Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TOTAL BODY STRENGTHENING AND TONING WORKSTATION
AND METHOD OF USING SAME
SCOPE OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an exercise apparatus and method of its use
for providing
resistance training exercise movements, and more particularly an exercise
apparatus which
provides support and biomechanical positioning during various simultaneously
or sequentially
exercises using the upper body, lower body and core muscles. The exercise
device allows for a
multitude of upper body exercises concurrent with leg press or double leg
lunge movements
during safe and aligned total body movements, that allow for high intensity
exercises to
optimally burn calories and develop lean muscle mass.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Currently the two major methods of resistance training to achieve body
strengthening and
toning are isolation and functional training. Isolation training involves
exercises that target
muscles of a specific and individual region of the body such as upper body,
lower body, or core.
The objective with this type of training is to focus only on specific muscles
to develop their
strength and/or hypertrophy (bulk). While specific muscle groups are worked in
isolation, the
unused muscle groups are immobile and secured. In contrast, functional
training involves
exercises that simulate real life situations by incorporating user defined
movements that utilize
muscles of several regions of the body simultaneously. These exercises are
generally performed
in a free standing position and without back support to encourage the use of
core muscles to
provide stabilization- while the extremities are being exercised in a
coordinated manner. In these
types of free standing exercises, the amount of workload that can be sustained
during exercise is
less than with the isolation method of training due to the increased chance
for injuries. For
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example, when an isolation exercise such as bench press is performed with the
user lying on a
bench, the chest can take on a greater workload than compared to a functional
exercise that also
targets the chest such as push-ups. With functional training, as the workload
during exercise is
reduced, the amount of calories burned and overall muscles development is also
reduced.
Although isolation and functional methods are ideally suited for specific
fitness
objectives, they are inefficient where the primary fitness objective is to use
resistance training to
burn the maximum amount of calories in the least amount of time, while
developing lean muscle
mass.
Historically, when resistance training machines were first introduced in the
1950's, the
majority of participants were bodybuilders who primarily focused on isolation
training to build
bulk and achieve muscle definition. Since then resistance training machines
have generally
continued to focus on the isolation method type of training. With conventional
exercise
equipment, it has been necessary for fitness clubs to purchase a number of
separate exercise
machines, each tailored to permit a user to exercise a specific upper, lower
or core muscle group.
In addition, conventional isolation exercise equipment does not lend itself to
the benefits of fuller
body exercises, which encourage muscle coordination and the development of
core muscles,
such as abdominal or back muscles. In addition, performing repetitions using
only one region of
the body for an extended period of time can be monotonous, and typically does
not allow for
opportunities to "mix up" exercises as with upper body and lower body in
simultaneous or
sequential patterns of movement. Increased variety during exercise
advantageously enhances the
enjoyment of use of the equipment, encouraging the user to workout more
intently to achieve the
most benefit from each visit to the workstation. In addition to the increased
cost and space
requirements associated with purchasing a number of different exercise
machines, conventional
exercise apparatus suffer the disadvantage in that more time is required for
users to complete a
full exercise regime, particularly during peak periods at gyms.
Certain exercise equipment manufacturers have proposed "multi-function" or
universal
exercise machines which use a series of pulleys to connect both movable upper
and lower body
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exercising frames to a single resistance mechanism. Such machines are most
frequently
marketed for in-home use, and continue to suffer the disadvantage that they
are adapted to
provide resistance exercise to only a single muscle group at any one time.
Typically,
conventional "multi-function" exercise machines necessitate that the user
physically reposition
one or more tensioning bands, release pins or pulleys, to selectively connect
and disconnect
upper and lower equipment frames when switching between upper and lower body
exercises.
Like existing commercial isolation machines, these multi-function exercise
machines continue to
focus on the exercise of single muscle groups at any one time as part of a
weight training regime.
Both functional and isolation training exercises are accomplished in a
multitude of ways
such as by using body weight, free weights, exercise machines and so on. When
exercise
machines are involved, they are generally designed such that a single primary
set of muscles
(mobilizers) are used to actuate the resistance during each repetition. These
'primary mover'
muscles generally involve either the upper body or lower body muscles. With
movements that
involve more than one region of the body as with functional exercises, the
resistance provided to
the 'primary movers' also acts as the workload for other regions of the body.
There is therefore,
a sharing of the weight by the other regions of the body during exercise. It
is not possible, in the
case of functional training, to provide customized workload that targets the
upper and lower
body independently during exercise. An advantage of this feature would be, for
example, in the
case of many women who wish to utilize a greater workload on the legs than
with arms so that
they can target their problem areas and not build a heavy upper body, yet use
a sufficient overall
workload that would allow them to burn a maximum amount of calories during the
workout.
Today the majority of participants are not as interested in building muscle
bulk or weight
gain but on burning calories, improving their cardiovascular system and
developing lean muscle
mass in the most efficient manner. The applicant has appreciated that the
simultaneous use of
multiple regions of the body during each repetition using safe biomechanical
movements would
allow the body to lift greater overall weight in the same period of time,
consequently burning
more calories and developing lean muscle mass as compared with either
functional or isolation
training. Furthermore, the benefits from Peripheral Heart Action (PHA), a
condition that
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requires the heart to work harder, as it pumps blood to extremities at
opposite ends of the body
during upper and lower body simultaneous exercises, may also be utilized. As
the heart works
harder during PHA, the cardiovascular system is exercised and a greater number
of calories are
burned. Furthermore, total body exercises allow for a better fatigue
management system and
encourage muscle endurance exercises that develop lean muscle mass.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to improve on the isolation and
functional methods
of resistance training by providing a new machine and method of exercise which
is effective to
optimally burn calories and develop lean muscle mass in the least amount of
time.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a resistance training
machine that
allows for proper support and biomechanical positioning of the body during
exercise, such that
high intensity simultaneous or sequential resistance training exercises of the
user's upper and
lower body muscles can be performed with minimal chance of injury.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a machine that allows
for natural
and rhythmic total body movements, such that users can exercise both upper
body and lower
body muscle groups with workloads higher than with functional or isolation
exercises, with
minimal change in perceived exertion or perceived effort.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an exercise apparatus
for effecting
simultaneous arm and leg and muscle group exercises, and which is operable to
permit
independent resistance to the upper and lower body during total body movements
to produce one
or more benefits such as customized workouts, core use, coordination of
muscles, and Peripheral
Heat Action.
