Abstract:
A direct drive exercising apparatus is comprised of three main linkages adapted to displace a predetermined weight stack upon a user person performing an exercise. The linkages are comprised of weight stack connecting members pivotally connected at a first end to a carrier member on which the weight stacks are disposed, and pivotally connected at an opposed end to an attachment frame. Force transmitting members are pivotally connected to the attachment frame. A user engaging member is secured to the force transmitting members to impart pivotal movement thereto. Link members are pivotally connected at one end to the stack connecting members intermediate the first and second opposed ends. The link members are also connected at an opposed end thereof to the force transmitting members. The link members apply a force on the stack connecting members to cause pivotal displacement thereof to lift a stack of selected ones of weight elements attached to the carrier member when the user exerts an exercising force against a user engaging element of the force transmitting members.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a direct drive exercising apparatus consisting of few link members interconnected together and having few moving parts and providing a substantially constant load throughout the entire range of motion of the exercising apparatus. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Various exercising apparatus are known and including apparatus which do not utilize pulleys, belts, cables and cams. An advantage of such systems is that they require very little maintenance, they have been break-downs and are long lasting. Examples of such apparatus are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,116,062; 5,554,090; 5,304,107; and 3,917,262. However, there are problems associated with these apparatus and some of these problems comprise irregular resistance or load provided through the connections between the weight stack and the user element throughout a range of exercising motion by a user. Many of these devices also do not provide a “feeling” to the user that he is lifting or pushing weights. Another problem with some of these devices is that they do not provide a high level of safety due to interconnections being disposed too close to the hands or arms or legs of the user person. A still further problem is that some of these devices do not provide easy entry and exit access to the user as well as minimal adjustment requirements to adapt the machine to a user&#39;s stature. A still further disadvantage of some of these machines is that due to their mechanical complexities it is sometimes difficult for the user to ascertain how to use the machine. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     It is therefore a feature of the present invention to provide a direct drive exercising apparatus which substantially overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art. 
     Another feature of the present invention is to provide a direct drive exercising apparatus which is simple in construction, simple to use, utilizes few moving parts, is reliable and long lasting, requires little maintenance and ensures smooth operation throughout an entire range of motion while providing a substantially constant load. 
     Another feature of the present invention is to provide a direct drive exercising apparatus which delivers to the user a feeling simulating weight lifting all within the safety of the machine. 
     According to a broad aspect of the present invention there is provided a direct drive exercising apparatus which comprises a support frame for supporting the apparatus on a floor surface. An attachment frame is immovably secured to the support frame and projects thereabove. A user exercising station is disposed relative to the attachment frame. A weight stack is slidingly retained on an elongated guide restraining means. The guide restraining means is fixedly and immovably mounted at a lower end thereof. The weight stack has a plurality of weight elements of predetermined weight. Each weight element has means to connect same at a desired location along an elongated carrier member. A connector secures a weight element at the desired location. A weight stack connecting means is pivotally connected to the carrier member and pivotally connected at an end to an intermediate link means. The intermediate link means is immovably secured to a force transmitting means which is pivotally connected to the attachment frame. A user engaging member is secured to the force transmitting means to impart pivotal movement thereto. The intermediate link means applies an upward force on the stack connecting means to cause pivotal displacement of the stack connecting means and to lift a stack of selected ones of the weight elements in a guided manner along the elongated guide restraining means. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1A is a side view, partly fragmented, of a direct drive leg extension exercising apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 1B is an end view of the apparatus of FIG. 1A; 
     FIG. 2A is a side view of a direct drive leg curl exercising apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2B is a front view of FIG. 2A; 
     FIG. 2C is a side view similar to FIG. 2A but showing the position of a user person on the direct drive leg curl exercising apparatus; 
     FIG. 3A is a side view of a direct drive chin and dip exercising apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention showing a user person performing an exercise; 
     FIG. 3B is a front view of FIG. 3A; 
     FIG. 4A is a side view of a direct drive arm curl exercising apparatus constructed in accordance with another example of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4B is a front view of FIG. 4A; 
     FIG. 4C is a side view similar to FIG. 4A but showing the position of the user person; 
     FIG. 5A is a side view of a direct drive rowing exercising apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention; and 
     FIG. 5B is a front view of FIG.  5 A. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1A and 1B, there is shown generally at 10 an example of a direct drive exercising apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention. The apparatus as hereinshown provides a leg extension exercise. A support frame  11  is provided for supporting the apparatus on a floor surface  12 . An attachment frame  13  is immovably secured to the support frame  11  and projects thereabove, as hereinshown. A user exercising station  14  is disposed to one side of the attachment frame and is provided with a seat structure  15  on which the user person  16 ′ sits to perform the leg extension exercise, as herein illustrated. 
