Abstract:
A method of making an exercise machine from a pair of spaced apart, laser-cut sheets of metal of substantial identical shape and connected together to form a relatively flat frame, which comprises the steps of first examining a pre-existing exercise machine of the type having a three dimensional frame made from horizontal vertical and transverse frame members, all the frame members being interconnected to form the three dimensional frame upon which are mounted the necessary handles, levers, pistons, crank arms, operating rods and linkage to provide a given exercise for the operator of that exercise machine, the step of examining being performed to determine, from the three dimensional frame, the vertical and horizontal extent of the pre-existing machine, secondly, making a two dimensional pattern whose vertical and horizontal extent conforms to the vertical and horizontal extent of the pre-existing machine based upon the examination thereof, thirdly, cutting a pair of steel side frame members from steel sheeting using the two dimensional pattern created herein, fourth, placing the two side frame member in spaced parallel relation, fifthly, welding a plurality of transverse braces to the plates at predetermined intervals around the peripheries of the plates, and thereafter mounting between the plates and on the plates, the necessary handles, levers, pistons, crank arms, operating rods and linkage to provide the given exercise.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to exercise machines. More particularly, the present invention relates to exercise machines of the type including a plurality of tubular frame members extending longitudinally, transversely and vertically and upon which various devices are mounted including pistons, cylinders, rods, crank arms, levers and other devices. To that end, the present invention relates to an exercise machine which constitutes an improvement over the last mentioned description wherein the sides of the machine are made of flat laser-cut side plates or frame members which are connected together in spaced parallel relation with the devices, such as the pistons, etc, being mounted between or on the two frame members. The laser-cut flat frame members generally eliminate the need for having any horizontally extending, vertically extending and/or transversely extending tubular frame members.  
         [0003]     2. Prior Art  
         [0004]     A patentability search was conducted on the present invention and the following listed patents and references were uncovered in the search.  
                                           Weir   Pub. No. US 2003-0109364   Pub. Date Jun. 12, 2003       Hughes   No. 4,798,414   Jan. 17, 1989       Hatfield   No. 5,605,526   Feb. 25, 1997       Tornabene   No. 6,544,151 B2   Apr. 8, 2003       Casini   No. 6,367,874 B2   Apr. 9, 2002       Gamble   No. 5,634,687   Jun. 3, 1997       Johnson   No. 5,085,486   Feb. 4, 1992       Birch   No. 4,367,870   Jan. 11, 1983       Stinchfield   No. 4,109,960B1   Jul. 26, 1994       Olsson   No. 3,879,083   Apr. 22, 1975       Ware, Sr.   No. D441,553S   May 8, 2001       Watson et al   No. Des. 357,128   Apr. 11, 1995       Fonville   No. Des. 327,180   Jun. 23, 1992       Barlew   No. Des 521,321   Mar. 13, 1979                  
 
         [0005]     With respect to the Weir publication, it might seem, at first blush, that  FIG. 6  of the drawing could be considered as relevant. However, it is believed that this is a mere incidental disclosure of a flat surface that is not used at all in the sense of the present invention. In Weir, the device itself is a box-like construction. Weir does not recognize the problem solved by the present invention: i.e. the rather clumsy appearance and structure of existing exercise machines and the desire of the present invention to simplify existing machines by preparing a pair of plates laser-cut from steel to form the sides of the exercise machine. Between the two plates of the device of the present invention, and at various locations, are the elements which form additional and necessary parts of the exercise device. This consideration was not dealt with anywhere in the Weir disclosure.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The present invention provides a frame structure for an exercise machine. The frame structure consists essentially of a pair of vertically supported, horizontally extending parallel laser-cut plates. The laser-cut plates or side members are cut from a piece of {fraction (3/16)} inch steel and are connected together in spaced parallel relation, about 7 inches apart. The space between the two plates is sufficient to provide room for elements of the exercise machine such as, levers, pistons, cylinders, crank arms, etc. When constructing an exercise machine in accordance with the present invention, a pair of identical side plates are spaced vertically in a predetermined spaced relationship. A plurality of braces, about 7″ long with ends that fit into rectangular slots spaced about the peripheries of the side plates are inserted into the slots and the resulting sandwich structure is held by clamps, such as c-clamps, after which the ends of the braces are welded to the plates along with a plate for the seat and a plate for the book support. After the two plates have been secured together by welding the ends of the braces plus the plates for the seat, back support, the c-clamps are removed. At this point, additional elements of the exercise machine are placed in the device between the two flat plates including, for example, pistons and cylinders, handles and rods, crank arms, etc. For the most part, horizontal tubular members, vertical tubular members and transverse tubular members such as are used in prior art exercise machines are eliminated thus providing a slick appearing exercising machine with two flat sides and the operating mechanisms being located between or on the two flat sides. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]      FIG. 1  is an elevation of one of the laser-cut side frames of the present invention.  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an exercise machine in its preliminary stages of construction utilizing two of the laser-cut side frames shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a prior art exercise machine for which the laser-cut side frames of  FIG. 2  are designed to replace ultimately.  
