Multiple exercise apparatus having an adjustable arm mechanism

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part and claims the benefit of priority of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/626,425 filed Jan. 24, 2007, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/267,540, filed Oct. 9, 2002 (now allowed), which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/800,211, filed Mar. 5, 2001, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,488,612 which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/187,368, filed Mar. 6, 2000, the disclosures of all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0002] Multi functional physical exercise apparati have been designed in the past to incorporate a variety of different subassemblies into a single machine which enable the user to perform a variety of different exercises peculiar to each subassembly.

[0003] The present invention relates to exercise apparati generally and more particularly to an exercise apparatus which enables multiple exercise routines in various positions to exercise various muscles or muscle groups at a single station. The apparatus comprises a central support which anchors at least one and typically at least two arm members which are fixedly attached to the support in a spaced apart relationship such that a user/subject may, at a single location or station, engage a grip or handle provided at the end of each arm, the grip or handle being interconnected to a weight resistance mechanism such as a weight stack or a free weight.

[0004] The arm(s) are connected to the support in such a manner as to enable the arm(s) to be both rotated and pivoted/tilted. Typically, the arm(s) are rotatable between zero and 180 degree positions in increments (such as increments of twenty degrees) and, typically, the arm(s) are pivotable between zero and forty-five degrees in increments (such as increments of fifteen degrees), wherein the incremental rotation and pivot positions are selectable and reversibly lockable into such incrementally located rotated and pivoted positions by the user.

[0005] The arms have a pivot axis that is rotatable around a horizontal axis that is typically oriented along a front to back direction of the apparatus, the arms being mounted on a front side of the apparatus at which the user is located to manually engage the apparatus and perform an exercise routine.

[0006] In accordance with the invention there is provided in one embodiment an exercise apparatus comprising:

[0007] a generally upright frame having a front to back direction and a side to side direction;

[0008] a pair of elongated arm extensions mounted on a front of the apparatus, each elongated arm extension having a proximal end and a distal end wherein the proximal end of the elongated arm extensions are pivotably mounted to the frame for pivoting around a pivot axis to selected exercise pivot positions and rotatably mounted for rotation of the pivot axis around a selected horizontal axis extending along the front to back direction of the apparatus;

[0009] a handle assembly mounted on a distal end of each elongated arm extension;

[0010] a resistance assembly within the frame;

[0011] a cable assembly interconnected between the handle assemblies and the resistance assembly such that a user may grasp and pull a handle assembly against an opposing force exerted by the resistance assembly through the cable assembly.

[0012] The elongated arm extensions are preferably pivotable such that the distal ends of each said elongated arm mechanism can be selectively swung from a less acutely angled or pivoted position to a more acutely angled or pivoted position and at various pivoted positions therebetween. Typically each said elongated arm extension is capable of movement independent of the movement of the other said elongated arm extension. In one preferred embodiment each said elongated arm extension includes a pulley rotatably mounted for rotation around an axis coincident with each respective pivot axis.

[0013] In another aspect of the invention there is provided a multiple exercise performance apparatus comprising:

[0014] a generally upright stationary frame having a front to back direction and side to side direction,

[0015] first and second elongated arm mechanisms mounted on a front end of the apparatus for pivoting about first and second pivot horizontal axes and further mounted for rotation of the pivot axes around first and second horizontal rotation axes, the arm mechanisms each extending from a proximal end to a distal end relative to the frame;

[0016] wherein a cable mechanism is mounted around one or more pulleys having a rotation axis coincident with a respective one of the pivot axes of the arm mechanisms, the cable mechanism having a first terminal end interconnected to a handle mechanism which is mounted at the distal end of the first elongated arm mechanism, and a second terminal end interconnected to a handle mechanism which is mounted at the distal end of the second elongated arm mechanism, the cable mechanism having a portion interconnected to a weight resistance mechanism.

[0017] In another aspect of the invention there is provided a multiple exercise positioning apparatus comprising:

[0018] a generally upright stationary support mounted on a mounting surface; and an arm mechanism comprised of one or more elongated arms, a first proximal end of the arm mechanism being mounted to the support at a selected height above the mounting surface such that the arm mechanism is pivotable around a pivot axis and the pivot axis is rotatable around a horizontal axis relative to the support,

[0019] wherein the arm mechanism has a second distal end which is stationarily positionable in a plurality of selected exercise positions via pivoting of the arm mechanism,

[0020] the apparatus including a cable that extends between the distal end of the arm mechanism and a weight resistance mechanism, the cable being routed around the pivot axis on a pulley having an axis that is coincident with the pivot axis of the arm mechanism.

