Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
12937 ~S
CONVERTIBLE EXERCISE DEVICE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relate~ to physical exercising apparatus. More
particularly, this invention relstes to an exercising apparatus which may
be oriented and conrigurated to pertorm a wide range of exercl~es.
Exercise--heArt poundlng, muscle popping, sweat dripping exercise.
We all know that it is ~ood ror w and leads to good heslth. How-
ever, most people ~ind it ditficult to nnd the time or inclination to
exercise regularly.
Many pieces Or exercise equipment are ot course arailable to
facilitate exercising in the convenience ot one's home. However, most
equipment which has been available ror home use has not provided a
rull range ot exerci3e options. Accordingly, the person wishing to
exercise at homc ha~ been orced to purchase either several pieces of
dirterent equipment tor exerci~lng all muscle groups and for performing
both aerobic and ~naerobic exercises, or to torego exercising certain
mu~clc group~ or pertormlng certaln exerclse3. In com monly assigned
U.& P~tcnt No. ~ 77,071 a convertible rowlng exercise device is
dl~lo~d which b cspable ot we in any ot a plurality of orientations
and 1~ adapted to be selectively used as a rowing machine or for
performlng other types ot exercises. While the device disclosed in the
'071 patent provldes a single compact exercising device capable of
performing many dlrterent exercises, it is desirable to expand even fur-
ther the varlety Or exercl~es which can be pertormed on a rowing-type
home exercise device.
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SU M M AR Y OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, an object of an aspect of the invention to provlde a simple
and compect exercising apparatus whlch Is adaptable so that a wide
range or dirferent exercises, including rowing exercises, may be per-
~ormed.
Thiq and other objects Or the invention are accomplished by pro-
viding a muiti-functionai physical exercising spparatus capsble Or uqe in
any or a plurality ot orientstions and eserci~e conflgurations. The
appsratus includes a longitudinally extending rall member. A seat
slidable on the rail member may be slidably attached to the rail
member ror per~orming certain exercises, such as rowing exerciqes.
The rront end Or the rail member is supported by a rrame a~sembly~
The back end Or the raCi member is supported by a ground-engaging
support assembly. The rrame assembly compri es spsced paraliel lever
support members and a rront ~uwort assembly flxed between the lever
support membera A pivoted movable lever, including a uqe~engageable
handie, i operatively connected to each of the lever support members
Or the frame a~ emb,iy. A root member may be attached to one end
ot each ot tho lever ~upport members. The root member is
selectlvely engageabl¢ to provlde auxiliary ~upport to the exercise
apparatu~ ~ hen It Is In It~ inclined orientation. Bi-dlrectional
attaching mean~ i~ rlsed to the rrame as~embly ror selectively
attaching the frame assembiy to the rail member in either a co-planar
ccnfiguration, 90 that the rall member and lever support member_ are
sub~ntlally co~anar, or In a non-coplanar configuration, so that the
rail member and the lever sui?port members are qubstantialiy perpendic-
ular. Pre~erably the bl-directionai attaching means comprises a first
tubular sleeve and a second tubular sleeve qubstantialiy perpendlcular to
the rirst tubular sleeve. Elther Or these tubular qleeves may be
selectlvely positioned on one end oi~ the raii member to provide the
deqired coplanar or non-coplanar configuration of the exercise
appsratus.
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The exercise appsratus of the present invention prefersbly
includes sdjustment mesns ~or sdjusting the position of the frsme
sssembly on the rsil member when the frame assembly snd the rail
member sre substantially coplansr.
Resistance me~ns, such as hydraulic dampers conventionally used
in exercise equipment, are operatively connected to esch of the levers
and to each of the lever support members or providlng resistsnce to
the movement of the lever.
The present invention also includes support mesns or selectively
supportlng the bsck end of the rsil member in one of three orienta-
tions: a substantially horizontal orientatlon; an incllned orientation; or a
substantlally vertical orientation. The support means comprlses a
ground-engaging support member which comprises sp~ced parallel legs
and a cross-beam member asymmetrically ~ixed between the legs. The
ground-engaging support member further comprises coupling means fixed
to the cro~beam member ~or selectively coupling the ~round-engaging
support member to the rail member. The cross-beam member is ssym-
metricslly ~ixed between the spsced parallel legs so that the legs have
a short end to one slde of the cross-besm member and a long end to
the other slde of the cross-beam member. Prerersbly, a combinstion
support-handgrlp 1~ rlxed to one end of esch o~ the legs snd is
sub~tantlally perpendlcular to the legs. The combin~tlon support-
ha~ip 1~ adapted to engage the floor and support the exercise
apparatus In one of its orientations and is adapted to be user-
engageable In another of the orientations of the exercise device
thereby increaslng the range of exercises which can be performed with
the apparatus.
