Abstract:
An overhead exercise system for a complete, low impact, upper body workout emphasizes strengthening and toning the abdominal and oblique muscle groups of the human body. The system simulates an Olympic hammer throw by using adjustable resistance, such as adjustable hydraulic pressure. The system can be used in a number of positions including standing and sitting positions. A rotatably mounted arm having a handle grip is moveable in clockwise and counterclockwise directions. Handle pressure is independently adjustable for clockwise and counterclockwise motion. A seat is adjustable both vertically and horizontally to accommodate the user.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The invention relates to the field of exercise machines. The exercise machines provide overhead adjustable resistance for exercise of the upper body.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Recently, there has been an increase in the use of weight training by men and women athletes. Top competitors in almost every sport commonly use weights to increase strength, muscular endurance and flexibility, and to facilitate recovery from injury. Weight training is one of the most versatile of all athletic activities. It can be used for a variety of purposes: general conditioning, bodybuilding, increasing strength, improving physical appearance, minimizing fat, strengthen weaknesses and preventing injuries. It is an excellent cornerstone for improved performance in almost every sport and can be a foundation in the development of good health. General conditioning programs enable a person to develop muscle tone, improve circulation, start building strength and endurance, start replacing body fat with muscle tissue, develop the capacity to work harder and mental well-being.  
           [0003]    The abdominal muscle group is one of the major muscle groups of the human body. As the abdominal muscles become stronger, the stomach becomes flatter. Weight training is one of the fastest, easiest and best ways to improve shape, tone and strength of the abdominal muscles.  
           [0004]    Isokinetic or equal speed resistance weight training exercise machines have been developed. These machines increase resistance throughout the exercise movement so that a person moves the maximum weight throughout the entire range of motion. Accommodating resistance machines provide resistance proportionate to the effort applied to it by the person using the machine.  
           [0005]    Most modern health clubs, spas and gyms are equipped with universal-type multi-station machines. These multi-station universal gym machines have stations for exercising all the major muscle groups of the body. They are typically built of chrome-plated tubular steel pipe with an adjustable weight stack of 10 lbs to 500 lbs depending upon the body area to be exercised. The weight is adjusted by placing a selector pin at the desired poundage.  
           [0006]    Isokinetic exercise machines, such as Nautilus machines, are used to exercise muscles of the body evenly throughout the complete range of motion. These machines provide accommodating resistance or perfectly balanced resistance that is constant throughout the entire range of motion, from full stretch to complete contraction. Throughout the entire movement, the resistance is automatically adjusted by an off-center cam, with the aim of maximum resistance throughout the range of motion. These machines provide variable resistance that is balanced to conform exactly to the normal strength curve of the working muscles.  
           [0007]    Computerized weight-training machines are self-instructing, non-impact machines that have a set-up test to automatically determine the correct weight to use. The user programs the amount of time of the exercise and the degree of difficulty. The computer varies machine resistance to provide interval training. These machines provide negative resistance whereby the user not only lifts the weight up, but also must resist the weight as it move down.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    The invention comprises an overhead resistance exercise machine useable to exercise the abdominal muscle group of the human body to improve shape, tone and strength of the abdomen. The exercise machine works the thin flat oblique muscles forming the middle and outer layers of the lateral walls of the abdomen. The concept of the machine is simple to understand and the machine is easy to use. Once the user becomes familiar with the machine, little or no supervision is required. The machine is safer than free weights since there is no risk of plates slipping off bars and no risk of being pinned by the weights. There are no weights to be removed from the machine minimizing disorganization and misplacement of weights. The user can change resistance rapidly by simply increasing the brake resistance. There are no plates to move, no pins to adjust thereby reducing risk of injury from falling weights or incorrect weight selection. The abdomen can be worked at numerous angles, as one can with free weights, by adjusting the height of the frame and by adjusting the lateral position of the overhead resistor. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an overhead adjustable resistance exercise machine of the invention;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of FIG. 1;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 3 is a top plan view of FIG. 1;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the rotary resistance member of the exercise machine of FIG. 1;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of FIG. 4;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of a first modification of the overhead adjustable resistance exercise machine of FIG. 1;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of a second modification of the overhead adjustable resistance exercise machine of FIG. 1;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view of FIG. 7;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of a third modification of the exercise machine of FIG. 1;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 10 is a top plan view of FIG. 9;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a fourth modification of the exercise machine of FIG. 1; and  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 12 is an enlarged foreshortened sectional view of the exercise machine of FIG. 11 showing the hydraulic resistance system. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0021]    Referring to FIGS.  1  to  3 , there is shown an overhead adjustable resistance exercise machine  10  of the invention. Exercise machine  10  is useable to exercise, condition and strengthen the thin flat oblique muscle that form the middle and outer layers of the lateral walls of the human abdomen as well as other muscles of the upper body and arms. Exercise machine  10  enables a person to develop abdominal muscle tone, improve circulation, building strength and endurance, prevent injuries, replace body fat with muscle tissue, develop the capacity to work harder and feel good. As the abdominal muscles become stronger, the stomach will become flatter thereby improving physical appearance. Other muscle groups of the human body can be exercised and conditioned with machine  10 . Use of exercise machine  10  improves performance in a numerous sporting and recreational activities and can be a basis in the development of good health.  
