Adjustable cable systems device

Abstract

An adjustable cable system enables an exerciser to selectably choose handle positioning for overhead handle engagement. An adjustable framework generally stands upwardly, but generally not vertically, away from a base and seat that supports an exerciser. The framework extends out partially over the exerciser and has generally two angled supports which angle toward each other. Selectable handle systems are selectably engageable and lockable along the length of each angled upright or portion thereof enabling positioning of the handles for easy engagement by the exerciser. By providing the adjustable cable system, the handles are more readily and conveniently available to the exerciser and may enable greater focus, attention, and/or development of exercise on certain muscles or muscle groups.

Description

COPYRIGHT AUTHORIZATION

Portions of the disclosure of this patent document may contain material which is subject to copyright and/or mask work protection. The copyright and/or mask work owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright and/or mask work rights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to exercise machines and more particularly to an adjustable cable system device enabling easier manual engagement of handles for cable-linked weight systems and the like.

2. Description of the Related Art

Over the past several years, people have become more interested in maintaining good physical health by deliberately engaging in exercise and other physical activities. Weightlifting, running, and swimming are but three of the several types of exercise that people choose in order to maintain fitness. Rowing, aerobic activity, as well as other forms of exercise are also used in order to maintain fitness and provide some aerobic challenge to a person's system so that they may maintain better health. The link between physical activity and physical health is generally well recognized although there may not be directly quantifiable results arising from specific forms and durations of physical activities.

Weight lifting is a specifically-chosen activity by many people due to the ability to select and specifically focus on physical activity for certain muscle groups. Consequently, through weight lifting, an individual can focus actively on his or her biceps, triceps, calves, thighs, gluteals, abdominals, etc. In so doing, an individual may not only engage in aerobic activity, but one that specifically strengthens a chosen muscle or group of muscles.

Many weight systems such as those using cables linked to weights and the like provide access to the resisting weights by means of handles and the like disposed in a generally vertical manner. Such vertical disposition of handles or other devices that allow engagement of the weights by the exerciser may be inconveniently positioned for certain activities. In some cases, this is remedied by having a “spotter” in the form of another person who aids the exerciser in engaging the weights. Such a spotter can also aid when the exerciser chooses to disengage the weights.

Many weight machines are specifically designed to help provide exercise for the arms and chest as having broad shoulders and good posture is desirable among many of those who exercise. In such circumstances, a vertically disposed exercise system may present a challenge to individuals who choose to use such a machine. As a result, the handles or other devices for the weights may be inconveniently located and require inconvenient grasping and engagement techniques by the exerciser.

It would be advantageous to provide a system where the machine accommodates the individual so that the handles or other devices used to provide engagement with the weights are more conveniently disposed or located so that the individual can focus on the physical exertion of the exercise activity rather than accommodating a poorly designed or inadvantageously designed weight machine structure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing and other known disadvantages inherent in the known types of weight machines and handle and cable systems now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new adjustable cable system wherein the same can be used for advantageously providing convenient access to the handles or other weight-engagement devices for convenient exercise by an exerciser.

The general purpose of the present invention, described below in greater detail, is to provide better access and more convenient means by which handles or other devices for weight machine systems and the like are made available for the exerciser. Such a system which is set forth herein which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, taught, or even implied by any of the prior art weight cable systems, either alone or in any combination thereof.

The present cable systems device allows easier access to handles used to exercise against an adjustable weight load. By providing a support structure that is angled forward and by allowing the handles to selectably and adjustably slide along a length of the support structure, an exerciser can position the handles so that they are conveniently disposed for grasping and situated so that resulting exercise focuses on desired muscle groups.

The support structure has two upright supports that are angled both forwardly and towards each other. In this way, travel of the handles along the supports brings them closer together, higher, and towards the exerciser as they travel up the supports. The reverse is also true so that when the handles travel down the supports they are separated more, lower, and disposed more behind the exerciser. In one embodiment, the support structure makes an angle of approximately twenty-one degrees (21°) with the vertical while the individual upright supports incline towards each other at an angle of approximately twenty-three degrees (23°).

