Abstract:
An exercise machine having a frame that readily receives a wheel chair and provides left and right exercise stations that are readily vertically adjustable and pivotable to provide a wide variety of exercises for the arms and legs.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention is related to exercise machines, and in particular to exercise machines that accommodate a user in a wheel chair.  
           [0002]    Many types and designs of exercise machines have been developed over the years. One popular form of exercise machine includes a space frame that includes pivoting arms which, when moved from one position to another, raise weights or otherwise provide resistance to the movement of the pivoting arm. The weights are in some instances removable from the machine to adjust the weight being lifted. In other instances, the weights are permanently affixed to the space frame and can be engaged in various combinations to adjust the weight. In still other designs, the resistance is provided not by weights, but by other devices such as springs, elastomeric materials, or pneumatic/hydraulic cylinders, all of which are intended to be encompassed in the term “weights” or “weight lifting” for purposes of this application, including the claims.  
           [0003]    It is desirable that an exercise machine allows one to exercise different parts of the body. To do so, many exercise machines include multiple groups of weights to exercise different muscle groups of the arms, trunk and legs. Such exercise machines can include either a single or multiple locations around the machine from which to operate the weight stacks. Exercise machines can also include a single weight stack or resistance member that is operable by different mechanisms or from different locations to operate the single weight stack. This general type of machine is exemplified by that disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,733,233; 5,807,219; and 5,683,334.  
           [0004]    One group of users for whom known exercise machines are not particularly suitable are users who ambulate by way of wheelchair. The prior art includes at least one exercise machine adapted for use by a user in a wheel chair. U.S. Pat. No. 5,100,128 to Dabry et al. includes a frame that receives a wheel chair, and a handle structure pivotally mounted on the frame. The handle structure can be adjusted to raise and lower the handle relative to the user for a very limited number of exercises.  
           [0005]    Known exercise machines are unsuitable for such users for several reasons. First, known exercise machines do not include a frame that conveniently receives a wheel chair without obstruction. Second, even exercise machines that can be used by users in a wheel chair do not provide adequate adjustability for users in a wheel chair. A need therefore remains for an improved exercise machine which is convenient for users in a wheel chair. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]    [0006]FIG. 1 is front left perspective view of a preferred embodiment of an exercise machine according to the present invention.  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 2 is rear left perspective view of elevational view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0012]    Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a preferred embodiment of an exercise machine according to the present invention is shown at  10 . Apparatus  10  includes a frame  12  having a base frame  14 , transverse frame  16 , and an overhead frame  18 . Transverse frame  16  is an inverted U-shaped member that includes legs  22  and  24 , each of which is connected at its lower end to base frame  14 . Each of legs  22  and  24  includes a portion on which respective sliding members  26  and  28  are mounted. Sliding members  26  and  28 , which, in the claims, may be alternatively referred to as “handle assemblies”, are adjustable to various heights along legs  22  and  24 , and can be locked in position by insertion of pin  30  into one of holes  32 . The operation of sliding members  26  and  28  will be described in greater detail below. In one preferred embodiment the resistance element is a weight stack  34  that is slidably mounted on a pair of vertical bars  36  and  38  that extend from overhead frame  14  to a bracket  40  connected to the lower portion of overhead frame  14 . The weight stack  34  is of any suitable conventional design, and preferably includes a mechanism for selecting any of a variety of weight amounts for a particular user and exercise. In other embodiments, alternative resistance mechanisms such as springs, elastomeric materials, or pneumatic/hydraulic cylinders can be substituted. The term “resistance element” is intended to be defined broadly, and is not intended to be limited to the listed types of resistive element.  
         [0013]    In this embodiment, a tube  42  extends downwardly through the weight stack. Tube  42  includes a number of horizontal, longitudinal holes corresponding with recesses  44  in each weight of the weight stack. To select a particular amount of weight, the user inserts a pin (not shown) into a recess  44  and through a corresponding hole through the tube. The top of tube  42  is connected to a pulley that is raised and lowered by the cable and pulley system, thereby raising and lowering the selected number of weights. Having described the frame of the apparatus, the pulley and cable system will now be described in greater detail.  
