Patents Assigned to Hoist Fitness Systems, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8915667
    Abstract: An exercise device including at least one positionable component configured to be positioned by a user. The exercise device includes a frame to which a collar is mounted. The positionable component includes a member that is slidably received within the collar and may be positioned by sliding the member to a selected position. A locking assembly is coupled to the collar and is operable to lock the member in a selected position within the collar, to release the member from the locked position, and when released, to allow the member to slide within the collar. The locking assembly includes a cam pivotably mounted to the collar and a cam follower assembly selectively biased by the cam against a portion of the member disposed inside the collar. The locking assembly also includes a pair of engagement members disposed inside the collar opposite the cam against which the cam biases the member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Hoist Fitness Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Bingham, Jr., Ryan P. Selby, Neil P. Everson, Paul A. Robertson
  • Patent number: 8870720
    Abstract: An exercise machine has a main frame and a user support movably mounted relative to the main frame for movement between a start position and an end position during an exercise. At least one user engagement device is movably mounted relative to the main frame for engagement and actuation by a user during an exercise, and a connecting linkage translates movement of the user engagement device to movement of the user support. A lifting arm is movably mounted relative to the main frame and associated with at least one of the user support, user engagement device, and connecting linkage so as to move during an exercise. A load associated with the lifting arm provides exercise resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Hoist Fitness Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Randall T. Webber, Bruce Hockridge, Jeffrey O. Meredith
  • Publication number: 20140302972
    Abstract: An exercise machine with a two directional pivoting user support assembly has a user support or platform which supports the user and pivots about a first pivot axis during an exercise movement, and is also pivotable about at least one second pivot axis to involve the user's core muscles in balancing and maintaining the user support in a stable position. A manually operable locking device with a simple flip switch lever is provided for selectively locking the user support against rotation about the second pivot axis, so that the user can easily chose whether to perform the exercise with a stable support or to add a level of difficulty by using the unstable seat mode and exercising core muscles during the exercise.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: Hoist Fitness Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Hockridge, Jeffrey O. Meredith, Thao V. Doan
  • Patent number: 8852060
    Abstract: A swiveling user support assembly has a user support or seat rotatably mounted on a user support mounting device or frame for rotation about a first pivot axis, while the mounting device or frame is pivotally or rigidly connected to a main frame of an exercise machine. The user support has a base, and a primary user support and stabilizing device mounted on the base. A pivot connection between the base and mounting device or frame allows the user support to swivel from side to side about the first pivot axis. A centering mechanism helps to orient the user support in a central position for user entry or exit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Hoist Fitness Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Randall T. Webber, Bruce Hockridge, Jeffrey O. Meredith
  • Patent number: 8734304
    Abstract: A low back exercise machine has a pivotally mounted user support frame carrying a user seat and a foot rest assembly, an exercise arm carrying a back pad pivotally mounted relative to the user support frame, and a connecting linkage which translates movement of the exercise arm into rotation of the user support frame about its pivot axis, whereby the user support including the foot rests moves from an upright into a rearwardly reclined orientation as the user pushes the back pad rearward and downward to lean backwards so as to exercise the lower back muscles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Hoist Fitness Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Randall T. Webber, Bruce Hockridge, Jeffrey O. Meredith
  • Patent number: 8702573
    Abstract: A glute exercise machine has a stationary main frame, a pivotally mounted upper torso support, a knee support, and an exercise arm having a foot support for engaging a user's foot and configured for rotation from a start position by user engaging the knee support with one leg and the exercise arm with the other leg. A connecting linkage translates movement of the exercise arms into rocking movement of the upper torso support. A load is linked to one of the moving parts to provide exercise resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Hoist Fitness Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Hockridge, Randall T. Webber, Jeffrey O. Meredith
  • Publication number: 20140045664
    Abstract: An exercise machine with a two directional pivoting user support assembly has a user support or platform which supports the user and pivots about a first pivot axis during an exercise movement, and is also pivotable about at least one second pivot axis to involve the user's core muscles in balancing and maintaining the user support in a stable position. A manually operable locking device with a simple flip switch lever is provided for selectively locking the user support against rotation about the second pivot axis, so that the user can easily chose whether to perform the exercise with a stable support or to add a level of difficulty by using the unstable seat mode and exercising core muscles during the exercise.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: Hoist Fitness Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Hockridge, Jeffrey O. Meredith, Thao V. Doan