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A further object of the invention is to provide a unitary or standalone
commercial grade
exercise machine that allows for simultaneous upper and lower body exercises
during use,
thereby encouraging the user to exercise more intently and effectively.
Another object of the invention is to provide an exercise machine that more
closely
utilizes the total body during exercises thereby allowing for a better fatigue
management system
and encouraging muscle endurance exercises that develop lean muscle mass.
A further object of the invention is to provide an exercise apparatus which is
adapted for
the simultaneous or sequential rhythmic exercise of a user's arms and leg
muscle groups, and
which includes as part of a lower body exercising assembly, a movable lower
frame member
which is engageable by the user's feet in a unified movement to effect leg
exercises, such as full
or partial leg presses or double leg lunges.
In a simplified construction, the present invention provides an exercise
apparatus which
includes a bench or seat to support a user in a position seated or reclined
thereon, an upper body
exercising assembly which is actuable to perform arm exercises, and a lower
body exercise
assembly which is actuable by the user to perform leg exercises. The seat
includes a seat back
support which is configured to support the user's spine in contact
thereagainst. Preferably, the
seat back is inclined vertical at an angle selected at between about 100 and
60 , preferably at
between about 40 and 60 , and most preferably at an angle of between 30 to
500, to support the
user's torso and spin in a similarly partially inclined position in an
exercising position thereon.
The upper and lower body exercising assemblies are configured for activation
simultaneously and/or sequentially to permit the user to effect exercising
movement of his or her
upper body muscle and lower body leg muscles, respectively without
necessitating that the user
stop exercising or manually reposition pins, pulleys, belts or the like when
switching from upper
body exercises to lower body exercises. Surprising, simultaneous exercise
further
advantageously allows the user to lift greater overall weight by utilizing
concurrently not only
arm and leg muscle groups, but also the user's abdominal or core muscles. For
the same number
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of repetitions, a user may thus lift more weight, with little change in
perceived exertion allowing
more effective calorie burning and the more rapid development of lean muscle
mass.
In one possible construction, the lower body exercising assembly includes a
lower frame
assembly which is operable to provide resistance exercise to the user's leg
muscles. The lower
frame assembly may, for example, include a selectively reciprocally movable
pedal, plate,
platform, bar or the like (hereinafter generally referred to as a foot
support). The foot support is
coupled to a suitable resistance mechanism, and which is engageable by the
user's feet and/or
legs so as to be reciprocally moved. Preferably, the foot support is
configured for engagement
by both of the user's feet and/or legs simultaneously as the user's legs are
moved together in
unified movement to effect either leg presses or double leg lunges.
Most preferably, the foot support is mounted for reciprocal movement relative
to the seat
back between a first rest position spaced towards the seat, and a second
position moved away
from the seat back relative to the first rest position. Preferably, the seat
and lower frame
assembly are provided with a relative spacing and height selection which is
chosen, such that in
the first rest position, the foot support engaged by the user's feet and/or
legs, with the user's legs
bent at the knee and hips, the user's shins in general alignment 45 ,
preferably 25 , and most
preferably 15 with the angle of inclination of the back support and the
user's torso. Although
not essential, more preferably, as the foot support is moved to the second
position in leg
exercises, the foot support moves outwardly and/or downwardly relative to the
seat. Most
preferably, the foot support moves along an arc or path selected such that the
user's shins are
substantially maintained generally aligned with the relative angle ( ) of
inclination of the back
support, as the user's legs arc extended and retracted with the reciprocal
movement of the foot
support during leg exercises. In this configuration, the resistive forces
provided by the lower
body exercising assembly on the user's body are maintained in general
alignment with the angle
of inclination of the seat back and the user's spine. This advantageously acts
to direct force
vectors along the user's torso and through the core muscles, while minimizing
pressure contact
between the base of the user's spine and the seat back.
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The upper body exercising assembly is preferably selectively actuable by the
user
extending and/or retracting his or her arms. In one possible construction, the
upper body
exercising assembly includes one or more reciprocally movable frame members or
swing arms
which are coupled to a resistance mechanism, and which are engageable by the
user's hands
and/or arms. Alternately, the apparatus could incorporate selectively actuable
hand pulleys
which include hand grips secured to the end of pulley wires. Most preferably,
the reciprocally
movable frame member, swing arm, or pulleys (hereinafter generally
reciprocally movable
members) are actuable in movement so as to provide resistance forces in a
direction tangential or
opposite to the direction of inclination of the seat back. In particular, in a
most preferred
construction, the reciprocally moveable members of the upper body exercising
apparatus are
moveable by the engagement with the user's arms and/or hands from an initial
rest position to a
displaced position in a direction selected at between about 700 and 315 , and
more preferably
greater than 800 to about 280 relative to the inclination direction of the
seat back.
In one simplified construction, the reciprocally movable members of the upper
body
exercising assembly are operable to move from the initial rest to the
displaced position in a
direction generally perpendicular 15 to the surface of the seat back. In
this configuration,
resistive forces provided by the upper body exercising assembly are maintained
substantially
non-aligned with the forces provided by the lower body exercise assembly. This
in turn allows
the user to select comparatively higher leg weights or resistance, and still
simultaneously effect
upper and lower body exercises, without arm resistance providing a
contributing "lift" force on
the user.
