CA1293745C - Convertible exercise device - Google Patents
Convertible exercise deviceInfo
- Publication number
- CA1293745C CA1293745C CA000527409A CA527409A CA1293745C CA 1293745 C CA1293745 C CA 1293745C CA 000527409 A CA000527409 A CA 000527409A CA 527409 A CA527409 A CA 527409A CA 1293745 C CA1293745 C CA 1293745C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- coplanar
- seat rail
- frame assembly
- support
- rail
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
Links
Classifications
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B22/00—Exercising apparatus specially adapted for conditioning the cardio-vascular system, for training agility or co-ordination of movements
- A63B22/0076—Rowing machines for conditioning the cardio-vascular system
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B21/00—Exercising apparatus for developing or strengthening the muscles or joints of the body by working against a counterforce, with or without measuring devices
- A63B21/40—Interfaces with the user related to strength training; Details thereof
- A63B21/4027—Specific exercise interfaces
- A63B21/4033—Handles, pedals, bars or platforms
- A63B21/4035—Handles, pedals, bars or platforms for operation by hand
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B21/00—Exercising apparatus for developing or strengthening the muscles or joints of the body by working against a counterforce, with or without measuring devices
- A63B21/40—Interfaces with the user related to strength training; Details thereof
- A63B21/4041—Interfaces with the user related to strength training; Details thereof characterised by the movements of the interface
- A63B21/4047—Pivoting movement
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B23/00—Exercising apparatus specially adapted for particular parts of the body
- A63B23/02—Exercising apparatus specially adapted for particular parts of the body for the abdomen, the spinal column or the torso muscles related to shoulders (e.g. chest muscles)
- A63B23/0205—Abdomen
- A63B23/0211—Abdomen moving torso with immobilized lower limbs
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B23/00—Exercising apparatus specially adapted for particular parts of the body
- A63B23/035—Exercising apparatus specially adapted for particular parts of the body for limbs, i.e. upper or lower limbs, e.g. simultaneously
- A63B23/03516—For both arms together or both legs together; Aspects related to the co-ordination between right and left side limbs of a user
- A63B23/03533—With separate means driven by each limb, i.e. performing different movements
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B23/00—Exercising apparatus specially adapted for particular parts of the body
- A63B23/035—Exercising apparatus specially adapted for particular parts of the body for limbs, i.e. upper or lower limbs, e.g. simultaneously
- A63B23/03516—For both arms together or both legs together; Aspects related to the co-ordination between right and left side limbs of a user
- A63B23/03533—With separate means driven by each limb, i.e. performing different movements
- A63B23/03541—Moving independently from each other
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B23/00—Exercising apparatus specially adapted for particular parts of the body
- A63B23/035—Exercising apparatus specially adapted for particular parts of the body for limbs, i.e. upper or lower limbs, e.g. simultaneously
- A63B23/12—Exercising apparatus specially adapted for particular parts of the body for limbs, i.e. upper or lower limbs, e.g. simultaneously for upper limbs or related muscles, e.g. chest, upper back or shoulder muscles
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B23/00—Exercising apparatus specially adapted for particular parts of the body
- A63B23/035—Exercising apparatus specially adapted for particular parts of the body for limbs, i.e. upper or lower limbs, e.g. simultaneously
- A63B23/12—Exercising apparatus specially adapted for particular parts of the body for limbs, i.e. upper or lower limbs, e.g. simultaneously for upper limbs or related muscles, e.g. chest, upper back or shoulder muscles
- A63B23/1209—Involving a bending of elbow and shoulder joints simultaneously
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B21/00—Exercising apparatus for developing or strengthening the muscles or joints of the body by working against a counterforce, with or without measuring devices
- A63B21/008—Exercising apparatus for developing or strengthening the muscles or joints of the body by working against a counterforce, with or without measuring devices using hydraulic or pneumatic force-resisters
- A63B21/0083—Exercising apparatus for developing or strengthening the muscles or joints of the body by working against a counterforce, with or without measuring devices using hydraulic or pneumatic force-resisters of the piston-cylinder type
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B21/00—Exercising apparatus for developing or strengthening the muscles or joints of the body by working against a counterforce, with or without measuring devices
- A63B21/40—Interfaces with the user related to strength training; Details thereof
- A63B21/4041—Interfaces with the user related to strength training; Details thereof characterised by the movements of the interface
- A63B21/4045—Reciprocating movement along, in or on a guide
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B22/00—Exercising apparatus specially adapted for conditioning the cardio-vascular system, for training agility or co-ordination of movements
- A63B22/0015—Exercising apparatus specially adapted for conditioning the cardio-vascular system, for training agility or co-ordination of movements with an adjustable movement path of the support elements
- A63B22/0023—Exercising apparatus specially adapted for conditioning the cardio-vascular system, for training agility or co-ordination of movements with an adjustable movement path of the support elements the inclination of the main axis of the movement path being adjustable, e.g. the inclination of an endless band