         [0022]    Machine  10  is a self-contained isotonic non-impact exercise machine having a generally rectangular or box-shaped frame  11  with a plurality of upright side support members  12  and  15 . Support members  12  and  15  are telescopic tubing members which enable the height of frame  11  to be adjusted to adjust the vertical overhead position of resistance member  26  as desired. Pins  13  extending through holes  14  in the telescoping end sections of support members  12  and  15  maintain the selected height of frame  11 .  
         [0023]    Support members  15  are joined to a top frame assembly, indicated at  16 . Support members  12  are joined to a bottom support member  17 . Top frame assembly  16  has longitudinally extending tubular side members  23  and  24  connected to transverse end members  37  and  38 . Bottom support member  17  is a rectangular shaped member having a generally flat bottom surface adapted to support exercise machine  10  on the surface of an exercise area, such as an exercise room in a hotel, office, health club, spa, gym and the like.  
         [0024]    A rectangular platform  18  slidably mounted on bottom support member  17  supports a seat or chair  19  having an adjustable back rest  21 . Back rest  21  is adjustable to an inclined position, as shown in broken lines in FIG. 1. Platform  18  has channel-shaped side walls  20  that slidably fit over the sides of bottom support member  17  to allow the platform  18  to be moved forwardly or rearwardly on bottom support member  17  to adjust the forward or rearward position of chair  19  as desired. A pin  22  extending through aligned holes in side wall  20  and bottom support member  17  hold platform  18  in its selected position.  
         [0025]    An overhead adjustable rotary resistance member, indicated at  26 , is slidably mounted on top frame assembly  16 . As seen in FIG. 3, resistance member  26  is attached to a sub-frame assembly  25  having longitudinal members  27 ,  28  and  29  joined to end tubes  31  and  32 . End tubes  31  and  32  telescope over tubular side members  23  and  24  of top frame assembly  16 . Transverse support members  33  and  34  joined to the middle portions of longitudinal members  27  to  29  provide support and reinforce longitudinal members  27  to  29 . End tubes  31  and  32  slide on side members  23  and  24  to allow forward and rearward movement of longitudinal members  27  to  29  to adjust the overhead position of longitudinal members  27  to  29  thereby adjusting the overhead position of resistance member  26 . Pins  36  extending through holes in end tubes  31  and  32  and side members  23  and  24  hold resistance member  26  in its selected overhead position.  
         [0026]    Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, overhead adjustable rotary resistance member  26  is a wheel-shaped circular member having an upper support plate  41  attached to longitudinal members  27 ,  28  and  29  of sub-frame assembly  25 . Plate  41  rotatably supports a lower wheel plate  42  concentric to upper support plate  41 . A plurality of caged ball bearings  43  attached to lower wheel plate  42  rotatably mount wheel plate  42  on upper support plate  41 . Bearings  43  are circumferentially spaced on outer portion of plate  42  at an equal distance and have a common radius with knob  46 . The diameter of lower wheel plate  42  is slightly less than the diameter of upper support plate  41 . Ball bearings  43  are located in an annular relation coaxial with the centers of plates  41  and  42 .  
         [0027]    A rotating grip handle  44  extending downwardly from the outer circumference of lower wheel plate  42  is used to rotate plate  42 . Rotation of handle  44  in a forward or backward circular motion turns lower wheel plate  42  upon ball bearings  43  which roll on the bottom surface of upper support plate  41 . Handle  44  can be gripped with one hand or both hands by a user.  