The resistance mechanism used to provide the desired degree of resistance to
the upper
and lower exercising assemblies are most preferably operable independently
from each other,
and enable the user to select the degree of resistance to each of the upper
and lower body
exercising assemblies separately. With this construction, the desired degree
of resistance for leg
exercises may be pre-selected by the user, independently from the resistance
to be used for
toning upper body exercise. This furthermore advantageously allows the user to
operate the
upper and lower body exercising assemblies both simultaneously to effect the
concurrent
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resistance exercise of his or her arm and leg muscle groups or alternately
sequentially or
independently to provide a more varied and customized workout and greater
apparatus
versatility.
Suitable resistance mechanisms to be used with the present invention include
arrays of
one or more resiliently bendable rods, resiliently deformable elastomeric
bands, weight stacks, or
other such suitable devices, and which would be suitable to permit either the
alternating
sequential and/or simultaneous exercising of upper and lower body muscle
groups, including
without restriction, the user's leg, back, abdominal and/or arm muscles. In a
simplified
construction, the apparatus incorporates a weight stack assembly as a
resistance mechanism
which includes a number of vertically displaceable metal plates. The weight
stack assembly is
coupled to both the lower body exercising assembly and the upper body
exercising assembly,
such that different groupings of weight plates may be pre-selected by the user
for upper and
lower body exercise. Following the selection of the desired amount of
resistance, the upper and
lower frame assemblies are concurrently or sequentially actuated, to raise and
lower the selected
plates as the user performs arm and leg exercises. In one possible embodiment,
the weight stack
assembly may include at least two independently operable weight stacks which
operate by way
of lift rods, and which are each independently coupled by a respective
cable/pulley assembly to
the upper body exercising assembly and the lower body exercising assembly,
provide the user-
selected desired degree of resistance. This construction advantageously
enables the user to
quickly and easily lift different combinations of weight plates in the
simultaneous exercising of
different muscle groups, without requiring the repositioning of weight stack
release pins
interrupting the flow of repetitions during a set or between sets.
The lift rods extend vertically through an associated array of aligned
apertures formed
through the weight plates. The upper end of the lift rods is coupled via
respective cable/pulley
assembly or other suitable linkage to movable frame members of the exercise
apparatus used to
provide exercise movement to the user's arms and legs. In this manner, the
activation of the
exercise apparatus frame members selectively raises and lowers the lift rod
associated therewith,
providing resistive tension. Each weight stack preferably includes one or more
release pins used
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in selecting the weight of resistance to be provided. The pins are insertable
into selected
grooves, notches or recesses formed in a surface of each weight plate, and
have a length chosen
so as to extend into and engage a selected retention hole formed in the lift
rod aligned therewith.
The engagement of the release pins with the associated lift rod hole couples
the pin, together
with each of the weight plates stacked thereabove, to its associated lift rod
for movement
therewith.
The applicant has appreciated that concurrent resistance exercise of both
upper arm and
lower leg muscle groups advantageously also effects toning exercise of the
user's bridging
abdominal muscles. Abdominal muscle exercises are furthermore enhanced and
optimized when
the lower body leg muscles are exercised by effecting double leg lunges or leg
presses, with the
user's legs moved together in unified movement.
The applicant has appreciated that the invention is operable to provide toning
exercises,
as contrasted with isolation weight training exercises which are used
primarily to increase
muscular bulk. In this regard, in one aspect, the individual weight stacks
used to provide
resistance may be made comparatively lighter than those found on conventional
exercise
machines adapted to achieve isolated muscle exercise. Most preferably, the
weight stack
assembly is configured to provide a greater weight resistance to the lower
body exercising
assembly which is actuable by the user's legs, than compared with the weight
resistance
provided to the upper body exercising assembly used to provide arm exercise.
In a preferred
embodiment, the individual weight stack used to provide resistance to a lower
frame assembly
may be selected to provide a range of resistance forces of less than about 300
lbs, preferably less
than about 250 lbs, and more preferably less than about 200 lbs. Similarly,
the weight stack used
to provide resistance to the upper body exercising assembly for upper body
exercise, may be
made comparatively smaller and provide a preferred maximum resistance force of
less than
about 250 lbs, and more preferably about less than a maximum of 150 lbs. The
comparatively
smaller weight stacks of the present invention furthermore advantageously
enable the exercise
apparatus to be made lighter as a stand-alone unitary machine and smaller than
conventional
isolation exercising equipment, thereby providing the apparatus with an
overall smaller footprint,
and minimizing the square footage operational cost to health club purchasers.
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The invention is operable by a user to undertake a full body toning workout by
either
simultaneously exercising both upper and lower body muscle groups or by
alternating upper and
lower body exercises. In a most preferred mode of operation, in use, the user
initially pre-selects
the desired resistance forces to be used with both the upper body exercising
assembly and the
lower body exercising assembly. Once the desired resistance is chosen, the
user sits on the
bench or seat and reclines against the seat back in an exercise position with
his or her spine
supported by the seat back at the seat back angle of inclination. In this
position, the upper body
exercising assembly is engaged by the user's hands or arms, with the movable
foot support of the
lower body exercising assembly engaged by his or her feet and/or legs. The
foot support of
movable lower body frame member is reciprocally moved between the first rest
position to the
second spaced position against the pre-selected resistance of the first weight
stack. Leg exercises
are performed by the user performing double leg lunges or leg presses with the
user's legs
extended and retracted together in unison, and with the resistance forces of
the resistance
mechanism returning the foot support from the second position back to the rest
position while
directing force vectors generally parallel to the user's torso.
Concurrently with the movement of the lower body exercising frame, the upper
body
exercising apparatus is preferably actuated. The reciprocally moveable members
of the upper
body exercise apparatus are moved by the user's arms and/or hands against the
resistance forces
of the second weight stack between the initial rest position and the displaced
position to exercise
the user's arm and/or torso muscles. As the respective lower frame and upper
body frames are
used simultaneously to exercise the user's arms and legs, the simultaneous
exercising of upper
and lower body muscle groups enables the user to undertake a more full body
toning workout.
