AU610568B2

AU610568B2 - Exercise means

Info

Publication number: AU610568B2
Application number: AU13109/88A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Anthony Mcgregor Sims
Original assignee: TITAN GROUP Pty Ltd
Current assignee: TITAN GROUP Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1987-03-03
Filing date: 1988-03-03
Publication date: 1991-05-23
Anticipated expiration: 2008-03-03
Also published as: AU1310988A

Description

4765A/HMv r N 310 Fa'. 198 FOR~S OFFCE SE Application Number: Lodged: Class Int. Class Coj~pLete Specification Lodged: 000.1Accepted: Published: P~i,o ritv: Related Art: e.

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0 ,33!1 Prospect Road, BLAIR ATHOL,State of South Australia, K 0 Conmmonwealth of Australia Actual Inventor: ANTHONY McGREGOR SIMS Address for Service: V ~wIK St-ate of South Australia, Cornmonwea-lt--h -o-f Astrala- Complete Specification for the invention entitled: "EXERCISE MEANS" The following statement is a full description of this invention, Including the best method of performing it known toe.

-1- Signature(s) of declarant(s).

(Note: No attestation or other signature Is required).

U- -1 o o 0 00 0 0 0 0 o 0 0 00 0 a00 0 0 00 00 0 0 0 0 o o o 0 o0 0 o 0 0 0 0 ouo0a 0 0 0 0 O 0 o P C 0 0 a 0 0 o a o The present invention relates to exercise apparatus for human use. The invention can be applied to a variety of exercise machines specifically configured for exercising certain muscle groups in the body. More particularly, the invention provides an apparatus including an hydraulic circuit which allows respective preselected loads to be applied by the user to achieve movement of the actuator of the exercise apparatus in forward and reverse directions.

In exercise apparatus, different users require different resistances, and the same user may require the exercising of different sets of muscles at the same time, for example biceps and triceps. However triceps are only about 60% of the strength of biceps, and consequently an exercise machine having the facility to exercise both triceps and biceps desirably will offer resistance to movement in different degrees for forward and reverse movement for developing respective sets of muscles. The present invention may equally be applied to exercise machines for other muscle groups.

Accordingly the present invention provides an exercise apparatus for human use comprising: a base portion; a double acting actuator; a hydraulic circuit providing independently adjustable resistance to motion of the actuator in forward and reverse directions, in use the actuator being movable by a user relative to the base portion; and the hydraulic circuit comprising: a double acting pump arranged to be driven by the actuator and displace hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic circuit and (ii) control apparatus connected to the pump for preventing displacement of the actuator in forward and reverse directions unless the user applies a force exceeding a pre-selected resistance in the control apparatus, wherein the control apparatus comprises first and s/MS 2 .i second ports, the ports being connected to oprosite sides of the double acting pump and each being in communication with a respective adjustable pressure regulating valve and a non-return valve in the control apparatus, the control apparatus being such that motion of the actuator in the forward direction causes flow of hydraulic fluid through the first port, through its pressure regulating valve, through the non-return valve associated with the second port and then through the second port and back to the pump, and motion of the actuator in the reverse direction causes flow of hydraulic fluid through the second port, through its pressure regulating valve, through the non-return valve associated with the first port and then through the first port and back to the pump.

In a first preferred form, the invention provides an u exercise apparatus for human use wherein the control 0

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o apparatu,- is a double acting hydraulic valve, the valve comprising: 000~n first and second conduits, each connected to a respective port; 00 00 0 o0 a first passage, extending between the first and 0 second conduits; 0 first and second pressure regulating valves, each including biassing means providing an adjustable biassing force that is predetermined by a user of the 90000exercise apparatus, each regulating valve located in a Coo.o respective one of said conduits and actuable, when a 00 0 O user applies a force to the actuator exceeding the 0 0 biassing force, to allow fluid flow from its respective port to the first passage; first and second non-return valves, each associated 0 ,with a respective conduit; ao o 0 a second passage, extending between the first and 400 0 second non-return valves and in communication with the first passage; wherein, when there is flow from one port to the first passage, the non-return valve associated with the other conduit allows flow from the 55L M- 4gA 9/ -3 i: 1 S0 04 0 o 4 0 0 0 0 0 00000 second passage to the other port.

Preferably each non-return valve in the control apparatus is a ball valve, and preferably each pressure regulating valve comprises a plunger slidable in its respective conduit.

The biassing means may be a helical spring. To adjust the biassing force in the helcal spring, an adjustment knob may be provided which threadably engages a body portion of the control apparatus. The helical spring is then preferably located between the adjustment knob and the plunger of the pressure regulating valve.

