WO2007093990A2

WO2007093990A2 - Fully adjustable handles for weight lifting training apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2007093990A2
Application number: PCT/IL2007/000197
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nir Daniel
Original assignee: Nir Daniel
Priority date: 2006-02-16
Filing date: 2007-02-13
Publication date: 2007-08-23
Also published as: WO2007093990A3

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and device for easily and conveniently re-positioning operating handles (11) of a weightlifting training device during workout session without leaving the workout position and without releasing the operating handles (11)

Description

FULLY ADJUSTABLE HANDLES FOR WEIGHT LIFTING TRAINING APPARATUS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to weight lifting training apparatus and more particularly to a method and device for providing fully adjustable handles for a weight lifting training apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Weight lifting apparatuses of the present art usually comprise mechanism allowing for the adjusting of the training device for the specific trainee with respect to his / her specific height, the distance between his / her seat and his / her arms, and the like. Yet, the operating of such mechanism is usually fussy and involves with time consuming actions. It is therefore desired to have a device and method providing an easy-to-operate and fast adjusting means for adjusting the handles of the training machine to the specific trainee.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to some embodiments of the present invention a device and method for enabling easy change of initial position of handles in a training device, such as a weight lifting device, are disclosed. According to some embodiments of the present invention the operating handles of the training device may comprise at least two arms pivotally connected to a slidable frame installed on said machine, and to each other. Said arms may further comprise several fixing means which may be installed so to firmly fix a first of said arms to said slidable frame at fixed angle and to firmly fix a second of said arms to said first arm at fixed angle. Said fixing means may further comprise releasing means which may allow, when activated, a free change of angle between said slidable frame and said first arm and between said first arm and said second arm. The device may further comprise lock/release activation handle to facilitate the releasing / fixing of said arms. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the figures in which:

Fig. 1 is a schematic illustration of a device according to some embodiments of the present invention; Figs. 2 A and 2B are isometric views of embodiment of a device in two different angles according to the invention;

Fig. 3 is an isometric view of a device according to some embodiments of the present invention in its "stow position'; and

Fig. 4 is a schematic flow chart illustrating the operation of device 10 according to some embodiments of the present invention

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity. Further, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention discloses a device and method for a fully adjustable handles for a weight lifting device which may allow the positioning of the handles substantially in any desired initial place in a hemi-circle drawn around the connection point of the handles device to the training device.

Attention is made to Fig. 1, which is a schematic illustration of adjustable handle device 10 operating according to some embodiments of the present invention. Device 10 may be a part of a weight lifting training machine not shown) and may be slidably connected to sliding rail 26 being a part of the weight lifting device by a matching sliding rail 24. Rail 24 may be connected to operative load weights so that the movement of device 10 up or down along rail 26 activates the training device by moving the operative load weights either up or down. Device 10 may comprise a first arm 12 hingably connectable to rail 24 by a first hinge 18, a second arm 14 hingably connectable to first arm 12 by a second hinge 16, operating handles 11 installed substantially at the end of second arm 14 distal from hinge 16, a first angle fixing means 20 connectable between first arm 12 and rail 24, a second angle fixing means 22 connectable between first arm 12 and second arm 14, and a lock/release activation handle 30. First arm 12 may rotate about hinge 18 along double-arrowed arc 32 in a range of substantially 180° spanning at the left side of rail 26. First fixing means 20 is connected so that when it is in its "released" mode it allows a free motion of first arm 12 about first hinge 18 and when it is in its "locked" mode it locks the movement of first arm 12 about hinge 18. Fixing means 20 may be of any known lockable / releasable means, such as a piston with fluid inside its cylinder, that may be locked by means of shutting the free passage of said fluid from one side to the other inside said piston. It will be apparent that the movement of first arm 12 about hinge 18 may move hinge 16 about hinge 18 along an imaginary arc (not shown) spanning along substantially 180° at the left side of rail 26. Second arm 14 may rotate about second hinge 16 along double-arrowed arc 34 at an angle which may be bigger than 180°. Dashed representations of second arm 14, referenced 14A and 14B with their respective representations of handle 11, referenced HA and HB respectively, exemplify two positions of second arm 14 when rotated about hinge 16 with respect to first arm 12. It will be noted that handle 11 thus moves along an imaginary arc (not shown) and may be placed at any point along that arc. Second fixing means 22 is connected so that when it is in its "released" mode it allows a free motion of second arm 14 about second hinge 16 and when it is in its "locked" mode it locks the movement of second arm 14 about hinge 16. Fixing means 22 may be of any known lockable / releasable means, such as a piston with fluid inside its cylinder, that may be locked by means of shutting the free passage of said fluid from one side to the other inside said piston.