In one embodiment, the exercise device has a seat for accommodating a seated user and a support structure operatively associated with said seat. The support structure has two spaced apart, angled and forwardly inclined, with respect to said seat, upright supports with the supports being further apart at their bottom than their top. Each of said angled upright supports has an operatively connected hand grippable handle member coupled to an adjustable weight load and each of the hand grippable handle members are adjustable along a length of the angled, forwardly inclined upright supports.

In another embodiment, the exercise device has a seat for accommodating a seated user that has a pivoting leg-engaging mechanism and an abdominal exercise system operatively coupled an adjustable weight load. A support structure operatively associated with the seat includes two spaced apart, angled and forwardly inclined, with respect to the seat, upright supports. The supports are further apart at their bottom than their top and the upright supports are generally coplanar and disposed at an angle with one another in the range of approximately ten degrees to forty degrees (10°-40°). The upright supports are forwardly inclined at an angle in the range of approximately forty-five to eighty degrees (45°-80°) with respect to a base or similar horizontal. A central post coupled to the seat supports and retains an upper end of the upright supports with each of the angled upright supports having an operatively connected hand grippable handle member coupled to the adjustable weight load. Each of the hand grippable handle members are adjustable along a length of the angled, forwardly inclined upright supports.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide more convenient access to handles for weight lifting or the like.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide more convenient access to adjustable weightlifting handles in a unique cable system for weightlifting.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide more convenient access to a weightlifting cable system that is convenient to use and easily understood without the need for complicated instructions.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a support structure system for weightlifting handles that is easy to manufacture.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from a review of the following specification and accompanying drawings. The foregoing objects are some of but a few of the goals sought to be attained by the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a left side perspective view of a weightlifting machine incorporating the adjustable cable system set forth herein with an individual exerciser being shown in phantom.

FIG. 2 shows the weightlifting machine with the cable system with the exerciser facing the opposite direction.

FIG. 3 is a left side perspective view of a cable system used in the weightlifting machine of FIG. 1 and 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of presently-preferred embodiments of the invention and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the present invention may be constructed and/or utilized. The description sets forth the functions and the sequence of steps for constructing and operating the invention in connection with the illustrated embodiments. However, it is to be understood that the same or equivalent functions and sequences may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Referring to the drawings where like numerals of reference designate like elements throughout it will be noted that the exercise machine 100 generally has a flat base 102 which in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is in the “T” shape so as to give it stability in the plane of the floor. An optional housing 104 may be in one or more portions and generally covers the cable system (FIG. 3) and the weights 106. The housing may allow access to the weights 106 so that they may provide a source of adjustable resistance for the exerciser E.

As used herein, the masculine pronoun is used to refer to exerciser E and is intended to reflect all exercisers of any gender, the male pronoun being used for convenience only.

The exerciser E generally sits on a seat 120 having a back support 122 and a hip support 124. As shown in FIG. 1, the exerciser E is shown in phantom seated on the seat 120 with his elbows engaging elbow or thigh pads 126 and his lower extremities engaged in opposite sides by a knee pad or cushion 128, a foot cushion 130, an extension 140, a seat 120 projects upwardly in an angle from a distal end of the seat 120 in order to pivotally engage an arm member 142 attached to the foot cushion 130. The pivot or hinge 144 enables the arm member 142 with respect to the extension 140 and enables the exerciser E to exercise his legs by raising the footpads 130 against the resistance of the weights 106. Coupling of the footpads 130 and arm member 142 to the weights 106 arises by means of the foot-head cable 146. A cable guide 148 guides the foot-head cable 146 as it travels through the foot-head cable system about which more is set forth in detail below.

Via the arm member 142, the exerciser E is able to exercise his legs particularly the knees and thigh by lifting the footpad 130 with whatever selected number of plates 106 are coupled to the foot-head cable 146. The cowling 150 with its handles 152, 154 are also coupled to the foot-head cable 146. By grasping the handles 152, 154 and pulling the cowling 150 about the neck, the exerciser E is able to engage in abdominal or other exercises by bending forward against the resistance of the weights 106.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an angled upright support system 160 provides a support means for selectably positionable handle systems 162, 164. The angled upright support system 160 has two angled uprights 166, 168 which are secured to the base 102 and at the top to a cross member 170. The cross member 170 is also attached to a central support post 172 which may be coupled to the back support 122 extending to the base 102. A top portion of the central support post 172 may be curved to the top portion 174 engage the cross member 170. The angled uprights 166, 168 may be selectably pivotable with respect to their attachment to the base 102 and/or the top with respect to their attachment to the cross member 170. Alternatively, a fixed connection may be established between these members.