         [0010]      FIG. 4  is a view similar to  FIGS. 1 and 2  but showing, in dotted lines, the additional elements (pistons, arms and legs) needed to complete the illustration in  FIG. 2  to the equivalent of the prior art device in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0011]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the new exercise machine shown in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0012]      FIG. 6  is a side elevation of a second type of exercise machine constructed in accordance with the present invention utilizing laser-cut side frames;  
         [0013]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the prior art exercise machine which the construction of  FIG. 6  is designed to replace.  
         [0014]      FIG. 8  is an elevation of a brace used to hold the side plates together.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0015]     Referring to the drawings in detail,  FIG. 3  shows an existing exercise machine  10  for which the laser-cut side members of the invention (later to be described) are designed. The exercise machine  10  in  FIG. 5  includes a back support  12 , a seat  14  and a foot rest  16 . Moveable handles  18  are mounted above the person (not shown) seated on the back support and seat and constitute a means for providing exercise for the shoulders and the muscle group including the deltoids, triceps, latissimus dorsi, and triceps. The manner in which the handles  18  provide exercise for the shoulders will be described in hereinafter. Sufficient to say, however, the elements just described are all mounted on a frame  20  which includes a horizontal tubular member  22 , a vertical tubular member  24  connected at the rear of the horizontal member  22  and a cross tubular member  26  mounted at the point of intersection of members  22  and  24  to serve as a stabilizing foot for the rear end of the machine. Finally, there is a rear frame cover  28  which extends from the vertical member  24  to the upper end of the back support  12 . Also shown in  FIG. 3  are a pair of cylinders  30  and  31  which operate in conjunction with the handles  18 , as will hereinafter appear, to provide the type of exercise desired.  
         [0016]     One of the problems, or disadvantages, of the exercise machine  10  disclosed in  FIG. 3  is that it requires too many different frame members such as members  20 ,  22 ,  24  and  26  to be arranged and connected together so as to provide the frame for the machine itself.  
         [0017]     The present invention involves the idea of making a pair of side frame members to replace most of the individual horizontal members, vertical members and cross members shown in  FIG. 5  so as to provide an esthetically superior appearance for the exercise machine. The present invention provides a cheaper method of manufacture and an ease of assembly as well as saving in shipping costs.  
         [0018]     The present invention involves a method of redesigning a pre-existing exercise machine of the type having a plurality of horizontally extending tubular members, vertically extending tubular members and transversely extending tubular members with various handles, levers, piston, cylinders, rods and crank arms mounted on the tubular members, which consists of first taking an overall look at the prior art machine to comprehend, in a three dimensional sense, the horizontal and vertical extent of the machine; then secondly, designing a two dimensional pattern (not shown as such, but the shape as frame members  32  and  34 ) for a side plate which would comprehend the three dimensional vertical and horizontal reaches of the prior art machine; thirdly, utilizing the pattern for cutting a second side frame member and having the identical peripheral shape as the first side frame member; fourthly, providing openings and/or holes in the two resulting frame members in opposition to each other; fifthly, providing braces of equal length to be received in the openings in the two plates when placed in spaced parallel relation; and welding the braces to the two plates along with any other desirable cross plates to provide a frame structure for an exercise machine; thereafter adding seats, back supports as required together with the necessary piston, cylinders and levers to construct an exercise machine operable in the same manner as the prior art machine.  
         [0019]     The side frame member of the present invention is represented by side frame member  32  shown in  FIG. 1 . This side member is laser-cut from a piece of {fraction (3/16)} inch thick steel.  