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B22/00—Exercising apparatus specially adapted for conditioning the cardio-vascular system, for training agility or co-ordination of movements
- A63B22/0087—Exercising apparatus specially adapted for conditioning the cardio-vascular system, for training agility or co-ordination of movements with a seat or torso support moving during the exercise, e.g. reformers
- A63B22/0089—Exercising apparatus specially adapted for conditioning the cardio-vascular system, for training agility or co-ordination of movements with a seat or torso support moving during the exercise, e.g. reformers a counterforce being provided to the support
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B2208/00—Characteristics or parameters related to the user or player
- A63B2208/02—Characteristics or parameters related to the user or player posture
- A63B2208/0228—Sitting on the buttocks
- A63B2208/0238—Sitting on the buttocks with stretched legs, like on a bed
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B23/00—Exercising apparatus specially adapted for particular parts of the body
- A63B23/02—Exercising apparatus specially adapted for particular parts of the body for the abdomen, the spinal column or the torso muscles related to shoulders (e.g. chest muscles)
- A63B23/0233—Muscles of the back, e.g. by an extension of the body against a resistance, reverse crunch
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B23/00—Exercising apparatus specially adapted for particular parts of the body
- A63B23/035—Exercising apparatus specially adapted for particular parts of the body for limbs, i.e. upper or lower limbs, e.g. simultaneously
- A63B23/12—Exercising apparatus specially adapted for particular parts of the body for limbs, i.e. upper or lower limbs, e.g. simultaneously for upper limbs or related muscles, e.g. chest, upper back or shoulder muscles
- A63B23/1245—Primarily by articulating the shoulder joint
- A63B23/1263—Rotation about an axis passing through both shoulders, e.g. cross-country skiing-type arm movements
Landscapes
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Orthopedic Medicine & Surgery (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
- Vascular Medicine (AREA)
- Cardiology (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Biophysics (AREA)
- Biomedical Technology (AREA)
- Neurology (AREA)
- Pulmonology (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Rehabilitation Tools (AREA)
Abstract
CONVERTIBLE EXERCISE DEVICE
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A multi-function exercise device capable of assuming a variety of exercise orientations and configurations. A bi-directional attaching assembly allows the frame assembly of the exercise device to be configured to be either substantially coplanar or substantially non-coplanar to a longitudinal seat rail. Additionally, a ground-engaging support assembly allows the exercise device to be oriented in either a horizontal, inclined, or vertical orientation.
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A multi-function exercise device capable of assuming a variety of exercise orientations and configurations. A bi-directional attaching assembly allows the frame assembly of the exercise device to be configured to be either substantially coplanar or substantially non-coplanar to a longitudinal seat rail. Additionally, a ground-engaging support assembly allows the exercise device to be oriented in either a horizontal, inclined, or vertical orientation.
Description
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.
37;~'~
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.
S
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.
A' - -_ 1~9~7-~S
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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 B
3'~ ~S
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.
B
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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1~33 ~
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 , ,_ .
_ . . .
7 ~5 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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1~3~
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 , 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 ~ ..
1i~3'~`~5 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.
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.
37;~'~
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.
S
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.
A' - -_ 1~9~7-~S
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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 B
3'~ ~S
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.
B
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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1~33 ~
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 , ,_ .
_ . . .
7 ~5 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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1~3~
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 , 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 ~ ..
1i~3'~`~5 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.
Claims (14)
1. 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.
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.
2. An exercising apparatus as recited in Claim 1 wherein said frame assembly has a front side and a rear side and wherein said coplanar attaching means comprises means for selectively attaching said seat rail to either said front side or said rear side.
3. An exercising apparatus as recited in Claim 2 further comprising coplanar adjustment means for adjustably and selectively positioning said frame member at various positions along the length of said seat rail when said support rail and said frame member are substantially coplanar.
4. An exercising apparatus as recited in Claim 3 further comprising ground-engaging support means selectively attached to said seat rail for selectively supporting the exercising apparatus oriented either substantially parallel to the ground or oriented inclined with respect to the ground.