[0021] Further in accordance with the invention there is provided, in a multiple exercise positioning apparatus comprising a generally upright support having an elongated arm mechanism pivotably mounted to the upright support, the elongated arm mechanism comprised of one or more elongated arms, wherein the elongated arm mechanism has a cable interconnected between a handle disposed at a distal end of the arm mechanism and a weight resistance mechanism which is actuated by pulling on the handle, a method of performing any one of a selected number of differently positioned or oriented exercises with the apparatus comprising:

[0022] positioning the elongated arm mechanism in a selected position of pivot about an axis of pivot of the arm and in a selected position of rotation of the axis of pivot around a horizontal axis;

[0023] routing the cable around a pulley having a pulley axis that is coincident with the axis of pivot of the arm; and

[0024] manually pulling on the handle so as to exert an opposing force to the weight resistance mechanism through the cable.

[0025] In another aspect of the invention there is provided a multiple exercise performance or positioning apparatus comprising: a generally upright stationary frame having a front, a back, a first side, and a second side; an elongated arm mechanism having a proximal end and a distal end; a pivot mechanism secured to the generally upright stationary frame and to the elongated arm mechanism, wherein the pivot mechanism is interposed between the front of the generally upright stationary frame and the proximal end of the elongated arm mechanism, wherein the pivot mechanism rotates about a first axis that extends horizontally through the front and back of the generally upright stationary frame, the elongated arm mechanism pivotally mounted to the pivot mechanism to pivot about a second axis that is transverse to the first axis, wherein the elongated arm mechanism is selectively locked into incremental angular positions about the first axis; a pulley disposed within the pivot mechanism to rotate about the second axis; and a cable reeved around the pulley within the pivot mechanism and having a first end interconnected to a handle at the distal end of the elongated arm mechanism, the cable interconnected to a weight resistance mechanism to resist movement of the handle relative to the elongated arm mechanism.

[0026] Typically, the apparatus further includes a second elongated arm mechanism having a proximal end and a distal end; a second pivot mechanism secured to the generally upright stationary frame and to the second elongated arm mechanism, wherein the second pivot mechanism is separated laterally from the first pivot mechanism and is interposed between the front of the generally upright stationary frame and the proximal end of the second elongated arm mechanism, wherein the second pivot mechanism rotates about a fourth axis that extends horizontally through the front and back of the generally upright stationary frame, and wherein the second elongated arm mechanism pivots about a fifth axis that is transverse to the fourth axis; and a second pulley disposed within the second pivot mechanism that is rotatable about the fifth axis.