An auxillary user-support may be selectively fixed between the
pivoted movsble levers or positioned over the rsil member to thereby
further increase the range of exercises which can be per~ormed with
the apparatus.
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3a
Other aspects of this invention are as follows:
A multi-functional physical exercising apparatus
capable of use in any of a plurality of orientations and
configurations comprising:
a longitudinal seat rail;
a frame assembly coupled to one end of said
seat rail, said frame assembly comprising a support
assembly for supporting one end of said seat rail,
longitudinally extending lever support members for
supporting user-engageable levers fixed to said
lever support members, and resistance means for
providing exercise resistance fixed between said
lever support members and said levers;
coplanar attaching means fixed to said frame
assembly for selectively attaching said frame
assembly to said longitudinal seat rail so that
said longitudinally extending lever support members
and said seat rail are substantially coplanar; and
non-coplanar attaching means fixed to said
frame assembly for selectively attaching said frame
assembly to said longitudinal seat rail so that
said longitudinally extending lever support members
and said seat rail are substantially non-coplanar;
wherein said frame assembly including said
lever support members are reorientable and
reconfigurable with respect to said longitudinal
seat rail to be substantially coplanar with said
longitudinal seat rail when said frame assembly is
attached to said longitudinal seat rail through
said coplanar attaching means and to be
substantially non-coplanar with said longitudinal
seat rail when said frame assembly is attached to
said longitudinal seat rail through said non-
coplanar attaching means.
3b
A multi-functional exercise apparatus comprising:
a longitudinally extending rail member;
a frame assembly fixed to one end of said rail
member, said frame assembly comprising a support
assembly for supporting one end of said rail
member;
lever support members fixed to said support
assembly;
a pivoted movable lever operatively connected
to each of said lever support members; to each of
said lever support members for providing resistance
to the movement of said lever; and
bi-directional attaching means fixed to said
frame assembly for selectively attaching said frame
assembly to said rail member in either a coplanar
position so that said rail member and said lever
support members are substantially coplanar, or in a
non-coplanar position so that said lever support
members and said rail member are substantially
perpendicular, said frame assembly including said
lever support members being reorientable and
reconfigurable to be substantially coplanar with
said rail member in said coplanar position and to
be substantially perpendicular to said rail member
in said non-coplanar position.
A multi-functional physical exercising apparatus
capable of use in any of a plurality of orientations and
configurations comprising:
a longitudinal seat rail;
a frame assembly coupled to one end of said
seat rail, said frame assembly comprising a support
assembly for supporting one end of said seat rail,
said support assembly comprising a base member
substantially perpendicular to said seat rail a
depending support member fixed to opposite sides
of said base member, an attachment member fixed to
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3c
each of said support members, and ground-engaging
feet members fixed to said attachment members;
a longitudinally extending lever support
member attached to each of said attachment members;
user-engageable levers fixed to said support
lever memhers, and resistance means for providing
exercise resistance fixed between said lever
support members and said levers;
coplanar attaching means fixed to said base
member of said frame assembly for selectively
attaching said frame assembly to said longitudinal
seat rail so that said longitudinally extending
lever support members and said seat rail are
substantially coplanar; and
non-coplanar attaching means fixed to said
coplanar attaching means for selectively attaching
said frame assembly to said longitudinal seat rail
so that said longitudinally extending lever support
members and said seat rail are substantially non-
coplanar;
wherein said frame assembly including said
lever support members are reorientable and
reconfigurable to be substantially coplanar with
said longitudinal seat rail when said frame
assembly is attached to said longitudinal seat rail
through said coplanar attaching means and to be
substantially non-coplanar with said longitudinal
seat rail when said frame assembly is attached to
said longitudinal seat rail through said non-
coplanar attaching means.
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1~37~5
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a top plsn view ot exercising apperatus according to
the present invention.
Figure 2 is a side plan view of the exercising apparatus shown
in Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a front plan view of the exercising apparatus shown
in Figure 1.
Figure 4 i~ a sectionsl view o- a represerstative coupling method
used in the present invention.
Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 or
Figure l.
Figure 6 is a side plan view o~ the exercising apparatus of the
pre~ent invention shown in its horizontal orientatlon.
Figure 7 is a side plan view of the exercise apparatus of the
present invention shown in ib inclined orientation.
Figure 8 is a side plan view of the exercise apparatus of the
present invention shown in its horlzontal orientation and in a non-
coplanar exercise conflgulratlon.
Figure 9 is a side plan view Or the exercise apparatus of the
present invention shown in ib vertlcal orientation.
