Treadmill apparatus
A treadmill apparatus comprising a rigid member movably supported overhead of a user wherein the rigid member has guiding arrangement for guiding a handle of the rigid member through a path having a vertical component, and wherein said handle has a biasing arrangement for biasing the handle toward an upper end of the path.
Disclosed herein is subject matter that is entitled to the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/779,656, filed 6 Mar. 2006.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe following invention pertains to exercise equipment, and more specifically to treadmill apparatus which enables the user to exercise the upper body while simultaneously reducing the level of exercise exertion of the lower body.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe apparatus herein described enables a treadmill user to grasp a rigid member, such as a bar, and exert a force in a generally downward direction, thus exercising bicep, clavicle, deltoid, pectoralis, brachialis, brachioradialis, and other body muscles. The rigid member (bar) may be restrained to some degree in the transverse and longitudinal directions with respect to the treadmill, wherein the longitudinal direction corresponds with the front/rear, and transverse corresponds to a side to side direction.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONOne of the benefits in utilizing the present invention while simultaneously walking on a treadmill is that the user would be able to have a direct influence on, or effect a change, in the portions of the body that the user wishes to exercise. Furthermore, the user is enabled to reduce spine weight and fatigue at the lower body while the upper body is anxious to exert itself. In such a manner, the constraints imposed at the handle bar allow, for example, the user to grasp said bar, perform a “lat pull-down”, or some form of a lat pull-down, with or without the handle bar(s) being in motion. The dynamics thus available enable the user to perform a wide variety of exercises new in the art. Additionally, an inherent advantage, particularly when walking on a moving surface, is that while grasping the hand grips the user has an instant non visual sense of the user's relative position upon the treadmill belted region, primarily with regard to lateral restraints imposed on said bar. Also to be noted is that the right and left portions of the body may be exercised dependently or independently. For example, a user with an injured foot, ankle, or leg would nevertheless be able to exercise on a treadmill because of the potential to reduce weight at all, or at a specific region, of the lower body, whereas with prior art such a user had only limited types of exercise equipment suitable to use when in such a physical condition.
The prior art does not disclose the novel features of the invention disclosed herein.
Referring to the figures, and first to the first embodiment shown in
While walking on the treadmill, the operable interface with the user occurs at handgrips which are normally biased up or alternatively fixedly secured, such that the user may reach up to head level or above, and subsequently grasp and pull either of the hand grips and exert downward force at the handgrip in a manner which in some respects may provide for the exercise activity known as lat pull-downs. However, because of the optional independent, right versus left action possible, and furthermore because motion may also be initiated at the hand grips themselves, the analogy of “lat pull-down” form of exercise is not entirely accurate. More will be discussed about this later.
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In this embodiment, intermediate between said rocker 140 and said weight member 120 is connector member 130. An upper distal end of connector member 130 is rotatably connected to rocker 140 about axis C100; and a lower distal end of connector member 130 is rotatably connected to weight member 120 about axis B100. Weight member 120 is rotatably connected to the machine frame 110 about axis A100, wherein weight member 120 is normally down at rest against stop pad 122. Shocks are optional and in this embodiment allow controlled ascent of the handlebars. This speed of ascent of the handgrips 170 may be constant velocity damper control or force dependent damper control. Continuing now, a lower end of shock 125 is rotatably connected to the machine frame 110 at axis F100, and an upper end of shock 122 is rotatably connected to said weight member 120 at axis E100. Generally, the weight member will seldom be required to have an angular range of motion beyond 40 degrees, which corresponds coincidentally to approximately 40 inches of hand grip 170 travel. Typically, 10 inches or so of hand grip 170 motion perhaps is all that is most commonly desirable. Continuing now, the transverse distance between right and left weight member 120 is determined when the machine is set up and the frame 110 width is established. In addition to the telescopic relationship which exists for this purpose between socket 160 and rocker 140, telescopic elements 112 and 182 also exist to permit adjustment of the machine frame width.
While exercising in the independent mode, interesting forms of exercise are possible of an asymmetrical nature. Additionally, while exercising in the dependent mode, completely different forms of exercise are possible, including those which involve the user lifting one's self off of the treadmill belted surface. In order to switch to dependent mode, the user aligns both right and left female square receiver tubes 162 and 161 respectively, of sockets 160, and inserts synchronization lock key 195. In this embodiment, the weight load may be modified by changing the weight stack 115. The amount of weight present at each side of the machine corresponds approximately to a one to one ratio (1:1) with the upward resistive force present at the hand grips 170. For example, if 200 pounds are installed in each weight basket, a 400 pound user could perform a lat pull-down without the weight member 120 being lifted. Continuing now, when changing individual weight plates, retaining pins 117 and 118 may be withdrawn and reinserted in this process. If the user intends to use the full range of motion, employment of the retaining pins is suggested, if however the user only intends to use approximately 10 inches of hand grip motion, then the retaining pins 117 and 118 are not necessary. Other variations in weight load securement may be suitable and in some instances preferable. Also to be considered is to provide means to limit the range of motion of the hand grips 170 upon contact with un-illustrated stops and the like. In this regard, the range of motion of the hand grips 170 may be reduced to zero.
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In conclusion, a few general comments are in order and may pertain to one or more embodiments of this invention:
1 Portions of the machine, such as any pivot joint (or joint connected to the machine frame), and/or any cable pulley, may be moved as desired in any direction in order to allow the operator to alter the specific exercise.
2 Remote control electric and/or mechanical actuators may be utilized such as solenoids, servo motors, and/or hydraulic and/or pneumatic components, elastic bands, or other means without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Furthermore, a user interface device may be mounted at the console, and a switch provided within reach of a person applying force against the handle bar. Additionally, the user may make the exercise arm strokes longer or shorter, at different resistance levels, simply by communicating with a circuit, or pushing a button or effecting a switch. In this instance, the hand grips or handle bar of this treadmill apparatus may exhibit programmable and/or interactive force and motion characteristics with the user.
3 In the embodiments which provide movable hand grips or handle bars and wherein pivotal members are present, a remote flywheel may connected to such movable members for purpose of inertia by means of sprag or one-way clutches and the like, in order to provide a cyclic rhythm of the users arm motion. Alternatively, an electric motor may or may not be used in substitution to, or in conjunction with said movable members.
4 The user may face any direction and may use this mechanism with or without a treadmill, or while on other categories of exercise equipment machines such as skiers or elliptical machines.
Thus, improved mechanisms are shown which provides the operator with motion and force characteristics new in the art. While preferred embodiments of these inventions have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications can be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention.
Claims
1. A device for use with a treadmill having a frame configured to rest on a floor surface, and a belt movably supported on the frame, the device comprising: at least one handle movably supported overhead of a person standing on the belt, for movement through a predetermined path having a vertical component; and a biasing arrangement for biasing the handle toward an upper end of the path.
2. A device for use with a treadmill having a frame configured to rest on a floor surface, and a belt movably supported on the frame, the device comprising: at least one handle movably supported overhead of a person standing on the belt; a guiding arrangement for guiding the handle through a path having a vertical component; and a biasing arrangement for biasing the handle toward an upper end of the path.
3. A device for use with a treadmill having a frame configured to rest on a floor surface, and a belt movably supported on the frame, the device comprising: at least one handle movably supported overhead of a person standing on the belt; a guiding arrangement for guiding the handle through a path having a vertical component; and a resisting arrangement for resisting downward movement of the handle.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 5, 2007
Publication Date: Oct 8, 2009
Inventor: Joseph Douglas Maresh (West Linn, OR)
Application Number: 11/713,923
International Classification: A63B 21/06 (20060101);