         [0028]    Upper support plate  41  has a centrally located spring-loaded tension knob  46  which extends downwardly from upper support plate  41  through an opening in the center of lower wheel plate  42  to hold plates  41  and  42  in assembled relation. Knob  46  is moved toward plate  42  to increase the tension of a spring  45  thereby increasing the resistance of rotation of lower wheel plate  42  relative to upper support plate  41 . Moving knob  46  outwardly from plate  42  decreases the tension of spring  45  thereby reducing the resistance of rotation of plate  42 . There are no plates to move or pins to adjust to vary the machine resistance thereby reducing the risk of injury from falling weights or incorrect weight selection.  
         [0029]    Exercise machine  10  can be used in connection with a bio feedback mechanism that records exercise results, such as the number of repetitions, the number of rotations per minute, the amount of time of the exercise and the degree of difficulty. The feedback mechanism displays or informs the user of the exercise results.  
         [0030]    In use, the lateral position of chair  19  and the height of frame  11  are adjusted as desired. The incline of back rest  21  is selected. Sub-frame assembly  25  is moved laterally to adjust the lateral position of overhead resistance member  26 . From a seated position in chair  19  user reaches up, grips handle  44  and rotates wheel plate  42  in a circular motion. The overhead resistance of resistance member  26  can be adjusted by turning knob  46  to increase or decrease the degree of difficulty of the overhead exercise machine  10  as desired. Operation of overhead adjustable rotary resistance member  26  simulates the athletic motion used in a track and field hammer throw event in which a weighted metal sphere attached to a flexible handle is rotated overhead prior to throwing the sphere for a distance. This overhead motion stimulates muscles of the body particularly the oblique muscles and other abdominal muscles providing a quick, efficient and effective way to improve shape, tone and strength of the abdomen for both female and male persons.  
         [0031]    A first modification of the exercise machine, indicated generally at  100 , shown in FIG. 6, is an overhead variable resistance exercise machine operable from a standing position. The parts of exercise machine  100  that correspond to exercise machine  10  shown in FIGS.  1  to  5  have the same reference number with a prefix  1 . Exercise machine  100  has a generally upright rectangular shaped frame  111  having a plurality of upright telescoping side support members  112  and  115 . Pins  113  extending through holes in the overlapping ends of side support members  112  and  115  hold the members  112  and  115  together to maintain a selected height of frame  111 . The height of frame  111  can be adjusted to adjust the vertical overhead position of resistance member  126 .  
         [0032]    Upper side support members  115  are connected to a top frame assembly  116  and lower side support members  112  are connected to a bottom support member  147 . Top frame assembly  116  supports overhead rotary resistance member  126 . Bottom support member  147  is a rectangular shaped transverse base or platform having generally flat top and bottom surfaces. The top surface of support member  147  is adapted to support a person operating exercise machine  100  from an upright standing position. The bottom surface of bottom support member  147  supports exercise machine  100  on the floor of an exercise area.  
         [0033]    An overhead adjustable rotary resistance member  126  is connected to a sub-frame assembly  125  slidably mounted on top frame assembly  116 . Resistance member  126  has an upper circular shaped support plate  141  rotatably supporting a lower concentric circular shaped wheel plate  142 . Bears  143  attached to lower plate  142  rotatably mount plate  142  to upper plate  141 . A spring-loaded tension knob  146  holds plate  141  and  142  in assembled relation. Rotating knob  146  varies the resistance of rotation of lower plate  142  on upper plate  141  to increase and decrease the degree of difficulty of the exercised motion as desired.  
         [0034]    A second modification of the exercise machine, indicated generally at  200 , shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, is an overhead variable resistance exercise machine adapted to be suspended from an overhead support, such as a ceiling, rafter, and the like. The parts of exercise machine  200  that correspond to exercise machine  10  shown in FIGS.  1  to  5  have the same reference numbers with a prefix  2 .  
         [0035]    Exercise machine  200  has a plurality of mounting brackets  251 ,  252  and  253  adapted to secure rotary resistance member  226  to an overhead support structure. The lower ends of brackets  251  to  253  extend through holes in upper support plate  241  and terminate in enlarged heads  256 ,  257  and  258  to retain the brackets  251  to  253  on plate  241 . Brackets  251  to  253  are equally spaced around the outer circumference of plate  241  to hold resistance member  226  in a horizontal position relative to an overhead support. Brackets  251  to  253  are L-shaped hold-down support members having inwardly directed upper ends attachable to an overhead support. Other types of mounting brackets that are linearly aligned can be used to suspend resistance member  226  from horizontal overhead support structures, such as a door frame and the like. Brackets  251  to  253  fasten upper plate  241  in place whereby handle  244  can be used to rotate lower plate  242  on upper plate  241  with bearings  243 . Spring-loaded tension knob  246  holding plates  241  and  242  in assembled relation is rotatable to adjust the resistance between plate  241  and  242  upon rotary movement of lower plate  241 .  
