Classifications

• • 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
  • A63B21/15—Arrangements for force transmissions
• • 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
  • A63B21/16—Supports for anchoring force-resisters
• • 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
  • A63B22/00—Exercising apparatus specially adapted for conditioning the cardio-vascular system, for training agility or co-ordination of movements
  • A63B22/20—Exercising apparatus specially adapted for conditioning the cardio-vascular system, for training agility or co-ordination of movements using rollers, wheels, castors or the like, e.g. gliding means, to be moved over the floor or other surface, e.g. guide tracks, during exercising
  • A63B22/201—Exercising apparatus specially adapted for conditioning the cardio-vascular system, for training agility or co-ordination of movements using rollers, wheels, castors or the like, e.g. gliding means, to be moved over the floor or other surface, e.g. guide tracks, during exercising for moving a support element in reciprocating translation, i.e. for sliding back and forth on a guide track
  • A63B22/203—Exercising apparatus specially adapted for conditioning the cardio-vascular system, for training agility or co-ordination of movements using rollers, wheels, castors or the like, e.g. gliding means, to be moved over the floor or other surface, e.g. guide tracks, during exercising for moving a support element in reciprocating translation, i.e. for sliding back and forth on a guide track in a horizontal plane
• • 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
  • A63B23/03525—Supports for both feet or both hands performing simultaneously the same movement, e.g. single pedal or single handle
• • 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
  • 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
  • A63B21/0085—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 using pneumatic force-resisters
  • A63B21/0087—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 using 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
  • 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

Definitions

• This invention relates to exercise devices, in particular exercise devices which can be used to allow a number of different exercises to be carried out while in a gymnasium or at home.
• the possible exercises may include a very wide range of exercises covering all muscle groups.
• a major advantage of free weight training is that it allows the user maximum freedom to exercise against a selected resistance in any manner chosen.
• the user is however, confined to working against gravity. No resistance can be provided when moving weights in a downwards direction.
• existing machines can provide resistance against movement in both upward and downward directions but are generally constructed in such a way as to allow only very specific exercises to be carried out at any given machine.
• Other devices suffer from being of overly complex design.
• an exercise apparatus comprising an arm arrangement and resistance means, the
• arm arrangement comprising an arm mounted on a carriage, which carriage is mounted on guidance means for translational movement along a path, and the resistance means being arranged to resist movement of the arm relative to the carriage so that, in use, a user can move the arm relative to the carriage in order to work against the resistance means.
• the guidance means may be a mechanical guidance means.
• the guidance means may be a linear guidance means.
• a linear guidance means is means capable of guiding the carriage along a substantially linear path.
• the term linear guidance means includes, for example a straight-line linkage or a rail.
• the rail may, for example, be in the form of a track, a slide or a rod and bushing.
• the exercise apparatus may be arranged such that the arm is movable through a position in which the arm is substantially parallel with the substantially linear path along which the carriage is arranged to move.
• the guidance means may be a straight-line linkage.
• the straight-line linkage may comprise a support link for mounting the straight-line linkage to a surface.
• the carriage may be
• the guidance means may be a rail.
• the path may be a predetermined path relative to another portion of the apparatus, for example, relative to a rail or relative to a support link of a
• an exercise apparatus comprising an arm arrangement and resistance means, the arm arrangement comprising an arm mounted on a carriage, which carriage is mounted on a rail for translational movement along the rail, and the resistance means being arranged to resist movement of the arm relative to the carriage so that, in use, a user can move the arm relative to the carriage in order to work against the resistance means.
• the exercise apparatus may be arranged such that the arm is movable through a position in which the arm is substantially parallel with the rail.
• the arm may be pivotally mounted on the carriage.
• the resistance means may be arranged to resist pivotal movement of the arm relative to the carriage.
• the resistance means may be mounted on the arm and on the carriage.
• the resistance means may be disposed between the arm and the carriage.
• the resistance means may be
• the exercise device may be arranged such that, in use, the carriage is movable, guided by the guidance means, in two directions. The movement of the carriage may be substantially unresisted.
• the carriage may be mounted on the rail for linear motion.
• the carriage may be fixable with respect to the rail in one or a plurality of user selected positions.
• the arm may comprise a handle portion to which a user may apply a force in order to work against the resistance means.
• the handle portion may be pivotally mounted on remainder of the arm.
