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Exercise apparatusRelated Patent Categories: Exercise Devices, User Manipulated Force Resisting Apparatus, Component Thereof, Or Accessory Therefor, Utilizing Weight Resistance, Including Stationary Support For Weight, Having Guide Around Or Through Weight, And Flexible Force Transmitting Linkage Element, Track Or Way Guided User Interface ElementExercise apparatus description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060160677, Exercise apparatus. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/135,226, filed May 23, 2004, entitled "EXERCISE APPARATUS", which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/912,258, filed Aug. 5, 2004, entitled "EXERCISE APPARATUS", and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/987,376, filed Nov. 12, 2004, entitled "EXERCISE APPARATUS USING WEIGHTS FOR HIGH-SPEED TRAINING", which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/736,807, filed Dec. 15, 2003, entitled "EXERCISE APPARATUS USING WEIGHTS FOR HIGH-SPEED TRAINING". BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to body exercise equipment. More particularly, the present invention relates to exercise equipment such as that disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 6,705,976, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference. [0003] The human body moves primarily in circular or arcuate paths of motion, as evidenced by Leonardo Da Vinci's study of human proportions. From a biomedical standpoint, exercise equipment designed with resistance delivery systems oriented-along an arced pathway are inherently more bio-mechanically optimized than those that are not. The aforesaid U.S. patent discloses two embodiments of exercise equipment of this type. [0004] A first embodiment encloses a housing having a structural surface defining a prescribed concave arcuate contour having a number of cable exit points positioned along this surface. A number of cables, each having a proximal end and a distal end, are arranged such that the proximal end passes through one of the exit points and is attached to a gripping device, such as a handle, that enables the user to exert a tensile force in the cable by pulling the handle. The distal end of each cable is coupled to a common source of resistance such that, when the proximal end of each cable is pulled by a user, the source of resistance exerts a counterforce on the cable. Means are provided for retaining each cable in a retracted position when it is not being pulled by a user, even when one or more other cables is or are pulled by the user. [0005] In a second embodiment, the exercise equipment comprises a frame having a track extending along a prescribed concave arcuate path. A moveable trolly, having an exit point for a cable, is repositionable to a number of fixed positions along the track. A single cable has a proximal end which extends through the exit point and is attached to a gripping device, such as a handle, that enables a user to exert a tensile force on the cable. The distal end of this cable is coupled to a source of resistance. Cable takeup means are provided, in the exercise equipment, for maintaining the length of the cable between its proximal end and the exit point through which it passes substantially constant, independent of the position of the trolley, and thus the exit point, along the track, when no tensile force is applied by the user. [0006] While the exercise apparatus disclosed in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 6,705,976 operates extremely well for the purpose for which it is intended, this and other exercise equipment of this type is relatively expensive to manufacture and to transport. One of the significant costs of this equipment involves the source of resistance applied to the cable or cables used in the machine. This source of resistance comprises, as a minimum, a plurality of weights which form a "weight stack" that is coupled to the distal end of the cable(s) and is lifted vertically when the proximal end of a cable is pulled by a user. [0007] Weight stacks, which are normally guided by rods or rails to run vertically, include a device for selecting the number of weights in the stack that are to be lifted as a unit by the user. The weights that are not selected remain in the lower part of the stack while the selected weights are lifted upward. [0008] With a mechanism of this type, it is difficult to obtain a "starting resistance" or minimum resistance of less than five pounds because, even if no weights are selected, the device for selecting the weights, itself, has a minimum weight. Particularly in the case of physical therapy applications, and for the severely de-conditioned or elderly persons, it is useful to be able to set the lowest resistance weight to zero, or near zero. [0009] As noted above, a further disadvantage of this exercise equipment is that the weights incorporated into the weight stack present a significant cost to manufacture and transport. Also, the rods or rails, and the mechanism for selecting the weights to be lifted, add to the cost of the equipment. Furthermore, the cost of shipping the weights, rods, rails and mechanism for selecting the weights is not inconsiderable. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0010] It is an object of the present invention to provide exercise apparatus, of the type that usually employs a weight stack, which is considerably less expensive to manufacture and to transport. [0011] It is a further object of the present invention to provide exercise apparatus of this type for which the resistance applied to the cable or cables may be reduced to zero, or near zero. [0012] It is a still further object of the present invention to provide exercise apparatus of this type with easy-to-use means for adding or subtracting small measures of resistance. [0013] It is a still further object of the present invention to provide exercise apparatus of this type which operates in essentially the same way as known exercise equipment, and provides essentially the same response to a user, but which avoids the requirement that a weight stack be incorporated into the machine. [0014] These objects, as well as other objects which will become apparent from the discussion that follows, are achieved, in accordance with the present invention, by providing a source of resistance which includes at least two of (1) means for removably holding one or more weights, (2) means for removably attaching one or more springs, and/or (3) means for attaching one or more damping devices. [0015] The means for coupling the handle or gripping device to the resistance source is preferably a cable, but any other mechanical means may also be used. [0016] With such an improvement of the exercise equipment according to the invention, it is no longer necessary to incorporate a stack of weights in the machine to provide a constant resistance force, independent of the distance or speed with which the handle is pushed or pulled. According to the invention, the equipment is provided with means for holding one or more weights, for example weights of the type that are readily available at any fitness center or physical therapy facility. These weights may be metal disks which have a central hole to permit attachment to a cylindrical rod or the like, or they may be sandbags, concrete blocks, concrete filled cans or the like which are placed upon a suitable platform on the exercise equipment to provide a source of constant resistance to the user. [0017] In addition or alternatively, means are provided for removably attaching one or more springs to provide a distance-dependent resistance force. Such a spring may be a tension spring, such as a coil spring, an elastic elongate member in the shape of a rod, tube, band, strap or flat strip, or a bendable rod. Such a spring may also be a compression spring which may be in the form of a coil spring or a bendable rod. [0018] In addition or alternatively, means may be provided for attaching at least one damping device, such as a hydraulic or pneumatic damper or an electromagnetic resistance device, to provide a speed-dependent resistance force to the cable(s). [0019] According to another aspect of the invention, the weight stack of the exercise apparatus is retained in the resistance source; however, a plate-like "retaining member" is disposed above the weight stack and coupled to the distal end of the cable so as to move vertically upward when lifted by the cable. This retaining member includes one or more hooks for attaching an upper end of a tension spring, a rod for retaining an additional, separate weight and a device for selectively coupling itself to the weight stack. In this way, a user can customize the resistance source to include tension springs, separate, selected weights and/or one or more weights in the weight stack. [0020] For a full understanding of the present invention, reference should now be made to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Continue reading about Exercise apparatus... Full patent description for Exercise apparatus Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Exercise apparatus patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Exercise apparatus or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Inferior limb muscle force training apparatus Next Patent Application: Hold-up assist device for vertically actuated exercise equipment Industry Class: Exercise devices ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Exercise apparatus patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.28915 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Accenture , Agouron Pharmaceuticals , Amgen , AT&T , Bausch & Lomb , Callaway Golf 174 |
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