Exercise device
An exercise device for providing a cardiovascular and strength conditioning load includes a elastic resistance. stack assembly connected to the exercise device, a first elastic band connected to the elastic resistance stack assembly to provide the load, a second elastic band not being connected to the elastic resistance stack assembly and not providing the load.
The present invention claims priority under 35 USC section 119 and based on application Ser. No. 60/644,174 filed on Jan. 14, 2005 and application Ser. No. 60/718,510 file on Sep. 19, 2005.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to exercise equipment and more particularly to exercise equipment that employs static and dynamic loading.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONDue to an increased public interest in fitness and health, a great variety of exercise equipment has been designed in recent years. Most of such exercise equipment includes a weight resistant apparatus or a cycle apparatus or both. To meet the demand for more convenient exercise equipment, manufacturers have designed smaller units for residential use. Although, these prior art devices are more convenient than larger commercial devices, this equipment suffers from the same limitations, namely, the prior art exercise devices are unattractive and too large to be placed in a living area of a home. Thus, this equipment is relegated into the basement or garage and is either used infrequently or is totally forgotten. Stair climbing is a popular form of exercise for the cardiovascular system. However, it can over an extended period of time over stress the knees. Walking is also a popular form of exercise, but walking does not load the cardiovascular system to the extent of climbing stairs.
There is a need for an exercise device that can provide a wide range of strength conditioning exercises, can be conveniently wall mounted and consume less than one square-foot of floor space and can also provide a load to the cardiovascular system.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,976,941 discloses a resistive exercise system which includes a frame structure, a seat member secured within the frame structure, and a pair of opposing arm supports that a plurality of weight members positioned upon a weight shaft.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is an exercise apparatus to exercise and strengthen the user's arms, shoulders, back and chest and to exercise and strengthen the user's legs. It can also be used as a cardiovascular conditioning device when used as a rowing apparatus.
The present invention is an exercise apparatus that that is wall mounted and very space-saving. By being wall mounted, the exercise device can be kept in a convenient area of the home such as the family room. Furthermore, by having doors covering the exposed front of the exercise device, the exercise device is more aesthetic in the family room, living room, den or bedroom of the user's home. The exercise apparatus of the present invention can be folded into a minimum profile which facilitates storage.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe invention may be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, iii which, like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which:
The elastic resistance stack assembly 5 allows for an adjustment to vary the load that is presented to the user of the exercise device 100. As shown in
Attached to the bottom of the main frame 1 are trolley guide rails 14 which are pivotally connected to the bottom of the main frame 1 so that the user can pivot the trolley guide rails 14 to a stowed position in that the trolley guide rails 14 are substantially parallel to the sides of the main frame 1 to provide a compact storage for the exercise device 100.
Attached to the trolley guide rails 14 is a trolley assembly 13 which serves as a bottom seat for the user and which is movable along the trolley guide rails 14 so that the distance between the main frame 1 and the user of the exercise device 100 can be varied or changed. The trolley guide rails 14 are supported by a forward support 12 which can pivot for compact storage and which is connected to the trolley guide rails 14 and extends to the a ground or floor to support the trolley guide rails 14. The forward support 12 which includes a spring pin assembly 19 to lock the trolley guide rails 14 to the forward support 12, preventing the trolley guide rails 14 and the exercise device 100 from moving while the user is operating the exercise device 100. The leg extension strut 11 is connected to one end of the trolley guide rail 14 and is connected to the adjustable shin cushions 15 to engage and protect the shins of the user when operating the exercise device 100.