[0038] FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of a functional trainer or multi-exercise function apparatus 10 according to the invention comprising a pair of right 20 and left 30 arms which are both pivotable respectively around axes 42, 40 and both rotatable respectively around axes 50 and 60. As shown axes 40 and 42 are collinear/coaxial but do not necessarily need to be collinear or coaxial. The apparatus has a front to back direction and a front face 70 in front of which the user normally stands or is otherwise positioned when using the apparatus 10 so as to have manual access to the handles 80, 90 held at the distal ends 100, 110 of each arm 20, 30 respectively. As shown in FIG. 1, the arms 20, 30 extend forwardly from the front face 70 from a pivot end 120, 130 which is/are proximal to the front face 70 to the distal ends 100, 110 which are forwardly extending relative to the face 70; and the arms. 20, 30 are rotatable in semi-circular arcs 140, 150 around axes 50, 60 which project forwardly of the frontal face 70. As can be readily imagined when the arms are pivoted in a position out of vertical as shown in FIG. 1 for example, the arms 20, 30 will travel through a half conical path when rotated fully through the semicircular arcs 140, 150. The upright frame elements, 160, 170, FIG. 6, on which the arms 20, 30 are rotatably mounted and the cover 180 and other components are generally mounted are themselves mounted or rigidly attached to leg supports 200, 210 which are seated on the ground as shown.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 2, each arm 20, 30 may be rotated around its horizontal, front to back rotation axis 50, 60 into locked rotated positions/increments. As shown in FIG. 2, arm 30 is lockable into any one of multiple rotated positions, e.g 149-159 which as shown in the example embodiment are in 20 degree arcuate increments along the entire 180 degree arcuate travel 150 of arm 30. The arms may be locked into any incremental arcuate positions and such locked positions may be of any selected incremental size or degree and may be incrementally the same or different from each other. In the embodiment shown, the locked positions are enabled by bushings 270 which are stationarily attached to frame uprights 160, 170 having incrementally spaced, apertures, e.g. 149a, 151a et seq., FIG. 1, which correspond to angular positions 149 and 151 et seq., FIG. 2 (apertures corresponding to positions 153-159 not labeled/shown in FIG. 1). A pin 181, FIGS. 1, 3, 4, which is spring 282 loaded and mounted on rotatable axle flange 300, FIGS. 1, 4, is manually insertable into any of the apertures (e.g. 149a, 151a) in the flanged portion 270 of cylindrical bushing 272, the apertures in flange 270 corresponding to positions 149 and 151, by manually pulling backwardly on the head of the pin 181, releasing the pin and allowing the pin to be spring 282 force inserted into a selected aperture thus locking the rotation position of the rotatable axle 301 around axis 50 into a selected angular position. As shown in FIG. 4, the forwardly extending arm 20 with end portion 24 is pivotably attached at pivot axis 42 to bracket 23 which is in turn fixedly attached to or integrally formed together with the flange portion 300 of the rotatable axle 301. Axle 301 is rotatably mounted within fixedly attached bushing 272 by any conventional mechanism, e.g. by a rotation enabling bearing 25 interposed between the outer surface of axle 301 and the inner surface of fixedly mounted bushing 272, FIG. 4. The cylindrically shaped axle 301 is thus attached to arm 20 via bracket 23 as shown in FIG. 5 and arm 20 is thus rotatable around axis 50 by rotation of axle 301 within bushing 272.

[0040] As shown in FIGS. 3-4, arm 20 is pivotable and lockable into incremental arcs around pivot axis 42, e.g. into incremental angular positions 330, 331, 332, FIG. 3, which correspond to the locking of a pin into locking apertures, such as shown in the alternative embodiment depicted in FIGS. 5-5b, where a locking pin 310 is selectively lockable by the user into incremental angular locking apertures 320, 321, 322 provided in bracket. As can be readily imagined, the number, size and degree of the incremental arcuate positions and apertures provided for pivoting movement of arms 20, 30 can be varied and selected to be of any desired value. A user can change the pivot position of an arm 20, 30 by pulling outwardly on the exposed head of pin 310 to disengage the inner end of the pin 310 from an aperture, 320, 321, 322, manually pivoting an arm around an axis 40 or 42 to a position where the pin is in axial alignment with a desired aperture 320, 321, 322 and releasing the head of the pin 310 allowing the spring 311, FIG. 5, to snap the tip end of the pin into engagement within the desired pivot position aperture. Preferably the weight of the arms 20, 30 is selected to allow the user to readily pivot the arms 20, 30 to any desired pivot position around axes 40, 42 and to further facilitate such manual pivoting, a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder, shock absorber or the like 350, FIG. 3 is provided between mounting bracket 23 and arm 20, 30 so as to counterbalance or at least lessen any torque force exerted by the weight of an arm 20, 30 around the pivot axes 40, 42.

[0041] FIGS. 1-4 and 6 show an embodiment where the axis of the pulley wheel 392 that is mounted at the pivot base of an arm 20 (or 30) is offset from the pivot axis 42 of the arm 20 (or 30) itself. Such offset causes the cable, 220, 241, FIG, 2 and 390, FIGS. 4, 5a, 5b to minimize slack and/or pull on the weight stack, 265, FIGS. 2, 3, when the arm is pivoted between positions such as 330 to 332. FIGS. 5-5a show an alternative embodiment regarding the mounting of the axis of the pulley wheel 392 relative to the pivot axis of the arm 20 (or 30). In the FIGS. 5-5b embodiment, the axes of the pulley wheel 392 and the pivot axis 42 are coincident or coaxial along axis X. In such an embodiment the structure of the joint or pivot base of the arms is simplified and enables the handle end 80, 90 of the apparatus to be slightly slackened when the arm 80 and/or tensioned depending on the pivot position of the arm 20 (or 30).

