Patents Examined by Garrett Atkinson
  • Exercise machine rail system
    Patent number: 9579555
    Abstract: An exercise machine rail system for improved exerciser mounting and dismounting, improved functional ergonomics, and reduced risk of exerciser injury when using an exercise machine. The exercise machine rail system generally includes either two rails in close relationship which are linked together via connectors or a singular rail. Bias members are disclosed as either extending along either outer side of the rails, internally to the rail, or underneath the rail. Due to the narrow nature of the rails used by the present invention, an exerciser is able to mount and dismount the exercise machine easily and efficiently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Lagree Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Sebastien Anthony Louis Lagree
  • Floor exercise slider
    Patent number: 9579533
    Abstract: A floor exercise slider may have an attachment device on a side of a frame. A resilient pad is attached to an upper surface of the frame, with the resilient pad having raised blocks separated by grooves. A slide plate may be joined to a bottom surface of the frame. The raised blocks may be evenly spaced apart laterally and/or longitudinally by the grooves. Two sliders may be attached via the attachment devices to form a slider assembly which can accommodate both of the user's hands or feet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: PRO PERFORMANCE SPORTS, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Allen Keith Holland, Daniel John Wray
  • Methods of using a weight holding device
    Patent number: 9573015
    Abstract: A method of using a weight holding device includes the steps of positioning the strap behind a bar, wherein the handgrip is positioned opposite the strap-separating component, and the strap is suspended from the handgrip, raising the lowest portion of the strap, bringing the handgrip through the raised portion of the strap, and pulling the handgrip upwards so that the strap tightens around the bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Inventor: William B. Hall
  • Exercise methods and apparatus
    Patent number: 9566467
    Abstract: An exercise apparatus may provide a novel linkage assembly suitable for linking circular motion to relatively more complex, generally elliptical motion. Left and right rocker links may be rotatably mounted on a frame rotatable about a first axis. Left and right cranks may be mounted on the frame rotatable about a second axis. Left and right force receiving members may be movably connected between respective rocker links and cranks in such a manner that the force receiving members move through variable paths of motion that may change as a function of user applied force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Inventor: Joseph D Maresh
  • Seat adjustment devices and exercise apparatuses having seat adjustment devices
    Patent number: 9555274
    Abstract: An exercise apparatus has a frame, a seat that is supported by the frame and a body support member that is supported by the frame. The seat extends at a seat angle relative to the frame. A seat adjustment device facilitates adjustment of the height of the seat with respect to the frame and causes adjustment of the seat angle when the height of the seat is adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: John Michael Cassidy, Jana Dorothy Hermanson
  • Pole vault landing system configured for receiving a collar
    Patent number: 9539457
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a pole vault landing system configured for receiving a pole vault box collar. The pole vault landing system may be comprised of a base section and a cutout section positioned adjacent to the base section, where both the base section and the cutout section have top and bottom surface. The bottom surface of the cut out section additionally comprises a recess dimensioned to receive a pole vault box collar such that when the cutout section is placed over a pole vault box and a pole vault box collar, the pole vault box collar is received in the recess and the bottom surface of the cutout section is substantially flush with the ground surrounding the pole vault box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: UCS, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Schwartz, Lawrence Howard Schwartz
  • Hook assemblies for exercise machines, exercise machines including such hook assemblies, and related methods
    Patent number: 9539461
    Abstract: A hook assembly may comprise a base portion and at least one hook. The base portion may be rotatably coupled to a weighted cable of an exercise machine. The at least one hook may be coupled to the base portion, and the at least one hook may be sized and configured for selective attachment to a handle. The base portion may be sized and configured to facilitate rotation of the at least one hook relative to a frame of an exercise machine when the weighted cable is extended. Additionally, the base portion may be sized and configured to prevent rotation of the at least one hook relative to the frame of the exercise machine when the weighted cable is fully retracted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: ICON Health & Fitness, Inc.
    Inventor: Gaylen Ercanbrack
  • Agility and strength improvement apparatus
    Patent number: 9533191
    Abstract: An exercise balance board may have at least a platform for a user supported by a resilient, air-filled partial sphere. It contains features which allow users of any size or fitness level to properly exercise muscle groups. The balance board allows a user to exercise upper and lower muscle extremity groups either individually or simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Inventors: Alison M. Carbone, Andrew Ruiz
  • Multifunctional leg training machine
    Patent number: 9526938
    Abstract: A multifunctional leg training machine includes a framework, a weight-bearing mechanism mounted at said framework and movable in direction toward or away from said framework and adapted to impart a downward pressure to the shoulders of the user using the machine, allowing the user to perform a squat exercise, a lunge exercise, a calf-raise exercise, a simple transverse body movement exercise, or a mixed training exercise of moving the body transversely and upwardly to fully train different muscle groups of the legs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: JOONG CHENN INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: James Chen
  • Triceps cable extension device
    Patent number: 9526943
    Abstract: A triceps cable extension for attachment to a cable resistance exercise machine is provided. The cable extension includes a gripping handle including a hand protection projection which extends at an angle B upwardly from a thumb groove provided in the handle. An open semi-circular cross-sectional channel is provided in the protection projection to receive a cover cable. A vertical bore extends from a handle base flange portion through a body portion and extending into the protection channel. The extension also includes a length of cable, a cable securing nut, a connection loop so as to allow a snap on connection to a cable resistance exercise machine and also includes a latex tubing cable cover to protect the user from injury from an exposed wire cable. The protection projection and the projection channel to protect the user's hand and reduces torque on the handle in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Inventor: Daniel W. Emick
  • Curl-up device
    Patent number: 9522301