Figure l0 i9 a side plan riew Or the exercise apparatw of the
pre~ent inrention ~hown in ib horizontal orientation with an auxiliary
use~upport in place.
Pigure ll is a side plan view of the present invention shown in
ib indined orientation with an auxiliary user-support fixed in position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The present in~rention is a multi-functional exercise apparQtuS
which may be oriented and configured to perform 8 wide range of
exercises. In particular, the present invention is adaptable to perform
rowing exercises in either a standerd, horizontal orientation or in an
inclined orientation. The present invention may also be used to do
benchpresses, abdominal and lower back exercises, curls, squats snd
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myriad other exercises essential to a well-rounded exercise program.
As shown in the drswings, the p~rticular con~truction ot a preferred
embodiment of the invention includes a frame a~sembly generslly desig-
nated st 10. Frame sssembly 10 includes a tront support assembly 12,
which supports the tront, designated generelly at 15, Or the exercise
spparatus. Front support assembly 12 pre-erably comprises a bsse
member 14 and depending leg members 16. Pre-erably members 14, 16
sre hollow tubular members, although other structural supirt members
may, o- course, be used. Tubular attachment members 18 are nxed to
each ot Ieg members 16. As shown clearly in Figure 2, tubular
attachment members 18 sre substantially perpendiculsr to leg
members 16. Tubulsr members 18 have an open end facing the back,
deslgnsted generally at 19, ot the exercise app~ratu~. The other end
o- members 18 is preterably closed by a plug 21.
Spsced lever sui)port members 20 are tixed within the open end
ot each oi tubes 18 snd project towards back 19 of the exercise
apparatus. Pre-erably, lever support members 20 sre tubular structural
members which flt within tubes 18 and are secured in plsce by a
conventional coupllng element, shown generally st 21. Lever support
members ao may, ot cour9e, be nxed to tront support sssembly 12 in
other ~ays for 3Oinlng tubular support members or the like. Feet 23
may be podtloned on the bottom slde ot lever tube 20 and tubular
at~¢hment members 18 to support the sssembly on the noor or other
su~ort ~ur-sce.
Foot tubes 22 are fixed to tront support assembly 12 to sllow
the user to brace the user's teet while pertorming certain exercises.
Attaching member 23 is tlxed to frame member 12. Attaching
member 23 allows the entlre frame assembly 109 comprising front
support assembly 12, lever support members 20, &nd the levers and
resistant cylinders tixed to lever support members 20, to be
recontigured easily and quickly with respect to the remaining elements
of the spparatus. Attaching member 23 preterably comprises a first
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tube 24, referred to as a coplanar attsching tube, and a second
tube 26, referred to as a non-coplanar attaching tube. These
reference design~tions will be further explained below.
Tube 26 may be positioned substantislly perpendicul~r to and on
top of tube 24 so that the top outer wall Or tube 24 forms a bottom
w~ll of tube 26, as shown in Figure 2. Preferably, tube 24 is open
on both its ends to allow the seat rail to be inserted from either end,
further expanding the exercises which can be performed on the present
invention.
Each of lever tubes 20 includes a tront pivot rod, shown gen-
erslly at 31, ~nd a resr pirot rod, shown gener~lly st 33. A pair of
levers 32 formed st their free or distal ends with handles 34 are
pivotally mounted to resr pivot rods 33 on lever tube 20. A
spacer 36 is preferably placed over pivot rod 30 to space lever 32
from lever tube 20. A pwh nut 38 preferably is provided to secure
levers 32 to resr pivot rod 33. Pre-erably the levers 32 are attached
to the re~r pivot rods Or handlebQr tubes 20 so that the handgrips 34
are facing esch other, as shown in Figure 1. Other methods of
pivotally connectlng levers 32 to lever tubes 20 may of course be
used.
An incllned support foot 40 may be fixed to the open bsck end
o~ lever tube 20. Preferably, foot 40 is a tubular member of a gen-
erally L-shaped connguration. Support foot 40 includes one end 41 of
reduced dlsmeter which c~n be inserted into the open back end of
lever tube 20. A pull pin 43 passing through aligned apertures in
lever tube 20 and end 41 of foot 40 serves to securely couple suppcrt
foot 40 to lever tube 20.
Pneumatic resistance cylinders 42 are fixed to the front pivot
rods 31 on lever tube 20 in a similar mAnner as are levers 20 fixed
to lever tube 20. Thus, cyllnders 42 are fixed over front pivot
rod 31 ~nd are spaced from lever tube 20 by a spscer 36. A push
nut 38 may be provided to secure cylind~r 42 to front pivot rod 31.