         [0036]    A third modification of the exercise machine, indicated generally at  300 , shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, is a self-contained overhead variable resistance exercise machine useable to exercise and condition the muscle groups to the upper body, such as the abdominal muscles. Exercise machine  300  is suitable for use in an indoor exercise area, such as a gym or fitness center of a hotel, office building, school, condominium complex and the like. The parts of exercise machine  300  that correspond to exercise machine  10  shown in FIGS.  1  to  5  have the same reference number with a prefix  3 .  
         [0037]    Exercise machine  300  has an upright frame  311  having telescoping tubular upright side support members  312  and  315  which are held together with pins  313  whereby the height of frame  311  is adjustable as desired to operate an overhead rotary resistance member  326  from a standing position or seated position. Support members  312  and  315  extend between a rectangular shaped base  317  and a top frame assembly  316 . Base  317  has a generally flat top surface providing an exercise support surface below resistance member  326 .  
         [0038]    As shown in FIG. 10, top frame assembly  316  has inwardly directed support members  359  and  361  connected to a transverse support member or beam  362 . An overhead rotary adjustable resistance member  326  is rotatably mounted on the bottom of beam  362 . Resistance member  326  has a disc  363  connected to a downwardly directed link member  364 . A laterally extending arm  366  joined to the lower end of link member  364  is used to rotate disc  363 . A grip handle  344  extending downwardly from the outer end of arm  366  is gripped by a user and moved in a circular exercise motion to rotate disc  363 . Rotation of handle  344  in a forward or backward circular motion turns disc  363 . Handle  344  is adapted to be gripped with one hand or both hands or a user.  
         [0039]    A brake member  368  mounted on disc  363  has friction material that presses against the sides of disc  363  to provide resistance to rotation of disc  363 . Brake member  368  has an adjustment member  369  that is turned to increase or decrease the pressure of the friction material against the sides of disc  363  to increase or decrease the resistance of rotation of disc  363  as desired.  
         [0040]    A fourth modification of the overhead adjustable resistance exercise machine, indicated generally at  400 , shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, is useable to provide a complete, low impact, and safe upper body workout with an emphasis on strengthening and toning the abdominal and oblique muscle groups. Exercise machine  400  simulates a hammer throw field event in which a weighted metal sphere attached to a flexible handle is rotated overhead and thrown for a distance.  
         [0041]    Exercise machine  400  has a generally L-shaped frame  401  with upright upper and lower side members  412  and  413 . Support members  412  and  413  are square tubing members having overlapping end sections  414  which are connected with a plurality of fasteners, such as bolts  402 . One set of bolts  402  can be removed from support members  412  and  413  to allow upper support member to pivot downwardly to collapse and fold down frame  401  into a more compact shape for transport and storage.  
         [0042]    Lower support members  412  extend downwardly and are joined to a transverse generally linear bottom support member  403 . A bottom frame assembly  418  has a pair of laterally spaced linear members  404  and  406  attached to a transverse end member  407  and bottom support member  403 . Feet  410  stabilize and support exercise machine  400  on the surface of an indoor exercise area, such as a gym, health club and weight room.  
         [0043]    A sub-frame assembly  408  slidably mounted on laterally spaced linear members  404  and  406  has an upwardly extending tubular end  405  that telescopes into bottom support  409  atttached to bench or seat member  419 . Lateral foot rests  421  and  422  extend outwardly from bottom support  409 . A pair of thigh pads  420  extend upwardly from opposite forward portions of seat  419 . Sub-frame assembly  408  slidably fits over linear members  404  and  406  to allow seat member  419  to be moved forwardly and rearwardly as desired to vary the exercise position between a directly overhead position and a forwardly elevated position. Releasable fasteners, such as pins  411  extending through aligned holes in linear members  404  and  406  and sub-frame assembly  408  hold seat member  419  in its selected transverse position.  
         [0044]    Seat member  419  can be adjusted longitudinally to vary the exercise position between an elevated overhead position and an exercise position co-planer with the user&#39;s shoulders. The upwardly extending end  405  of sub-frame assembly  408  and downwardly extending bottom support  409  attached to seat member  419  are telescopic members which allow the elevation of seat  419  to be adjusted to vary the longitudinal exercise position as desired. A locking member, such as pin  423  extending through holes in the telescoping portions of end  405  and bottom support  409  maintain the selected elevation of seat  419 .  