Furthermore, because the leg muscles are not exercised in isolation, but
rather, resistance forces
are transmitted in parallel to the user's spine and through the torso. The
concurrent activation of
the upper and lower body frame members achieves exercise of not only the
user's arm and leg
muscles in isolation, but also the user's bridging abdominal and back muscles.
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Accordingly, in one aspect the present invention resides in use of an exercise
apparatus to
effect simultaneous upper and lower body strengthening in a user, the
apparatus comprising,
a seat having a seat back support for supporting said user's spine in an
exercising position
juxtaposed thereon, the back support being inclined from vertical at an angle
selected at between
about 100 and 60 ,
a lower frame assembly actuable by said user to effect leg muscle exercises,
the lower
frame assembly including a foot support which is reciprocally movable relative
to the seat from a
first rest position to a second position moved therefrom,
a first resistance mechanism coupled to the lower frame assembly and operable
to
selectively vary resistance to foot support movement,
an arm exercising assembly actuable to exercise arm muscles of said user when
in the
exercising position, the arm exercising assembly including at least one
reciprocally movable
member which is selectively movable by said user's hands or arms from an
initial rest position
and a displaced position moved therefrom,
a second resistance mechanism coupled to said arm exercising assembly and
operable to vary resistance to movement of said arm exercising assembly
independently from
said first resistance mechanism,
wherein with said user in said exercising position, simultaneously actuating
said lower
frame assembly and said arm exercise assembly whereby,
in actuation of said lower frame assembly, said user engaging said foot
support
with his or her feet to alternately symmetrically extend and retract said
user's legs
together in unison in leg press-type exercises to move said foot support
between the first
and second positions, and
as said user's legs are extended, simultaneously urging said reciprocally
movable
member with said user's arms from said initial rest position towards said
displaced
position.
In another aspect, the present invention resides in use of an exercise
apparatus to effect
muscle strengthening and toning in a user,
the apparatus comprising,
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a seat having a seat back support for supporting said user's spine in an
exercising position
thereagainst, the back support being fixedly positioned inclined from vertical
at an angle selected
at between about 100 and 600
,
a lower frame assembly actuable by said user to effect leg muscle exercises,
the lower
frame assembly including a foot support which is reciprocally movable relative
to the seat
between a first position, wherein said foot support is engagable by said
user's feet with said user's
legs bent and the user's shins in general alignment 45 with the angle of
inclination back
support, and a second position moved away from the seat, wherein said foot
support is engagable
by said user's feet with said legs in a generally outstretched position while
maintaining the user's
shins in general alignment 25 with the angle of inclination of the back
support,
a first resistance mechanism coupled to the lower frame assembly and operable
to
provide a user selected resistance to foot support movement,
an arm exercising assembly actuable to exercise arm muscles of said user when
in the
exercising position, the arm exercising assembly including a reciprocally
movable member
which is selectively movable by said user's hands and/or arms from an initial
rest position and a
displaced position moved therefrom,
a second resistance mechanism coupled to said arm exercising assembly and
operable to
provide a user selected resistance to movement of said reciprocally movable
member
independent from said first resistance mechanism,
wherein in use of the apparatus said user actuates said lower frame assembly
and said
arm exercise assembly whereby,
in actuation of said lower frame assembly, said user engaging said foot
support
with both of his or her feet to alternately extend and retract said user's
legs together in
unison in leg exercises to move said foot support between the first position
and the
second position, and
with or following the extension and retraction of said user's legs, using said
hands
and/or arms to reciprocally move said reciprocally movable member from said
initial rest
position and said displaced position.
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In a further aspect, the present invention resides use of an exercise
apparatus to effect
simultaneous arm, leg and core muscle group exercises in a user, the apparatus
comprising,
a seat having a seat back support for supporting said user's spine in an
exercising position
juxtaposed thereon, the back support being oriented in an inclined direction
relative to vertical at
an angle selected at between about 25 and 500
,
a lower frame assembly actuable by said user to effect leg muscle exercises,
the lower
frame assembly including a foot pedal which is engagable by the soles of said
user's feet in
reciprocal movement relative to the seat between a first rest position to a
second position moved
away therefrom,
a first resistance mechanism coupled to the lower frame assembly to provide a
selected
resistance to foot support movement towards the second position,
an arm exercising assembly actuable to exercise arm muscles of said user when
in the
exercising position, the arm exercising assembly being selected from the group
consisting of a
chest press exercise apparatus, an shoulder press exercising apparatus and a
upright row
exercising apparatus, and including a reciprocally movable member which is
selectively movable
by said user's hands and/or arms between an initial rest position and a
displaced position moved
therefrom in a direction selected at between 80 and 280 the direction of
inclination of the seat
back,
a second resistance mechanism coupled to said arm exercising assembly to
provide a
selected resistance reciprocally movable member movement towards the displaced
position
independent of said first resistance mechanism,
wherein with said user in said exercising position said user simultaneously
actuates said
lower frame assembly and said arm exercise assembly whereby,
in actuation of said lower frame assembly, said user engaging said foot pedal
with the
soles of both of his or her feet, and symmetrically extending and retracting
said legs in unison in
leg exercises to move said foot support between the first and second
positions, with the first
resistance mechanism and foot support providing a resistance leg force to said
user's legs in a
direction 45 the direction of inclination of the seat back, and
said user substantially simultaneously moving said reciprocally movable member
from
said initial rest position to said displaced position, with the second
resistance mechanism and
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reciprocally movable member providing a resistance arm force to said user's
hands and/or arms in
a direction selected at between about 800 and 280 the direction of
inclination of the seat back.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Reference may now be had to the following detailed description taken together
with the
accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 shows schematically a stand-alone exercise machine in accordance with
a first
embodiment of the invention;
Figure 2 shows schematically the positioning of a user's legs on the apparatus
of Figure
1, with the user's legs moved to a first initial rest position;
Figured 3 shows schematically the positioning of the user's legs and arms on
the exercise
machine of Figure 1 in operation;
Figure 4 illustrates a weight stack assembly for use in the apparatus of
Figure 1, with
weight stacks for upper and lower body exercise assemblies in an initial rest
position;
Figure 5 illustrates the weight stack assembly of Figure 4 in operation of the
apparatus,
with weight stacks moved in the concurrent operation of the upper and lower
body exercise
assemblies in unison;
Figure 6 illustrates a perspective view of an exercise apparatus in accordance
with a
second embodiment of the invention;
Figure 7 shows schematically the positioning of a user on the exercise
apparatus of
Figure 6 in operation; and
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Figure 8 shows a perspective view of an exercise apparatus in accordance with
a further
embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Reference is first made to Figure 1 which illustrates schematically an
exercise machine
10 which, as will be described, is operable to effect simultaneous toning
exercise movement of a
user's 12 upper, lower and abdominal muscle groups. The exercise machine 10 is
provided with
a seating/support frame assembly 14, a lower body exercising assembly 16, an
upper body
exercising assembly 18, a weight stack assembly 20 and a pair of cable/pulley
assemblies 22,24.
