CA2103013A1

CA2103013A1 - Upper torso rotary exercise device

Info

Publication number: CA2103013A1
Application number: CA002103013A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Brian Kochan
Original assignee: SPORT SPECIFIC INTERNATIONAL INC.
Current assignee: SPORT SPECIFIC INTERNATIONAL Inc
Priority date: 1993-11-12
Filing date: 1993-11-12
Publication date: 1995-05-13

Abstract

ABSTRACT

An exercise machine which exercises the user's upper body by providing for an arm movement in a plane substantially parallel to the ground and rotating around an axis parallel to the user's spine is disclosed. The preferred embodiment includes a lower body stabilization means comprising a seat with a backrest, foot and lower leg restraints as well as thigh restraints. The user rotates a handle attached to a pair of cantilevered bars extending from a rotatable shaft located in front of the user.
The handle is free to pivot and move in a linear radial direction during rotation.

Description

--`` 21030~3 UPPER TORSO ROTARY EXERCISE DEVICE

FIELI:) OF INVENTION

This invention relates to exercise or rehabilitation machines, and more specifically to machines which exercise the upper body and/or torso of a user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In many physical activities, including such sports as golf, tennis, hockey, baseball, football and certain track and field events, the strength and i ~ ~ flexibility of the athlete's torso is important, both for peRormance and for avoiding 10 injury.
There exists therefore a need to condition a person's torso, incl~ding `.' the person's back and shoulders. U.S. Patents 4,296,924; 4,456,245; 4,733,860; .
and 4,732,381 all attempt to satisfy the need for exercise machines which place a load on the user's torso as the user undergoes a twisting motion. .. '''!'~''.'~" '`'~:' `' 5 ~ However, there exists a need for a machine which can be priced for the home market while providing a broad range of rotary movement, with or without ;
resistance, to increase ~the strength and flexibility of the user's torso. Such a machine ~should also have low risk of injuring the user, it being noted that the torso ~ '-i- .;
is ~quite vulnerable to~ strains or sprains.

SUMMARY~ OF THE INVENTION
, , . . ', The disclosed invention relates to an exercise machine which provides '''.'''~!"'""'''~ '~ "
for a movement comprising the twistjng of the upper body around the spine while at the same time maintaining the spine in an upright position. The machine `
25 exercises the user's upper body and/or torso by providing for arm movement in a substantially horizontal plane. A grasping means rotates about an axis parallel to `;
but spaced in front of the user's spine. Simultaneously, the grasping means is capable of at !east one other type of movement: either pivoting about its own axis, or sliding to and from the user's~ spine or both.
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Preferably the exercise is performed with the user in an upright sitting -position. The user's arms move in a horizontal plane in a curved path from left to right and vice-versa. In the preferred embodiment, the iower body of the user is -restrained to restrict turning of the legs and hips, so that the torso must twist as the 5 arms move. The faster the user twists, the greater the kinetic energy and centrifugal force created on the body. ;
To accomplish this exercise, the inventive apparatus has a generally vertical pivot, on which a horizontal or generally horizontal bar pivots. Either the bar or pivot is preferably provided with resistance means which make it difficult for the 10 user to rotate the bar about the pivot. The bar is equipped with grasping means such as handles. The handles are slidable on the bar, or can pivot with respect to it, or both. A space is provided for the user to stand or sit with his or her spine parallel to the pivot but spaced from it, so that the handles are on the side of the ` pivot remote from the user. Preferably, the user is provided with a seat, so that the exercise is carried out with the user in a seated position.
Optionally the invention includes a lower body stabilization means comprising a sèat with foot and lower leg restraints as well as thigh restraints.
Preferably, a lowèr~back support is also provided.
Additional features of preferred embodiments of the invention include :
20 variable resistance, flywheel brake resistance, various electronic displays to track ::
user~progress, and adjustability for the seat, restraints and handles. Preferably the machine can provide resistance through an arc of rotation of approximately 250 degrees of the bar about the vertical pivot. In a preferred embodiment the inventive machine provides constant resistance through~the entire arc of rotation of the bar j 25 about,the pivot. For maximum conditioning for users who are in good physical condition, the user would preferably use a burst of power when reversing the direction of rotation. However, while this is desirable for most users, the twisting inertia created by the rotation could aggravate already existing back problems.
Consequently, a control mechanism can be incorporated to provide for braking the30 bar's speed towards the end of the arc of rotation, in order to reduce the likelihood of such injury.

