing member (40) may selectively immobilize either one of the lever members (31, 32). An extension arm (17) supports an exercise member (16) which may move along an exercise stroke only by pumping cylinder (53). The fluid circuit (80) allows fluid to flow from the cylinder (53) only when pressure in the cylinder (53) exceeds a selected pressure corresponding to a selected exercising force determined in accordance with the position of the member (16) along the exercise stroke by a control linkage (100). During the return stroke, no exercising force is required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1994
    Inventor: Gary W. Patterson
  • Patent number: 5330400
    Abstract: A climbing and play structure having an external rigid polyhedral support structure constructed of rigid compressive members, which acts as an exterior support for a network of primary and secondary tensile members, such as rope-like materials and flexible planar surfaces which may be within and on the surface of the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1994
    Inventor: Joseph G. Huberman
  • Patent number: 5328428
    Abstract: An exerciser includes a weighted base, a pair of spaced vertical beams, a resistance assembly mounted in each vertical beam, a lifting bar with two ends thereof respectively and removably mounted to each resistance assembly at a desired height, and a foldable bench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1994
    Inventor: Shih-Pin Huang
  • Patent number: 5328429
    Abstract: An attachment for a weight stack type exercise machine to pull the weight stack down while it is being lowered, so that the eccentric exercise force required to lower the stack is greater than the concentric exercise force required to raise it. Such asymmetric exercise forces more closely match muscle strengths, which are normally greater for eccentric exercise than for concentric exercise. The attachment has an electric motor and a control unit including a keypad, a display and a microcontroller. The motor is coupled to the weight stack by an eccentric force control cable. The keypad allows the user to select the amount of force added during the eccentric phase of exercise, when the weight stack is moving down and part of a lifting cable connected to a handle or engageable member on the weight stack type machine is moving in. A sensor enables the controller to determine whether the weight stack is moving up or down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1994
    Assignee: Computer Sports Medicine, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard J. Potash, Robert L. Potash, Wojciech J. Krawiec, Stephen K. Burns
  • Patent number: 5326340
    Abstract: An identity grip device conforms to the shape of a human hand which will grip the device. There is a first end portion, a second end portion and a central portion which continuously connects the first end portion to the second end portion. The central portion has a top side and a bottom side and finger grips located on the top side of the central portion. Thumb grips are located on the bottom side of the central portion. The identity grip device may be used with an exercise device such as a dumbbell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Assignee: Michael J. Coffey
    Inventor: Michael J. Coffey
  • Patent number: 5326337
    Abstract: A light weight, portable, gymnastic assembly made for children to climb on is fabricated of tubular members formed of cut-to-length standard plastic tubings and standard plastic fittings. The tubular members are releasably held within the sockets of the fittings by pairs of opposing spring-loaded pins that are carried in opposing holes on the end portions of the tubular members and engage within opposing holes on the end portions of sockets of the fittings when the tubular members are slipped into the sockets. Because of the mechanical connections used, such an assembly provides a flexible overall structure that can be readily modified from time-to-time by an adult to enable a number of separately assembled different types of accessories of interest to children to be mounted on the surface of the assembly or within the interior thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Inventor: Eugene C. Pardella
  • Patent number: 5324319
    Abstract: A device for therapeutically treating a desired region of a patient's body with a nonambient temperature fluid includes a fluid feed reservoir, a fluid collection reservoir, and a fluid flowpath therebetween. The flowpath is made up of a heat transfer pad placed over the desired treatment region, an inlet line leading from the feed reservoir to the pad, and an outlet line leading from the pad to the collection reservoir. In operation, the feed reservoir is charged with a nonambient temperature fluid and maintained at a height substantially greater than the height of the collection reservoir to provide a fluid head sufficient to transport the fluid from the feed reservoir to the collection reservoir across the flowpath. In so doing, the pad provides therapeutic treatment to the region of the body that it contacts. The temperature of the pad is controlled by maintaining a height differential between the fluid levels in the feed reservoir and the collection reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1994
    Assignee: Breg, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey T. Mason, Bradley R. Mason
  • Patent number: 5324246
    Abstract: Disclosed is a physical exercising machine including a high pulley station, a scissor grip, a thigh & knee machine and a rowing machine respectively mounted on a machine frame at the front, and a low pulley station and a stepping machine respectively mounted on the machine frame at the back, wherein the rowing machine is reciprocated as the thigh & knee machine is operated; the low pulley station is releasably coupled to the high pulley station in using the same counter balance mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1994
    Assignee: Greenmaster Industrial Corporation
    Inventor: Leao Wang
  • Patent number: 5324247
    Abstract: An exercise dynamometer permits a patient to exercise against isodynamic, isokinetic, or isometric resistance to evaluate various musculoskeletal conditions of the patient's human spine. Sensing means are provided to determine the positioning of the patient, and to determine the angular position, velocity, and torque of the exercise movements. In a first embodiment, the patient's head, trunk, upper legs, knees, and feet are secured to a lumbar dynamometer to isolate lumbar and lower thoracic spinal rotation, flexion-extension, and/or lateral bending. During rotational exercise, the axis of movement of the dynamometer is coincident with the patient's spine. In a second embodiment, a patient's trunk and hips are secured to a neck dynamometer to restrict exercise to the cervical spine. The invention facilitates forward flexion-extension, or alternatively lateral bending of the cervical spine, about a first axis aligned with the patient's C1-C2 vertebrae and a second axis aligned with the patient's C7 vertebra.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1994
    Assignee: Alaska Research and Development, Inc.
    Inventor: Jan C. Lepley