The seating/support frame assembly 14 is shown best in Figure 1 as including a
base 30
and a seat 32. The base 30 is formed as a square tubular steel frame and has
mounted thereto
each of the lower body exercise assembly 16, the upper body exercising
assembly 18, the weight
stack assembly 20 and the cable/pulley assemblies 22,24. The base 30 has a
footprint selected to
provide stability to the machine 10 as a unitary stand-alone unit in a health
club or the like. The
seat 32 is provided to support the user 12 in a seat in a partially reclined
exercising position
thereon, in a position which allows the user 12 to sequentially and most
preferably
simultaneously actuate both the lower body exercising assembly 16 and the
upper body
exercising assembly 18. The seat 32 includes a back support 80 for use in
supporting the user 12
with his spine resting thereagainst in juxtaposed contact. The back support 80
is inclined from
the vertical axis Av-A,, (Figure 2), at an angle of between about 100 and 600;
and preferably 30
to 50 , and most preferably about 45 to support the user's torso and spine in
a corresponding
partially reclined position during use of the machine 10. Although not
essential, the seat 32 is
most preferably coupled to the base 30 by means of a pair of vertical seat
supports 34, so as to be
pivotable in a front-to-back direction, about a horizontal pivot axis, so as
to permit adjustment in
the degree of inclination of the seat back 80.
Figure 1 shows best the lower body exercising assembly 16 as including a
reciprocally
movable foot support 40 which is engagable by the soles of the user's feet 13.
The foot support
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40 is mounted for reciprocal pivoting movement towards and away from the seat
32. More
preferably, the foot support 40 is mounted to the base 30 forwardly from the
seat 32, by means of
a vertically extending connecting support 43 which in turn is welded to the
lower base 30 of the
machine 10. The foot support 40 is coupled to the connecting support 43 by a
suitable rotatable
mount (not shown). The foot support 40 is furthermore coupled to the weight
stack assembly 20
via the cable/pulley assembly 22. The foot support 40 is configured to be
reciprocally moved
against the resistance forces applied by the weight stack assembly 20 by the
extension and
retraction of the user's legs 102 (Figure 1). In this manner, the foot support
is movable between
a first rest position spaced upwardly and moved towards the seat 32 shown in
Figure 1 in
phantom lines, and a second biased position shown in solid lines where the
support 40 is moved
downwardly and away from the seat 32 as the user's legs 102 are extended in
partial leg press or
double leg lunge type exercise. In a conventional manner, the resilient bias
applied by the
weight stack assembly 20, returns the foot support 40 to the rest position
against the exercise
forces applied by the user's legs 102. Most preferably, the foot support 40 is
positioned so that
when engaged by the user's feet 13 in the first rest position the user's legs
are bent at the knee
and hips, both with the user's shins 104 oriented in general alignment 25
with both the
orientation of the user's spine and the back support 80. As shown in Figure 2,
with the user's
shins 104 generally aligned with the user's torso, initial resistance force
provided by the foot
support 40 is directed generally aligned with the shins 104. Most preferably,
the foot support 40
is provided for pivotal movement relative to the seat 32 and frame 30, so that
as the support 40 is
moved between the first and second positions, the user's shins 104 are
generally maintained in
substantial alignment 25 , and more preferably 15 , with the inclination
of a (Figure 2) of the
seat back 80. As shown best in Figure 3, the applicant has appreciated that
with this
construction, the resistance force provided by the weight stack assembly 20
and the lower body
exercising assembly 16 on the user's legs 102 are oriented along a force
vector direction 100
(Figure 3) which is generally parallel to the user's spine/seat back 80. This
advantageously acts
to minimize pressure contact between the base of the user's spine or lumbar,
and the seat back
80. As a result, leg exercise forces are transmitted through the user's
abdominal or core muscles
achieving more enhanced mid-body exercise and reducing the chance of injury.
CA 02630430 2008-05-05
17
Figures 1 and 3 show best the use of the upper body exercising assembly 18 to
provide
toning body exercise to the user's arms 106 and upper body muscle groups. The
upper body
exercising assembly 18 includes a vertically displaceable frame member 50
which is secured to a
member support 52. The support 52 extends from a position rearward of the seat
32, to position
the frame member 50 in front of and above the user 12 when seated thereon. The
displaceable
frame member 50 is provided with a pair of handle grips 56 which are spaced
forwardly of and
may be grasped by the user 12 when seated in the exercising position inclined
on the seat 32.