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~ ~ - ; : : i ,, 21~3013 Accordingly, in a broad aspect, the invention includes an exercise apparatus for exercising a user's upper body comprising: a shaft which rotates around an axis substantially parallel to the user's spine, said shaft spaced from the user's splne; horizontal bar means ~or rotation around the said shaft axis in an arc 5 in a generally horizontal plane; grasping means adapted to be grasped by the user, said grasping means being carried by said bar means in said arc; means for operatively connecting the grasping means to the horizontal bar means, wherein said grasping means moves in the said horizontal plane; and a user seating or standing station; said user sitting or standing station being located so that it is 10 diametrically opposed to a point on the arc of rotation.
These foregoing aspects of the invention, together with other aspects and advantages thereof will be more apparent from the following description of apreferred embodirnent thereof, taken in conjunction with the following drawings.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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Figure 1 is a top view of a preferred embodiment of the present '~
invention, with some underneath features shown in phantom.
Figure 2 a partially broken away cross-sectional side view taken on the -plane of line A-A of the embodiment shown in Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a view looking towards the front of an alternate handle member. .; .
Figure 4 is a partially cutaway view along the lines 4-4 of Figure 2, ~ - -showing detail of the resistance means.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION j ;~

In the following description, directional descriptions such as front, back, 25 etc, are in reference to the orientation of the embodiments as shown in the drawings, and should not be taken as absolute limitations.
As the apparatus of the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2 is ~ `

, ~1~3~3 substantially symmetrical through an axis of symmetry along line A-A, like numbering is usPd for features on each side of the axis of symmetry. To avoid cluttering the drawing, each feature is numbered with a reference numeral on only one side of the axis of symmetry, it being understood that the same number also represents the corresponding feature on the other side.
Seat 5 rests on seat base plate 6 which is in turn supported by support tube 70. Tube 70 slides in tube 71 and is retained in place by pin 75 which passes through a hole 73 in tube 71 which mates with a selected one of a series of holes 72 in tube 70. Pin 75 can be withdrawn by knob 18 so as to permit the adjustmentof the seat height. Tube 71 is connected rigidly to top slider 7 which is suitably coated with a low friction material such as nylon or polytetrafluorethylene. Slider 7 is arranged to slide along the upper faces of two parallel por~ions 8 of supportmembers 61, one of which is on each side of the axis of symmetry. Members 61 aresupported by legs 50 at their rear ends, and by legs 56 at their forward ends. Cross member 25 joins legs 56. Central member 27 extends between cross member 25 and legs 50 along the axis of symmetry.
A second slider 100, also coated with a low friction material such as nylon or polytetrafluoroethylene, is arranged to slide along the lower faces of parallel portions 8. Threaded screw 17 (the end of which is fitted with a knurled kob forease in turning by a user passes through a hole 66 in slider 100 and is threadedly received in a threaded hole 67 in a flange around tube 71. By loosening screw 17in hole 67, a user can sllde sliders 7, and consequently seat 5, forward or backward along parallel portions 8 of support members 61 to the desired position, whereupon screw 17 may be tightened. This clamps slider 100 against parallel portions 8 to, 25 lock the seat in place.
Shaf~ 14 is rotatably mounted within housing 16 which extends upward from the central member 27. A suitable low friction plug 28 (for example of nylon or polytetrafluorethylene) is mounted on the bottom of shaft 14 and is received in a low friction bushing 28 recessed in central member 27. Housing 16 is joined as by welding to parallel portions 8 of members 61 for rigidity. Just forward of the point of attachment of housing 16, each of members 61 angles outward to form an angied ,.,;i . : ; ~ ~ !

