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Rapid circuit training machine with dual resistanceRelated Patent Categories: Exercise Devices, Having Specific Electrical Feature, Equipment ControlRapid circuit training machine with dual resistance description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080020898, Rapid circuit training machine with dual resistance. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND [0001] Overall fitness is a goal many people strive to achieve by combining a large variety of strength training programs with a cardio vascular program. The challenge is combining these programs in such a way as to achieve optimal results in minimal amounts of time using as little equipment as possible. [0002] Circuit training is one means of providing a wide variety of strength workouts, but this requires that a user navigate a circuit of weight training and other types of exercise machines according to a prescribed program. In practice, this requires that a person frequent a gym where he or she has access to a room full of exercise equipment. Providing the required variety of exercise equipment at a health club, much less in a person's own home, can be cost and space prohibitive. [0003] Achieving proportionate conditioning is also a challenge, generally requiring that a person seek advice of a trainer who can provide them with a program of training that works all part of the body proportionately and includes an appropriate amount of cardiovascular training. [0004] Attempts have been made to make exercise machines that provide a user multiple forms of exercise, thereby reducing the number of exercise machines needed. At core, exercise machines generally provide a resistance against which a user works in some way, thereby exercising one or more parts of their body. [0005] Many machines provide only one source of resistance against which a user works. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,752,879 to Berdut, provides only one resistance means and that resistance is provided solely by a user's body weight. By tilting a table on which the user sits or lays, a variety of exercises may be performed to exercise different parts of the user's body. Though handles are provided in one version, they are not used to provide resistance, the user is still relying on his body weight to produce resistance as he pulls on the handles, etc. [0006] Conventional rower exercise machines attempt to exercise both the upper and lower portions of a body, but are generally limited to providing a user with a cardiovascular workout--no actual strength training workout is provided. In addition, they tend to place a disproportionate load on the user's upper body exhausting the upper body relative to the lower body of a user. This is because the seat moves nearly parallel to the ground which places a disproportionate load on the user's upper body in relation to the comparative strength of the user's muscles. [0007] A further limitation of conventional rower machines is that they generally only provide a single handle. In exercise machines providing two handles, the two handles do not operate independently of one another nor do they allow arm movements at variable angles. Providing only one handle, or two which do not operate independently of one another, limits a user's ability to perform exercises beyond synchronous pulling exercises. Without two handles operating independently of one another, asynchronous arm movements are not possible, nor are one-armed movements--preventing a user from performing such exercises as flies, independent arm curls, and the like. Likewise, in current two-handle machines, both handle-cables feed through a single cable-reel, therefore the resistance provided each handle is the same. Again, having no independence of the amount of resistance to each handle, limits the variety of exercise a user is able to perform. [0008] Attempts have been made to expand on the rower model to include more balanced strength training aspects, such as U.S. Pat. No. 4,625,962 to Street. In Street, handle resistance means are provided to work the upper body, and in one version a user may push up against weights with his or her legs to work the lower body. However, the exercises possible with Street are limited. For example, the handles do not operate independently of one another, so a user cannot conduct many types of upper body exercises. Likewise, no squat type exercises, among other types, are possible for training of the lower body. [0009] For the foregoing reasons there is a need for a trainer that enables a user to gain proportionate conditioning in a short period of time using a single space-saving trainer by providing two resistance systems that operate independently of one another so as to enable circuit training, i.e., the performance of a wide variety of exercises having different proportions of upper and lower body resistances. There is furthermore a need for a trainer that enables a user to exercise his or her arms independently of one another to allow more varied and precise exercises to be performed. SUMMARY [0010] The present invention is directed to a device that satisfies these needs for an exercise machine that enables a user to gain proportionate conditioning in a short period of time using a single space-saving trainer, and that also enables a user to exercise his or her arms independently of one another and in diverse ways. The trainer of the present invention satisfies these needs by providing two resistance systems that may operate independently of one another so as to enable circuit training (i.e., the performance of a wide variety of exercises in sequence) by shifting the proportion of load between the user's legs, arms and cardiovascular system throughout a single exercise session on the trainer. The trainer furthermore provides a first resistance system for the upper body that enables the user to perform varied arm exercises either synchronously or asynchronously. [0011] The exercise machine generally consists of a frame having a base supporting the exercise machine on a floor surface. A first resistance system provides a first training resistance to the upper body of a user and consists of a first resistance member mounted on the frame and one or more handles coupled to the first resistance member. A second resistance system provides a second training resistance to the lower body of the user. The second resistance system consists of a seat support mounted on the frame and a seat mounted on the seat support. The seat has a first position with a first potential energy and a second position with a second potential energy, the difference between the first and the second potential energies providing the second training resistance. The first and second resistance systems are operable independently of one another, enabling different resistance levels to be provided to the upper and lower body of the user so as to shift the proportion of load between the user's legs, arms and cardiovascular system throughout a single exercise session on the trainer. [0012] In another version, two handles are provided, each independently coupled to the first resistance member by a cable so as to enable the user to operate the handles separately. The handles may be pulled individually or together in asynchronous or synchronous fashion. Further, the user may pull the handles in any direction to enable a wide variety of exercises to be conducted. [0013] In another version, two cable-reel assemblies are provided each operating independently of one another to enable independent operation of the handles. [0014] In yet another version, a method for employing the exercise machine described above is disclosed. [0015] Several objects and advantages of the present invention are: (a) to provide an exercise machine that enables a user to gain proportionate conditioning in a short period of time using a single space-saving trainer; (b) to provide an exercise machine with two resistance systems that are independently operable of one another allowing a user to use only one or both together; (c) to provide an exercise machine with two independently operable resistance systems, each of which may be set to provide different levels of resistance to the upper and lower body of the user over time so as to shift the proportion of load between the user's legs, arms and cardiovascular system, thereby enabling a user to perform the equivalent of circuit training, intervals training and the like throughout a single uninterrupted exercise session on one machine; (d) to provide an exercise machine that enables a user to exercise his or her arms independently of one another or synchronously; and, (e) to provide an exercise machine that enables a user to operate handles independently of one another so the user may pull the handles out at any angle using one arm only or both arms either contralaterally or together, synchronously or asynchronously, so as to enable the user to perform a wide variety of upper body exercises such as arm curls, reverse flies, and more. [0016] The reader is advised that this summary is not meant to be exhaustive. Further features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description, accompanying drawings and appended claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0017] For a better understanding of the present invention, reference may be made to the accompanying drawings, in which: [0018] FIG. 1a, shows a side view of one version of the exercise machine of the present invention positioned with the seat support 120 at an angle of incline of about 10 degrees, with the seat 124 in a first position and showing features interior to a shroud 150; [0019] FIG. 1b, shows the exercise machine of FIG. 1a, with the seat 124 in a second position; [0020] FIG. 1c, shows the exercise machine of FIG. 1a with the shroud 150 in place and no interior features showing; [0021] FIG. 1d, shows the exercise machine of FIG. 1b with the shroud 150 in place and no interior features showing; Continue reading about Rapid circuit training machine with dual resistance... Full patent description for Rapid circuit training machine with dual resistance Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Rapid circuit training machine with dual resistance 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 Rapid circuit training machine with dual resistance or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Safety assistance strap with bar attachments Next Patent Application: Portable hurdle Industry Class: Exercise devices ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Rapid circuit training machine with dual resistance patent info. 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