US20070049471A1

US20070049471A1 - Waist twisting exercise machine

Info

Publication number: US20070049471A1
Application number: US11/212,738
Authority: US
Inventors: Hsiao-Chung Huang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-08-29
Filing date: 2005-08-29
Publication date: 2007-03-01

Abstract

A waist twisting exercise machine includes a substantially rectangular frame, an arm press on the left side and the right side of the frame that is movable up and down, and a leg press on a lower portion of the left side and the right side of the frame that is movable up and down. The arm press and leg press are fastened respectively to a pulley through a draw cable. The draw cable has one end fastened to a ring which can be coupled with user's arms and legs. When a user twists the upper portion of the body, the two arms can pull the draw cable to lift the arm press, thereby to exercise and enhance the strength of the waist, back muscles and arm muscles, and also improve instant burst strength and reaction.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an exercise machine and particularly to an exercise machine for strengthening waist, abdomen, back muscles and arm muscles of people.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Abdomen is the portion of human body that is most likely to accumulate fat. This is especially true for people of middle age or older, and those who work in the office environment. The general walking does not have forces applied to the abdomen. To do exercise on the abdomen and waist portion of human body, and make muscles stronger in these portions, the most common exercises are sit-ups, swing Hula-Hoop, aerobic dance, or have to rely on special exercise equipment. However, for most people to do exercises that can strengthen the waist and abdomen muscles is not easy. For instance, for the people of middle age or older, or who are over-weight, to do sit-ups is not possible or quite difficult. For people who have spine problem, to swing Hula-Hoop could be harmful. The aerobic dance might be desirable for some people, but it cannot be done too vigorously. It also is not applicable to people of all ages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the aforesaid problems, the primary object of the present invention is to provide a waist twisting exercise machine. It has a substantially rectangular frame, an arm press on a left side and a right side of the frame that is movable up and down, and a leg press on a lower portion of the left side and the right side of the frame that also is movable up and down. The arm press and the leg press are fastened respectively to pulley through a draw cable. The draw cable has one end fastened to a ring which is covered by a pliable outer layer. The ring can be coupled with each of two arms and two legs of a user. The upper portion of the user can twist forwards and rearwards. The two arms of the user can pull the draw cable to lift a plurality of weights of the arm press. The two legs of the user can be anchored by the leg press. Thereby the waist, abdomen, back muscles and arm muscles of the user can be exercised. It also can be used to improve instant burst strength and reaction for athletes.
The foregoing, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2A is a fragmentary sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2B is a schematic view of FIG. 2A in an operating condition.
FIG. 3 is a side view of an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the present invention in a use condition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Please refer to FIG. 1, the waist twisting machine according to the invention includes a substantially rectangular frame 10 made of metal bars, two parallel and vertical tubes 11 on a left side and a right side, a transverse bar 12 running through by the vertical tubes 11 in the middle portion thereof, an arm press 13 a on each of two sides (also referring to FIGS. 2A and 3), and a leg press 13 b (same as the arm press 13 a) on a lower side of the vertical tubes 11. The arm press 13 a includes a plurality of rectangular weights 131 each has apertures 132 on two sides to be run through by the vertical tubes 11. Each of the weights 131 has an opening 133 in the middle to be coupled by a draw bar 134. The draw bar 134 has a plurality of holes 135 formed longitudinally. One of the holes 135 is transversely inserted by a rod 136 which also runs through a notch 137 formed on an outer side of the weight 131. A draw cable 14 (such as steel cable) is provided which has one end fastened to the draw bar 134 and other end winding around a pulley 15 hung on an upper side of the frame 10 to fasten to a ring 16 which includes a chain consisting of a plurality of metal chain rings. The ring 16 is covered by a layer of pliable pad and coupled with user's arms (referring to FIG. 4).
The leg press 13 b, referring to FIG. 2A, also includes a plurality of rectangular weights 131 each has apertures 132 on two sides to be run through by the vertical tubes 11. Each of the weights 131 has an opening 133 in the middle to be run through by a draw bar 134 from up to down. The draw bar 134 has a plurality of holes 135 formed longitudinally. One of the holes 135 is transversely inserted by a rod 136 which also runs through a notch 137 formed on an outer side of the weight 131. Another draw cable 14 is provided which has one end fastened to the draw bar 134 and other end winding around another pulley 15 located on a lower side of the frame 10 to fasten to a ring 16 which includes a chain consisting of a plurality of metal chain rings. The ring 16 is covered by a layer of pliable pad and coupled with an upper portion of user's legs.
There is a pliable board 20 formed at the same width of the frame 10 and rested on the floor.
Referring to FIGS. 2B and 4, when in use, a user stands in the middle of the pliable board 20 with two legs coupled on the rings 16 located on the left side and right side at an upper portion of the thighs so that the legs are anchored. When the two legs are moved inwards close to each other, they pull the draw cable 14 fastened to the leg press 13 b to lift the weights 131. Thereby the muscles of the thighs and hip can be contracted and exercised. The two arms of the user also can be coupled with two rings 16 on the upper side of the arms close to the shoulders. The number of the weights 131 on the arm press 13 a can be adjusted according to the physical strength of the user. This can be done by pulling the rod 136 and insert the rod 136 in the notch 137 of a selected weight 131, then insert the rod into the hole 135 of the draw bar 134. Then the weights 131 above the rod 136 can be lifted along the vertical tubes 11 as the draw bar 134 is hoisted. When the user twists the upper portion of the body forwards and rearwards, the two arms can pull the draw cable 14 on the upper portion of two sides of the frame 10 to hoist the selected number of the weights 131 of the arm press 13 a upwards for a predetermined height. These actions compel user's abdomen, waist, back muscles and arms to exert forces so that the weights 131 of the arm press 13 a can be lifted to the selected height. In the mean time, user's two legs have to stand firmly and forcefully to enable the upper portion of user's body to twist. With the two legs moving close to each other to pull the draw cable 14 fastened to the leg press 13 b to lift the weights 131 located thereon, the thighs and hip also have to exert forces. Therefore twisting the upper portion of the body allows the waist, abdomen, back muscles and arms to exert forces, and the muscles of the waist and abdomen have proper exercises and may become stronger. This exercise also consumes energy, and can eliminate fat on the abdomen and trim the waist to become leaner. The muscles on the hip and thighs also are exercised, thus can improve the instant burst strength of athletes.
In order to provide elastic cushion during the weights 131 of the arm press 13 a and leg press 13 b drop, and prevent the gravity force from hitting the bottom of the frame 10 or the transverse bar 12, the upper side and lower side of the vertical tubes 11 are coupled respectively an elastic element 17 on the transverse bar 12 and the bottom of either side of the frame 10. Hence when the user releases the rings 16 on the arms and thighs, the draw cable 14 fastened to the weights 131 is released, the weights 131 drop immediately. The elastic element 17 provides a buffer to cushion the impact and avoids direct hitting on the metal frame 10.
Samples of the invention have been made, and tests have performed successfully. The object and functions previously discussed are achieved satisfactorily. It provides a significant improvement over the conventional exercise equipment now on the market.
While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been set forth for the purpose of disclosure, modifications of the disclosed embodiment of the invention as well as other embodiments thereof may occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to cover all embodiments which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A waist twisting exercise machine, comprising:

