US20070232464A1

US20070232464A1 - Counter-gravity chin up and all body exercise machine

Info

Publication number: US20070232464A1
Application number: US11/706,516
Authority: US
Inventors: Yong Chu
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-02-14
Filing date: 2007-02-14
Publication date: 2007-10-04

Abstract

A counter gravity exercise machine includes a frame, a seat beam for supporting a user, pivotally connected to the frame at a first pivot point on the frame, a link connected to the seat beam, wherein the link has an upper link end and a lower link end, an adjustment slider-slidingly connected to the seat beam and the link at the lower link end, wherein sliding user adjustment changes resistance via change in a mechanical advantage, a handle arm pivotally connected to the, link at a fourth pivot point and wherein the handle arm rotates and is rotably mounted on a second pivot, and an upright beam having an upper upright beam end and a lower upright beam end, wherein the lower upright beam end is connected to the frame and the upper upright beam end is connected to the second pivot point.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is entitled to the benefit of Provisional Patent Application No. 60/774,078 filed on Feb. 14, 2006.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to fitness exercise machines for training upper body and lower body exercises utilizing the user's weight as a source of the resistance.
Description of Related Art including information disclosed under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98
Potts, U.S. Pat. No. 4,846,458, discloses an upper body exercise apparatus to assist an exerciser to do chin-ups and dips. The apparatus includes a frame having a base, a platform parallel to the base for the exerciser to stand on, chin-up handles and dip handles extending from the frame, a system to oscillate the platform vertically between a lower position and an upper position while maintaining the platform parallel to the base and while avoiding any angular displacement, a pneumatic cylinder for providing a force to the oscillating system which is opposite the weight of the exerciser, and a control and monitor whereby the force is controlled and the oscillation of the platform is monitored. While the pad may be lowered for the user to get on using the pneumatic control, the pneumatic system is costly and requires maintenance. Holmes, U.S. Past. No. 5,312,313, discloses an upper body exercise apparatus to assist an exerciser to do chin-ups and dips. The apparatus includes a frame having a base, a support for the exerciser, and chin-up handles and dip handles extending from the frame. A motive device provides for movement of the support vertically between a lower position and an upper position. However, the handles are fixed on a stationary frame therefore the apparatus has to provide a means to counter the weight of the user. Webb, U.S. Pat. No. 5,322,489, discloses an exercise machine for assisting a user in performing chin-ups and dips includes a pair of handles attached to a frame and a kneeling platform operably connected to the frame by a four-bar linkage. The pair of handles may be a pair of chin-up handles attached to an upper portion of the frame or a pair of dip handles attached to a medial portion of the frame. This invention provides weights to counter the user's weight to provide an assist for exercises, and the user must climb onto the pad that is placed at its highest position of the motion range. Rasmussen, U.S. Pat. No. 5,334,120, discloses Gravity Sled Exercise Machine wherein leveraged body forces act to overcome gravity to move a two piece body sled and client upward, along biangular support rails, from a horizontal to a vertical orientation. To support the torso during the change in spatial orientation, a fixed angle sled seat reciprocates in lineal motion on the lower of two differentially inclined rails. Machine resistance is gravity controlled by body/sled weight, and rail angles, supplemented with an optional arrangement for adding weightedness to the sled. The machine uses weights to change the amount of the resistance, and multiple pads and their support frame require a complex structure. Ropp, U.S. Pat. No. 5,372,556, discloses an assisted pull-up and dip exercise device which includes a frame, with both a pull-up bar and dip bar, capable of supporting a person while performing these exercises. The invention includes an assist arm assembly which connects to the frame at the pivot point about which the assist arm assembly rotates. The assist arm assembly can be loaded at one end to provide variable counter-balancing support for the person while performing the exercise. The device requires weights to assist the user who must climb onto the pad to begin exercises. Holmes, U.S. Pat. No. 5,499,959, shows an upper body exercise apparatus to assist an exerciser to do chin-ups and dips. The apparatus includes a frame having a base, a support for the exerciser, and chin-up handles and dip handles extending from the frame. A motive device provides for movement of the support vertically between a lower position and an upper position. This invention uses weights to assist the user, and the pad is positioned at its highest point of the range while the user is not on, an inconvenience and a danger.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention teaches certain benefits in construction and use which give rise to the objectives described below.