     With particular reference to FIG. 1B, it can be seen that a weight stack  16  is slidingly retained by a pivotal elongated guide restraining means which consists of a pair of straight, substantially parallel, guide rods  17  and  17 ′ extending through holes  18  provided in each of the weight elements  19 . The weight elements are supported at a lower end on a support harness  20  which is pivotally connected by pivot pin  21  to the support frame  11 . The guide rods  17  are connected to the harness  20 . An elongated carrier rod  22  is provided with a series of spaced-apart holes  23  in a lower section thereof whereby to connect thereto a predetermined stack of weight elements  19 . Each of the weight elements  19  is also provided with a transverse hole  24  whereby to receive a connector pin  25  therein and through an aligned one of the holes  23  provided in the carrier rod  22  whereby a stack of a predetermined number of weight elements  19  may be connected to the carrier rod  22 . Such a stack is illustrated at  26  in FIG.  1 A. 
     Weight stack connecting means herein provided in the form of a pair of straight parallel connecting arms  27  and  27 ′ are pivotally connected at a first end  28  and  28 ′ to a connector block  29  which is pivotally connected by pivot connection  30  between the arms  27  and  27 ′. The connector block  29  is secured to the carrier rod  22  by a connector pin element  31  and into a selected one of a plurality of holes  32  provided in a top section of the carrier rod  22  so as to adjust the position of a user engaging member  33  to adapt the machine to the comfort and stature of a user person  16 . As shown in FIG. 1B, the carrier rod  22  extends through a channel member  34  disposed centrally in the connecting block  29 . The elongated guide restraining rods  17  and  17 ′ also extend through guide bores  35  and  35 ′ also extending through the connecting block  29 . 
     It is to be pointed out that all of the side views only show the rear guide rod as well as the carrier rod but both guide rods can be seen on the end views and this will not be repeated during the description of the various examples of the preferred embodiment. 
     As shown in FIG. 1A, the opposed ends  36  of the parallel connecting arms  27  and  27 ′ are each pivotally connected by pivot connection  37  to a top end of the attachment frame  13 . The user engaging member  33  is hereinshown as a large cylindrical pad, or two such pads, connected on opposed sides of a pair of parallel support arms  38  (only one shown herein) which constitutes a force transmitting means. These parallel support arms  38  are pivotally connected to the attachment frame  13  by a further pivot connection  39  and disposed at a predetermined position below the pivot connection  37  at its top end. 
     Link means in the form of a pair of link arms  40  are pivotally connected at a top end  40 ′ by a further pivot connection  41  disposed intermediate the opposed ends of the stack connecting arms  27  and  27 ′. There are two link arms  40 , and each is associated with a respective one of the connecting arms  27  and the force transmitting arms  38 . The lower end  40 ″ of the link arm  40  is pivotally connected by pivot connection  42  to the force transmitting arm  38  at a location near the pivot connection  39 . Accordingly, the pair of stack connecting arms  27 , the pair of link arms  40  and the pair of force transmitting arms  38  are all interconnected to form a parallelogram-like structure and their pivot connections are selected whereby to provide for a smooth exercising operation when the user person  16 ′ applies a lifting force on the foot engaging pads  33 . This lifting force causes the stack connecting arm to move about its pivot connection  37  in the direction of arrow  43  providing a lifting force on the carrier rod  22  in the direction of arrow  44  whereby to lift the selected stack  26  from the weight stack  16 . FIG. 1A shows the user engaging pad  33  in an engaged lifted position. It is also pointed out that during the full displacement of the user engaging pad  33 , a constant load resistance is provided to the user throughout the entire range of motion by the particular manner in which the arms are interconnected to the weight stack carrier rod  22 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 2A to  2 C, there is shown another example of a direct drive exercising apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention. As hereinshown generally at  50 , the apparatus is a leg curl apparatus and it is utilized by a user person  16 ′ as illustrated in FIG.  2 C. As hereinshown the force transmitting means is constituted by a pair of parallel L-shaped support arms  51  instead of the straight parallel support arms  38  of FIG.  1 A. Each of the L-shaped support arms  51 , only one of them being shown herein, has a first leg  52  and a second leg  53  interconnected therewith and extending at right angles to the first leg and upwardly thereof. A user engaging member  54 , also hereinshown as a pair of cylindrical pads, is secured to a top end of the second leg  53 . Each L-shaped support arm  51  is attached to the frame  13  at a bottom end of the second arm  53  by a pivot connection  55 . 
