Folding multi-purpose exercise apparatus with exchangeable engines

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the field of exercise machines and more particularly to a folding multi-purpose exercise apparatus with an exchangeable engine.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Multi-purpose exercise machines that help build muscles or provide tone up are known in the art. In particular, the type of exercise apparatus that provides a seat for the user with the ability to provide many different exercise routines is available. This type of machine is normally equipped with an engine that provides resistance to pulling or pushing with motion of a person\'s limbs translated into either the lifting of a set of weights or the pulling of a set of bungee cords. This type of machine usually contains structures that allow lifting and/or pushing downward with the legs, pulling downward with the arms on a bar, kneeling exercises and many times many other exercise routines. It is known to provide a chest workout by sitting facing forward and pulling downward on a bar that causes the engine to provide an upward force; a back workout by sitting facing backward and pulling downward on the bar or standing and pulling upward on a bar/cable arrangement; arms workouts, shoulders workouts, abs workouts and leg workouts by similar pulling or pushing against the adjustable force provided by the engine.

Since there are at least two different types of engines, those based on weights and those based on bungees, each providing different advantages, it would be advantageous to have a multi-purpose exercise apparatus where the different engines could be exchanged. It would also be advantageous to have a multi-purpose exercise apparatus that can be folded up to be stored in a closet or elsewhere.

The present invention provides an exercise machine that can fold up for storage in a closet, provides a complete set of different exercises, and allows change-out of different types of engines including weight stack or weight engines and extension engines where one or more elastic members is extended such as a bungee engine. The present invention can be supplied fully cabled so that no cable installation is needed. The lower frame can be assembled by pivoting into place and can be secured with fasteners or at most two bolts. The press arms and other features can also be secured with fasteners or at most two bolts. The bottom seat/back seat can be pre-assembled and easily removable. The weight stack or bungee rack can be removed and changed or re-installed. All parts can be held in place with either fasteners or a small number or easily removable bolts.

Several drawings and illustrations have been presented to aid in the understanding of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is not limited to what is shown in the figures.

Turning to FIG. 1, a multi-purpose exercise apparatus is seen that includes several guide rods 1 that hold the engine 2 and support the more forward part of the apparatus such as the seat 3. At the top of the guide rods 1, a pulley arrangement 4 can be seen. This pulley arrangement 4 is used to translate the up-down force supplied by the engine 2 to motion in different and even sometimes opposite directions (FIG. 1 shows a weight engine, while FIG. 2 shows a bungee engine). In addition to the adjustable seat 3, and adjustable backrest 5, a press arm 6 and a pull-down bar 7 can be seen. Leg cushions 8, a leg extension assembly 9, a cable pull bar 10 and a foot plate 11 can also be seen. The unit can be equipped with a pair of easily removable lower stability legs 18.

FIG. 1 shows a weight-lift type of engine 2 where a variable number of weights 12 can be selected for various amounts of force with an insert pin 13. The weights are raised by a cable 14. The total weight can be between around 150 lbs. to around 210 lbs.