• the handle portion may be mounted to allow pivoting about an axis parallel to the length of the remainder of the arm.
• the handle may be mounted to allow pivoting about an axis perpendicular to the length of the remainder of the arm and the length of the handle.
• the rail may be pivotally mountable to a support, such as a wall or frame, to allow a user to change the orientation of the rail. This can allow a user to move the handle portion to a desired position and can facilitate movement of the handle portion and carriage in a corresponding direction.
• the rail may be fixable in one or a plurality of user selected positions.
• the rail may be pivotable, in use, by a user as he/she works against the resistance means.
• the rail may comprise a pair of spaced upstanding portions.
• the carriage may comprise pairs of wheels, each wheel of each pair of wheels being arranged to grip a respective upstanding portion.
• the upstanding portions may be disposed on opposite sides of the rail.
• the apparatus may be arranged so that the wheels of the carriage and the upstanding portions are substantially co-planar.
• Each wheel may comprise a V shaped groove around the wheel circumference.
• the upstanding portions may be profiled to match the grooves in the wheels.
• the exercise apparatus may be arranged such that, in use, the only contact between a user and the exercise device is via the arm.
• the resistance means may comprise a piston and cylinder arrangement including at least one chamber.
• the piston and cylinder arrangement may form two chambers, a respective chamber being located on either side of the piston.
• the resistance means may comprise a pneumatic arrangement.
• the pneumatic arrangement may comprise an air source connected via a pneumatic circuit to at least one chamber.
• the pneumatic circuit may comprise a first valve arranged to allow a user to select whether the air source is connected to one of or both of the chambers.
• the pneumatic circuit may comprise a second valve to allow a user to select to which of the two chambers the air source is connected.
• the first valve may be arranged so that when in a first position, the air source is connected to one of the two chambers and the other chamber is connected to a vent for regulating air flow into or out of the other chamber.
• the exercise device may be arranged such that when the first valve is in a second position the air source is connected to both chambers. In such a case, the force acting on either side of the piston may be substantially equal. When the exercise apparatus is in this configuration there is no load on the arm.
• the exercise device may comprise weight compensation means arranged to compensate for the weight of the arm. This arrangement prevents the arm from falling under its own weight and removes the weight of the arm from the resistance experienced by the user when working against the resistance means.
• the piston and cylinder arrangement may comprise a double acting
• the piston of the piston and cylinder arrangement may comprise a piston rod.
• the piston rod may pass through only a first of the two chambers of the piston and cylinder arrangement. In this case, the area of the piston
• exposed to the first chamber maybe less than that exposed to the second chamber.
• An additional cylinder may be provided to compensate for the area of the piston occupied by the rod so that the effective area exposed to the lower and upper chambers is equal.
• the piston and cylinder arrangement may be such that the piston rod
• an exercise device arm arrangement comprising at least one arm, mounted on a carriage which carriage is mounted on guidance means for translational movement.
• an exercise device arm arrangement comprising at least one arm, mounted on a carriage which carriage is mounted on a rail for translational movement along the rail.
• the arm may be pivotally mounted on the carriage.
• the exercise device arm arrangement may comprise a piston and cylinder arrangement disposed
• an exercise device comprising at least one arm and resistance means, the arm being mounted on a carriage and the carriage being mounted for translational
• Figure 1 shows an arm arrangement of a first exercise device
• Figure 2 schematically shows a pneumatic arrangement of the first exercise device
• Figure 3 schematically shows a pneumatic arrangement of a second exercise device
• Figure 4 is a side view of an arm arrangement of the second exercise
• Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the arm arrangement of a third exercise device
• Figures 6a, 6b, 6c are drawings showing the exercise device shown in Figure 5 in various configurations; and Figure 7 shows a perspective view of the arm arrangement of a fourth exercise device.
• Figure 1 shows an arm arrangement 1 of a first exercise device, the arrangement comprising an arm 2 mounted on a carriage 4 which is arranged to move along a rail 5.
• the arm 2 is pivotally mounted at one end of a support member 41 which is provided at one end of the carriage 4.
• a handle 21 in the form of a bar to which a user may apply a force whilst exercising.
• the handle 21 is mounted, via a universal joint towards its centre to remainder of the arm 2, for pivotal movement about an axis A perpendicular to the remainder of the arm 2 and the length of the handle 21. Further, the mounting is such that the handle 21 may rotate about an axis B parallel with the remainder of the arm 2.