[0042] With reference to FIGS. 5a, 5, the cable 390 is pulled slightly in the direction 800 when the arm is pivoted from a less acute angular position (relative to a front to back horizontal Z axis) as designated for example by angle A and phantom position 20a to a more acute angular position as designated for example by angle B and solid line position 20, FIG. 5a. Conversely when the arm is pivoted from a more acutely angled B position 20, FIG. 5a, to the less acutely angled A phantom line position 20a, the cable 390 is pulled backwardly in the direction 802 by the interconnection of the cable 390 to the weight stack. Such pulling 800 and slackening 802 on the cable 390 is a result of the lever effect created by Radius R, FIG. 5a, relative to the pulley axis X which is created by coaxial mounting X of the cable pulley axis 392a with the pivot axis 42 of the arm 20 to create the coaxial/coincident axis X. A lever effect is thus created such that when the arm 20 is pivoted to a more acutely angled B pivot position, e.g. from position 20a to 20 as shown in FIG. 5a, the cable 390 is pulled 800 and conversely slackened 802 as described above when pivoted to a less acutely angled position relative to a horizontally disposed front to back axis Z. In the embodiments shown, the distal end of cable 390 is provided with a ball or knot 80a or other functionally equivalent stop mechanism that is larger in diameter than the spacing 804, FIG. 7 between guide pulleys 391, 420 thus preventing the handle 80 end of the cable 390 from traveling in the direction 802, FIG. 5a, when the stop mechanism 80a, engages the pulley wheels 391, 420 under the force of the weight stack. In practice, either a small amount of slack or a slight amount of tension is created in the end portion of the cable 390 attached to the handle 80, depending on the degree of pivot position, e.g. A or B, of the arm 20 and depending on the precise overall length that is selected for the cable 390 from end to end. In the FIGS. 5-5a embodiment, the overall length of the cable 390 is preferably selected such that the cable 390 has a slight tension when an arm 20, 30 is pivoted to its most acutely angled position relative to a front to back horizontal axis such as Z and has a slight slack when the axis of an arm is pivoted to a position coincident or nearly coincident with a front to back horizontal axis such as Z. In all other aspects, the components and operation of an apparatus incorporating the FIGS. 5-5a embodiment are the same as described with reference to the apparati shown in FIGS. 1-4, 6-8.

[0043] As shown by FIGS. 1-6, arms 20, 30 can be rotated and pivoted about axes 50, 60 and 40, 42 such that the distal ends 100, 110 of the arms and their associated handles 80, 90 can be positioned closer to or further away from the face 70 of the apparatus 10 in a wide variety of upward, sideward and downward positions thus enabling the user to self create or choose an exercise for any desired muscle or muscle group, e.g. a pull down exercise where the handles are positioned as shown in FIG. 1, or a pull up exercise when the arms are rotated to a downward position, or a rowing or pull in exercise when the arms are pivoted to a more horizontally disposed position. As can be readily imagined, the arms 20, 30 can be positioned to virtually limitless positions for creating an exercise of the user's choice/selection. The handles 80, 90 can be engaged by the user's foot/feet, head, elbow, etc. when positioned appropriately relative to the position of the user's body on the ground or other implement such as a bench on which the user may sit or lie to perform a chest press or sit up or leg or calf press or other exercise as the user may select.