         [0020]      FIG. 2  shows an isometric view which includes two of the side frame members  32  and  34  in spaced parallel relation. As will hereinafter appear, the various elements of the exercise machine  10  shown in  FIG. 3  are placed between and along the side frame member  32  and  34  to produce the exercise machine  11  shown in  FIG. 5  as a replacement for the exercise machine  10  shown in  FIG. 3 . When the side frame members  32  and  34  are laser-cut from the {fraction (3/16)} inch thick steel plate, relief openings  36  and  38  are provided, where necessary, to cut down on the weight. Also, various holes and slots are automatically cut into the frame members  32  and  34  at places where cross braces can be inserted and where various bolts are employed to hook on pieces that would normally be mounted on the frame shown in the prior art machine of  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 8  is an elevation of a brace  122  which is cut from the same {fraction (3/16)} inch steel stock as the sides  32  and  34 . Brace  122  is 7⅜ inches long with 1 inch wide tabs on the ends. The brace itself is 3 inches wide for the 7 inch extent between the tabs.  
         [0021]     In any event, the technique for building a piece of exercise equipment will be drastically modified by the present invention because it will merely involve the cutting of plates  32  and  34  from {fraction (3/16)} inch steel and will eliminate the need, for example, for horizontal member  22 , vertical member  24  and the right angle leg  26  shown in  FIG. 3 . The plates  32  and  34  in  FIG. 4  are held in spaced relation by inserting the tabs or ends  124  of braces, such as brace  122 , into the rectangular slots  126  located about the peripheries of the plates. The ends of the braces are then welded to the plates. After the ends of the braces  122  and flat cross members  44 ,  46 ,  48  and  50  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) are welded into place, the-clamps can be removed and the frame structure consisting of the side members  32  and  34  will hold in a flat condition after which various pistons, cylinders and levers etc can be mounted between the two plates  32  and  34 .  
         [0022]     In the aforementioned description, the cross members  44  and  46  in  FIG. 2  are narrow plates (or braces) of flat steel that serve as a backing for the back support  12  (not shown in this figure) whereas the cross member  50  is another piece of flat steel which serves as a support for the seat  14  (not shown in this figure). The forward cross member  48  is also a piece of flat steel which serves as a foot rest itself or a support for a wider foot rest which is actually shown in  FIG. 5 .  
         [0023]     Before commencing with the foregoing procedure which involves the connecting of the two plates  32  and  34  together, it may be desirable to clamp one of the plates to a flat surface or to otherwise flatten the same as a result of incidental warping that might have occurred during the laser cutting operation. To this end one of the plates, such as plate  34  can be clamped to a flat table, the braces inserted into this flat plate  34  and the plate  32  connected onto the projecting ends of the braces  122 . The remainder of the connecting procedures as described above, will remain the same except that the plates  32  and  34  are now horizontal in this variation of procedure. After removing the C-clamps which hold the two plates together, the plate  34  will then be unclamped from the flat table. A second way of compensating for any warping that might occur during the laser-cutting operation would be to take an essentially horizontal straight edge and clamp it to plate  34 , for example, and then clamp a vertical straight edge (not shown) to a vertical portion of the plate  34  and then continue with the connecting procedure as described above. After removing the c-clamps which hold the two plates together, it is then only necessary to remove the two straight edges and the clamp that hold them to the plate  34 .  
         [0024]     In  FIG. 4 , which represents the exercise machine for the deltoids, triceps, latissimus dorsi and triceps muscles, the laser-cut frame member  32  is connected to and mounted over the side member  34  (not shown in this view). Between the side members are mounted the pistons (cylinders) which are necessary for the operation of this machine. The handle  18  can be raised and lowered by the operator who rests on the back support  12  and the seat  14 . The remote end of the handle  18  is connected to a horizontal shaft  54  which is connected to a rocker arm  56  (partly shown in dotted lines). The left hand end of the rocker arm  56  is provided with a pivot end  58  (shown in dotted lines) which is held by a pin that extends through holes in the side members  32  and  34  as desired. The right hand end of the rocker arm  56  is connected at  60  to an elongated rod  62 . The lower end of the elongated rod  62  is connected to the right hand end of a second rocker arm  63  which is pivoted at a convenient point or location which can be varied depending upon the preferences of the operator. A pair of piston rods  64  and  66  extend upwardly from the pistons  30  and  31 , respectively, and connect at their upper ends pivotally to the second rocker arm  63 . Thus, when the handle  18  is elevated the rocker arm  56  moves to lift the elongated rod  62  turning the second rocker arm  63  in a counter-clockwise direction lifting up on the piston rods  66  and pushing downwardly on the piston rod  64 . The pivot point for the rocker arm  63  can be adjusted to increase or decrease the effort required to lift the handle  18 . When the handle  18  is pulled downwardly a different set of muscles or different sets of muscles come in to play and the movement of the pistons  30  and  31  are reversed.  