The present invention is an exercise machine to be used mainly for chin up, dip, and knee raise exercises utilizing the user's body weight as a source of the machine's resistance. Depending on the setup of the machine, more exercises covering other upper and lower body exercises such as chest press, shoulder press, and row are possible. The machine has a resistance adjustment to change the amount of resistance the user feels upon doing various exercises. The machine has a handle adjustment that changes the position of a handle arm to accommodate different body-size users and various exercises and their motion range. A preferred embodiment includes a base frame that stands on a floor, and a seat frame that is pivotally connected to the base frame at a first pivot point on the base frame, and a handle arm that is also pivotally connected to the base frame at a second pivot point on the base frame. The handle arm and the seat frame are linked such that when the handle arm is moved, the seat frame moves simultaneously. The handle arm and the seat frame may be linked by using a link that is pivotally connected to the handle arm and to the seat frame at each end. At least one end of the link is the movably-fixed point along the length of the frame of either the handle arm or the seat frame such that the end of the link can be selectively fixed at a desired position relative to the relevant pivot point on the base frame, which makes the resistance adjustment for adjusting the amount of resistance for various exercises. In the embodiment, the handle adjustment is placed within the link such that the angular position of the handle arm may be set by changing the length of the link. In other embodiments the handle arm is positioned on a cam with different hole positions.
A primary objective of the present invention is to provide an apparatus having advantages not taught by the prior art.
Another objective is to provide such an apparatus that utilizes the user's body weight to provide adjustable resistance for various exercises.
Another objective is to provide such an apparatus that can offer a desired range of exercise movement for various exercises and an accommodation for different body-size users.
A further objective is to provide such an apparatus to make chin up and dip exercises safer than the existing machines by lowering the seat/knee pad to the ground and making the lowest position of the pad be the natural default position for the users to get on and off.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying drawings illustrate the present invention. In such drawings:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment having a handle adjustment within a link connecting a handle frame and a seat frame.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment showing the handle adjustment within the link positioned for the handle arm to be at chin up or lat pull down exercise mode with the handle arm raised up.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment showing the handle adjustment within the link positioned for the handle arm to be at dip exercise mode with the handle arm lowered.
FIG. 4 is a plan view of an embodiment using a cam with a number of holes in it for positioning the handle arm locked for knee raise position with the cam locked to the base frame.
FIG. 5 is a plan view of the embodiment with the cam unlocked from the base frame for exercises other than knee raise and the handle arm pulled down as shown for an exercise such as dip.
FIG. 6 is a plan view of the embodiment with the handle arm positioned on the cam for an exercise such as chin up at starting position.
FIG. 7 is a plan view of another embodiment having a bi-directional cam and a secondary arm having a pulley, and the handle arm positioned for an exercise such as chin up at starting position.
FIG. 8 is a plan view of the embodiment showing the handle arm pulled down for an exercise such as chin up and the bi-directional cam and the secondary arm moving together with the handle arm clockwise lifting the seat frame.
FIG. 9 is a plan view of the embodiment with the bi-directional cam with the handle arm positioned for exercises such as shoulder press and squat at starting position.
FIG. 10 is a plan view of the embodiment showing the handle arm pushed up and the bi-directional cam moving together with the handle arm counterclockwise while the secondary arm stationary against the base frame.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The above described drawings FIGS. 1-10 illustrate the invention, a counter-gravity chin up and all body exercise machine, an apparatus 10 comprising: a base frame 20 standing on a floor and supporting a seat frame 40 pivotally connected to base frame 20, a handle arm 60 also pivotally connected to base frame 20 and pivotally linked to seat frame 40 by a link 80 such that when handle arm 60 is moved by the user seat frame 40 is lifted up.