• a piston and cylinder arrangement 3 Disposed between the arm 2 and the support member 41 is a piston and cylinder arrangement 3. One end of the piston and cylinder arrangement 3 is pivotally mounted on the arm 2, part way along the arm's length. The other end
• the piston and cylinder arrangement 3 is pivotally mounted to the support member 41 at the end which is opposite to that at which the arm is mounted.
• the piston and cylinder arrangement is connected between the arm 2 and
• the rail 5, upon which the carriage 4 runs, comprises a first leg Sl of an L shaped metal support structure S.
• a diagonal strut S2 is provided between the first leg Sl and a second leg S3 of the L shaped metal support structure S for additional strength.
• the second leg S3 of the support structure S is provided with a pair of pivotal mountings 7 (only one of which is clearly seen in Figure 1) by which the arm arrangement is mounted on a support frame (not shown) or wall (not shown).
• FIG. 4 which shows a second exercise device, which will be described in more detail below but is introduced here because it has identical mountings to the first exercise device, the pivotal mountings 7 are connected by a common bar 71.
• the bar 71 is in turn mounted on the second leg S3 of the L shaped support structure via a pair of brackets
• the rail 5 is generally horizontal and the second leg S3 is generally vertical.
• the whole arm arrangement 1 can then pivot around a vertical axis C provided by the pivotal mountings 7.
• the rail comprises a plate 51 which is mounted to one side of the first leg Sl.
• the plate 51 has a width which is greater than the width of the first leg Sl so that a pair of upstanding portions 52 are provided.
• One of the upstanding portions 52 runs
• the carriage 4 has four wheels 42. Two wheels 42 are located on each side of the rail 5, forming respective pairs of wheels and gripping the rail 5. Each wheel 42 has a groove running around its circumference arranged to receive the respective upstanding portion 52 of the rail 5. The wheels 42, and particularly their interaction with the upstanding portions 52, hold the carriage
• the user When exercising, the user is provided with a large degree of freedom of movement.
• the user may move the handle 21 in various ways relative to the arm.
• the user may also arrange the arm 2 and handle 21 in a convenient position by moving the carriage 4 along the rail 5 and/or by pivoting the arm arrangement 1 relative to its mountings 7. Movement of the handle 21 relative to the arm, movement of the carriage 4 along the rail 5 and pivoting of the arm arrangement 1 may also be carried out during an exercise movement without any significant resistance.
• the arm arrangement 1 has a handle 21 which is bar shaped and centrally mounted.
• This arrangement is convenient for simulating barbell type exercise routines.
• two arm arrangements of the type shown in Figure 1 may be provided, mounted adjacent to each other on a frame or wall.
• the handle 21 may be modified so as to be suitable for a user to grip with only one hand.
• This arrangement would be suitable for simulating dumbbell type exercise routines, in which a user grips a handle of one arm arrangement in one hand and the handle of the other arm arrangement in the other hand.
• the handle 21 may be interchangeable.
• the handle may be interchanged with a curl bar and / or foot or leg attachments.
• Figure 2 shows the pneumatic arrangement of the first exercise device which is used with the arm arrangement shown in Figure 1.
• the arrangement comprises an air compressor 10 connected to the piston and cylinder arrangement 3 to provide resistance against which a user may work.
• a piston 31 moves within the piston and cylinder arrangement 3.
• the exercise device is arranged so that air pressure may be directed from the air compressor 10, to one side of the piston 31, to oppose motion of the piston 31 when the exerciser is doing exercise and to be able to direct air pressure from the air compressor 10 to both sides of the piston 31 when a user is resting so that no load is applied to the arm 2.
• the exercise device is arranged to allow a user to select the side of the piston 31 on which air pressure from the air compressor
• the piston and cylinder arrangement 3 forms two chambers, an upper chamber 3 a and a lower chamber 3b, which are on opposite sides of the piston 31.
• the arrangement further comprises a regulator 11, an air receiver tank 12, a loading valve 13 and a
• the regulator 11 is connected to the air compressor 10 and controls the pressure in the circuit, allowing air into the pneumatic circuit and exhausting
• the regulator 11 is connected to the air receiver tank 12 which acts as a reservoir of air, compensating for variations in pressure within the pneumatic circuit caused by motion of the piston 31 in the piston and cylinder arrangement 3.
