EXERCISE MACHINE

Abstract: An exercise machine having a basic rowing action as well as a pushing action and in which the resistance to movement is provided by the user's body weight. It comprises a base (2), a column (1) mounted vertically on said base, a frame (3) with a seat (5) mounted on top of said column, an exercise bar (6) with handles (8) and pedals (9) pivotted to said frame in front of said seat and a system linking said exercise bar and said column such that rotation of the former causes elevation of the latter.

Description: EXERCISE-MACHINE DESCRIPTION The exercise machine of this invention has a novel basic actio which is not unlike that of a rowing machine but the resistanc to movement is provided by the user's own body weight. It is possible to make simple adjustments which vary degree of leverage and resistance to movement and also to achieve a pushing action, a pedal action and a wrist rotation action. In one form the exercise machine of this invention comprises a base, a column mounted vertically on said base, a frame with a seat mounted on top of said column, an exercise bar with handles and pedals pivotted to said frame in front of said seat and a system linking said exercise bar and said column, such that rotation of the former causes elevation of the latter. Following is a description of a preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawing. A column 1 is mounted on a base 2. A horizontal frame 3 is supported by column 1 and carries a seat 5. In front of the seat 5 an exercise bar 6 is pivotted on the frame 3 at 7. The upper end of bar 6 carries a handle bar 8 and the lower end pedals 9. Both the handle bar and the pedal axle are held in friction bearings 10 and resistance to rotation is controlled by adjustment screws " 11. The handle and pedal assemblies can be extended in a longitudinal direction by variable adjustment at 12. One end of a cable 13 is anchored to the column 1 under the- front of the seat 5 and the other end 14 is pivotted to the bar 6 at 16. The cable 13 runs on pulley wheels 4. Relative translation between the frame 3 and the base 2 is prevented by wheels 17 which are restrained in a vertical line by the runners IS. The rowing action is achieved in the following way. The user sits on the seat 5 with hands gripping the handle bar 8 and feet placed on the pedals 9. For this exercise the pedal cranks 19 are adjustable through a slot 20 of the pedal axle so that both pedals are in the same horizontal line. SUBSTITUTE SHEET O.MPI The user pulls with his arms and pushes with his feet thus rotating the exercise bar 6. The cable 13 runs over the pulley wheels 4 thereby raising the frame 3. At the end of the stroke the user's body weight causes the frame to lower to its original position, the downward motion slowed by friction pads bearing on the central column 1. By changing the pivot point 14 of the cable 13 to 19 the user can exercise by pushing the handle away and drawing the pedals in with his feet. In both modes there are a series of pivot points provided to allow varying degrees of leverage and hence varying degrees of resistance to movement. The pedal cranks 19 can be adjusted to allow the pedalling mode of a conventional exercise bike with variable resistance provided by the screw 11. Similarly the handle bar friction bearing can be adjusted to provide a variable resistance to wrist rotation exercise. It is also possible to achieve a combination of pedalling and wrist exercising with either the rowing action or the pushing action. From the above it will be clear that the user is exercising against his own body weight and therefore resistance to movement adjusts automatically for different users. This function can be achieved in a number of different but mechanically equivalent ways. For example the rame on which the seat is mounted can be part of an articulating mechanical linkage. In this embodiment it is preferable to cushion the downward motion of the user by a retarding shock absorber. In another embodiment the vertical column 1 is replaced by an hydraulic displacement cylinder and the horizontal frame 3 is mounted on the end of the extension member of this cylinder. In addition an hydraulic ram is pivotted to the frame 3 under the front of the seat 5 and its extension member is pivotted to the bar 6 at 16. The ram is coupled by an hydraulic line to the displacement cylinder. Accordingly when the bar 6 is rotated, the ram forces hydraulic fluid into the displacement cylinder thereby raising the frame 3. At the end of the stroke the user's body weight causes the frame to lower to its original position thereby forcing the hydraulic fluid back into the ram ready for the next stroke. SUBSTITUTE SHEET The above and other variations are possible without departing from the basic inventive concept, which is to provide an exercise machine which allows a rowing and a pushing action and in which the resistance to movement is provided by the user's own body weight. S l - ι «S_r!XL_TESHEET OMPI

Claims: THE CLAIMS •DEFINING- THE• INVENTION ARE-AS- FOLLOWS: An exercise machine comprising a base supporting a frame having a seat an exercise bar with handles and pedals and a linkage system connecting said bar to said frame such that rotation of the bar causes elevation of the frame. An exercise machine comprising a base, a column mounted vertically on said base, a frame with a seat mounted on top of said column, an exercise bar with handles and pedals pivotted to said frame in front of said seat and a cable linkage between said bar said column and said frame such that rotation of the bar causes elevation of the frame. An exercise machine comprising a base, a hydraulic displacement cylinder mounted vertically on said base, a frame having a seat mounted on the extension member of said cylinder, an exercise bar with handles and pedals pivotted to said frame in front of said seat an da hydraulic ram operated by rotation of said bar and coupled to said displacement cylinder such that rotation of the bar causes elevation of the frame. The exercise machine of claim 2 in which the motion of the frame is resisted by adjustable friction pads. The exercise machine of claim 2 or 3 in which the pedals are mounted on an axle which is restrained in an adjustable friction bearing and can be moved from a level foot rest position to a displaced pedalling position. The exercise machine of claims 2 or 3 in which the handles are mounted on a bar which is restrained in an adjustable friction bearing to allow wrist rotation exercise. An exercise machine as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing. IU BSTΓΓUTE SHEET

Inventors: TRETHEWEY REGINALD, TRETHEWEY, REGINALD
Applicants: COMDOX PTY LTD, COMDOX NO 70 PTY LTD.
Application year: 1983
Main classification: A63B21
IPC codes: A63B21, A63B23, A63B69