     The link arm  40  is hingedly connected to the free end of the first leg  52  by a pivot connection  56 . Similar to FIG. 1A it is also pivotally connected at a top end intermediate the ends of a respective one of the stack connecting arms  27  and  27 ′ by a pivot connection  41 , as previously described. The L-shaped support arms  51 , the link arms  52  and  40  and the stack connecting arms  27  are also connected to form a parallelogram-like linkage. 
     As hereinshown the user exercising station  14  is herein provided with a bench  57  which permits the user person  16 ′ to lie flat on his stomach, as shown in FIG. 2C, and to grasp a pair of handlebars  58  secured to the forward legs  59  of the bench  57  so as to brace himself while effecting a leg curl exercise. During a leg curl exercise, the user person pushes on the cushions  54  in the direction of arrow  60  and this causes the link arms  52  and  40  to be displaced upwardly in the direction of arrow  61  which again causes the stack connecting arms  27  to pull the carrier rod  22  upwardly to lift the predetermined stack  26 . FIG. 2C illustrates the user person performing this exercise with the stack  26  having been lifted a predetermined distance from the main stack  16 . During this motion the carrier rod  22  as well as the guide rods  17  and  17 ′ will be displaced on their pivot support harness  20  to which they are connected and a constant load is applied to the cushions  54 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 3A and 3B there is shown a still further example of the direct drive exercising apparatus and as hereinshown the exercising apparatus  65  is an assisted chin and dip type exercising machine. The force transmitting means is constituted by a pair of straight parallel cantilever arms  66 , only one being shown in FIG.  3 A. Each of the arms  66  are pivotally connected at an intermediate location by a pivot connection  67  secured a predetermined distance along the vertical post  13 ′ of the attachment frame  13 . The user engaging member is herein constituted by a platform  68  which is pivotally connected between the rear end of the cantilever arms  66  by opposed pivot connections  69 , only one being shown herein. A platform is supported on the bracket  70  which prevents the platform from pivoting downwardly and it maintains the platform in a substantially horizontal position between the rear ends of the cantilever arms  66 . This platform  68  is maintained elevated by the cantilever arm connections. 
     As hereinshown the link means is provided by a pair of link arms  71  which connects a respective aligned one of the parallel support arms  27  to a free connecting end  72  of an associated one of the cantilever arm  66  by a pivot connection  73 . An elevated foot rest  74  is secured to the support frame  11  at the user  16 ′ exercising station  14  to assist the user in climbing onto the platform  68  in a kneeling position as shown by the user person  16 ′ in FIG.  3 A. The platform  68  is provided with a knee pad  75  to provide comfort. A pair of handlebars  76  and  76 ′ are secured to a top end of the attachment frame  13  and disposed spaced above the platform  68 . This permits the user person  16 ′ to grasp the handlebars to pull upwards on the handlebars  76  while the platform exerts an upward force against the user person thus assisting him in performing his chin exercise by reducing the body weight that the user has to pull upward to perform the chin exercise. Further handlebars  78  may be disposed immediately above the platform  68  for the user to perform another exercise by grabbing the lower handlebar  78  and pushing on the handlebars  78  while the platform exerts an upward force against the user person thus assisting him in performing his chin exercise by reducing the body weight that the user has to pull upward to perform the chin exercise. Thus, the chin and dip exercise is performed. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 4A to  4 C, there is shown a further embodiment of the arm curl exercising apparatus  80  of the present invention. As hereinshown the weight support harness  20 ′ is immovably connected to the support frame  11  by a bracket  81 . Accordingly, the elongated guide rods  17  and  17 ′ and the carrier rod  22  do not pivot and are maintained along a straight fixed vertical axis. The weight stack connecting means is constituted by a pair of straight parallel connecting arms  82  and  82 ′. The connector block  29  is also pivotally connected to the arms  82  by the pivot connections  30 , similar to FIG.  1 A. 