• the air receiver tank 12 reduces pressure variations in the pneumatic circuit, keeping
• the pneumatic circuit splits into a loading channel L and an auxiliary channel A which respectively lead towards the direction valve 14 and the loading valve 13.
• the other side of the direction valve 14 is connected to the upper and lower chambers 3 a, 3b of the piston and cylinder arrangement by respective upper and lower chamber channels Cl, C2.
• the loading valve 13 is connected to the direction valve 14 via an idle channel E which branches into two portions El, E2 as it reaches the direction valve 14.
• the loading valve 13 is a three port, two position valve for selecting whether air is supplied from the air compressor 10 to one or both of the chambers 3 a, 3b in the piston and cylinder arrangement 3.
• the direction valve 14 is a five port, two position valve for selecting the chamber 3 a or 3b of the piston and cylinder arrangement 3 to which air is supplied when a user is
• the loading valve and / or the direction valve may be solenoid actuated.
• a switch to actuate the valve(s) may be provided on the handle of the arm arrangement, by means of a foot pedal or at some other convenient
• FIG. 1 shows the pneumatic arrangement with the loading valve 13 in
• the direction valve 14 controls to which side of the piston and cylinder arrangement 3 the air compressor 10 is connected when the user is exercising and hence the direction of movement of the handle 21 that is resisted.
• the vent 15 is particularly important when pressure is switched from the upper chamber 3a to the lower chamber 3b or vice versa.
• the vent 15 controls air intake or expulsion from the pneumatic arrangement. By restricting the intake / expulsion of air, the vent 15 prevents sudden changes in pressure
• channel A is connected by the loading valve 13 to the idle channel E.
• the vent is disconnected from the idle channel E.
• Air from the air compressor 10 is then connected to both the upper chamber 3 a and the lower chamber 3b of the piston and cylinder arrangement 3. Air is supplied to the upper chamber 3 a of the piston and cylinder arrangement 3 via the loading channel L, the direction valve 14 and the upper chamber channel Cl. Air is supplied to the lower chamber 3b via the auxiliary channel A, the loading valve 13, the first branch of the idle channel El, the direction valve 14 and the lower chamber channel
• the loading valve 13 controls whether the air compressor 10 is connected to one or both chambers of the piston and cylinder arrangement 3.
• the pneumatic circuit also comprises a second branch, which connects the air compressor 10 directly to a second regulator 15. Air from the second regulator 15 is directed to a weight compensating single rod cylinder 16.
• weight compensating cylinder 16 is not illustrated in Figure 1 but is connected to the arm 2 and the support member 41 and located in parallel with the piston and cylinder arrangement 3.
• the second regulator 15 is adjusted such that the force exerted by the weight compensating piston and cylinder 16 on the arm 2
• the weight compensating cylinder 16 thus prevents the arm 2 from falling under its own weight and allows the user to work against equal resistance provided by the air pressure, when moving the arm in either direction.
• the piston and cylinder arrangement 3 shown in Figures 1 and 2 is a double acting through rod pneumatic cylinder in which the rod of the piston passes through both chambers 3a and 3b.
• single rod double acting cylinders may be used instead of the through rod cylinder of the first exercise device.
• Figure 3 shows a pneumatic arrangement of the second exercise device which is the same as that shown in Figure 2 except that the double acting through rod pneumatic cylinder 3 has been replaced by a pair of double acting single rod cylinders 32 and 33.
• the same reference numerals are used in
• the primary single rod cylinder 32 has upper and lower chambers 32a, 32b and is connected to the pneumatic circuit in the same way as double acting pneumatic cylinder 3 shown in Figure 2. However, because the rod of the main
• single rod cylinder 32 does not pass through the entire length of the cylinder
• the additional, secondary, cylinder 33 is provided.
• the secondary cylinder 33 is connected to the lower chamber 32b of the single rod cylinder 32 to compensate for the area taken up by the rod on the lower side of the piston 31
• Figure 4 is a side view of the arm arrangement 1 of the second exercise device showing the location of the weight compensating cylinder 16, the primary cylinder 32 and the secondary cylinder 33.
• the cylinders 32, 33 and 16 are disposed generally parallel to each other and connected between the support member 41 and the arm 2.
• Each cylinder is pivotally mounted at either end so as to allow the arm 2 to pivot about the support member 41.
• both the exercise devices described above operate in a similar manner.
• the weight of the arm 2 is supported by the weight compensating cylinder 16.