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A clevis assembly 44 is fixed to the end of cylinder rod 46 of
cylinder 42. Clevis assembly 44 also is fixed to lever 32 by a pull
pin 45 passing through aligned apertures in clevis 44 and lever 32.
Lever 32 may be provided with seYeral spaced adjustment holes 47
through which pull pin 45 may pass. Connecting clevis 44 and thus
cylinder 42 to different ones of adjustment holes 47 will provide a dif-
ferent level of exercise resistance, which may be set according to the
exercise resistance deqired by a perticular user for a particular
exercise.
A sest rsil 50, having preferably A rectangular cross-section, is
inserted wlthin one of atttaching tubes 24 or 26, depending on the
particuler exercise configuration desired. The cross-section of seat
rail 50 is selected to be complementary to that of tubes 24 and 26 so
that they may interconnect and be coupled, as shown generally in
Figure 4. Attaching tubes 24 and 26 include apertures 28 and 29,
respectively, for coupling seat rail 50 to one of tubes 24 or 26. As
shown clearly in Figure 1, one end of seat rail 50 has adjustment
holes 52. In order to couple frame assembly 10, including front
support as~embly 12, lever tubes 20, levers 32, and cylinders 42, to
seat rail 50, 8 pull pin 30 is inserted through the selected one of
aperture 28 or 29 and one o- adjustment holes 52. Adjustment
hole~ 52 allow frame ~sembly 10 to be positioned in various locations
alon~ ~eat rail 50 to accommodate users of different sizes. Thus, for
esample, users with short legs may position the foot tubes 22 closer
to tl~e lever arms 32 to provide a more comfortable and more appro-
prJate exerclse position.
A slidable seat assembly 60 may be positioned on seat rail 50.
Seat assembly 60 is slidable on seat rail 50 when the exercise
apparatus is configured for performing certain exercises, such as rowing
type exercises. As shown more clearly in Figure S, seat assembly 60
includes a seat 62 on which a user would sit when performing an
exercise. Seat 62 is fixed to a seat bracket 64. Rollers 66 rotatabl e
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1~37 ~S
on axle 68 are fixed within bracket 64. Rollers 66 include a roller
surface 68 and a tlange 70. Roller surface 68 is adapted to engage
the top surface of seat rail 50, as shown in Figure 5. Flange 70
insures that roller 66 maintains its proper po~ition. A spacer tube 72
may be rotatably rixed on a guide rod 74 within ~eat bracket 64.
Spacer tube 72 engages the bottom surface of seat rail 50, as shown
in Figure S. Thus, seat assembly 60 is readily slidable along the lon-
gitudinal extent Or seat rail 50.
~ ground-engaging support assembly 80 is fixed to the back end
Or seat rail 50 by a pull pin 82 passing through aligned apertures in
support member 80 and in seat rail 50. As shown, ground-engaging
support member 80 includes spaced parallel legs 84 and 8 cross-beam
member 86, preferably asymmetrically fixed between leg~ 84 so that
legs 84 halre a short end 88 to one side of cross-beam member 86 and
a long end 90 to the other side of cross-besm member 86. Ground-
engaging support member 80 further comprises a coupling bracket 92
fixed to cross-beam member 86 for coupling support member 80 to
seat rail 50. Coupling bracket 92 and seat rail S0 have com-
plementary cross-3ections and interfit in the manner ~hown generally in
Figure 4. Coupling member 92 comprises a preferably rectangular
tube 94 in ~hich there Is an aperture 9S. Pull pin 82 is inserted
through aperture 35 and an aligned aperture on seat rail S0 to couple
~uwo t member 80 to seat rail S0.
Preferably, legs 84 are L-shaped and include a combination
support-handgrip 96 formed by a perpendicular extension 85 of long
end 90 o~ L-shaped leg 84. The combination support-handgrip 96 is
adapted to engage the floor snd support the exercise apparatu~ when
the exercise apparatus is in its inclined orientation, as will be further
explained, and adapted to be engageable by the user for performing,
for example, push-up exercises when the exercise apparatus is in its
horizontal orientation.
A cushion assembly or auxiliary user support 100 may be
attached to handgrips 34 Or levers 32, as shown particularly in
Figures 10 and 11. Cushion assembly 100 includes mounting brackets
(not shown) which fit over the ends of handgrips 34 so thst the
cushion assembly csn be maintained on the handgrips as shown in
Figure 10 ~nd 11. AlternatiYely, cushion 100 may be placed over seat
rail 50, as shown particularly in Figure 8, for performing certain
exercises.
Having described with particularity the structure of a preferred
form Or the invention, its operation will now be explained.
