| Isolation exercise machine with leverage arm -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
 
Isolation exercise machine with leverage armRelated Patent Categories: Exercise Devices, User Manipulated Force Resisting Apparatus, Component Thereof, Or Accessory Therefor, Utilizing Weight Resistance, Including Stationary Support For WeightIsolation exercise machine with leverage arm description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060205572, Isolation exercise machine with leverage arm. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application is a divisional application of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/353,356, filed 30 Jan. 2003. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] This invention pertains to machines for exercising human muscles, and more particularly to isolation exercise machines that impose different loads on a exercising person during concentric and eccentric muscle functions. [0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art [0005] Various types of exercise machines have been developed to exercise human muscles. In general, exercise machines fall into one of two broad groups: machines for exercising multiple pairs of muscles at one time, and machines that exercise only one pair of muscles at a time. The first broad group of machines is frequently referred to as compound machines. The second group is often referred to as isolation machines. [0006] Regardless of whether one or several pairs of muscles are being exercised, the muscles can function in three different ways. The first is a positive or concentric function in which the muscles contract against a load that is less than the muscle strength. The second way is a static or isometric function in which the muscle attempts but is unable to contract against a load that is greater than the muscle strength. The third muscle function is a negative or eccentric function in which an external load is large enough to overcome the muscle strength and force the muscle to elongate in spite of an attempt by the person to contract the muscle. [0007] Examples of prior compound exercise machines include those marketed by Powertec Direct Company of Milford, Pa. The Hammer Strength Company of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Promaxima Manufacturing Limited of Houston, Tex., also market respective lines of mechanical exercising equipment. None of the machines available from the foregoing companies is capable of increasing the load a person must resist during eccentric muscles functions compared with the concentric muscle functions. [0008] Exemplary compound exercise machines are disclosed in my co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/233,036 filed Sep. 30, 2002. The machines of that application include leverage arms that are pivoted to a frame weights of desired size are hung from the leverage arms. The exercising person pivots the leverage arm and lifts the weights during concentric muscle functions. A spotter applies a small additional force to the leverage arm during eccentric muscle functions. The small applied force imposes an additional load that the person must resist during the eccentric muscle function. [0009] The three companies mentioned above also market isolation exercise machines. Typical prior isolation machines exercise the pectoral muscles, inner thighs, lateral deltoid muscles, posterior deltoid muscles, and latisimus dorsi muscles. The prior machines usually included a series of cables and cams that operated to raise and lower a weight during the exercise routines. [0010] U.S. Pat. No. 5,125,881 shows an isolation exercise machine for exercising the rear deltoid muscles. The machine of that patent comprises two independently pivotable levers each having a weight and a counterweight. The levers are pivoted in response to pushing against the levers with the backs of a person's upper arms. U.S. Pat. No. 5,171,198 teaches an isolation machine having independently pivotable levers with weights and counterweights for exercising the lateral deltoid muscles. [0011] Like the compound exercise machines presently available, the prior isolation exercise machines also impose the same load on an exercising person during both concentric and eccentric muscle functions. Thus, a need exists for an isolation exercise machine that takes full advantage of the capabilities of human muscles during eccentric functions. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0012] In accordance with the present invention, an isolation exercise machine is provided that is capable of imposing different loads on an exercising person during concentric and eccentric muscle functions. This is accomplished by apparatus that includes a leverage arm that rotates in unison with one or the other of two force stations. [0013] The force stations are joined to each other by a connection mechanism. According to one aspect of the invention, the connection mechanism comprises a pair of exercise arms and a drive train that produces opposite rotations of the exercise arms. Each exercise arm includes a shaft that is journalled for rotation in a tripod frame. Each exercise arm includes at least one beam to which the associated force station is mounted. Each exercise arm may also have a second beam that removeably holds a first weight. When the isolation exercise machine is at rest, the first weights are generally underneath the shafts of the associated exercise arms. Rotating the exercise arms from their rest positions raises the first weights. The force stations are adjustable on the exercise arms to Suit the particular exercising person and the muscles to be exercised. [0014] In a preferred embodiment, the drive train is comprised of two sprockets on each exercise arm shaft. A first chain is fixed to a first pair of the sprockets. A second chain