The angled uprights 166, 168 of the support system 160 are generally angled forwardly and towards each other in a manner that makes it easier for the exerciser E to engage the handles 162, 164. If the angled uprights, 166, 168 were disposed vertically, the exerciser E would generally have to reach behind his or her head in an awkward and inconvenient manner in order to obtain his or her grasp of the handles 162, 164.

The angled uprights 166, 168 make two important angles: the angle of the angled uprights with respect to the vertical or horizontal (the two are complementary) and the angle the uprights make with themselves as they converge on the cross member 170.

Generally, each of the angled uprights, 166, 168 makes an angle of approximately 68.5° with respect to the horizontal, such as the horizontal plain in which the base 102 rests. In a complementary fashion, the angled uprights 166, 168 are shown in the Figures and make an angle of approximately 21.5° with the vertical (generally at right angles to the base 102). These angles for the vertical disposition of the angled uprights 166, 168 of the upright support system 160 are variable and possibly selectable depending upon the permanency of the attachment point the bottom of the angled uprights 166, 168 make with the base 102, central support post 172 or other structure. Such an angle may vary from 45° to 80° and possibly even enjoy a greater degree of angular latitude with respect to the horizontal and/or vertical.

The greater the departure of the upright support system 160 with the angled uprights 166, 168 makes from the vertical, the more the selectably adjustable handle systems 162, 164 hang over the exerciser E. Generally, the handle systems 162, 164 are positioned such that the exerciser merely has to lift his hands over his head in order to grasp the handles of the handle systems 162, 164. This positioning generally varies according to the exerciser and the handle systems 162, 164 are adjustable along the length of each of the angled uprights 166, 168 as by a pin and hole mechanism as shown in the Figures or otherwise. In this way, the exerciser is able to engage the handles in a convenient manner. As shown in FIG. 2, when the exerciser E (shown in phantom) faces the opposite direction as that shown in FIG. 1, the handles are again easily grasped as they would be even if the exerciser E were facing the direction shown in FIG. 1.

The central support post 172 may allow for adjustment for the back support 122 and serves to hold the angled upright support system 160 in place. As the vertical support delivered by the central support post 172 may need adjustment if the angled uprights 166, 168 are adjustable with respect to their angle to the vertical, certain accommodations can be made in order to maintain the central support post 172 as well as the angular adjustability of the angled uprights.

With respect to the angle between the two angled uprights 166, 168, the embodiments shown in the figures generally indicate an angle of approximately 78° that each angled upright 166, 168 makes with respect to the base 102 taken in the plane shared by the two angled uprights 166, 168. Projection of the linear axes of the angled uprights 166, 168 past the central support post 172 generally indicates an angle of approximately 23° between the two angled uprights 166, 168. These angles may be adjusted such that the increase in the top acute angle whose projection would be near the cross member 170 correspondingly leads to a decrease of the angle between the angled uprights 166, 168 and the base 102 taken in the plane of the two angled uprights and vice-versa.

For purposes of discussion, the angle shared between the two angled uprights 166, 168 is indicated as the top angle and as indicated above has an indicated magnitude of approximately 23° in one embodiment. This top angle may be adjusted or selected generally according to the shoulder width and the dispositions of the exerciser E. If the connections of the angled uprights 166, 168 and the cross member 170 as well as the base 102 are all adjustable, the top angle as well as the two collateral upright angles may be selectably adjusted to accommodate the exerciser E. For those individual with longer arms, a possibly wider top angle may be convenient whereas those with shorter arms or narrower shoulders may prefer a narrower top angle. By providing adjustment for the angles of the upright support system 160, exerciser E can configure the exercise machine 100 according to their preferences.

