Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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EXERCISE MACHINE
This invention relates to an exercise machine,
SUMMARY ~~ THE INVENTION
It is one object of the invention to provide an improved exercise
machine,
According to one aspect of the invention there is provided an exercise
machine comprising:
a frame arranged to be mounted on and fixed to a floor for multiple
exercises to be carried out by a person at the frame, the frame comprising:
a horizontal cross beam defining an exercise area on a floor
undemea#~ the cross beam;
at least one pair of upright posts each at a respective side of the
exercise area underneath the cross beam and connected thereto so as to extend
from the cross beam to the floor;
1 a and a plurality of exercise elements mounted on the frame with two of
the exercise elements being located each on a respective one of the pair of
posts;
each of the exercise elements mounted on respective ones of the
posts including a mounting bracket carried on the respective post and moveable
longitudinally of the post to adjust the position of the exercise element on
the post;
and each exercise element including a cable attached to an adjustable
resistance element, a pair of pulleys between which the cable passes and a
hand
grip member attached to an end of the cable such that the hand grip member can
be
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z
grasped by a person for pulling on the cable with the cable being guided as it
is
pulled by apt (east one of the pulleys.
Preferably the cables are attached to weight stacks to provide the
resistance but other resistance systems such as springs can be used.
F~referably each of the exercise elements is movable relative to its
respective past from a bottom of the post for the person to pull upwardly and
to a top
of the post far the person to pull downwardly.
>areferably each of the exerase elements includes a mounting member
carrying the pulleys so that the cable passes between the pulleys and a pivot
coupling connecting the mounting member to the past allowing the pulleys in
the
mounting member to pivot 2~bout an axis parallel to the past so as to move
side to
side.
Preferably each of the exercise elements includes a collar surrounding
the respective post and slidable along the post, the post having a series of
location
points which c2~n be selected sa as to set the caller at a selected one of the
location
points.
Preferably there are provided a first pair of posts spaced by a distance
greater than the arm span of the person such that the person can pull
horizontally
inwardly from an arm spanned position and a second pair of posts spaced by a
distance which is less than that of the first pair and less than the amp span
of the
person.
Preferably the first pair of posts is provided at a first location on the
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frame to provide a first exercise area and wherein the second pair of posts is
provided at a second location on the frame to provide a first exercise area,
Preferably the horizontal cross beam includes a first beam portion at
which the first pair of posts and the first exercise area is located and a
second beam
portion at right angles to the first beam portion at which the second pair of
posts and
the second exercise area is located.
Preferably there is provided a mat for location on the floor in the
exercise area, the mat having printed on an upper surface thereof
illustrations of a
series of exercises available to the carried out at the apparatus, Preferably
the
illustrations are arranged in rows and columns. Preferably the illustrations
are
arranged in columns headed by an area of the body to be exercised and the
illustratians include start and finish positions only for reach exercise.
Preferably there is provided a glove for wearing by the person having a
forearm engaging portion for engaging around the forearm of the person and a
hand
~ 5 engaging portion which engages over the hand of the person, at least one
brace
therein extending fr~n the hand engaging portion longitudinally toward the
forearm
engaging portion to resist bending of the wrist during exercise; wherein the
cable
includes an attachment portion for attachrhent to loops on the forearm
engaging
portion in such a manner that the force for the attachment portion is
communicated
into the forearm engaging portion and the brace to avoid applying bending
forces to
the wrist.
Preferably the glove includes a plurality of longitudinally extending
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straps extending from the hand engaging portion to the forearm engaging
portion
and wherein at least one of the straps includes a loop for receiving the
attachment
portion of the cable.
Preferably the glove includes a peripheral strap extending around the
forearm engaging portion at a base end of the glove and wherein the peripheral
straps includes at least one loop for receiving the attachment portion of the
cable.
According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided an
exercise machine comprising:
a frame arranged to be mounted on and fixed to a floor for multiple
14 exercises to be carried out by a pennon at the frame;
a plurality of exercise elements mounted on the frame at an exercise
area of the frame;
wherein there is provided a mat for location an the float in the exercise
area, the mat having printed on an upper surface thereof illustrations of a
series of
1 ~ exercises available to the carried out at the apparatus.