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portion 60. Suitably, angled portions 60 rnake an angle of about 40 degrees withthe central axis of symmet~ A-A. Thus the angle of divergence between the two angled po~ions is twice this, or about 80. Preferably a lower back support 55 is attached to the seat base so as to extend upward behind the seat to support the ~:
user's lower back. Preferably, this support is a cylindrical bolster of a padded ~ ~, leather or a soft rubber supported on a suitable metal bracket 58 to orient it in the desired position.
Foot and lower leg restraint means 2 extend outward from leg members 56. In a preferred embodiment, the foot and lower leg restraint means is : i ~
0 comprised of a foot retaining bracket 26 which is a U-shaped channel member with ` ~ ~.
a horizontal bolster 24 mounted on an axle 1 and spanning the open upper end of ~ -the U. If desired, bracket 26 can be provided with a series of holes in each side ~ ~
wall, so that axle 1 can be positioned at varying heights as designed from the closed . - ` -bottom of the U. U-shaped channel 26 preferably has a flat bottom which rests onthe ground or floor surface on which the apparatus is located, and is sized so that . ` . -a user's foot can fit freely in it. Axle 1 is preferably located at a height which causes ` -bolster 24 to engage the ankle or the front of the lower leg of a user whose foot is . ~ ~ ~ "
in channel 26. Channel 26 and its associated bolster 24 are swingable in a -~ ~
horizontai plane by means of hinge 23. Channel 26 can rest on the floor or ground - ~.
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surface supporting the machine, with the user's feet and the weight of the means i~
2 causing them to remain in position. Alternately, suitable locking means (not shown) can be provided to lock the foot and lower leg restraint means in whatever position the user finds comfortable. `
Inner thigh restraint bolsters 3 (for example of padded leather, foam or '~
j 25 soft rubber) are provided and are preferably adjustable in order to accommodate different users. A bolster support sleeve 82, having pin receiving holes 84, slides onto each angled portion 60 of support member 61. As member 61 is of square cross section, it does not rotate around the member. Upstanding from bolster `-suppor~ sleeve 82 is a cylindrical bar 80 welded thereto. Angle brackets 86 are pivotally mounted at the top and bottom of bar 80 and are joined by flat bar 86a.
The angle brackets support thigh support bolster 3. The structure comprising the ~;

;- 2~3al3 bolster 3, top and bottom brackets 86 and the joining flat bar 86a pivots as a unit on cylindrical bar 80, and is retained in place by the spring loaded pin being retained in hole 84.
A means for retaining sleeve 82 in the desired position along portion 5 60 of member 61 can be provided if desired. However, this is not necessary, as the thigh of the user, when the apparatus is in use, presses against bolster 3 with sufficient ~orce to angle sleeve 82 slightly against member 61, preventing the sleeve from sliding along member 61 while use continues. The lower angled bracket 86 has a hole 88, proximate its corner, for receiving a spring loaded pin (shown in10 phantom in Figure 1) for aligning with one of the holes 84. The pin can be raised to permit pivoting of the pad 3 around the bar 80 in the arc defined by the holes 84 for best alignment with the user's inner thigh. The pin may then be released so that its spring loading causes it to enter the hole to lock the pad 3 in place.
Each of the inner thigh restraint bolsters 3 restricts the movement of 5 one of the user's legs inwardly towards the line A-A.The combination of the inner thigh restraint bolsters 3 and the foot and lower leg restraint means 2 restrict lateral motion of the users legs in the direction of the exercise.
Thus foot and lower leg restraints 2 and bolsters 3, along with seat 5, form a lower body stabilization means to reduce lower body movement during the 20 ~ exercise, allowing the upper torso or upper body to move relative to the lower body.
Shaft 14 is provided with a resistance means, to resist changes of -:
speed and direction of motion transmitted by the user to shaft 14. In the preferred embodiment, the resistance means isahorizontally mounted flywheel 4attached to a friction belt 30. In order that the device have a stable centre of gravity thej 25 flywheel is preferably located near the bottom of shaft 14. It is fixed to shaft 14 to rotate therewith.
Spaced slightly from the flywheel is a U-shaped bracket 31, which is bolted onto member 27 with its open end towards the flywheel. A hole 90 extends through the closed end of bracket 31. A wire guide 91 is threaded into this hole.