5. An exercising apparatus as recited in Claim 4 wherein said lever support members further comprise an inclined foot support means for selectively providing additional support to the exercising apparatus when the exercising apparatus is oriented inclined with respect to the ground.
6. An exercising apparatus as recited in Claim 4 wherein said ground engaging support means further comprises user-engageable handgrips fixed to one end of said ground engaging support means so that said handgrips are raised above the ground when the exercising apparatus is oriented substantially parallel to the ground and said handgrips engage the ground to support the exercise apparatus when the exercise apparatus is oriented inclined with respect to the ground.
7. An exercise apparatus as recited in Claim 2 wherein said coplanar attaching means comprises an open ended tubular member and wherein said non-coplanar attaching means comprises a tubular member fixed to and perpendicular to said open ended tubular member.
8. 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 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.
9. An exercise apparatus as recited in Claim 8 wherein said bi-directional attaching means comprises a first tubular sleeve and a second tubular sleeve substantially perpendicular to said first tubular sleeve.
10. An exercise apparatus as recited in Claim 7 further comprising adjustment means for adjusting the position of said frame member on said rail member when said frame member and said rail member are substantially coplanar.
11. An exercise apparatus as recited in Claim 9 further comprising a slidable seat selectively attachable to and slidable on said rail member.
12. An exercise apparatus as recited in Claim 10 further comprising an auxiliary user support selectively attachable between said pivoted movable levers.
13. An exercise apparatus as recited in Claim 8 further comprising a ground-engaging support member, said support member having spaced parallel legs and a cross-beam member asymmetrically fixed between said legs so that said legs have a short end to one side of said cross-beam member and a long end to the other side of said cross-beam member, said support member further comprising coupling means fixed to said cross-beam member and a support-handgrip fixed to one end of each of said legs, said support-handgrip substantially perpendicular to said legs, said support-handgrips adapted to engage the floor and support the exercise apparatus in an inclined orientation and adapted to be user-engageable when the exercise apparatus is in a horizontal orientation.
14. 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 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 members, 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.
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 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 members, 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.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US81901386A | 1986-01-15 | 1986-01-15 | |
| US819,013 | 1986-01-15 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1293745C true CA1293745C (en) | 1991-12-31 |
Family
ID=25227000
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000527409A Expired - Fee Related CA1293745C (en) | 1986-01-15 | 1987-01-15 | Convertible exercise device |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| AU (1) | AU592158B2 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1293745C (en) |
| DE (1) | DE3790032T1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2193107B (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1987004359A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE3844690C2 (en) * | 1988-04-07 | 1991-07-11 | Heinz Kettler Gmbh & Co, 4763 Ense, De | Combined rowing machine |
| DE3812699C2 (en) * | 1988-04-16 | 1994-09-08 | Friedrich Wolff | Training device |
| FR2630636A1 (en) * | 1988-04-27 | 1989-11-03 | Argaud Henri Pierre | Device for muscle development and readaptation of the muscles using a spring dynamometer fitted with a reader |
Family Cites Families (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATE25820T1 (en) * | 1982-05-25 | 1987-03-15 | Brown Fitzpatrick Lloyd Patent | TRANSFORMABLE EXERCISE EQUIPMENT. |
| US4602780A (en) * | 1984-07-16 | 1986-07-29 | Sears, Roebuck And Co. | Multipurpose exercise apparatus |
| US4627610A (en) * | 1985-04-01 | 1986-12-09 | Rocket Industries, Inc. | Multi-purpose exercising apparatus |
| US4677610A (en) * | 1985-10-07 | 1987-06-30 | Gte Communication Systems Corporation | Three-port conference circuit for use in a digital telephone system |
-
1987
- 1987-01-14 GB GB8723505A patent/GB2193107B/en not_active Expired
- 1987-01-14 DE DE19873790032 patent/DE3790032T1/de not_active Withdrawn
- 1987-01-14 AU AU69304/87A patent/AU592158B2/en not_active Ceased
- 1987-01-14 WO PCT/US1987/000117 patent/WO1987004359A1/en active Application Filing
- 1987-01-15 CA CA000527409A patent/CA1293745C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| AU592158B2 (en) | 1990-01-04 |
| GB2193107B (en) | 1989-03-22 |
| WO1987004359A1 (en) | 1987-07-30 |
| GB2193107A (en) | 1988-02-03 |
| GB8723505D0 (en) | 1987-11-11 |
| DE3790032T1 (en) | 1988-04-21 |
| AU6930487A (en) | 1987-08-14 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKLA | Lapsed |