The movement of second arm 14 about hinge 16 may move handle 11 along an imaginary arc 34 spanning about hinge 16 at the same angle which may be bigger than 180°. The composed movement of first arm 12 and second arm 14 may allow handle 11 to be placed at points positioned anywhere inside a segment which may cover most of the left hemi-circle drawn about hinge 18. The exact shape and size of that segment may be a function of the specific implementation of the device 10.

Activation handle 30 may be placed next to at least one end of handle 11 so that when a used is working with device 10 he / she may easily and conveniently reach and operate activation handle 30. The activation of handle 30 may release / lock fixing means 20, 22 by activating / deactivating their respective shutting means.

Attention is made now also to Figs 2 A and 2B, which are isometric views of device 10 in two different angles of arm 14 with respect to arm 12 and to Fig. 3 which is an isometric view of device 10 in its "stow position", according to some embodiments of the present invention. It will be appreciated that handles 11 may be positioned at any point in a planar segment spanning around hinge 18 perpendicular to hinges 16, 18.

Operating of device 10 may comprise at least two different phases. A first phase may be used to operate the weight lifting training device and the other phase may be used for re- adjustment of the position of handles 11 to match the needs of a user. Attention is made now to Fig. 4, which is a schematic flow chart illustrating the operation of device 10 according to some embodiments of the present invention. When a user of the training device wishes to re-adjust the position of handles 11 he may, without leaving his position at the training device and without releasing handles 11, release fixing means 20, 22 (step 42) by activation of activation handle 30. Next step may be the placement of handles 11 at any desired point (step 43) by pushing handles 11 using the freedom about hinges 16, 18. Next, the user may re-lock handles 11 at their new desired position (step 44) simply by releasing activation handle 30. The locking of fixing means 20, 22 returns arms 12 and 14 together with rail 24 to act as a single stiff unit. Finally, the user may continue his workout (step 45) by pushing (or pulling) handles 11, thus causing weights connected to rail 24 to move with the movement of rail 24 along rail 26. The steps 42-45 may be repeated any time a change in the position of handles 11 is required or step 46 may be repeated if workout is desired. It will be appreciated by persons of ordinary skill in the art that according to some embodiments of the present invention other designs of adjustable handles for weightlifting training device with two or more hingably connected arms according to the principles of the present invention are possible and are in the scope of this application. While certain features of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes, and equivalents will now occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A method for re-positioning handles of a training device without leaving a workout position comprising the steps of: releasing fixing means attached to at least two hingably connected arms of a training device by activation of activation handle installed proximal to at least one of at least two operating handles installed at one end of said at least two arms; placing said operating handles in new position; locking said fixing means by releasing of said activation handle; and performing workout on said training device.

2. A device comprising: a slidable rail frame; a first arm hingably connectable to said rail frame at one end; a second arm hingably connectable at its first end to a second end of said first arm; at least one operating handle connected at a second end of said second arm; a first fixing means connectable between said rail frame and said first arm to fixedly connect said rail frame and said first arm when in locked mode and to allow free hingable movement when in released mode; a second fixing means connectable between said first arm and said second arm to fixedly connect said first arm and said second arm when in locked mode and to allow free hingable movement when in released mode; an activation handle to switch said first and second fixing means to released mode when operated and to locked mode when released.