is fixed to the other pair of the sprockets. The two chains are arranged in a figure-eight configuration so as to produce the opposite rotations in the exercise arm shafts. [0015] In order to rotate with a particular force station, the leverage arm may be attached to the exercise arm associated with that force station. Preferably, however, the leverage arm is attached to the drive train. For example, one end of the leverage arm may be attached to a sprocket of a chain and sprocket drive train. Rotation of either exercise arm thus causes rotation of the leverage arm as well as of the other exercise arm. The leverage arm may have a weight bar for removeably holding a second weight. [0016] The isolation exercise machine frame is designed with a support that supports an exercising person. The support is constructed to suit the particular muscles that are to be exercised. For example, the support may be a horizontal bench that supports a person lying horizontally. Alternately, the support may be in the general form of a seat with or without a back rest or chest rest. [0017] To use the isolation exercise machine of the invention, the exercising person places the desired first weights on the second beams of the exercise arms. A second weight may be placed on the leverage arm instead of or in addition to the first weights on the exercise arms. The person positions himself in the appropriate manner on the support and places the desired limbs adjacent the corresponding force stations. The person exerts a concentric muscle function against both force stations simultaneously. Doing so overcomes the loads imposed by the weights and rotates the exercise arms and raises the weights. That action also causes the leverage arm to rotate such that its second end is at a higher elevation that it was at the start of the concentric muscle function. [0018] At the end of the concentric muscle function, a spotter applies a small force to the leverage arm. The applied force creates an applied torque on the shaft associated with the sprocket to which the leverage arm is attached. Because of the length of the leverage arm, a small applied force creates a significant applied torque on the sprocket shaft. The connection mechanism converts the applied torque into equal and opposite applied loads at the force stations. The applied loads are additive to the loads imposed by the weights. During the eccentric muscle function, therefore, the person exerts a force on each force station that resists the sum of the loads due to the weights plus the small force applied to the leverage arm. At the end of the eccentric muscle function, the spotter removes the small force from the leverage arm. The exercising person then repeats the concentric muscle function, again overcoming only the load imposed by the first and/or second weights, and the cycle repeats. In that manner, the person makes maximum use of his different muscle abilities during concentric and eccentric functions. [0019] The weight of the leverage arm itself creates a leverage arm torque on the shaft associated with the sprocket to which the leverage arm is attached. The leverage arm torque is converted by the connection mechanism into additional loads at the two force stations. The loads at the force stations due to the leverage arm weight are additive to the loads due to the weights. In some instances, it may desirable to negate the weight of the leverage arm such that the person must overcome only the loads of the weights. In those situations, the isolation exercise machine of the invention is designed with a counterweight arm and counterweight that cancel out the weight of the leverage arm. For a connection mechanism that uses a chain and sprocket drive train, the counterweight arm may be joined to any of the sprockets. [0020] It is an important feature of the invention that it is adaptable to exercising a wide variety of muscles. In one embodiment, the support of the isolation exercise machine is in the form of a bench. The bench is so located relative to the force stations as to enable the exercising person to exercise the pectoral muscles. The bench-type support is also suitable for exercising the inner thigh, posterior deltoid, lateral deltoid, and latisimus dorsi muscles. For each type of muscle to be exercised, the same laws of physics are used by the leverage arm and the small force applied to it by a spotter during eccentric muscle functions. Accordingly, maximum efficiency is attained when exercising the particular muscles. [0021] The method and apparatus of the invention, using a leverage arm in conjunction with a connection mechanism, thus converts a torque created by a selectively applied force to the leverage arm into additional loads at the force stations. The full ability of the exercising person to resist greater loads during eccentric muscle functions than he overcomes during concentric muscle functions is realized, even though the spotter need apply only a small force to the leverage arm. Continue reading about Isolation exercise machine with leverage arm... Full patent description for Isolation exercise machine with leverage arm Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Isolation exercise machine with leverage arm 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 Isolation exercise machine with leverage arm or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Exercise weight stack methods and apparatus Next Patent Application: Dumbbell retail/storage rack Industry Class: Exercise devices ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Isolation exercise machine with leverage arm patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.16871 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Tyco , Unilever , Warner-lambert , 3m 174 |
 * Protect your Inventions * US Patent Office filing 
PATENT INFO |
|