The elements of the elastic resistance stack section 254 will be discussed. The elastic resistance stack section 254 additionally includes a front cover 250 having a hole 242 to accept a pin and aligned with the hole 362 of the selector shaft 360 so that when the pin is inserted in hole 242 and through the hole 362, the elastic resistance stack section 254 with the pin and the elastic resistance stack sections 254 below the elastic resistance stack section 254 with the pin will be associated with the first portion. Consequently, by the user choosing a specific elastic resistance stack section 254 to insert the pin into, the user has chosen the number of elastic resistance stack sections 254 associated with the first portion and the number of elastic resistance stack sections 254 associated with a second portion that will not move. Consequently, by selecting a different elastic resistance stack section 254 to be pinned, the user of the exercise device 100 can change the load by changing the number of elastic resistance stack sections 254 associated with the first portion that moves and changing the number of elastic resistance stack sections associated with the second portion that does not move. As the user continues to pull on the handles, the elastic bands tubes or cords connected to with the elastic resistance stack sections 254 of the first portion are pulled down and a resistance load will be created by the resistance bands, tubes or cords 4 in the first portion. Each elastic resistance stack section 254 may have the corresponding attached elastic band 4 we-tensioned to a different load than another elastic resistance stack section 254. As a consequence of the pre-tensioning of the elastic bands 4, the user obtains substantial resistance or load from the beginning of the exercise movement for the user. As the user continues to extend the handles and throughout the range of exercise motion, the resistance or load continues to increase with the resistance or load being the greatest at the filly contracted or extended position of the exercise which has been shown to be beneficial to muscle and strength development. The result of being able to quickly select a different elastic resistance stack section 254 is that it enables the user to quickly change the load of the elastic resistance of the elastic bands 4 of the exercise device 100.
The elastic band 4 cord or tube is connected to a rod 23 which traverses the longitudinal direction of the main frame 1. Consequently, pulling the cable 1120 out of the pivoting arm 2 pulls down on the elastic resistance stack assembly 5 which is attached to the elastic band 4. The more that the cable is pulled out from the pivoting arm 2, the more the user of the exercise device receives increased load due to the elastic bands 4.
While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed.
Claims
1-14. (canceled)
15. An exercise device comprising,
- a frame,
- a rod attached to the frame,
- a pair of guide rails attached to the frame,
- a top stack section fixed to the guide rails
- a stack frame moveably attached to the guide rails, the stack frame having a bottom stack section with a selector shaft attached thereto,
- a plurality of stack sections stacked on each other, on the stack frame,
- a selector pin for inserting in a hole in one of the stack sections and a corresponding hole in the stack frame selector shaft to fix the stack section to the stack frame, thus selecting the number of stack sections to be moved when the stack frame is pulled on,
- at least one elastic member connecting each stack section to the rod such that as the stack section is displaced from the rod the at least one elastic member extends and applies a force to bring the stack frame and all selected stack sections back to their initial position,
- a cable connected to the stack frame to displace it from a rest position and extend the at least one elastic member thus providing an opposing force on the cable, for a user to exercise with,
- a handle on the cable for the user to pull on the cable.
16. An exercise device as in claim 1 having,
- at least one pulley attached to the frame for guiding the cable to a desired location for the user to pull on the handle.
17. An exercise device as in claim 1 having,
- an adjustable pulley arm attached to the frame for fixing the pulley arm at different positions on the frame.
18. An exercise device as in claim 1 having,
- the adjustable pulley arm having a pivot to move the pulley arm axially to a desired position for exercising.
19. An exercise device as in claim 1 having,
- a side member of the frame with a pivot on one end for angularly adjusting the position of the handle when the cable runs through a pulley on the side member.
20. An exercise device as in claim 19 having,
- an adjustable pulley connection to the side member to adjust the handle to a desired position for exercising.
21. An exercise device as in claim 1 having,
- the rod at the top of the frame such that the stack moves downward from its rest position.
22. An exercise device as in claim 1 having,
- the rod at the bottom of the frame such that the stack moves upward from its rest position.
23. An exercise device as in claim 1 having,
- trolley guide rails pivotally attached to the bottom of the frame, the trolley guide rails having a support for engaging the floor and supporting the trolley guide at a desired position.
24. An exercise device as in claim 23 having,
- a seat attached to the trolley guide.
25. An exercise device as in claim 24 having,
- a back rest attached to the seat.
26. An exercise device as in claim 24 having,
- a leg extension strut attached to the trolley guide rails, a cable attached to the leg extension strut for connecting to the stack frame for providing an opposing force on the cable, for a user to exercise with.
27. An exercise device as in claim 1 having,
- a means for attaching the frame to a wall.
28. An exercise device as in claim 1 having,
- a door pivotally attached to the frame to cover the exercise device when not in use.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 17, 2006
Publication Date: Aug 24, 2006
Inventor: Barry Ripley (Safety Harbor, FL)
Application Number: 11/333,085
International Classification: A63B 21/062 (20060101);