    Abstract: A curl-up device includes a base; and a counter arrangement. The base defines a foot placement indicator, a first start position indicator, and optionally a second start position indicator. The counter arrangement includes a button disposed between the foot placement indicator and the start position indicators. The counter arrangement also includes an electronic counter that tracks depression of the button. In use, a user touches the button while performing a curl-up to track the number of curl-ups performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: The Prophet Corporation
    Inventor: Amber Orenstein
  • Locking mechanism
    Patent number: 9522296
    Abstract: A locking mechanism for a shaft provides secure frictional engagement to the shaft while manually operable to be removed from the shaft. There is a first cylinder allowable to slide freely on the shaft. One or more holes retaining one or more balls allow a projection of the balls into an interior of the first cylinder. A tensioning ring (second cylinder) partially overlaps the first cylinder, retains the balls within the holes, and has at least a portion of the inside diameter increasing in diameter. A biasing mechanism acts against the second cylinder to urge the balls into the first cylinder interior to frictionally engage the shaft. Two release mechanisms movable with the biasing mechanism manually actuated against the bias move the second cylinder to allow the balls to freely move within the holes and the locking mechanism to be slid onto and removed from the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Atlas Barbell, LLC
    Inventor: David Robert Davies, III
  • Pushup exercise system and apparatus
    Patent number: 9517382
    Abstract: An exercise system including a bar having a cushioned section and two non-cushioned sections configured for a user to grip while performing a pushup; a support apparatus, the support apparatus including: two side structures; a back structure affixed to an edge of each of the two side structures via one or more hinges, wherein the back structure is configured to be positioned against a wall; and a plurality of parallel slots formed in an edge of each of the two side structures opposite the edge of each side structure affixed to the back structure, wherein the parallel slots are configured to support the bar when a user performs a pushup; wherein the one or more hinges attaching each side structure to the back structure allow a user to transition the support apparatus between a deployed configuration and a storage configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Inventor: Alan Payne
  • Gymnastic tool, apparatus and method to carry it out
    Patent number: 9517387
    Abstract: A gymnastic tool (1) is formed by at least two impermeable external walls (2, 3) which are each concave shaped and provided with respective edges (4,5). The at least two impermeable walls (2, 3) are mutually fixed together by a connector (6), the gymnastic tool having at least one inner cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Trial S.r.l.
    Inventor: Giovanni Montanari
  • Wall structure for exercising and attaching fitness and physical activity elements
    Patent number: 9504871
    Abstract: A wall structure for exercising and attaching fitness and physical activity elements includes one or more modular panels configured to be fixed to a wall. The panels are configured receive at plurality of handles at various fixing positions distributed over a surface of the panel. Each panel has one more anchoring points distributed over the surface of the panel and configured for fixing accessory elements thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Inventor: Cesar Juan Muñoz Saez
  • Weight holding device
    Patent number: 9504867
    Abstract: A weight holding device includes a strap and a strap-separating component attached to the strap. The strap-separating component maintains a separation between two portions of said strap when a weight is suspended from said weight holding device. An optional handgrip may be included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Inventor: William B. Hall
  • Resistance training device
    Patent number: 9498677
    Abstract: A game table for resistance training including walls defining a game space of the game table, wherein at least one of the plurality of walls is a side wall having a plurality of non-uniform diameter openings, a plurality of game table rods extending through the plurality of non-uniform diameter openings, wherein at least one foosmen is attached to each of the plurality of game table rods, and a resistance article at least partially wrapped around at least one of the plurality of game table rods, the resistance article having a tapered thickness, wherein the non-uniform diameter openings of the side wall is defined by a first section and a second section, the first section having a constant radius from a center point of the non-uniform opening, and the second section having a smaller radius than the constant radius of the first section, is provided. A resistance device is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: FIRST PRINCIPLES, INC.
    Inventor: Keith A. Raniere
  • Walking assistance apparatus
    Patent number: 9480619
    Abstract: A walking assistance device configured to permit the independent movement of an individual via simulated weight reduction is described. The device is configured to partially suspend a portion of a user's weight via a seat-lifting system, facilitating the movement of a user with experiencing difficulty walking without assistance. The system of the device preferably employs a seat, a hydraulic or electric seat-lift mechanism, a seat restraint, a frame, wheels, a brake system, and a power source. The seat-lift mechanism is configured to rise and lower the seat, enabling the user to control the percentage of weight lifted, while the feet of the user remain in partial contact with the floor. The frame forms the structure and support of the device, and is configured to move laterally via wheels on the bottom of the frame of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Inventor: Justin Frankian
  • Abdominal exercise device with torso and leg support
    Patent number: 9480875
    Abstract: An abdominal exercise device comprising a body support to support an upper body of a user, where the body support includes a back rest made up of cushioned partitions; a pair of handles attached to the back rest; a track extending from an end of the body support, where the track includes a plurality of adjustment holes; a leg support attached to the track with a sleeve, where the leg support is adjustable along the track by fastening a stopper through one of the adjustment holes; a slide extending from the sleeve, where the slide includes a plurality of adjustment holes; and a leg stabilizer attached to the slide with a sleeve, where the leg stabilizer is adjustable along the slide by fastening a stopper through one of the adjustment holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Inventor: Rey Delgado
  • Treadmill with folding overhead handlebar assembly
    Patent number: 9474928
    Abstract: A treadmill exercise machine may include a frame having a base and upright supports extending upward from at a forward end of the base. Horizontal arms connected proximate the upper ends of the supports may extend generally toward the rear end of the base. A handlebar assembly may be rotatably connected proximate the distal ends of the arms. The handlebar assembly may be moved from a non-deployed position to an upright locked position accessible to a user to grasp and pull down on an overhead hand bar of the handlebar assembly to reduce the weight load transmitted to the user's lower body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Inventor: Joseph D Maresh