     The force transmitting means in the embodiment of the arm curl exercising apparatus  80  is constituted by a pair of substantially parallel support arms  83 , each arm being pivotally connected by a pivot connection  84  to a top end of the attachment frame  13 . A user engaging member is provided by a handlebar  85  connected to a forward end  86  of at least one of the support arms  83  in a manner as better illustrated in FIG. 4B where it is shown that the handlebar  85  is connected to the force transmitting arm  83  via a connecting rod  86 ′. An upper arm rest member  87  is connected to the attachment frame  13  and spaced rearwardly of the handlebar  85 . An elevated adjustable seat  87  is also secured to the support frame  11  at the user exercising station  14  whereby the user  16 ′, as shown in FIG. 4C can assume a comfortable position on the exercising machine. 
     With this particular exercising apparatus the link means is constituted by a pair of link arms  88  which are immovably connected to a respective one of the support arms  83  and pivotally connected at a free end by pivot connections  89  to a top end of a respective one of the connecting arms  82  and  82 ′. 
     As shown in FIG. 4C, to perform an arm curl exercise, the user person  16 ′ will grasp the handlebar  85  with his hands and pull the handlebars inwardly towards his face in the direction of arrow  90 . By doing so, the arms  83  pivot on pivot connections  84  and  84 ′ and the linkage between the links  88  and the connecting arms  82  will articulate and the arms  82  will pivot on their pivots connections  30 . As previously noted, the weight stack and the guide rods are fixed in a vertical plane. The predetermined weight stack  26  will then be lifted and provide a constant weight load to the user during the arm curl movement. As previously described, in order to adjust the height of the handlebar  85 , the pin  31  will secure the connector block  29  at the desired height along the carrier member  22 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 5A and 5B, there is shown a still further example of the direct drive exercising apparatus of the present invention. The apparatus  95  is a rowing exercising apparatus. As hereinshown, the force transmitting means is constituted by a pair of substantially parallel upwardly connected rowing arms  96  and  96 ′ each having a handle  97  and  97 ′ at a top free end thereof. The rowing arms  96  and  96 ′ are each pivotally connected by a pivot connection  98  and  98 ′ to the attachment frame  13  and adjacent lower ends  99  and  99 ′ thereof. 
     The link means of the embodiment of FIGS. 5A and 5B is provided by link arms  100 , only one shown herein, and which link arms are immovably secured at one end  101  to a lower free end of the rowing arms  96 . The rowing arms  96  are pivotally connected to the attachment frame  13  by a pivot connection  102 . A pair of weight stack connecting arms  103  and  103 ′ are secured to the connector block  29  by a pivot connection  30 , as previously described, and are interconnected to the link arms  100  by pivot connecting pin  104  and  104 ′. Again, the weight stack  16  is immovably connected to the support frame  11  and therefore the guide rods  17  and  17 ′, as well as the carrier rod  22 , extend upwardly in fixed planes. 
     An elevated seat  105  is connected to the frame  11  at the user exercising station  14  and a chest rest pad  106  is mounted forwardly of the seat  105 . The chest rest pad  106  is adjustably connected by an adjustment mechanism  107  to position the chest rest pad at a desired location forwardly of the seat  105 . During the rowing exercise, the user person  16  grasps the handles  97  and  97 ′ and pulls them towards his shoulders in the direction of arrow  108 . This causes the link arms  100  to move upwardly in the direction of arrow  109  thus applying an upward movement on the stack connecting arms  103  pulling a predetermined weight stack  26  upwardly. As can be seen, the link arms  100  are pivotally connected at their free ends  110  by the pivot pins  104  and as the link arm move upwardly in the direction of arrow  109  the stack connecting arms  103  will articulate between their opposed pivot connections  104  and  30 . 
     It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the concept upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing and construction of other exercising structures for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Further, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.