The frame member 50 is pivotally connected to the support 52 by way of a
suitable pivot mount
54, so as to be movable from an initial rest position shown in phantom lines
in Figure 1 to a
biased displaced position shown in solid lines. The frame member 50 is most
preferably
operable to provide resistance forces which are generally transverse or
opposite to the direction
of inclination of the seat back 80. In this configuration, the upper body
exercising assembly 18
may be used without resistance forces provided by frame member 50 tending to
raise or pull the
user upwardly off of the seat 32. Preferably, the frame member 50 is
reciprocally movable
between the initial rest and displaced positions in a direction of angle 0
(Figure 2) which is
selected at between 80 and 280 relative to the direction of inclination of
the seat back. More
preferably, the reciprocally movable member 50 is displaceable in a direction
which is generally
perpendicular 15 to the seat back 80. The applicant has appreciated that in
this configuration,
the use of the upper body exercising assembly 18 provides resistance force
vector 200 (Figure 3)
generally transverse to the force vector 100 provided by the lower body
exercising assembly 16.
As will be described, displaceable frame member 50 is coupled to the weight
stack
assembly 20 via cable/pulley assembly 24, so as to be movable between the rest
and displaced
positions against resistance forces supplied thereby. Preferably, the
resistance forces supplied by
the weight stack assembly 20 acts to resiliently bias the frame member 50 to
return to the rest
position.
The weight stack assembly 20 is configured to permit either the alternating
sequential, or
more preferably simultaneous concurrent operation of the upper and lower body
exercising
assemblies 16,18. Figures 4 and 5 show best the weight stack assembly 20 as
including a pair of
CA 02630430 2008-05-05
18
independently operable weight stacks 60a,60b. Each of the weight stacks 60
consists of a
number of steel weight plates 62 which are slidably mounted for selective
vertical movement
along a respective pair of tubular frame rails 64. The tubular frame rails 64
of each weight stack
60a,60b are each coupled to the base 30, so as to provide the exercise machine
10 with its stand-
alone construction. Preferably, the weight plates 62 furthermore have side
apertures 65 formed
therethrough which are sized to receive therein a respective one of the rails
64. It is to be
appreciated, however, that other configurations supporting the weight plates
62 as a selectively
movable, stacked vertical array may also be used and will be apparent. The
weight stacks
60a,60b are shown best in Figure 4 as each further including an elongated
selectively actuable
lift rod 66a,66b, which extends vertically through a central aperture 68
formed in the centre of
each of the weight plates 62 of each stack 60a,60b. The lift rods 66a,66b have
provided along
their length a longitudinally extending array of apertures 70 (Figure 5). In a
conventional
manner, the apertures 70 of each lift rod 66a,66b are respectively engageable
by a release pin 72
used to couple a desired number of plates 62 to each lift rod 66, depending
upon the desired
weight of resistance. The lift rods 66a and 66b are in turn coupled to a
respective cable/pulley
assembly 22,24.
As shown best in Figure 1, the lift rod 66a of the weight plate stack 60a is
connected via
the cable/pulley assembly 22 to the foot support 40 to resiliently bias and
return the foot support
40 to the first rest position. In addition, the user 12 may simply and easily
select the desired
degree of resistance forces to the movement of the foot support 40 to be used.
In a similar
manner, the lift rod 66b of the weight plate stack 60b is connected to the
vertically replaceable
frame member 50 by means of cable/pulley 24, to resiliently bias the frame
member 50 to the
initial position. The apparatus 10 enables the user 12 to select the desired
degree of resistance to
the movement of the member 50 independently from the amount of resistance
provided by the
weight stack 60a to the movement of the foot support 40, by using the pins 72
to couple the
desired number of weight plates 62 to each respective rod 66a,66b.
In this manner, the weight stack 60a is used to provide the selected degree of
resistance
forces to the movement of the foot support 40 in the exercising movement of
the user's legs 102.
CA 02630430 2008-05-05
19
Similarly, the weight stack 60b is operable independently of the weight stack
60a to provide a
selected degree of resistance forces to the movement of vertically
displaceable frame member 50
in use of the exercise machine 10 to exercise the user's arm and upper body
muscles.
Because the exercise apparatus 10 is primarily intended for the concurrent
workout of
upper body, lower body and core muscle groups, as contrasted with isolation
exercises adapted to
increase muscular bulk, the weight stack assembly 20 may be made lighter and
more compact
than compared with those found in conventional exercise machines which are
adapted to provide
isolated muscle exercise. In this regard, the weight stack 60a used to provide
resistance to the
lower body exercising assembly 16 is preferably larger than the weight stack
60b. In a
simplified construction, the weight stack 60a includes a number of weight
plates 62 selected to
provide a preferred maximum leg resistance force of less than 300 lbs., and
more preferably less
than about 250 lbs. Similarly, the weight stack 60b may be provided with a
reduced number of
weight plates 62, providing a preferred maximum resistance force of less than
about 200 lbs., and
preferably less than about 150 lbs. It is to be appreciated, however, that
weight stacks of greater
or lesser total weight may also be used, depending upon the needs of the
individual user.
In an alternate construction, wherein the back support 80 may be adapted for
pivotal
movement about a horizontal axis, so as to be movable between more upright and
more reclined
positions. Preferably, in use of the machine 10, the seat 32 may be either
locked in place, or
alternatively may be freely swiveled. In one possible mode of operation, the
bottom of seat 32
may be swiveled downwardly to slope in a forward position when, in the
simultaneous operation
of the lower body exercise assembly 16 and the upper body exercising assembly
18, the foot
support 40 is moved to the second biased position.
A locking mechanism (not shown) may also be provided to selectively secure the
seat
bottom in either the fully reclined and/or fully upright position, as for
example during respective
lower and upper body isolated exercise.
CA 02630430 2008-05-05
An advantage of the present invention resides in that the machine 10 is
operable to
maximize the user's 'repetitions and/or total weight lifted per visit' as
compared to traditional
isolation strength training methods wherein users are encouraged to perform
'continuous sets',
where repetitions targeting various muscle groups are performed without rest,
until muscles are
fatigued. As such, the user 12 may obtain an effective workout in a more time
efficient manner.