In operation, the weights 106 are generally engaged by a pulley system in a manner generally known in the art but applied specifically herein in a possibly unique way. The weights are generally engaged by a pulley system, for example, for the foot-head cable 146 enable the weights 106 to be disposed generally in the center of the cable system and subject to pulling from the exerciser E from either or both ends of the foot-head cable 146. Close inspection of FIG. 3 indicates the travel of each of the cables and each of the cable systems of which there are three: one for the right hand handle 162, one for the foot-head cable system 146 and one for the left hand handle system 164. For purposes of convenience, the cable system shown in FIG. 3 have each of their pulleys numbered according to the handle or cable with which they are associated. For the left hand adjustable handle system 162, the pulleys are all labeled in sequence from 162a-162h. The front coupling 180 of the right hand handle system 162 and its associated cable 182 terminate at a cable end 184 which may be attached to a fixed point in order to secure the lifting of the weights 106. The same is similarly true for the left hand handle system with its coupling 190, cable system 192, and its cable end 194. The pulleys for the left hand adjustable handle system are all labeled in sequence from 164a-164h. The foot-head cable has a foot coupling 200 and a head coupling 202 between which its several pulleys enable the weights 106 to be lifted and exert tension when tension is exerted sufficiently at either or both ends. The pulleys for the foot-head cable 146 are all labeled in sequence from 146a-146q.

While the present invention has been described with regards to particular embodiments, it is recognized that additional variations of the present invention may be devised without departing from the inventive concept.

Claims

1. An exercise device comprising the combination of a seat for accommodating a seated user, a support structure operatively associated with said seat and including two spaced apart, angled and forwardly inclined, with respect to said seat, upright supports, said supports being further apart at their bottom than their top with each of said angled upright supports having an operatively connected hand grippable handle member coupled to an adjustable weight load, each of said hand grippable handle members being adjustable along a length of said angled, forwardly inclined upright supports.

2. The exercise device of claim 1 further comprising said upright supports being generally coplanar and disposed at an angle with one another in the range of approximately ten degrees to forty degrees (10°-40°).

3. The exercise device of claim 2 further comprising said upright supports being generally disposed at an angle with one another of approximately twenty-three degrees (23°).

4. The exercise device of claim 1 further comprising said upright supports being forwardly inclined at an angle in the range of approximately forty-five to eighty degrees (45°-80°).

5. The exercise device of claim 4 further comprising said upright supports being forwardly inclined at an angle of approximately sixty-eight degrees (68°).

6. The exercise device of claim 1 further comprising said upright supports being selectably pivotable with respect to a base.

7. The exercise device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said seat has a pivoting leg-engaging mechanism coupled to said adjustable weight load.

8. The exercise device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said support structure includes a central post coupled to said seat and supporting and retaining an upper end of said upright supports.

9. The exercise device as set forth in claim 1 further comprising an abdominal exercise system operatively coupled to said adjustable weight load.

10. The exercise device as set forth in claim 9 wherein said abdominal exercise system is a handled neck cowling.

11. An exercise device comprising the combination of a seat for accommodating a seated user having a pivoting leg-engaging mechanism and an abdominal exercise system operatively coupled an adjustable weight load, a support structure operatively associated with said seat and including two spaced apart, angled and forwardly inclined, with respect to said seat, upright supports, said supports being further apart at their bottom than their top, said upright supports being generally coplanar and disposed at an angle with one another in the range of approximately ten degrees to forty degrees (10°-40°), said upright supports being forwardly inclined at an angle in the range of approximately forty-five to eighty degrees (45°-80°) with respect to a base or similar horizontal, a central post coupled to said seat supporting and retaining an upper end of said upright supports, each of said angled upright supports having an operatively connected hand grippable handle member coupled to said adjustable weight load, each of said hand grippable handle members being adjustable along a length of said angled, forwardly inclined upright supports.

12. An exercise device as set forth in claim 11 further comprising said upright supports being generally disposed at an angle with one another of approximately twenty-three degrees (23°).

13. An exercise device as set forth in claim 11 further comprising said upright supports being generally forwardly inclined at an angle of approximately sixty-eight degrees (68°).

14. An exercise device as set forth in claim 11 further comprising said upright supports being selectably pivotable with respect to said base.

15. An exercise device as set forth in claim 11 wherein said abdominal exercise system is a handled neck cowling.