         [0045]    A plate or platform, similar to platform  18  shown in FIG. 1, can be placed over linear members  404  and  406  to allow use of exercise machine  400  from a standing position. The platform slidably fits on members  404  and  406  whereby the platform can be moved forwardly and rearwardly on members  404  and  406 .  
         [0046]    The top portions of upper support members  413  curve rearwardly generally parallel to bottom frame assembly  418  and are joined to a generally trapezoidal-shaped hood or top member  416 . As shown in FIG. 12, top member  416  accommodates a reversible hydraulic motor  426  which is in communication with fluid reservoirs  427  and fluid lines, such as flexible plastic hose or tubing  428  and  430 . Motor  426  has a rotatably mounted motor drive shaft  429  coupled to a first pulley  431 . A chain or belt  432  driveably connects pulley  431  to a larger second pulley  433 . Preferably, pulleys  431  and  433  have a gear ratio of 4:1. Pulleys  431  and  433  can have other size ratios. A pulley drive shaft  434  extending downwardly from pulley  433  through the bottom wall  417  of top member  416  is attached to a transverse movable member or arm  436 . A cross beam  435  attached to opposite sides of top member  416  supports shafts  429  and  434 .  
         [0047]    A grip handle  437  extending downwardly from arm  436  is gripped by a user and moved in a generally circular exercise motion to rotate arm  436 . Handle  437  has an outer cylindrical sleeve  438  that is rotatable on bearings  440  surrounding a cylindrical core member  439  releasably attached to arm  436 . The upper end of core  439  is moved into the outer end of arm  436  to locate handle  437  in a first exercise position. A fastener, such as knurled adjustment nut  441  on handle  437  is tightened to lock handle  437  on arm  436 . When handle  437  is in the first exercise position  442 , a user can make relatively large generally circular overhead exercise motions. Handle  437  can be moved to a second exercise position  443  in the middle portion of arm  436  by loosening nut  441  and locating the upper end of core  439  in the middle portion of arm  436  and retightening nut  441 . When handle  437  is in the second exercise position, the user can make smaller circular exercise motions.  
         [0048]    Fluid lines  428  and  430  are coupled to flow control members  444  and  446  accommodated by a middle panel  415  extending between upper support member  413 . Flow control members  444  and  446  each have a knob  447  and  448  projecting through openings in the middle panel  415 . Knobs  447  and  448  are rotatable to restrict or liberalize fluid flow rate through fluid control members  444  and  446  to increase or decrease resistance to the movement of arm  436 . Flow control member  444  controls flow rate of fluid in lines  428  and  430  when arm  436  is rotated in a clockwise circular motion. Flow control member  446  controls fluid flow rate when arm  436  is rotated in an opposite or counterclockwise direction.  
         [0049]    Gauges  449  and  451  accommodated by middle panel  415  are positioned in fluid lines  428  and  430  to sense rates of fluid flow and translate fluid flow rates into readable exercise output data, such as foot-pounds of work done during an exercise motion. Gauges  449  and  451  are visible through openings in middle panel  415  to enable the user to monitor exercise output during a workout. As seen in FIG. 11, indicia plates  452  attached to the outer surface of panel  415  contain information detailing how to use machine  400 , positions of use and the like.  
         [0050]    In use, the lateral position and elevation of seat member  419  are adjusted relative to bottom frame assembly  418  as desired. When in a seated position on seat  419 , a user straddles and squeezes thigh pads  420  with his or her legs, reaches upwardly and/or forwardly, and grips handle  437 . The user moves handle  437  in a generally circular overhead motion. This circular motion rotates arm  436  in an elevated generally horizontal plane above bottom frame assembly  418  adjacent the bottom wall  417  of top member  416 . Rotation of arm  436  manually drives motor  426  to move fluid through fluid lines  428  and  430  in one direction. Rotation of arm  436  in the opposite direction results in movement of fluid through motor  426  and lines  428  and  430  in the opposite direction. The overhead resistance to rotation of arm can be adjusted by turning knob  447  to vary fluid flow rate when arm rotation is in the clockwise direction and knob  448  when arm rotation is in the counterclockwise direction. The user visually observes gauges  449  and  451  visible through openings in middle panel  415  to determine levels of energy units expended during an exercise regiment.  
         [0051]    The present disclosure is preferred embodiments of the overhead adjustable resistance exercise machine. It is understood that the exercise machine is not to be limited to the specific materials, constructions and arrangements shown and described. It is understood that changes in parts, materials, arrangement and locations of structures may be made without departing from the invention.