An embodiment in FIG. 1 comprises base frame 20 with a base beam 21 and an upright beam 27. Seat frame 40 with a seat 43 supported by a seat beam 41 is pivotally connected to base frame 20 at a first pivot point 25 on base frame 20. A portion of seat beam 41 provides a guide path for the movement of an adjustment slider 45. The adjustment slider 45 adjusts resistance via change in mechanical advantage of the second-class lever. While the user is exercising, adjustment slider 45 is fixed at a location along the guide path by using a slider knob 47 which can be a threaded bolt with a knob to be tightened against the surface of seat beam 41 or a pin if a number of holes, not shown, is provided on seat beam 41 for the pin to engage. Handle arm 60 is pivotally connected to base frame 20 at a second pivot point 29 and has a set of handles 65, 65′ to provide the user grips for exercises such as chin up and a second set of handles 63, 63′ to provide grips for exercises such as dip or knee raise. For knee raise exercise, arm pads 67, 67′ and a back pad 69 are fixed on a handle frame 61 of handle arm 60 to provide padding for the user. A distance away from second pivot point 29 on handle frame 61, one end of link 80 is pivotally connected to handle arm 60 at a fourth pivot point 71. And the other end of link 80 is also pivotally connected to a third pivot point 49 on adjustment slider 45. Therefore, link 80 is pivotally engaged to and connected between handle arm 60 and seat frame 40 such that seat frame rotates up about first pivot point 25 on base frame 20 when handle arm 60 is pulled down and rotated about second pivot point 29 on base frame 20. When the user sits on or kneels on a seat pad 43 fixed on seat beam 41 of seat frame 40 putting his/her weight on the pad and pulls handle arm 60 down at the handles, seat 43 moves up lifting the user's body. The user feels the resistance on the handles because he/she is lifting himself or herself. The amount of the lift or the resistance can be changed and set by moving adjustment slider 45 along the guided path on seat beam 41. Moving and fixing adjustment slider 45 closer to first pivot point 25 will make the resistance at the handles higher and the amount of the lift of the body increases.
In FIG. 1, the first embodiment is shown with an adjustment means 90 on link 80, for setting an angular position for the handle arm 60. The link 80 shown in FIG. 1 comprises an outer member 83 retaining a handle arm adjustment pin 85 and an inner member 81 having a number of adjustment holes 87. The inner member 81 and the outer member 83 are telescopically engaged and adjustable using adjustment pin 85 into one of adjustment holes 87. In FIG. 2, link 80 is adjusted and set such that handle arm 60 is positioned for exercises such as chin up. In FIG. 3, link 80 is adjusted and set such that handle arm 60 is positioned for exercises such as dip. With adjustment slider 45 set and fixed at the same position, the distance between the handles and the seat pad opens up more in FIG. 2 when link 80 is adjusted to be shorter in length between third pivot point 49 and fourth pivot point 71 than the distance on the same embodiment shown in FIG. 3 when link 80 is adjusted to be longer.
The same adjustment on handle arm 60 can be done by using a cam 83′ that is pivotally engaged to base frame 20 at second pivot 29 as shown in FIG. 4. A cam point 71′ on cam 83′ is linked to adjustment slider 45 at pivot point 49 by a tension link 81′. Tension link 81′ in FIG. 4 can be either a rigid link or a flexible line. Cam 83′ has a number of adjustment cam holes 87′ positioned about an equal distance away from second pivot 29 for a pin 85′ on handle arm 60 to engage. In FIG. 4, pin 85′ on handle arm 60 is engaged to one of cam holes 87′ such that the handles are positioned at about a mid-level height. In FIG. 5, the embodiment, with the initial position of handle arm 60 set as shown in FIG. 4, is pulled down at the handles, and, as a result, seat 43 moves up. In FIG. 6, the embodiment is shown with the handle arm 60 positioned for exercises such as chin up. Comparing to the position of handle arm 60 shown in FIG. 4, handle arm 60 in FIG. 6 is locked at a different hole of cam holes 87′ on cam 83′ to give different position of the handles. In the embodiment in FIG. 5, a stop, not shown, is placed on cam 83′ to allow cam 83′ to rotate clockwise from its stop position and return to its stop position. The stop prevents cam 83′ from rotating counter-clockwise from its stop position. This allows the handles of handle arm 60 only to be pulled down for an exercise when handle arm 60 is locked to cam 83′. Since a cam stop is well known, a variety of stops can be used.
Handles 63, 63′, 65, 65′ may be pulled down or pushed up for various exercises in an embodiment shown in FIGS. 7-10. In the embodiment, second pivot point 29 on base frame 20 is commonly shared by handle arm 20, cam 83′, and a pulley arm 91 for their rotational axis. In FIG. 7, handle arm 60 is at its stop position and positioned at one of holes 87′ on cam 83′. A first stop 31 is placed between base frame 20 and pulley arm 91 to allow pulley arm 91 to rotate only clockwise direction from its stop position and come back to its stop position. A second stop 103 is placed between pulley arm 91 and cam 83′ to allow cam 83′ to rotate away from the second stop on pulley arm 91 in counter-clockwise direction only. Tension link 81′ of link 80 in this embodiment is a flexible tension member such as a cable or a belt. Tension link 81′ is connected at third pivot point 49 on adjustment slider 45, and goes over a pulley 93 rotatably fixed at a point 95 on pulley arm 91, and connected to cam point 71′ on cam 83′. In FIG. 8, the handles on handle arm 60 are pulled down from its stop