a frame which is formed substantially rectangular and has respectively two vertical tubes on a left side and a right side thereof;

an arm press which is located respectively on the left side and the right side of the frame and movable up and down; the arm press having a plurality of weights, each of the weights having two apertures to be run through by the vertical tubes and a opening in a middle portion thereof to be coupled by a draw bar, the draw bar having a plurality of holes formed longitudinally thereon, one of holes being inserted by a rod which also runs through a notch formed on an outer side of the weight; the draw bar being fastened to at least one pulley through a draw cable, the draw cable having one end fastened to a ring, the ring being coupled with a user's arm;

wherein the user twists the upper portion of user's body, user's two arms pulling the draw cable to lift the weights.

2. The waist twisting exercise machine of claim 1 further including a leg press which has a plurality of weights, each of the weights having two apertures to be run through by the vertical tubes and a opening in a middle portion thereof to be coupled by a draw bar, the draw bar having a plurality of holes formed longitudinally thereon, one of the holes being inserted by a rod which also runs through a notch formed on an outer side of the weight; the draw bar being fastened to a pulley through a draw cable, the draw cable having one end fastened to a ring, the ring being coupled with an upper portion of a user's thigh.

3. The waist twisting exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the ring includes a plurality of metal chain rings and is covered by a layer of elastic pliable pad.

4. The waist twisting exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the frame has a pliable board on the bottom that is formed at a width same as the frame.

5. The waist twisting exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the vertical tubes run through respectively two elastic elements on an upper side and a lower side that are located respectively on a transverse bar located on the two vertical tubes and the bottom of two sides of the frame to provide elastic cushion for dropping of the weights of the arm press and the leg press.