According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided an
exercise machine comprising:
a frame arranged to be mounted on and fixed to a floor for multiple
exercises to be carried out by a person at the frame;
20 a plurality of exercise elements mounted on the frame;
each exercise element including a cable, a pair of pulleys between
which the cable passes and an attachment portion at the end of the cable;
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and a glove for wearing by the person having:
a forearm engaging portion far engaging around the forearm of the
person;
a hand engaging portion which engages over the hand of the person;
5 at least one brace therein extending from the hand engaging portion
longitudinally toward the forearm engaging portion to resist bending of the
wrist
during exercise;
and a piuraliiy of loops on the forearm engaging portion for oonnec~ion
to the attachment portion of the cable and arranged thereon in such a manner
that
the force from the attachment portion is communicated into the forearm
engaging
portion and the brace to avoid applying bending forces to the wrist.
Other aspects of the invention which are of independent importance
are the glove itself alone independent of the machine and the mat itself alone
independent of the machine which are defined herein as separate inventions.
1 ~ BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF 1'hlE DRAWINGS
One embodiment of the invention will now be described in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a first embodiment of the
apparatus according to the present invention,
2U Figure 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus of Figure 1.
Figure 3 a top plan view of a Second embodiment of the apparatus
according to the present invention.
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Figure 4 is a front elevational view of the apparatus of Figure 3.
Figure 5 is an isometric view of the exercise device attached to a post
of the apparatus of Figure 1 or Figure 3.
Figure 6 is an end elevationai view of one weight stack of the
embodiment of Figures 1 and 2.
Figure 7 is a top plan view of the mat of Figure 2.
Figure 8 is a rear elevs~tional view of a protective glove for use with the
embodiments of the previous Figures.
Figure 9 is a front elevational view of the protective glove of Figure 8.
In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding
parts in the different figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The apparatus as shown in Figures 1 and 2 comprises a cross beam
10 which is supported from the graund at a height of the order of 9 or 10 feet
and is
carried on to posts 11 and 12. The cross beam 10 is connected to the top of
the
posts 11 and 12 at a suitable rigid coupling member 14 and a cross beam
extension
at the top of the posts outwardly to respective ends 15 and 16. At the base of
the
posts 11 and 12 is provided a support beam 17, 18 which extends outwardly from
a
respective one of the posts parallel to the beam 10. The beams 17, 1$ each
carry a
pair of transverse floor support bars 13, 13A at spaced positions along the
beams
17, 18. Thus the structure defined by the beam 17 and "! 8, the posts 11 and
12 and
the cross beam 10 form the rigid structure which can be attached to the floor
as a
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fixed structure defining an exercise area generally indicated at 20 between
the posts
and underneath the cross beam 10.
Six separate exercise members are provided each of which is
indicated at 21 and these are basically the same structure arranged to be
mounted
on a respective one of the frame elements. Each exercise member comprises a
cable 22 extending between a pair of pulleys 23 and 24 sa that the cable is
confined
between the pulleys and extends forwardly from the pulleys to an end 25 of the
cable to which is attached a suitable hand grasping element 26.
The hand grasping element can be of various different types well
known to persons skilled in this art including simply a capital D-shaped
single hand
grasping element, various fom~,s of cross bar or T-bar, and the like.
The structure is attached to a collar 27 which attaches onto the
respective frame member. The coll2~r Is fixed in langitudlnal position but
provides the
possibility for a change of angle of the cable by a pivotal or rotational
movement
around an axis of a hinge 27A longitudinal of the frame element.
Thus as shown in Figure 2 the exercise elements indicated at 2"IA and
21 B mounted on the posts are rotated sa that One is forwardfy of the frame
and the
other Is rearwardly of the frame. It will be appreciated that the rotational
movement
allows the exercise element to pivot between these two positions or even
further to a
position at right angles to the plane containing the frame structure. In this
way the
angle of the cable can be changed so that the cable is pulled within the plane
of the
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frame or it can be pulled forvvardly from the frame or rearwardly from the
frame as
required by the person for the particular exercise concerned.