  • Patent number: 8562496
    Abstract: A thigh exercise machine has a stationary main frame, a pivotally mounted user support seat, and a pair of exercise arms mounted for rotation between inner and outer positions, each arm having a pad positioned to engage part of a user's leg such as a user's inner or outer thigh. A connecting linkage translates movement of the exercise arms into rocking movement of the user support seat. The connecting linkage is arranged so that user is positioned in an upright or slightly reclined posture when their legs are together and a more reclined posture when their legs are spread apart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Hoist Fitness Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Randall T. Webber, Bruce Hockridge, Jeffrey O. Meredith
  • Publication number: 20130274079
    Abstract: An unstable user support device designed for mounting on an exercise machine has a base or mounting bracket and a user support platform configured for engagement by the user and pivotally mounted on the base for pivotal movement through a limited angle about a pivot axis extending in a plane parallel to the user support platform, The pivoting movement may be a side to side tilting movement. Stops between the base and support platform control the amount of pivoting movement. This arrangement provides a degree of instability to the platform, to provide a greater challenge to the user's core muscles in balancing the platform while performing an exercise motion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: HOIST FITNESS SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Bruce Hockridge, Jeffrey O. Meredith, Thao V. Doan
  • Publication number: 20130109542
    Abstract: A lateral deltoid exercise machine has a floor engaging main frame, a user support pivot, a user support assembly pivotally mounted on the main frame via the user support pivot, and a pivotally mounted user engagement device or exercise arm assembly having arm pads for engagement by the user's forearms while pushing the arm pads outward and upward from a start position. A connecting link translates movement of the user engagement device to movement of the user support so that pivotal movement of the user engagement device results in a self-aligning, pivoting movement of the user support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: HOIST FITNESS SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: Hoist Fitness Systems, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20120329626
    Abstract: An assisted chin/dip exercise apparatus has a main frame and an assist or foot bar pivotally mounted on the frame and linked to a weight stack or resistance for assisting a user standing on the foot bar during performance of chin and dip exercises. The main frame has a first, overhead handle assembly and a second, dip handle assembly below the first handle assembly. The first handle assembly includes a pair of adjustably mounted handles freely pivotable between a first, chin-up position in which the handles extend towards one another at a rearward angle with a small spacing between the handles and a second, pull-up position in which the handles extend in a forward direction and are spaced apart by a larger spacing sufficient to provide head clearance for a user stepping onto the foot bar or while performing a dip exercise.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: HOIST FITNESS SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Owen Meredith, Billy Y. Kim, Adam Sanders Guier
  • Patent number: 8328698
    Abstract: A dual action weightlifting machine has a stationary frame including a racking portion and spaced vertical guides slidably mounted on opposite sides of the frame for horizontal movement relative to the frame. A horizontally extending exercise bar assembly has spaced first and second vertical slides slidably mounted on the vertical guides, at least one rotatable user engaging portion for gripping by a user, at least one rack engaging portion comprising a rotatable wear sleeve which rotates independently from the user engaging portion, and opposite first and second end portions for receiving one or more selected weights. The user engaging portion is located between the opposite sides of the frame and has a central longitudinal axis which is coaxial with the cylindrical surfaces of the wear sleeves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Hoist Fitness Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Randall T. Webber, Bruce Hockridge
  • Patent number: 8317665
    Abstract: An exercise machine has a stationary main frame, a pivotally mounted user support frame, a user engagement device pivotally mounted on one of the frames for engagement by the user in performing an exercise, and a connecting link which links movement of the user engagement device to movement of the user support frame. A load resists movement of one of the moving parts of the machine. An elongate flexible, load-bearing connecting linkage extends between the load and user support frame, and first and second anchors are selectively connectible to a first end of the load-bearing connecting linkage to vary the resistance felt by a user. At least one of the anchors is located on the user support frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Hoist Fitness Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Randall T. Webber, Bruce Hockridge, Jeffrey O. Meredith