The helical spring urges the pressure regulating valve plunger to regulate fluid communication between the conduit and the first passage and is arranged to allow fluid communication only upon sufficient pressure being applied to the plunger, displacing it against and compressing the spring.

The adjustment knob may comprise a circular portion and have a plurality of apertures spaced around it circumferentially. The control apparatus body can further comprise a spring-loaded plunger for each adjustment knob which releasably engages the apertures upon rotation of the adjustment knob. The spring loaded plunger prevents the adjustment knob from rotating and enables the user of the apparatus to pre-select a biassing force which can be maintained for the duration of the exercise without the need for re-adjustment.

A further advantageous feature which may be included in the control apparatus is a reservoir which communicates with both the first and second passages.

It is preferred that the second passage intercepts each conduit.

The hydraulic pump may be a manually operable semi-rotary pump.

One preferred embodiment of the control apparatus can be described as comprising a body having two portions, each with a pressure regulating valve and a non-return valve.

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Oil displaced by the operation of the actuator in a first direction passes through a first pressure regulating valve and return oil through a second non-return valve, and this is reversed when the pump is operated in a second direction. If the pressure regulating valves permit different resistances, they can be adjusted appropriately for movement effected by different sets of muscles.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:- 00, Fig. 1 is a sectional plan view taken along the line o 00 000 1-1 of Fig. 2 and of a hydraulic control apparatus for use o 0 in the exercise apparatus; o. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation taken along the line 0 0 o 15 2-2 of Fig. 1, the section being stepped as shown by double o0 dashed lines in the central region of Fig. 1; 0 Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional side elevation taken along 0 the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic representation of the control apparatus in Figs. 1 to 3 in a hydraulic circuit with a 0 0o double acting pump driven by an actuator.

o o Reference will first be made to Fig. 4. The exercise o0 0 0 machine is not shown in the drawing but can be any suitable 00 0 0 0machine such as a conventional machine with a handle, lever or arm to be displaced by the user to cause oscillation of a 0 drive shaft 11A of a hydraulic pump 11. The pump 11 has a 0 00 0o vane 11B which is moved by the shaft to displace hydraulic fluid either in a forward direction or a reverse direction 0 0 to and from a control unit 14 through hydraulic conduits and 16 respectively connected to hydraulic ports 12 and 13 of the pump 11.

The control unit 14 has respective first and second valve configurations 17 and 18 each including a pressure relief valve 19 and a one way or check valve 20 with respective galleyways connected to the hydraulic conduit leading to the pump 11 and also to a reservoir 23. The detail of the control unit 14 is described below with S 04isMS 5 I. I reference to Figs. 1 to 3 from which it will be seen that the pressure settings of the respective relief valves 19 are manually adjustable and the reservoir 23 is a closed pressurised reservoir. For convenience the operation of valves in Fig. 4 will now be described.

When the shaft 11A is rotated by the user in an anticlockwise direction, hydraulic fluid is urged along line and the check valve 20 is closed due to pressure in the fluid. Relief valve 19 is closed initially under the biasing force of its helical compression spring but the o0O 0 relief valve rapidly opens when the applied load exceeds a 0 predetermined value thereby discharging hydraulic fluid into o0o the reservoir 23. Simultaneously fluid pressure is applied oo oto the check valve 20 in the right hand or second valve 0 9 015 portion to open the check valve and return fluid through 0o a 0 line 16 to the pump 11. Return motion of the vane 11B of the pump causes corresponding actuation of the valve 0 portions in the opposite direction.

Reference is now made to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 which describe the control unit in more detail.

0 oooooo The control unit 14 comprises a body 22 to which is 000 ooo secured a small reservoir 23 upstanding from its upper 00 0 0 surface.

oOOo 00 0 The reservoir 23 connects the two non-return valves through a lower passage 24 as best seen in Fig. 2, in each 0 case the connection being to the suction side of each 00000 non-return valve 20. An upper passage 25 also connects to the reservoir 23. and joins the first and second conduits and 16 thereto, but in each case through a passage 27 and a pressure regulating valve 19. Each pressure regulating valve 19 comprises a plunger 26 which extends down an upper portion of a respective one of the passages 27 which intersects the upper passage 25. Each passage 27 also connects to the pressure side of a respective non-return valve There are provided two adjustment knobs 29 each containing a plurality of apertures 30 spaced around a pitch 4 11 I 1 circle, and the apertures 30 sequentially receive a spring-loaded plunger 31 upon rotation of the adjustment knobs 29. Each adjustment knob 29 is also provided with a stop pin 32 which inhibits rotation beyond one full revolution.