• a user can select the direction in which to work against the pneumatic arrangement by moving the direction valve 14 into the appropriate position.
• the regulator 11 which controls pressure in the pneumatic circuit may be adjusted to provide the desired force against which the user will work.
• the loading valve 13 may be moved into the first position.
• the exerciser may exercise taking advantage of the degrees of freedom previously described.
• the loading valve 13 may be moved back into the second position.
• the weight of the arm 2 is then, again, supported by the weight compensating cylinder 16.
• the exercise devices described above allow a user to carry out varied and flexible exercise routine using only a single exercise device and at the same time the exercise devices are of relatively simple construction.
• the rail can be mounted to a support, for example a frame or a wall, directly rather that via pivotal mountings such that the orientation of the rail cannot be changed.
• An exercise bench may be provided under the rail for use in exercises.
• the bench may be part of the support frame where one is provided.
• the bench may be an incline, decline or flat bench. Alternatively, an exerciser may use
• Figure 5 shows the arm arrangement of a third exercise device.
• the difference between the previously described exercise devices and the third exercise device lies in the changes to the carriage 4 and replacement of the rail by a straight-line linkage in the form of a Chebyschev mechanism 6.
• the carriage 4 of the third exercise device comprises a mounting block
• the Chebyschev mechanism 8 is formed of five bars 81, 82, 83, 84 and 85 and a support link 80.
• the mounting block 40 is attached to one side of a mounting bar 81.
• the remaining bars are pivotally connected between the mounting bar
• the mounting bar 81 is movable in a substantially linear path.
• the support link 80 has two pairs of arms, a left pair of arms 801 and a
• pivot bar 84 is attached to the right pair of arms 802 at its mid ⁇ point.
• the mounting bar 81 is connected to the pivot bar 84 via a first and second diagonal bars 82, 83.
• the first diagonal bar 82 is pivotally mounted to the left end of the mounting bar 81 at one end and to the upper end of the pivot bar 84 at its other end.
• the second diagonal bar 83 is pivotally mounted to the right end of the mounting bar 81 at one end and to the lower end of the pivot bar 84 at its other end.
• the last 85 of the aforementioned bars is pivotally mounted to the mid ⁇ point of the first diagonal bar 82 at one end and to the left arm 80 at its other end.
• Figures 6a, 6b and 6c show movement of the carriage 4 relative to the support link 80.
• the support bar 81 carries the carriage 4 upon which the arm 2 is mounted and allows the carriage 4 to be moved along a substantially linear path.
• the support member 41 is fixed to the mounting block 40.
• the exercise apparatus means for slowing the carriage may be provided, perhaps in the form of a spring or damper, whether the carriage is in the form of a wheeled carriage as described with reference to
• Figures 1 to 4 a mounting block as described with reference to Figures 5 and 7 or in some other form.
• the path of the carriage in normal use of the exercise apparatus in finite.
• a spring or damper is provided so as to resist movement of the carriage in at least one direction through a region of the path of the carriage towards one or both ends of the path of the carriage. This resistance to motion tends to reduce the speed of a moving carriage as it reaches the end of its path.
• the aforementioned damper could take many forms but may be, for example, a hydraulic damper.
• the spring could be a pneumatic spring, a mechanical coil spring or take some other form.
• Exercise devices with a spring or damper are particularly useful for exercises which require the handle to follow a curved path.
• An example of such an exercise is a biceps curl.
• the handle is moved so as to cause the carriage to move back and forth along its path.
• the carriage moves back and forth along its path, the carriage gains and loses momentum. In general, if the biceps curls are being performed slowly, the user
• carriage may become significant and control of the carriage may become more problematic.
• the carriage is moving towards the user.
• the slowing of the carriage at the end of the user's movement may be felt as a jolt transmitted via the arm and handle to the user.
• the presence of a spring or damper can allow the excess momentum of the carriage to be absorbed by the exercise device allowing a smooth action to be maintained even when performing biceps curls rapidly.

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• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Orthopedic Medicine & Surgery (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Biophysics (AREA)
• Cardiology (AREA)
• Vascular Medicine (AREA)
• Rehabilitation Tools (AREA)

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• 2005
  • 2005-03-31 WO PCT/GB2005/001249 patent/WO2006051247A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2005-03-31 EP EP05732528A patent/EP1814636A1/de not_active Withdrawn

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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