With the exercise machine 10, the flow of repetitions involving more than one
muscle group,
utilizing a resistance level for the upper body that may vary from the lower
body, are not
interrupted by the need to stop and reposition the pins 72 as exercises are
performed.
Furthermore, during exercise the user 12 may vary patterns that involve the
entire body. In
addition, the configuration of the machine 10 allows for the mixing up of
repetitions by isolating,
consecutive or simultaneous use of the lower body exercising assembly 16 and
the upper body
exercising assembly 18. This, in turn, makes the machine 10 more enjoyable and
interactive, and
less monotonous than conventional isolation exercises performed one station at
a time.
Figures 1 and 3 show schematically a preferred mode of operation of the
exercise
machine 10 by the user 12, in achieving an exercise workout. To achieve
optimal exercise of the
user's abdominal muscle groups concurrently with his leg and arm muscles, the
user 12 first
independently selects the desired degree of weight resistance to be provided
by the weight stacks
60a,60b to each of the upper and lower body exercising assemblies 16,18. The
desired degree of
weight resistance is selected in a conventional manner, by inserting the pins
72 of each weight
stack 60a,60b into engagement with the desired aperture 70 formed in each of
the lift rods
66a,66b. The user 12 may simply select a lower weight for providing the
resistive tension to the
cable/pulley arrangement 24 and upper body exercising assembly 16 of the
machine 10, by
inserting release pin 72 in the desired aperture 70 of the stack 60b. A
greater number of weight
plates 62 may be used to provide exercise resistance to the cable/pulley
arrangement 22 in the
lower body exercising assembly 18 by inserting release pin 72 into engagement
with the selected
plate 62 of the stack 60a. The user 12 then assumes an exercising position
seated on the seat 32,
and reclined with the user's back resting against the back support 80. In this
position, the user's
torso assumes an orientation inclined at the angle a (Figure 2) corresponding
to the angle of
inclination of the seat back 80, in an initial forward facing position. The
user then places his feet
CA 02630430 2008-05-05
21
against the foot support 40, bending at the knees and hips, and aligning the
shins 104 with the
seat back user's spine and seat back 80. In such a position, the soles of the
user's feet 13 are
positioned in bearing contact against the foot support 40, and the user 12 may
reach forwardly
extending his arms 106 generally perpendicular to his torso to grasp the
handle grips 56 of the
frame member 50 with his hands.
In use of the machine 10, the foot support 40 is operable so as to be moved
downwardly
and outwardly to the second position by the engagement of the user's feet 13
against the foot
support 40 as the legs 102 are extended or retracted in unison in partial leg
press or leg lunge
exercises. The outward downward movement of the foot support 40 as it travels
to the second
position, advantageously provide a greater range of leg motion and allows the
user's shin to
maintain its general alignment with the torso. Further, as the legs 102 are
extended a greater
range of motion occurs at this hip joint, resulting in better use of core
muscles.
To effect an exercising workout, the user 12 extends both of his legs 102
simultaneously
moving the heels of the feet 13 with the support 40 outwardly and downwardly
from the initial
rest position together in unison. The movement of the foot support is effected
against the
selected resistance force provided by the weight stack 60a, as the
cable/pulley 22 draws the rod
66a upwardly to vertically raise the selected number of weight plates 62 of
the stack 60a. It is to
be appreciated that the seat 32 is provided with a seating surface which is
configured so as not to
substantially interfere with the extension of the user's legs 102 with the
moving foot support 40.
In this regard, the seating surface of the seat 32 may be provided with either
an inclined and/or
shortened configuration so as to permit the desired degree of rotation of the
user's legs about his
hips.
Concurrently with the extension of the user's legs 102, the user 12 uses his
arms 106 to
push on the frame assembly 50 away from the seat back 80 and the torso,
effecting its movement
from the initial rest position to the biased position shown in solid in Figure
1. The movement of
the frame member 50 towards the seat 32 occurs against the upper body
resistance forces applied
by the cable/pulley assembly 24 drawing the rod 66b upwardly, to raise the
user selected number
CA 02630430 2008-05-05
22
of weight plates 62 of the weight stack 60b. Once the foot support 40 and
frame member 50
reach their respective second and maximum displaced positions, the foot
support 40 and frame
member 50 are then returned by the user 12 providing resistance against the
return forces of
respective weight stacks 60a,60b to their initial rest positions, and the
cycle is then repeated.
The applicant has appreciated that the concurrent exercising movement of the
user's arms 106
and legs 102, in addition to strengthening the respective upper and lower
muscle groups,
advantageously also acts to exercise the user's bridging abdominal muscles. As
a result, the user
may obtain a faster, full body toning workout.
An advantage of the present machine 10 exists in that it enables the
simultaneous exercise
on the single machine of both upper and lower body muscle groups while
directing force vectors
from the upper body exercising assembly 16 through the user's torso. As such,
the exercising
machine 10 advantageously functions more closely to provide free standing-type
exercising
where the user's core muscles are activated concurrently with arm and leg
exercising, and which
is not possible with conventional strength training gym equipment.
Furthermore, the use of the
machine 10 permits the user 12 to engage his or her body muscles more fully
and permits either
greater number of repetitions of exercise movement or an increase in the
overall weight lifted.
As such, by exercising both upper and lower body muscle groups, the machine 10
may
advantageously provide enhanced fat burning and/or more effective muscle
development.
Although the preferred embodiment of the invention discloses a weight stack
assembly
20 consisting of a pair of weight plate stacks 60a,60b as a preferred
resistance mechanism, the
invention is not so limited. It is to be appreciated that other types of
resistance mechanisms are
also envisioned, including resiliently deformable elastomeric members, as well
as resiliently
deformable bendable rods, and will now become apparent. Similarly, although
Figure 1
illustrates an exercise machine 10 having a vertically displaceable frame
member 50 as being
used to provide upper body exercise, and a selectively rotatable foot support
40 for lower body
exercise, the invention is not so limited. Figure 6 shows an alternate
embodiment of an exercise
machine 110 adapted for the simultaneous exercise movement of a user's upper
and lower
muscle groups, wherein like reference numerals are used to identify like
components. In Figure
CA 02630430 2008-05-05
23
6 the exercise machine 110 includes an array of bendable rods 160 in place of
the weight stack
assembly for providing resistance to the upper and lower body exercising
assemblies 16,18.