position, and as a result, seat 43 on seat beam 41 is lifted up from its stop position. As shown in FIG. 8, second stop 103 placed between cam 83′ and pulley arm 91 allows both cam 83′ and pulley arm 91 to rotate together clockwise. But when the handles on handle arm 60 fixed to cam 83′ are pushed up, as shown in FIG. 10, cam 83′ rotates counter-clockwise from pulley arm,91 causing a displacement of tension link 81′ between cam point 71′ on cam 83′ and pulley 93 on pulley arm 91. First stop 31 placed between base frame 20 and pulley arm 91 prevents pulley arm 91 from rotating in counter-clockwise direction from its stop position. Pushing the handles upward also produces the upward movement of seat 43 in the embodiment as shown in FIG. 10. In FIG. 9, a relationship between handle arm 60, cam 83′, and pulley arm 91 is shown with cam 83′ and pulley arm 91 at their stop positions. The handles of handle arm 60 are lowered and locked to cam 83′ for their initial position for exercises such as shoulder press and quad. An end position of the handles in an exercise motion is shown in FIG. 10.
For knee raise exercise, handle arm 60 and seat frame 40 have to be fixed to base frame 20 standing on a floor in a position of handle arm 60 and seat frame 40 shown in FIG. 4. One option is using a pin to pin through base frame 20 to seat frame 40 to hold seat frame 40 from moving upward, or using a pin 23, as shown in FIG. 4, positioned near cam 83′ to pin through base frame 20 to cam 83′ to hold handle arm 60 that is fixed at one of holes 87′ on cam 83′. Pin 23 is removed for other exercises.
The apparatus rests with seat 43 at its lowest position in the motion range. Since the handle arm and the seat are connected with a link, the user, while standing on the ground, may move the handle arm to position seat 43 at a proper level to get onto the seat. Once the user is on the seat, he/she will feel the resistance on the handle grips. He/she may exercise chin-ups, dips, and other various exercises depending on the setup. For exercises such as dips and chest press, the user may lower the handle position using handle arm adjustment pin 85, and at the same time he/she can change the resistance level using slider knob 47. In the embodiments having a cam for adjusting handle position, pin 85′ is used to change the handle arm position. The handle arm may be fixed at a desired position for knee raise exercise by using handle arm locking pin 23. When the user pushes handle arm locking pin 23 in, the pin locks the linkage system from moving. In the embodiments with a cam shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 7, handle arm locking pin 23 is located on upright beam 27 near cam 83′ such that the pin is to lock the cam when it is pushed in that freezes the linkage system. In the other embodiment shown in FIG. 1, handle arm locking pin 23 is positioned on seat beam 41 to pin through a hole on upright beam 27. The user needs handle arm locking pin 23 left unpinned for doing other exercises. As well known in the field of the art, handle arm locking pin 23 may be replaced with a strap that wraps the seat and the base frame together or any other means to hold any part of the linkage system from moving relative to base frame 20 to hold the handle arm at a position while the using is performing knee raise exercise.
It should be appreciated from the foregoing that the present invention provides an apparatus for exercises such as chin up, dip, and other various workouts using the user's weight as a resistance that can be changed depending on the user's physical condition and demand for different exercises. The apparatus provides safer chin up and dip exercises compared to the existing machines by lowering a seat/knee pad to near the floor and making the lowest position of the pad be the natural default position for the users to get on and off, eliminating an effort to step up on the pad to be seated or kneeled, and a range of handle position to accommodate different body size users and exercises. The apparatus includes a base frame that stands on a floor and provides a first pivot point and a second pivot point, a seat frame having a first point and second point, a handle arm having a first point and second point, a link having first and second ends, a first adjustment and a second adjustment. The seat frame is rotatably attached to the first pivot point of the base frame at the first point of the seat frame, and the handle arm is rotatably attached to the second pivot point of the base frame at the first point of the handle arm. The first end of the link is rotatably attached to the second point of the handle arm and the second end of the link is rotatably attached to the second point of the seat frame. The first adjustment is placed between the link and the seat frame such that positioning of the first adjustment on the seat frame relative to the first pivot point of the base frame changes a resistance for the exercises. The second adjustment is placed between the base frame and the handle arm such that setting the second adjustment changes the angular position of the handle arm.
Although the invention has been disclosed in detail with reference only to the preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various other embodiments can be provided without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is defined only by the claims set forth below.