The present invention is capable Or operating in a plurality of
orientations and in several exercise conrigurations. In pflrticular, the
exercise apparatus of the present invention may be used in either one
of three orientations: a horizontal orientation, in which the seflt rail
is substantially horizontal with respect to the ground; an inclined orien-
tation, in which the seat rail is inclined with respect to the ground;
or in a vertical orientation, in which the seat rail is oriented verti-
cslly with respect to the ground. By selectively engaging one of
attachlng tube~ 24 or 26 with sest rail S0, the present invention may
be ~Iso used in various exercise conrigurations in which the frame
assembly may be conrigured so that lever tubes 20 are substantially
copl~n~r with seat rail 50 or alternatively configured so that lever
tub~ ao are substantially perpendiculsr to seat rail 50. Various
exerd~es may be perrormed through the combinations and permutations
or the various orientstions and configurations Or the present invention.
Additionally, the present invention may be adjustable to any desired
length by adjusting the position of frame assembly 10 on seat r~il 50
by using adjusting holes 52.
In the horizontal orientation, shown for example in Figures 2, 6,
8 and 10, incline support foot 40 Or lever tube 20 is positioned so
that the free ends face inwardly and each other, flS shown clearly in
Figure 1. Additionally, ground-engsging support member 80 is attflched
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to seat rail S0 so that the short ends 88 of legs 84 engage the
ground, as shown clearly in Figure 2 Thw, 89 shown, for example, i n
Figure 2, in the horizontal mode, the exerc;sing apparatus of the
present invention is substantially horizontal or parallel to the ground
and is supported on feet 23 snd legs 88 of support member 80
To place the exercise apperatw in the inclined orientation, pull
pin 43 is removed thw allowing feet 40 to be rotated 90 so that the
free ends thereof engage the ground, as shown in Figures 7 and 11
A~ter feet 40 are rotated to their appropriate position, pull pin 43 is
reinserted 90 that feet 40 are securely attached to lever tube 20
Ground engaging support member 80 is removed from the end seat
rail 50 by removing pull pin 82 and rotated so that support-
handgrip 96 engages the ground as shown in Figures 7 and 11, thus
elevating one end of seat rail 50 Or- the noor more than the other
end and creating an inclined orientation for seat rail S0 and the
exercising apparatus.
In the vertical orientaffon, the exercise assembly is configured in
the same manner as in the horizontal orientation described above.
However"n the vertical orientation the exercise apparatus is positioned
on one end, as shown in Figure 9, so that ground engaging support
member 80 and legs 84 rest sgainst the ground. To provided addi-
tlon~l support ~or the a~embly, a wali bracket may be fixed to seat
rall S0 and secured to a wall or other supporting sur-ace to insure
that the exerclse apparatus is stable in the vertical position
Various exercise con-igurations may also be made with the
present inventlon in any of its various orientations. For example, as
shown in Figures 6 and 7, the apparatus i~ configured in the coplsnar
connguration by coupling sest rail S0 to coplanar attaching tube 2 4 so
that lever tubes 20 pro~ect rearwardly from frame assembly 10 and are
substantially coplanar with seat rail 50 In thls configuration, the user
may perform, for example, rowing exercises in either the horizontal
orientation, shown in Flgure 6, or the inclined orientation, shown in
Figure 7.
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~ n Figure 8, the apparatus is shown configured in the non-
coplanar contiguration, horizontal orientation. In this conflguration, the
~rame sssembly is substantially perpendlcular to seat rail S0 by cou-
pling seat rail 50 to non-coplanar attaching tube 26.
In Figure 9, the apparatus is shown in a vertic~l orientation
with a coplanar conflguration. However, in thi~ coplanar conflguration,
unlike thet shown in Figures 6 and 7, lever tubes 20 project forwardly
rrom rrame assembly 10 Rearward or torward projection is made pos-
sible since coplansr sttaching tube 24 is open at both its ends, thus
permltting the ~rame as~embly to be coupled to seat rail 50 rrom
either side o~ the rrsme assembly.
The present invention may be configured to do abdominal or
lower bsck exercises by attaching cushion 100 to handgrips 3~ as
shown in Figures 10 and 11. This conflguration may be selected either
in the horizontal or inclined orientation.
Although a pre-erred embodiment h~s been described, the inven-
tion is not intended to be limited thereto. By selectively arranging
the positions of frame assembly 10, ~eat rail 50 and support
assembly 80, mQny dl~ferent orientations and conrigurations may be
obtsined. Various modiricstions wiU occur to those o~ ordinary skill in
the art and the lnvention is deflned only by the ~oUowing claims.