3 0 Control wire 32 passes through the wire guide and is bolted to U-shaped member 93. Member 93 supports a pin 94 between its two arms. One end of a tension belt .,. ,.. ~ .... .. .

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30 is fixed to pin 94. The belt then passes around the flywheel 4 and is attached to a pin 101 which is held between the arms of a U-shaped member 102, which is similar to U-shaped member 93. Mernber 102 is bolted to the base of the U of member 31 by a bolt 103. This bolt can be tightened or loosened to set the tension of belt 30 around the flywheel to provide a desired resistance to provide a further resistance means to rotation. The resistance can be changed in use by changing the tension of belt 30 by extending or shortening control wire 32, thereby moving pin 94 closer to or farther from flywheel 4. Suitably, wire 32 terminates in a tension adjustment knob 21, which in known manner extends or shortens the effective length of wire 32.
On the top of shaft 14 is mounted a cap 13, which rotates with shaft 14 and provides sockets for two cylindrical bars 12 which cantilever horizontally forward. The two front ends of bars 12 are linked by semicircular linking member19. Handle sleeve 20 freely slides on bars 12. One bar could be used instead of the two shown, but should have a rectangular cross section so that sleeve 20 would not rotate about it. Sleeve 20 is provided with low friction nylon sliding bearings to allow sleeve 20 to slide freely. Handle means 10 is pivotally connected to sleeve 20 by means of pivot 95, which extends upwardly from sleeve 20.
Suitably, abutments (not shown) can be provided to limit the rotation of bars 12 around pivoting shaft 14. These abutments can be adjustable to permitany desired degree of rotation. A suitable arc of rotation for most users is about 250 (125 on each side of the centre line A-A). However, a smaller arc of rotation may be desirable when the device is used for rehabilitation of patients with some sorts of injury.
j 25 , In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, the handle means comprises a slightly inwardly curved member with handgrips 11 extending from each side. Of course other handle means could be utilized. An alternate handle means is shown in Figure 3. In figure 3, the handle means comprise a member 110 formedof tubing bent into an endless oval shape with a central vertical member 105 having a hole in the bottom for receiving pivot 95. A plurality of vertically oriented handgrips 111 joins the top and bottom of the oval. Accordingly, the user can . "'~':: " ,';~.

--~ 2~3~3 choose different handgrips, depending upon the desired distance between his or her hands when holding hands and arms may vary, depending on what grips the users grasps.

Operation of the Preferred Embodiment In operation, a user sits on the seat 5, with his or her feet in the foot brackets 26. The bolsters 24 rest against the front of his/her ~nkles and the bolsters 3 are adjusted by sliding sleeve 82 and adjusting the pin in holes 84 so that the bolster rests against his/her inner thighs.
The sitting user then firmly grasps the handgrips, and pulls the handle means to one side (eg. to the right). This rotates the elongated bars 12 through a horizontal arc in front of, and then to the side of the user. Cap 13 and shaft 14 then cause flywheel 4 to rotate. Initially, the user has to overcome the inertia of flywheel 4 and belt 30 in order to begin movement. If there is sufficient tension in belt 30, no significant momentum is generated, and the movement stops immecliately that ~:~ 15: the user stops pulling. If there is less tension, some momentum results, and the user must then pull in the other direction to slow and then stop rotation. Once he/she has stopped the rotation, the user then pulls to the other side (eg. to the left) to commence rotation in the other direction. If the user does not stop the rotation ~: ~
before the bars 12 reach the abutments, the abutments themselves will prevent 20 further rotation.
As the user pulls the handle means 10 to the right or left, the handle means can pivot around pivot 95. Additionally, the handle sleeve 20 is slidable alongirunners 12. The s!iding movement allows for two things: i) to accommodate the differences in reach between users; and ii) to allow radial motion towards and ~ ~ g 25 away from cap, as the user rotates the handle means. Thus the invention provides for rotational movement around the axis of rotation of the shaft, pivoting of the handle means and linear movement along the bars 12. This permits a broad range of exercise, as the user's hands and upper body can move through a complex rangeof arcs. It is contemplated that the said linear motion may also be subject to - 2 1 ~ 3 0 1 3 ~ :~ "
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resistance by providing an additional resistance means (eg, springs or elastic bands) . . -;
along the runners and attached to the handle sleeve 20. ~ ~:
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illustrative embodiments, while falling within the scope of the invention and it is intended that all such changes be covered by the claims appended hereto. .`~