Claims

1. A counter gravity exercise machine comprising:

a. a frame;

b. a seat beam for supporting a user, pivotally connected to the frame at a first pivot point on the frame;

c. a link connected to the seat beam, wherein the link has an upper link end and a lower link end;

d. an adjustment slider slidingly connected to the seat beam and the link at the lower link end, wherein sliding user adjustment changes resistance via change in a mechanical advantage;

e. a handle arm pivotally connected to the link at a fourth pivot point and wherein the handle arm rotates and is rotably mounted on a second pivot;

f. an upright beam having an upper upright beam end and a lower upright beam end, wherein the lower upright beam end is connected to the frame and the upper upright beam end is connected to the second pivot point.

2. The counter gravity exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the link is composite and length adjustable.

3. The counter gravity exercise machine of claim 2, wherein the link further comprises: a handle arm adjustment pin and adjustment holes spaced at intervals.

4. The counter gravity exercise machine of claim 1, further comprising: a handle arm locking pin positioned to lock the handle arm in a locked state.

5. The counter gravity exercise machine of claim 2, wherein the handle arm locking pin is mechanically locked to the upright beam.

6. The counter gravity exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the handle arm has a forward end and a rearward end and further comprises: a cam rotably mounted on the second pivot; and a mechanical connection mechanically connecting the rearward end of the handle arm to the cam.

7. The counter gravity exercise machine of claim 6, wherein the mechanical connection is configured as a handle arm adjustment pin that adjustably engages with the cam.

8. The counter gravity exercise machine of claim 6, wherein the mechanical connection is configured as a handle arm adjustment pin that adjustably engages with adjustment holes formed on the cam.

9. The counter gravity exercise machine of claim 6, wherein the link is a cable.

10. The counter gravity exercise machine of claim 6, wherein the cam is selectively locked to the upright beam by a handle arm locking pin.

11. The counter gravity exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the handle arm has a forward end and a rearward end and further comprises:

a. a cam rotably mounted on the second pivot;

b. a mechanical connection mechanically connecting the rearward end of the handle arm to the cam; and

c. a pulley mounted on a pulley arm, wherein the pulley arm rests against a pulley arm stop in a stop position but has freedom of movement toward an extended position; wherein the pulley arm stop limits movement beyond a stop position;

wherein the pulley arm is mounted on the second pivot; wherein the cam has a pulley arm pusher pushing the pulley arm toward an extended position when a user does exercises that extend the pulley arm and wherein the link is a cable,

whereby in exercises that do not extend the pulley arm, the handle arm moves independently of the pulley arm, whereby the seat beam rises in response to raising or lowering of the handle arm.

12. The counter gravity exercise machine of claim 11, wherein the cam is selectively locked to the upright beam by a handle arm locking pin.

13. The counter gravity exercise machine of claim 11, wherein the mechanical connection is configured as a handle arm adjustment pin that adjustably engages with the cam.

14. The counter gravity exercise machine of claim 11, wherein the mechanical connection is configured as a handle arm adjustment pin that adjustably engages with adjustment holes formed on the cam.

15. The counter gravity exercise machine of claim 1 1, wherein the stop position is at the rearward end of the handle arm so that the stop limits counterclockwise rotation of the pulley past around the 9 O'Clock position.

16. The counter gravity exercise machine of claim 11, wherein the pulley is mounted on a pulley arm that moves in a single direction.

17. The counter gravity exercise machine of claim 11, wherein the pulley arm reciprocates between the stop position and the extended position, wherein the extended position is higher than the stop position.

18. The counter gravity exercise machine of claim 11, wherein the pulley arm reciprocates between the stop position and the extended position, wherein the extended position is lower than the stop position.