         [0014]    Referring first to FIGS.  1 - 3 , the cable and pulley system includes 4 cables:  46 ,  48 ,  50  and  52 . Cables  46  and  48  are similar in operation, differing only in that they are mounted on the left and right sides of the apparatus. The following description of cable  48  will therefore serve to generally describe the operation of cable  46  as well. As a starting point in understanding the operation and one novel feature of the invention, note that both ends of cable  48  are mounted directly or indirectly onto sliding member  28 . One end  54  of cable  48  is mounted in a fixed position on sliding member  28 . Cable  48  is then routed through pulleys  49 ,  51 , again through pulley  49  (a double pulley), then through pulley  53 , and finally through pulley  58  which is pivotally mounted on sliding member  28 . In this way, cable  48  is formed into a loop. The end  56  of cable  48  is then attached to a lug  60  that is too large to be drawn back through pulley  58 , thereby limiting the travel of cable  48  and preventing end  56  from being pulled backward through the pulley. In this way, cable  48  is formed into a loop. Stated differently, lug  60  prevents the end  56  of cable  48  from passing through pulley  58 , and in that way retains cable  48  in engagement with pulley  58 . The maximum length of the loop formed by cable  48  is set. Cable  48  includes an end fitting  86  or configuration so that it can be attached to a variety of handles that a user then pulls away from sliding member  28 . By doing so, lug  60  is pulled away from pulley  58 , thereby shortening the loop formed in cable  48 . As the loop in cable  48  is shortened, the weight stack is lifted as further described below. As mentioned above, cable  46  is similarly configured with its ends attached to sliding member  26 , lug  62 , and is engaged with pulley  64  in a like manner. This novel arrangement provides a significant advance over the prior art. It permits the sliding member, and therefore a handle attached to lug  60 , to be raised and lowered simply by removing pin  30  and raising or lowering the sliding member along its leg. This adjustability provides a variety of positions from which to operate a handle  65 , and permits a variety of leg and arm exercises to be achieved. This adjustment of the slider is achieved without the need to detach handle  65  or lug  60 , and without the need to otherwise adjust the length of cable  48 . Stated slightly differently, the arrangement of cable  48  as just described defines a first length of a looped cable  48  when lug  60  is in position next to pulley  58 . Since the opposite end of cable  48  is also attached to slider  28 , slider  28  can be moved up and down along leg  24  without varying the length of cable  48 , and therefore without the need to adjust the length of cable  48  or the position of any of the pulleys.  
         [0015]    Referring also now to FIGS. 5 and 6, the ends of cable  50  are connected to brackets supporting pulleys  53  and  68 . Recall that cables  48  and  46  pass through pulleys  53  and  68  respectively. Cable  50  is itself routed through pulley  76 . Pulley  76  is mounted in a bracket to which one end  77  of cable  52  is mounted in a fixed position. Cable  52  is routed through pulley  78  mounted on overhead frame  14 . A lug  79  (not shown) is mounted near end  77  of cable  52  that prevents end  77  from passing through and disengaging from pulley  78 . Cable  52  then passes through pulley  80  (mounted on the upper end of tube  42 ), pulley  82  (mounted on overhead frame  14 ), through pulley  84 , and terminates at lug  86 . Lug  86  prevents the end of cable  52  from being pulled back through and disengaging from pulley  84 . Referring to FIG. 1, any of a variety of handles  88  can be attached to lug  86 . This arrangement of cable  52  provides that when handle  88  is pulled, the opposite end  77  of cable  52  is held in place by lug  79 . Cable  52  is pulled, pulley  80  and weight stack  44  are raised.  
         [0016]    Alternatively, referring to FIGS.  1 - 4 , weight stack  44  can be raised by operation of either handle  65  or handle  72 , when a user pulls on handle  65 , lug  60  is pulled away from pulley  48 , shortening the length of the loop formed in cable  48  by a corresponding amount.  
         [0017]    Since each of pulleys  49  and  53  are rigidly fixed to the frame, pulley  51  is pulled downwardly, pulling end  77  of cable  52  downwardly. Since the opposite end of cable  52  is retained in pulley  84  by lug  86 , the shortening of cable  52  between pulleys  70  and  84  raises pulley  80  and along with it weight stack  44 . Once again, weights are illustrated in this embodiment, but the shortening of cable  52  could just as well operate a resilient member, an elastomeric member, or a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder.  
         [0018]    The same result occurs if handle  72  is pulled. Cable  46  is similarly connected to sliding member  26  and routed through pulleys  64 ,  66 ,  68 , and  70  (see FIG. 2). In a like manner, when handle  72  is pulled away from pulley  64 , the loop in cable  46  is shortened by a corresponding amount, pulley  70  is pulled downwardly and pulley  80  is raised, raising weight stack  44  with it.  
         [0019]    Note once again that with the novel arrangement of the present invention, sliding members  26  and  28 , and therefore handles  65  and  72 , can be adjusted vertically along legs  22  and  24  and yet operate in the same manner. Further adjustability is provided by pivotally mounting pulley  62  and  58  on their respective vertical legs. Handles  65  and  58  can then be pulled laterally or longitudinally from any vertical position along their respective vertical paths. Moreover, sliding members  26  and  28  can be adjusted to any position along legs  22  and  24  independently of one another, and without having to adjust any cable or pulley on the entire apparatus. This feature represents a significant advance over the prior art, and a significant advantage to a user in a wheel chair.  
         [0020]    Having described preferred embodiments of the invention, those of skill in the art will will recognize that the described embodiments can be varied and altered in detail without departing from the scope of the following claims.