Thus the frame includes six of these elements so that two are mounted
an a cross beam 10 above the exercise area 20 and generally symmetrically
inwardly relative to the posts. Thus in general the two exercise elements on
the
cross beam are above the exercise area to be pulled downwardly by the person.
The position of the exercise elements along the length of the beam can be
adjusted
by sliding of the collar 27 so that the position of the cables as they are
pulled
dawnwardly can be adjusted to the required position of the user so that they
are far
example at shoulder width or at a greater width as required.
The two exercise elements on the posts are also adjustable in height
along the length of the posts by movement of the collar 27 but are positioned
in
general to either side of the exercise area 20 so that a person pulling on the
cables
of the exercise elements on the post generally pulls inwardly toward the
exercise
area.
Yet further exercise elements indicated at 21C and 21D are located at
the bottom of the exercise area 2D an each side of the exercise area and
generally
underneath the exercise elements on the cross bar. The exercise elements 21 C
and
21B are respectively mounted an arms 30 and 31 which are pivotally mounted on
couplings 32 at the base of the post so that the arms can be pivoted upwardly
as
indicated by the arrow 33 to a position alongside the post and thus remove
from the
exercise area when they are not required. Thus the person exercising can
select for
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exercising either the exercise elements above or the exercise elements to the
side
or exercise elements below depending upon the exercise to be performed.
Each exercise element has a cable thereof extending from the pulleys
thereof to additional pulleys so as to guide the cable to a respective one or
pair of
weight stacks 35 and 36. Thus the cable from the bottom exercise element as
indicated at 37 extends under a pulley 38 upwardly to a top pulley 39 and
extends
downwardly from that top pulley 39 to the weight stack 36.
Symmetrically the cable 40 from the center exercise element extends
upwardly and rearwardly to a pulley 41 which it passes over and then extends
90 downwardly to the weight stack 36. The exercise element at the center
includes two
additional pulleys 43 and 44 which guide the cable from the exercise element,
bearing in mind that its height along the post can be varied.and thus the
amount of
angle wrap around one or the other of the pulleys can also vary.
The cable 45 from the top exercise element extends over two pulleys
95 46 and 47 at the tap of the past to a top pulley 50 from which it extends
downwardly
to the weight stack 3fi.
The weight stack 3fi can operate with each of the cables as repuired,
The exercise person will be using only one of the three exercise elements at
any one
time and therefore they wilt be pulling an the respective cable that is
lifting the weight
ZO stack. For this purpose the weight stack includes three guide tubes and
three shafts
extending through the guide tubes. The weight stack can be attached to the
shaft of
a selected one of the cables by an operating pin in a conventional manner.
Thus the
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person can select for each of the three cables a different amount of the
weights to
be lifted. When that cable is pulled, the certain number of weights in the
weight
stack is lifted, This acts to lid the shafts of the remaining cables but this
is merely
taken up in slack in the cable.
5 Thus the person using a single stack of weights can select different
amounts of weights for each of the cables to be pulled and so that three
separate
exerases can be carried out with separate amounts of weight to provide
repetitions
without the necessity for individual adjustment between each repetition.
As shown best in Figure 5, therefore, each exercise device includes
10 the collar 27 which is slidable along the respective post which is
indicated at 27B
and can be located on the post by insertion of a spring pin 27C into a
respective hole
27D of the post. The post is of square tube construction and the collar is of
a slightly
larger square tube so that its angle relative to the post is fixed and the
collar cannot
rotate on the post. However the position of the pulleys 23 and 24 can be
adjusted
around the axis of the post by the pulleys being mounted in a housing or
bracket
23A which is attached to a hinge 27A for rotation about a central axis 278 of
the
hinge Z7A. The hinge is thus mounted on one side of the collar 27 which is in
practice the forward side which is approached by the user. In the simple
arrangement shown in figure 5, the housing 23A is fomted from two parallel
plates
2D which are attached on either side of the hinge and mount between them the
pulleys
23 and 24. The cable thus passes between the two pulleys and rolls over one or
other of the pulley depending upon the direction of pull. From the pulleys,
the cable
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extends to the weight set over suitable pulleys mounted on the frame. In the
arrangement shown in Figure 1, some of the exercise devices mounted on the
posts
and particularly thane shown at 21A and 218 include addi5onal pulleys attached
to
the rear of the collar. These pulleys assist in guiding the cables to the
required
location. However as shown in respect of exercise devices 21 C and 21 D, there
are
no pulleys an the rear side of the collar and instead the cable merely extends
from
one of the pulleys 23 ar 24 directly to a next adjacent pulley on the frame
which is
located al~g the leng~ of the post.