The adjustment knobs 29 threadably engage the body 22 and bear against the respective plungers 26 through springs 33.

Upon high pressure above the preselected pressure set 10 at knob 29 being applied to the first conduit 15 for 0000 o0 0 example, the first plunger moves upwardly along its passage 00 27 compressing its spring 33 until it exposes the passage 0000oooo for fluid flow. The orifice size at the interconnection of .00. passages 25 and 27 is relatively small, and therefore each 00 00 15 valve 19 when opened remains at a substantially constant 00 0.0 position so that the valve functions as a one-way valve ,0 0. having a pressure regulating function.

0 0 While high pressure is applied to the conduit 15, that high pressure fluid enters the contiguous left hand non-return valve space 20 above the ball and presses that 0ooball on its seat, and pressure is maintained within the oooor 0.00 0000 a passage 27 until oil flows past the plunger 26 of pressure 0 regulating valve 19 into passage 25. Since the right hand 00 a o00 00 plunger 26 closes valve 19, there is no pressure applied to close the right-hand non-return valve 20. On the contrary, o hydraulic fluid flows from upper passage 25 via the o S reservoir 23 to the lower passage 24 and lifts the ball of 0o0 the right hand valve 20 off its seat, so that hydraulic fluid flows into the right hand passage 27, into the conduit 16 and back to the pump 11. The reverse will happen if pressure is applied to conduit 16 and conduit 15 then becomes a suction line.

Since the adjustment knobs 29 can be individually adjusted, the pressures in the conduits 15 and 16 (when acting as pressure lines) can be individually adjusted to correspond with loads which will offer preselected resistance to a user of the hydraulic machine, such that 4 0450:MS 7 different forces are required to move the vane of the hydraulic pump 11 in opposite directions. This is valuable in a wide range of exercises, not merely in the strengthening of the biceps and triceps of the arm.

It has been found that at least preferred embodiments of the invention operate reliably and are durable even under extensive use in a commercial gymnasium. Furthermore, accurate calibration is possible thereby permitting athletes to exercise under controlled conditions permitting accurate monitoring of improvement or change in performance. These o0oo characteristics can be very valuable where the equipment is 0 00 ooo used in the rehabilitation field.

o o 0 o 000000 0 0 000 0 0 0 O0 a 0 0 0 2 2 0 a 000000 0 0009 0 o 0 00 0 0 00 0 00 0 0000 0 0 0455s/MS 8

Claims

1. Exercise apparatus for human use comprising: a base portion; a double acting actuator; a hydraulic circuit providing independently adjustable resistance to motion of the actuator in forward and reverse directions, in use the actuator being movable by a user relative to the base portion; and 10 the hydraulic circuit comprising: 0o0 0 a double acting pump arranged to be driven by the 0o gOC actuator and displace hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic circuit and 00oo (ii) control apparatus connected to the pump for oo o 15 preventing displacement of the actuator in forward and 0 reverse directions unless the user applies a force oo ~exceeding a pre-selected resistance in the control apparatus, wherein the control apparatus comprises first and second ports, the ports being connected to opposite sides of So the double acting pump and each being in communication with eoo I 0 a respective adjustable pressure regulating valve and a 0 o o non-return valve in the control apparatus, the control o o a Soapparatus being such that motion of the actuator in the forward direction causes flow of hydraulic fluid through the o first port, through its pressure regulating valve, through oo o a o the non-return valve associated with the second port and o o then through the second port and back to the pump, and motion of the actuator in the reverse direction causes flow of hydraulic fluid through the second port, through its pressure regulating valve, through the non-return valve associated with the first port and then through the first port and back to the pump.

2. Exercise apparatus for human use as claimed in claim 1 wherein the control apparatus is a double acting hydraulic valve, the valve comprising: -9 .r i first and second conduits, each connected to a respective port; second conduits; first and second pressure regulating valves, each including biassing means providing an adjustable biassing force that is predetermined by a user of the exercise apparatus, each regulating valve located in a respective one of said conduits and actuable, when a 10 user applies a 7ce to the actuator exceeding the 0000 o O0 biassing force, to allow fluid flow from its respective oC 0 0000 port to the first passage; c 00 first and second non-return valves, each associated 0o00 with a respective conduit; OoO 15 a second passage, extending between the first and 0 0 second non-return valves and in communication with the 0 "0 first passage; wherein, when there is flow from one port to the first passage, the non-return valve associated with the other conduit allows flow from the o 00 20 second passage to the other port. ao oG 0000 o o0 3. Exercise apparatus for human use as claimed in claim 2 0 DO o wherein the control apparatus comprises a reservoir in 0 communication with both the first and second passages. S4. Exercise apparatus for human use as claimed in any one 000000oooooo 0 of claims 1-3 wherein each non-return valve is a ball valve. 000000 0 Q Exercise apparatus for human use as claimed in any one of claims 2-4 wherein each pressure regulating valve comprises a plunger slidable in its respective conduit.