  • Publication number: 20120277069
    Abstract: A glute exercise machine has a stationary main frame, a pivotally mounted upper torso support, a knee support, and an exercise arm having a foot support for engaging a user's foot and configured for rotation from a start position by user engaging the knee support with one leg and the exercise arm with the other leg. A connecting linkage translates movement of the exercise arms into rocking movement of the upper torso support. A load is linked to one of the moving parts to provide exercise resistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: HOIST FITNESS SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Bruce Hockridge, Randall T. Webber, Jeffrey O. Meredith
  • Patent number: 8177693
    Abstract: A calf exercise machine has a floor engaging main frame, a user support pivot, a user support assembly pivotally mounted on the main frame via the user support pivot, and a pivotally mounted user engagement device. A user engaging foot plate assembly is pivotally mounted to track movement of the user's feet during a calf exercise, and may comprise either the user support in a standing calf machine or the user engagement device in a seated calf machine. A connecting link translates movement of the user engagement device to movement of the user support so that pivotal movement in the user engagement device results in a self-aligning, pivoting movement of the user support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Hoist Fitness Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Randall T. Webber, Bruce Hockridge, Jeffrey O. Meredith
  • Patent number: 8172732
    Abstract: An exercise machine has a user support movement arm rotatably mounted on a support frame for rotation about a first pivot axis, and a user support assembly pivotally connected to the movement arm for rotation about a second pivot axis so that the user support assembly rotates in two directions about different pivot axes. An exercise arm pivotally mounted on the frame is linked to the user support assembly or user support movement arm so that movement of the exercise arm automatically moves the user support assembly. Movement about one pivot axis may be a free pivoting, non-resisted movement while movement about the other pivot axis may be associated with a resistive load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Hoist Fitness Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Randall T. Webber, Bruce Hockridge, Jeffrey O. Meredith
  • Publication number: 20120100970
    Abstract: A thigh exercise machine has a stationary main frame, a pivotally mounted user support seat, and a pair of exercise arms mounted for rotation between inner and outer positions, each arm having a pad positioned to engage part of a user's leg such as a user's inner or outer thigh. A connecting linkage translates movement of the exercise arms into rocking movement of the user support seat. The connecting linkage is arranged so that user is positioned in an upright or slightly reclined posture when their legs are together and a more reclined posture when their legs are spread apart.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: HOIST FITNESS SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Randall T. Webber, Bruce Hockridge, Jeffrey O. Meredith
  • Patent number: 8162807
    Abstract: An exercise machine has a main frame and a user support movably mounted relative to the main frame for movement between a start position and an end position during an exercise. At least one multi-function user engagement device is movably mounted relative to the frames for engagement and actuation by a user during an exercise, and a connecting linkage translates movement of the user engagement device to movement of the user support. The user engagement device has two different modes of operation selectable by a user for performing different exercises which exercise distinct muscles or muscle groups. A load provides resistance for both exercises.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Hoist Fitness Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Randall T. Webber, Bruce Hockridge, Jeffrey O. Meredith
  • Publication number: 20110224052
    Abstract: A low back exercise machine has a pivotally mounted user support frame carrying a user seat and a foot rest assembly, an exercise arm carrying a back pad pivotally mounted relative to the user support frame, and a connecting linkage which translates movement of the exercise arm into rotation of the user support frame about its pivot axis, whereby the user support including the foot rests moves from an upright into a rearwardly reclined orientation as the user pushes the back pad rearward and downward to lean backwards so as to exercise the lower back muscles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: HOIST FITNESS SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Randall T. Webber, Bruce Hockridge, Jeffrey O. Meredith
  • Publication number: 20110224058
    Abstract: A thigh exercise machine has a stationary main frame, a pivotally mounted user support seat, and a pair of exercise arms mounted for rotation between inner and outer positions, each arm having a pad positioned to engage part of a user's leg such as a user's inner or outer thigh. A connecting linkage translates movement of the exercise arms into rocking movement of the user support seat. The connecting linkage is arranged so that user is positioned in an upright or slightly reclined posture when their legs are together and a more reclined posture when their legs are spread apart.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: HOIST FITNESS SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Randall T. Webber, Bruce Hockridge, Jeffrey O. Meredith