Patent ID: 7468019
Filing Date: 2008-12-23
Classification: A63B

Abstract:
1. A neck exercise machine comprising: a frame including a main vertical center support; an upper main horizontal support attached at a center point to the top of the main vertical center support; left and right horizontal upper supports extending perpendicularly from respective distal ends of the upper main horizontal support, wherein the left and right horizontal upper supports are extending in the same direction; a lower horizontal support attached at a center point to the bottom of the main vertical center support and extending in the same plane as the upper main horizontal support; a second lower horizontal support attached at a center point of the bottom of the main vertical center support and extending in the same direction as the left and right upper horizontal supports; a middle horizontal support extending in the same plane and direction as the second lower horizontal support and attached to a section of the main vertical center support that is approximately one-fourth of the vertical height of the main vertical center support; a lower vertical seat support member attached to a middle section of the second lower horizontal support and extending vertically upward and attaching to the outward distal end of the middle horizontal support; the lower vertical seat support member further including a series of openings aligned vertically along its length, and including a pin for extending through one of the openings; and a seat including a downward vertically extending seat support member that fits and slides within the lower vertical seat support member, and further includes a series of openings aligned vertically along its length, wherein the openings of the lower vertical seat support member align with the openings of the downward vertically extending seat support member; and wherein the pin is used to align chosen holes of the two seat supporting members, and thereby hold the two seat supporting members at a chosen vertical height; a set of pulleys, including left and right fixed pulleys each extending from a respective distal end of the two horizontal upper supports; left and right fixed pulleys located at each of two equidistant points extending outward from the center point of the upper main horizontal support and facing the same direction as the horizontal upper support pulleys; left and right eyelets fixedly attached to the main vertical center support at equidistant points extending outward from the main vertical center support's vertical center line, and at equidistant vertical distances that are at approximately two-thirds of the vertical height of the main vertical center support, and further facing the same direction as the horizontal upper support pulleys; an S-hook fixedly attached to the main vertical center support at the main vertical center support's vertical center line and at approximately one-third of the vertical height of the main vertical center support, and further facing the same direction as the eyelets; a set of tensioning bands that are removable and interchangeable and vary in their elastic and tensioning qualities, wherein one tensioning band is chosen and a portion of said one tensioning band is looped around the S-hook; a C-hook having a lower portion hooking a portion of said tensioning band opposite from the S-hook; a C-hook pulley attached to an upper portion of the C-hook; a head band including a series of attachment members located at measured angular positions along left and right radial sections thereof; a cable connected to an attachment member at a chosen angular position of the left radial section of the head band, then extending through the left horizontal upper support pulley, then extending through the left upper main horizontal support pulley, then extending through the left main vertical center support eyelet, then extending through the C-hook pulley, then extending through the right main vertical center support eyelet, then extending through the right upper main horizontal support pulley, then extending through the right horizontal upper support pulley; then connected to an attachment member at a chosen angular position of the right radial section of the head band; and left and right stoppers positioned and fixed upon the cable such that each stopper is slightly above a respective eyelet, wherein the stoppers are larger in diameter than the eyelets and will stop the movement of the cables when the tension in the cable is released; such that when a user sits in the seat and attaches the head band, the user can exercise their neck muscles by moving their head, neck, and torso in a variety of directions, and thereby creating tension through the cables and into the tensioning band, wherein the tension applied to the muscles of the user are in proportion to the elastic qualities of the tensioning band chosen and installed; and wherein the user can interchange tensioning bands for differing desired tensions.