6. Exercise apparatus for human use as claimed in any one of claims 2-5 wherein the second passage intercepts each conduit.

7. Exercise apparatus for human use as claimed in any one Ss/MS 10 1' POW I~~Y~i of the preceding claims wherein the biasing means is a helical spring.

8. Exercise apparatus for human use as claimed in claim 7 wherein an adjustment element is provided for each pressure regulating valve, the element threadably engaging a body portion of the control apparatus and also engaging the helical spring which is in turn located between the adjustment element and the pressure regulating valve 10 plunger, the helical spring urging the plunger to regulate OOOC o 00 fluid communication between its conduit and the first o 00 00 oooo passage and arranged to allow hydraulic fluid communication only upon sufficient force being applied by a user to the 0 o0ooo actuator, in turn through the hydraulic circuit to the 00o 15 plunger, displacing the plunger to compress the spring. o 0 0 00ooo 9. Exercise apparatus for human use as claimed in claim 8 wherein each adjustment element comprises a circular portion with a plurality of apertures spaced around it 0 20 circumferentially, the control apparatus further comprising ooooo 0 a spring-loaded plunger for each adjustment element which 0)00 01o 0 releasably engages the apertures upon rotation of the 0 adjustment element.

10. Exercise apparatus for human use as claimed in any one o of the preceding claims wherein the double acting pump is a 000 n 1 oo manually operable semi-rotary pump. ooo'00 0 1

11. Exercise apparatus for human use comprising a base portion, a double acting actuator and a hydraulic circuit for providing for preselected resistance to motion of the actuator in a forward direction and a preselected resistance to motion of the actuator in a reverse direction, each preselected resistance being selectable by a human user of the apparatus, in use the actuator being moved by the user relative to the base S rS -11 N E~A wnerein lcae ;UIILLHU±. aCLQ u "LA1) jau U- second ports, the ports being connected, to opposite sides of /2 I; B c 1, 9 *-1 portion, the hydraulic circuit comprising a double acting pump arranged to be driven by the actuator and displace hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic circuit and (ii) control apparatus connected to the pump for preventing displacement of the actuator in either a forward or reverse direction unless the user applies a force exceeding the preselected resistance, the control apparatus including a body portion, first and second galleyways in the body portion and a connecting passage oo0. for passing hydraulic fluid from the first galleyway to 0.oo the second galleyway and from the second galleyway, to a 0 the first galleyway, each of said galleyways providing a hydraulic fluid conduit extending from a. first 0 f S, 15 respective position on the outside of the body portion Sto intersect with the connecting passage, and a oo. valve conduit extending from a second respective 0 position on the outside of the body portion, the valve conduit accommodating a pressure relief valve comprising a spring biased valve element normally °0 preventing hydraulic fluid flow from the conduit to the °o0 connecting passage but responsive to fluid pressure in the conduit exceeding the biassing force of the spring 00 0 o to cause displacement of the valve element to permit fluid flow into the connecting passage, a rotary manually displaceable adjustment element disposed on 000000 °o000 the outside of the body portion and rotatable through up to 360" through a range of positions and mounted for varying a compression force applied to the spring associated with the valve element in response to variation in position of the adjustment element, the compression force corresponding to a preselected resistance applied to the actuator, and first and second non-return valve elements, the second non-return valve element being mounted to undergo displacement to permit hydraulic fluid to flow from the connecting passageway into the conduit of the second galleyway Y C>55 12 ^y when the pump applies fluid under pressure to the conduit of the first galleyway, and the first non-return valve element being mounted to undergo displacement to permit hydraulic fluid to flow from the connecting passageway into the conduit of the first galleyway when the pump applies fluid under pressure-to the conduit of the second galleyway, and the connecting passageway having a sealed reservoir in hydraulic fluid communication therewith, the reservoir when in use 10 containing a resurve supply of operating liquid for the 0000 o00 hydraulic circuit, and being subjected to the pressures o o 00% of the hydraulic fluid in the connecting passageway. o 0 o 0 0000

12. Exercise apparatus for human use substantially as o. 15 herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the 0 °accompanying drawings. DATED this 6th day of February 1991 TITAN FITNESS PRODUCTS PTY. LTD. By its Patent Attorneys oo GRIFFITH HACK CO. 4 o a 000000 ooooa 0o o 0 to 0455s/MS 13