[0044] Incidental rotation of the arms 20, 30 when residing in any given position of rotation is controlled by a safety tension mechanism. As shown in the embodiments in FIGS. 1-6, the rotation axle 301 is provided with a flange plate 261, FIGS. 2, 4, to which is rotatably attached a link 260 which is attached to a cable 251 which is routed around a pulley 252, FIG. 2, which is attached to a stretchable spring 250 which is connected to the frame member 165. When an arm is in a zero rotation torque position, position 149, such as when the arms are in the positions shown in FIG. 1, the flange plate 261 is not rotated around axis 60 and spring or tension member 240 is in a minimum stretch or tension state. In the minimum stretch state, e.g. as shown in FIG. 2 with respect to spring 240, the spring is nevertheless stretched to a certain degree and under tension in the minimum zero torque position of plate 261 so that the arm 20 is held in a steady state position under the tension of tension member 240 or 250 as the case may be. When an arm is rotated out of the zero torque position, e.g. in position of arm 30 shown in FIG. 2, the tension member 250 is further stretched and the tension increased somewhat relative to the minimum stretch position to account for the added rotational torque force exerted by the weight of an arm 20, 30 through axle 301 to plate 261. Preferably the added tension which the tension member 240, 250 undergoes throughout the entirety of the complete arc of rotation of plate 261 is small relative to the maximum tension which the tension member is capable of withstanding or exerting. Preferably the tension which the tension member 240, 250 exerts through to the plate 261 against rotation of an arm 20, 30 in any given position of rotation of plate 261 along arc 150 is less than about ten percent of the maximum tension or upper tension limit value of the tension member. In any event, when an arm is rotated to any position along arc 150 and in any pivot position along arc 333, the tension exerted by the tension member 240, 250 is sufficient to hold the arm in whatever rotated and pivoted position in which it may be residing at the moment, i.e. the weight of the arm 20, 30 and the rotation torque force which the arm may exert on axle 301 in any given rotation and pivot position, is counterbalanced by the opposing tension in tension member 240, 250 such that arm is held in such position and will not drift downwardly or upwardly in the absence of the user's applying a manual or other torque rotation force to an arm. Preferably a user may easily and smoothly rotate an arm to any desired position of rotation against the rotation controlling tension force exerted by the tension member.

[0045] FIG. 6 shows a cabling arrangement for interconnecting the handles 80, 90 to the weight resistance mechanism 380. As shown, a single flexible cable 390 is connected between the handles 80, 90, the cable 390 being routed through the arms 20, 30 and through/past the pivot positions where the pivot axes 40, 42 are located. The single cable 390 is further routed around a series of pulleys 391-399 which are all mounted such that when either handle 80, 90 is pulled outwardly from the distal ends of the arms, the cable 390 necessarily pulls downwardly on pulley 395 which is connected to a second cable 410 which is routed around pulleys 411, 412 and interconnected at its distal end 415 to the frame member 178. As pulley 395 is pulled downwardly, pulley 412 is pulled upwardly. Pulley 412 is connected to the weight resistance mechanism 380 and, when pulley 412 is pulled upwardly, the weight resistance mechanism 380 is pulled upwardly along with pulley 412 via the weight bearing rod 287, FIG. 2, thus creating the opposing force to the user's pulling on one or both of the handles. As can be readily imagined and shown in FIG. 7, both handles can be pulled outwardly at the same time, both such pulling motions, 425, 426 resulting in a simultaneous downward pulling 418, 419 on pulley 395 and concomitant lifting 417 of pulley 412. Similarly, pulling 435, FIG. 8, on a single handle results in downward pulling force 421 on pulley 395. As shown, all of the routing pulleys for the single cable 390 which extend between the handles, i.e. pulleys 391, 392, 393, 394 and 396, 397, 398, 399 and the routing pulley 411 are connected or anchored to a stationary component of the apparatus. Pulleys 395 and 412 are floating enabling upward pulling of the weight resistance mechanism 380.

[0046] As shown in FIGS. 7, 8 the terminal ends of the cable 390 are provided with stops 500 attached to cable 390. Follower pulleys 420 are also mounted on the ends 100, 110 of arms 20, 30 so as to cooperate with pulleys 391 to provide an interference mechanism for stops 500 thus limiting the backward movement of the terminal ends of cable 390 (to which the handles 80, 90 are attached) beyond the position of pulleys 391, 420 and 399, 420.

[0047] The weight resistance mechanism 380 shown in the embodiment of the Figures comprises a stack of incremental weights any selected number of which a user can interconnect to pulley 412 before beginning an exercise, e.g. by inserting a pin through a lateral aperture which is provided in each of the incremental weights in the stack and continuing through a complementarily aligned aperture provided in the rod 287, FIG. 2, for each incremental weight, the weight bearing rod 287 being interconnected to pulley 412. Other weight resistance mechanisms can be provided such as free weights, a high tension springs, a high tension stretch or compression member, a force resistance rotating mechanism, a container fillable with a selected amount of fluid or the like.

[0048] The horizontal foot supports 210, 200 are rigidly connected to the upright frame supports 160, 170 at a generally right angle and have a length extending from the point of connection 515, FIG. 6 selected to safely oppose any rotating torque force around the point of connection 515 that might tend to tip the upright supports 160, 170 over.