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Machine for exercising the muscles of the lower back and associated methods

Machine for exercising the muscles of the lower back and associated methods description/claims

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/684,975 filed May 26, 2005, of which is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

The present invention relates to the field of exercise machines, and, more particularly, to exercise machines for the lower back and related methods.

Various exercise machines have been disclosed which exercise the back muscles using a resistance arm in combination with a resistance pad in contact with the back, along with various elements ensuring pelvic isolation. Pelvic isolation is typically achieved by placement of the feet on a foot board, contact of the pelvis to the back of a seat, and downward pressure on the shins and thighs by a knee restraint device. These machines specifically attempt to exercise the lumbar muscles of the lower back, consisting essentially of the lower five vertebrae of the spine.

In U.S. Pat. No. 6,004,246 to Sencil, assigned to the owner of the present application, for example, such a machine is disclosed having a resistance pad mounted to several attached movement arms. A virtual movement arm connected to the center of the resistance pad has a center of rotation located above the seat base and forward from the seat back. A movement arm pivoting at this center of rotation would impede a user from using the machine. Thus, the machine structure features extensive parallel links to the virtual movement arm, mountage links, rods, and pivot pins to position the resistance pad in a rotation path about this center of rotation.

Although the '246 patent discloses a structure for rotating the resistance pad about the center of rotation, the structure involves complicated, large scale construction. Further, the resistance arm of the '246 patent cannot be disengaged for easy adjustment of its initial position prior to the user entering the machine. This may introduce a risk for users with limited range of motion. Thus, it would be advantageous to provide an exercise machine for the back having a relatively simple frame structure and utilizing spatial efficiency. Yet further, it would be advantageous to provide an exercise machine for the back accommodating users of varying flexibility.

In view of the foregoing background, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a machine for exercising the muscles of the lower back. The machine includes a base frame and a resistance arm including a resistance pad engaged by the user. The resistance arm is coupled to the base frame at a first rotation point and has a center of rotation about the first rotation point. The machine may further include a seat frame member carrying a seat, the seat frame member coupled to the base frame at least one seat rotation point. The seat frame member has a center of rotation about each of the at least one seat rotation point. The resistance arm and seat frame member may be rotated in opposite directions during a repetition cycle about the respective first rotation point and at least one seat rotation point.

The seat may include a base and a back for defining a lumbar rotation center (LRC) fixed relative to the seat, the LRC positioned above the base and forward from the back. The resistance pad center of rotation over the repetition cycle may substantially coincide with the LRC.

The radial distance between the resistance pad and the LRC over the repetition cycle may accommodate users of varying size, and the range of the radial distance between the resistance pad and the LRC over the repetition cycle may be minimized.

The base frame may extend the base of the machine and the machine may further include at least one forward link coupling the base frame to the seat frame member adjacent a front area of the machine. Each forward link may include at least one link rotation point, which may include a seat rotation point. Each forward link may include a top end and a bottom end, and a seat rotation point may be adjacent the top end of each forward link. Each forward link may include a rotation point adjacent the bottom end for rotatably connecting the forward link to the base frame.

The first rotation point, at least one seat rotation point and at least one link rotation point are selectively positioned such that the radial distance between the resistance pad and the LRC accommodates users of varying size, and the range of the radial distance between the resistance pad and the LRC over the repetition cycle is minimized. The LRC may correspond to the approximate center of rotation of the lower five vertebrae of a user positioned on the seat.

The resistance pad may engage the upper back of the user. The machine may further include a locking mechanism for selectively adjusting the initial angle of the resistance arm relative to the base frame at the beginning of a repetition cycle. The resistance arm may further include a first end coupled to the resistance pad and a second end coupled to the locking mechanism. The first rotation point of the resistance arm may be positioned between the first and second end of the resistance arm. The locking mechanism may adjust the angular range of the resistance arm during a repetition cycle. The locking mechanism may disengage the machine resistance while adjusting the initial angle of the resistance arm to accommodate users of varying flexibility entering the machine. The locking mechanism may include a hydraulic cylinder.

The seat frame member may include a first end adjacent the seat, a second end coupled to a foot board for mounting the user's feet during operation of the machine, and a first seat rotation point adjacent the second end. The seat frame member may further include a second seat rotation point between the first and second end, along an underside of the seat frame member.

The machine may further include a lifting arm having a first end coupled to the resistance arm first rotation point and a second end rotatably coupled to the second seat rotation point of the seat frame member. The base frame may include a side bar having a first end integral with the base frame and a second end coupled to the first rotation point of the resistance arm and further coupled to the first end of the lifting arm. The base frame may further include a stand for supporting the seat frame member adjacent the second end of the lifting arm prior to beginning the repetition cycle.

The resistance pad may further include a pair of handles coupled to the first end of the resistance arm to be grasped by the user during the repetition cycle.

The machine may further include a knee restraint coupled to the seat frame member for restraining the user's knees and isolating the pelvis while using the machine. The knee restraint may include an adjustable knee bar for adjustably positioning the knee restraint, and a locking device for securing the knee restraint in contact with the user's knees.

A method aspect may include assembling a machine for exercising the muscles of the lower back. The method may include forming a base frame, and rotatably coupling a resistance arm including a resistance pad to be engaged by the user to the base frame at a first rotation point, the resistance arm having a center of rotation about the first rotation point. The method may further include rotatably coupling a seat frame member carrying a seat to the base frame at least one seat rotation point, the seat frame member having a center of rotation about each of the at least one seat rotation point. The resistance arm and seat frame member may be rotated in opposite directions during a repetition cycle about the respective first rotation point and at least one seat rotation point. The seat may include a base and a back for defining a lumbar rotation center (LRC) fixed relative to the seat, the LRC positioned above the base and forward from the back. The resistance pad center of rotation may substantially coincide with the LRC. The radial distance between the resistance pad and the LRC may accommodate users of varying size, and the range of the radial distance between the resistance pad and the LRC over the repetition cycle is minimized.

The base frame may extend the base of the machine and the method may further include coupling a forward link from the base frame to the seat frame member adjacent a front area of the machine. The forward link may include at least one link rotation point, including at least one seat rotation point.

• Provisional Patent
• Utility Patent

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