         [0025]      FIG. 5  is a perspective of the elements shown in  FIG. 5  and represent an attractive appearing exercising machine as opposed to the machine shown in  FIG. 3 . A horizontal tubular member  52  is attached transversely to the lower left hand end of the frame structure to provide lateral stability for the machine  11 .  
         [0026]      FIG. 6  represents a different type of machine from that shown in  FIGS. 1 through 5  but it represents a machine which is constructed using the same principles as illustrated in  FIGS. 1, 2 ,  4  and  5  in that the machine  15  is constructed from a pair of spaced parallel plates  68  and  70  (the latter not appearing in  FIG. 6  because it is behind the front plate  68 ). The plate  68  is provided (as is the case with plate  70 ) with relief openings  72 ,  74 ,  76  and  78  in an essentially arbitrary manner as is the case with respect to the relief holes  36  and  38  shown in  FIG. 2 . The exact shape and size and number of these relief openings can be determined by trial and error as they are merely provided to cut down on the weight of the plates without causing any loss in strength. The exercise machine  15  shown in  FIG. 6  represents the replacement for the exercise machine  13  shown in  FIG. 7 , the latter being the prior art exercise machine for exercising the legs, the quadriceps and the hamstring muscles.  
         [0027]     In  FIG. 6 , the leg machine  15  is shown as being provided with a pair of forward rollers  80  and a pair of spaced rear rollers  82 . The rollers  80  and  82  are rotatably mounted on the ends of shafts that pass through the rollers and which also pass through a horizontal support member  84  which, in turn, is connected to a vertical leg  86 . The upper end of the leg  86  is pivotally attached to a bracket  88  and an elongated rod  90  is pivotally connected to the vertical leg  86  below and adjacent to the bracket  88 . The other end of the elongated rod  90  is pivotally connected to the right hand end of a rocker arm  92 . The rocker arm  92  is pivotally connected to a piston rod  96  adjacently a lower portion of the rocker arm whereas the upper end of the rocker arm  92  is pivotally connected to a second piston rod  98 . The rocker arm  92  is itself pivotal around an axis which is located between the points of attachment of the piston rods  96  to  98 . Piston rods  96  and  98  connect with pistons (cylinders)  100  and  102 , respectively. To operate the machine of  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the operator sits on the seat  14  with his or her back being supported by the back support  12  and then places his or her ankles between the rolls  80  and  82 ; by swinging the legs forward or back, the vertical leg  86  is pivoted around its upper end causing the elongated rod  90  to move back and forth causing the rocker arm  92  to move back and forth around its pivot point causing the pistons  100  and  102  to be alternately compressed and expanded.  
         [0028]     In the prior art exercise machine  13  of  FIG. 7 , the back support  12  rests against the upper ends of a pair of elongated tubular structural members  104  and  106 . The seat rests upon a horizontal structural member  108 . The horizontal support  112  connects with a second horizontal support  114  which is disposed at right angles thereto. At the point where the two horizontal supports  112  and  114  come together a vertical support  116  is provided. The vertical support  116  is located behind the back support  12 . The pistons  100  and  102  are connected to vertical member  116  and also forwardly to the rocker arm  92  (not clearly shown in this Figure).  
         [0029]     A comparison of  FIGS. 6 and 7  will show that the flat side structure of  FIG. 6  creates an esthetically better appearance than the exercise machine shown in  FIG. 7 .  
         [0030]     Despite the superior appearances of the two different exercise machines shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , a more important advantage is achieved by being able to provide an exercise machine constructed of a pair of laser-cut side frame members which permit the interposition of the various elements, such as pistons, etc., to provide a complete and operating exercise machine.  
         [0031]     Although the present invention discusses two specifically different exercise machines such as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 6  represented by the creation of the machines starting with flat side plates  32  and  68  respectively, there are features of plates  32  and  68  that have common attributes. For example, each plate has an upper end A which serves to provide the portion of the plate for holding the back support  12 . Also, the lower left hand end of each plate  32  or  68  is provided with “heel” portion B. Again, each plate is provided with a right hand projecting portion C intermediate the right hand edge of the plate for the purpose of supporting the seat  14 . Finally, each plate  32  or  68  is provided with a lower base portion D which extends horizontally from the “heel” portion B. In the case of the device shown in  FIG. 4 , the portion D extends into a foot rest whereas the machine of  FIG. 6  does not have a foot rest.  
         [0032]     Whereas the present invention has been described in particular relation to the drawings attached hereto, it should be understood that other and further modification can be made within the spirit and scope of this invention.