Turning now to Figures 3 and 4, there is shown an alternative
arrangement which utilizes a frame and the exercise devices substantially as
previously described in a diftTerent configuration. fn this frame
configuration as best
spawn in Figure 3, there are two sections to the frame including a first
section 1 and
a second Section 2. The first section includes a horizontal top beam 3
together with
posts 4 and 5. The beam 3 is stabilized by end transverse floor portions dA
and 5A
respectively at the base of the pasts 4 and 5.
The second section 2 includes a top beam 3A attached to the beam 3
and extending at right angles to the beam 3. Second section includes two
further
posts 6 and ~'.
Each post is of the construction shown in Figure 5 and carries an
exercise device of the construction shown in Figure 5. Posts 4 and 5 carry
exercise
devices 4B and 5B. These devices are mounted on the faces of the pasts which
are
directed inwardly toward one another So that the primary direction of
operation of the
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device presents the cable inwardly toward the opposite one of the exercise
devices.
The posts 4 and 5 are spaced by a distance greater than the arm span of the
user
so that they are spaced by a distance of the order of 8 feet so that the user
can
stand between the posts and can grasp the hand grasping device of the cable
from
the side facing at right angles to the length of the beam 3. In this position
as best
shown in Figure 4 the person using the device c;an grasp the handles and pull
them
inwardly toward the body. The height of the exercise device on the post can of
course be adjusted so that the direction of pull can be adjusted.
The posts ~ and 7 are mounted on the beam 3A but slightly forwardly
of the beam so as to present the exercise devices 6A and ?A forwardly to the
person
when the person is turned to face the beam 3A. The spacing between the posts 6
and 7 is significantly less than the Spacing between the posts 4 and 5 so that
the
exercise device 6A and 7A are located quite close together for common pulling
toward the body of the user. Again the exercise devices 6A and 7A can be
adjusted
95 in height on the respective post so that the user can pull down when the
exercise
devices are at the top of the post and can pull up when the exercise
devices~are at
the bottom of the post. This arrangement replaces the exercise devices in the
frame
of figure 1 which are above and below respectively the person. The device is
thus
simplified relative to the arrangement of Figure 9 fn that there are only two
exercise
devices mounted on the post 6 and 7 in a manner so that they can be adjusted
in
position for downward and upward pulling as the person chooses.
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Each exercise device is associated with a respective one of the weight
stacks as indicated at $. These devices can comprise simple single weight
stacks of
the conventional type or can be multiple complex weight stacks as described
hereinafter.
On the floor at the area 2D is provided a mat 60 which can be located
so that it is directly within the area 20 to be stood on by the person or can
be just in
front of the frame. Thus as shown it is in front of the frame but it can be
moved
rearwardly so that it bridges the frame so that the person when exercising
stands on
the mat for protective purposes. The mat thus has a suitable resilient
thickness.
As shown in Figure 7, the mat has printed on it a series of taws and
columns sa that the full tap surface of the mat is covered by these printed
elements,
For example the columns may parry at the top a series of areas of the body to
be
exercised and it will be noted that the Columns contain the headings "chest",
"triceps", "back", "biceps", 'legs", "shoulders" and "abs".
Each heading has two columns headed "start" and "finish".
Underneath each of these headings is provided a number of spaces which contain
illustration of exercises to be carried out with the apparatus including a
start position
and a finish position. These are not shown in Figure ~ for convenience of
illustration.
Thus the person using the exercise equipment can look down at the
mat which is underneath the person or in front of t he person and can select a
series
of exercises for exercising an area to be exercised during that particular
session.
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As shown in Figures 8 and 8, there is provided a glove generally
indicated at 70 which includes a forearm engaging portion 71 and a hand
engaging
portion 72. This is formed from perforated neoprene with Kevlar
reinforcements.