Figure 6 shows best the machine 110 as including a seat 32 which is provided
in a fixed
position partially inclined on the seating/support frame 14. The seat 32 is
provided in a fixed
position with the seat back 80 inclined so as to support the user 12 in a
position seated thereon
with his or her spine inclined rearwardly at an angle of between about 10 and
400 from vertical.
The machine 110 incorporates a lower body exercising assembly 16 which
includes a movable
foot frame 144 which is coupled for reciprocal pivotal movement to the base 30
in a generally
downward curving arc of movement by way of a pivot pin 142. As shown best in
Figure 7, the
foot frame 144 includes a generally planar foot plate 144 which is sized and
positioned so as to
be simultaneously engaged by both of the user's feet in the performance of leg
press-type
exercises, as the user's legs 102 are fully extended.
In place of the vertically displaceable frame member 50 (Figure 1), the upper
body
exercising assembly 18 of the machine 110 includes a pair of cable operated
hand pulleys 150.
The hand pulleys 150 are connected directly to a selected number of bendable
rods 160 via the
cable/pulley assembly 24, for use in effecting exercise movement of the user's
arms 104. The
machine 110 provides the desired degree of resistance to the movement of the
upper and lower
body exercising assemblies 16,18 by coupling or uncoupling a selected number
of rods 160 to
each cable/pulley assembly 22,24. The rods 160 may, for example, be configured
similar to
those found on the BowflexTM exercise machines and provide resistance via the
respective
cable/pulley assemblies 22,24 to the movement of the foot frame 140 and hand
pulleys 150.
Although not essential, most preferably, each hand pulley 150 is associated
with a
vertically positionable guide pulley 170 which is selectively positionable in
a vertical direction
relative to the seat back 80 to enable the user 12 to vary the angle of the
force vector provided by
the upper body exercising assembly 18. As for example as shown in Figure 7, by
lowering the
pulleys 170 towards the bottom of the seat back 80, the upper body exercising
assembly 18 is
operable with the user pulling the hand pulleys 150 more angularly upward. In
this
CA 02630430 2008-05-05
24
configuration, the guides 170 act in concert with the rods 160 to provide a
resistance force vector
200 which is more generally opposite to the force vector 100 provided by the
actuation of the
foot support 40. The machine 110 may thus be used with higher resistive leg
weight forces, with
the upper body exercising assembly providing a counter force to assist in
maintaining in the user
in an exercising position on the seat 32. In use of the exercise machine 110,
the user 12 pre-
selects the desired amount of resistance to be applied to the foot frame 144
and hand pulleys 150.
Resistance is selected by coupling a selected number of bendable rods 160 to
each cable/pulley
assembly 22,24. The user 12 then assumes the exercising position partially
reclined against the
seat back 80 as shown in Figure 6.
With the user's feet resting against the foot frame 144, the user 12 grips
hand pulleys
150. Exercising movement is effective by simultaneously performing leg presses
against the foot
frame 144 while pulling each of the hand pulleys 150 forward in the direction
of arrow 400. The
foot frame 144 and pulleys 150 are moved to the displaced biased positions
shown in Figure 7,
with the user's leg fully extended forwardly in a generally straightened
orientation, and his or her
arms 104 pulled forwardly of the user's abdomen. Thereafter, the user 12
permits the foot frame
140 and hand pulleys 150 to return in the reverse direction to the rest
position by the return bias
of the bendable rods 160, and the cycle is thereafter repeated.
By the use of the machine 110, the foot frame 144 is thus operable to exercise
quadricep
muscles of the user's right and left legs in substantially unified movement
and leg muscle
exercise may be achieved concurrently while the user 12 activates the hand
pulleys 150 against
the resistance of the rods 160 to exercise the upper and lower body muscles,
as well as achieving
exercising movement of the abdominal muscles 106 as well. Simultaneously, with
the user's feet
engaging the foot plate, the user extends his or her legs in unified movement
to move the foot
frame 144 from the initial rest position to the second displaced position
against the resistance
provided by the rods 160.
Figure 8 shows schematically a modified exercise machine 110 in which like
reference
numerals are used to identify like components. In Figure 8, the exercise
machine 110
CA 02630430 2008-05-05
incorporates a weight stack assembly 20 similar to that described with
reference to the
embodiment shown in Figure 1 as a resistance mechanism in place of the array
of bendable rods
160. With the embodiment shown, individual weight stacks 60a,60b are coupled
respectively via
the cable/pulley assemblies 22,24 to the foot frame 144 and hand pulleys 150
to provide the
desired degree of resistance.
The weight stack assembly 20 of Figure 8 similarly enables the user 12 to sit
at the
exercise machine 110 and alternately and/or sequentially perform arm and leg
exercises. In an
alternate possible mode of use, the user 12 may choose to repeatedly alternate
leg and arm
exercises for muscle endurance training, without having to interrupt the flow
by having to
reposition the pins 72.
The applicant has appreciated that the construction of the present exercise
machine and
its method of use provide various advantages over conventional strength
training apparatus.
With the present invention, the user 12 utilizes his or her whole body by
engaging the upper
body, lower body and midsection muscles during exercise. With such upper body
and lower
body muscle exercise, the user 12 also exercises and utilizes the user's back
and abdominal
muscles more often than traditional equipment.
CA 02630430 2008-05-05
26
Although the detailed description describes and illustrates various preferred
embodiments, the invention is not so limited. Many modifications and
variations will now occur
to persons skilled in the art. For a definition of the invention, reference
may be had to the
appended claims.