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Claims

1. An exercise apparatus for exercising a user's upper body comprising:

a shaft which rotates around an axis substantially parallel to the user's spine,said shaft spaced from the user's spine;

horizontal bar means for rotation around the said shaft axis in an arc in a generally horizontal plane;

grasping means adapted to be grasped by the user, said grasping means being carried by said bar means in said arc;

means for operatively connecting the grasping means to the horizontal bar means, wherein said grasping means moves in the said horizontal plane; and a user seating or standing station;

said user sitting or standing station being located so that it is diametrically opposed to a point on the arc of rotation.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising lower body stabilization means for supporting the user's lower torso in a seated position with the user's legs open sufficiently to accommodate said shaftbetween the user's legs.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said lower body stabilization means comprises a seat, feet and lower leg restraints, and inner thigh restraints.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said lower body stabilization means further comprises a lower back support.

5. The apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1-4, wherein said means for operatively connecting the grasping means to the shaft comprises means for allowing said grasping means to move relative to said bar means.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said means for allowing said grasping means to move relative to said bar means comprises means for pivotally mounting said grasping means to a fixed point on said bar means wherein said grasping means pivots on its own axis.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said means for allowing said grasping means to move relative to said bar means comprises means for slidably mounting said grasping means on said bar means.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said means for allowing said grasping means to move relative to said bar means comprises means pivotally mounting said grasping means to said means for slidably mounting said grasping means to said bar means.

9. The apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1-4, or 6-8, further comprising resistance means for applying resistance to said shaft.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 further comprising control means for varying the resistance applied to the shaft by the resistance means.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein the resistance means applies the amount of resistance set by said control means throughout the full range of rotation of the shaft.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a braking means forbraking the shaft towards the end of the arc of rotation of the shaft.

13. The apparatus as claimed in any of claims 10-12 wherein said resistance means comprises a flywheel operatively connected to said shaft to rotate with said shaft.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein said resistance means further comprises a friction means for applying resistance to said flywheel, said friction means cooperating with said control means to vary the amount of resistance applied to said flywheel.

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein said friction means comprises a belt engaged by said flywheel, said belt subject to tension, the amount of tension controlled by said control means.

16. An apparatus for exercising the upper torso of a user comprising grasping means adapted to be grasped by a user;
horizontal guide means which pivot in a substantially horizontal plane around an axis parallel to but spaced from the user's spine when the user is positioned to operate the apparatus;
means for mounting said grasping means to said guide means for allowing said grasping means to move in said horizontal plane and move relative to said guide means.

17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein said means for mounting said grasping means comprises sliding means for radially sliding on said horizontal guide means towards and away from said axis;

18. The apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein said means for mounting saidgrasping means comprises means for pivotally connecting said grasping means to a fixed point on said guide means.

19. The apparatus as claimed in claim 17 wherein said means for movably mounting said grasping means comprises means for pivotally connecting said grasping means to said sliding means.