The forearm engaging section 71 tightly binds around the forearm of the user
and
includes longitudinal braces so as to prevent twisting of the wrist Of the
user during
use of the equipment. At a base 73 of the forearm engaging portion is provided
a
pair of 8~ttachment loops 74 and 75 which are attached to end couplings on the
cable
so that the pulling action by the user is applied wholly to the wrist without
bending of
the hand relative to the wrist since na forces are transferred to the hand.
The rear of the glove is Shawn in Figurp~ 8 and includes a slit 76 which
can be closed by a longitudinal strip 77 of a hook and loop fastener together
with a
strap 7$ which wraps around the open end of the glove at the forearm engaging
section 71 so that together the slit and the strap effect a closure of the
glove as it
wrapped around the forearm of the user. The glove includes longitudinal braves
1 b which extend from the hand engaging portion 7~ longitudinally so as to
reduce the
ability of the wrist to flex during use. Thus the glove includes straps 84,
$1, 82 and
83 extending longitudinally of the glove from the area of the fingers to a
position
closely adjacent the strap 78. The straps arse formed of a material which is
resistant
to stretch so ths~t they resist bending of the wrist and fingers of the user
since they
resist the extension necessary to increase the length around the outside
curvature
as tire wrist and knuckles bend.
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On the inside of the glove is provided a stiff brace 84 which is formed
by a pocket 85 stitched on the inside of the glove facing outwardly of the
palm of the
person when the glove is worn with that pocket receiving a stiff metal bray
portion
86 inserted into the pocket. The brace portion thus extends from a position on
the
5 top of the palm of the person to a position beyond the wrist and into the
forearm thus
resisting inward bending of the wrist and fingers by providing the stiffening
effect an
the inside surface. Thus the stiffening plate and the straps co-operate
together to
provide a longitudinal brace which resists the bending wrist and hand of the
person
during use.
1~ (n addition to the loops 74 and 75 on the strap 78 there are also
provided loops 87 and 88 in at least some of the longitudinal straps 81 to 83.
Thus
the user can select either the loops on the straps which sire longitudinal or
the loops
on the peripheral or wrapping strap 78. The simple smaN D ring at the end of
the
cable can be hooked into place onto the selected one of the loops in the glove
and
15 thus acts to transfer loading from the cabs to the forearm of the user
rather fan to
the fingers and hand and wrist of the user. The tight strap around the forearm
primarily acts as a clamp around the forearm so that the forces are loaded at
that
location. The stiffening provided by the longitudinal straps and the
stiffening plate
resist the ability of the person to bend the wrist which would otherwise
transfer
loading to the fingers, hand and wrist of the user,
In the embodiment shown in Figures $ and 9, the gloves are of the
fingerless type but it will be appreciated that fingers can also be provided.
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Fingerless gloves ace commonly used in exercise equipment to provide
additional
cooling in areas where the effect of the glove is not physically required.
In addition areas of a resilient material such as gel can be provided
between the fingers as indicated at 90 so that any longitudinal forces applied
to the
glove tending to slide the glove along the arm of the user do not provide a
pinching
effect between the fingers.
It will be appreciated that the intention is that the user place the glove
in position and attach the end of the cable to the glove at the fore arm
engaging
portion and then the user can exercise the upper amp arx! body muscles which
connect to the upper arms without affet~iing the wrist and fingers. This is
particularly
useful in a situation where the user has a wrist injury which would be
exacerbated by
the repetitive stress of bending the wrist or fingers under load.
This arrangement can be used for persons with injuries in this area so
that they can continue to exercise the remainder of the body without damaging
the
9 5 wrist.
This glove is for people who have arthritis, carpal tunra:l syndrome,
hand fatigue, tendoni~s, poor circulation, stress related injuries, repetitive
strain
Injury or basic weal wrists. All of the above prevent people from doing
exercises or
any clenching of an object, such as a dumbbell. Now these individuals have the
opportunity to exercise by putting hand or hands in gloves and doing the
movement.
Since various modifications can be made in my invention as herein
above described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made
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within the spirit and scope of the claims without department from such spirit
and
scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying
specification shall
be interpreted as illustrative only and not In a limiting sense.
