Patent Publication Number: US-9409050-B2

Title: Combined exercise apparatus

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     In general, the present invention pertains to the art of machines and methods for exercise. In particular, the invention relates to a modular add-on for a treadmill allowing a Nordic walking exercise as well as forceful strength training and/or weight lifting exercise. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     It is believed that the pertinent state-of-the-art is represented by US patent publications: U.S. Pat. No. 5,000,440, U.S. Pat. No. 5,171,196, US2008287267, U.S. Pat. No. 6,544,147, US2009075784, U.S. Pat. No. 5,632,708, U.S. Pat. No. 8,007,409, U.S. Pat. No. 8,241,187, U.S. Pat. No. 5,951,449 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,110,117; European patent publications: EP1312395 and EP0877640; German utility model DE202005012299 and Chinese utility model CN2511339 as well as by international patent publication WO9938575. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,000,440 that is considered the most relevant prior art discloses an exercising device combining a treadmill with an upper body muscle stressing device. An upright frame is supported from the base of the treadmill according to U.S. Pat. No. 5,000,440. A weight support frame in U.S. Pat. No. 5,000,440 is pivotally attached to the upper end of such frame. Weights are supported from the exercising frame. The exerciser in U.S. Pat. No. 5,000,440 lifts up on the exercising frame while weights exert a downward force. At the same time, the exerciser in U.S. Pat. No. 5,000,440 is using the treadmill to obtain aerobic level exercise. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,171,196 discloses exercising device combining an inclinable treadmill with an upper body exercising assembly having two or more sets of levers with handles. The resistance loading of each set of levers according to U.S. Pat. No. 5,171,196 may be independently controlled and varied. The device of U.S. Pat. No. 5,171,196 combines strength training with aerobic exercise. Computerized controls and monitors are used in U.S. Pat. No. 5,171,196. The device of U.S. Pat. No. 5,171,196 may be used in a weightless environment. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 8,007,409 discloses an exercise treadmill having an endless exercise surface for walking or running while exercising, a resistance mechanism for providing a resistance for simulating the pushing of a load, wherein the resistance can be adjusted and set to a specific resistance setting. A movable pushing handle or handles is or are operatively attached to the resistance mechanism to transfer the load to the user. The resistance mechanism applies a constant and static force to the pushing handle(s) only in the same direction the endless movable surface moves and opposite a pushing direction such that operating the treadmill simulates the pushing of a load by a combination of gripping and pushing the pushing handle(s) forward while walking or running forward. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 8,241,187 discloses systems and methods for a treadmill or similar exercise device which utilizes a principally arm driven belt, but includes a motor assist which provides for additional drive to the belt. The motor assist device may constructively or destructively interact with the user provided motive force via the arms. Generally, the motor will allow for the device to utilize incline as well as to make the device easier to start from rest. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,951,449 discloses is an exercise device including a piston disposed within a cylinder having a first open end and a second end having a valve which independently controls air intake and exhaust through the second end of the cylinder, thereby controlling the air pressure exerted on the piston and hence the force required to raise the piston. A flexible connector is attached to the top of the piston, exits through the open end of the cylinder, and passes through a series of pulleys such that force exerted by the user on the opposite end of the connector is transmitted to the piston, whereby the piston slides within the cylinder. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will be understood and appreciated more comprehensively from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the appended drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of a combined exercise apparatus of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the combined exercise apparatus of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic side view diagram illustrating a Nordic walking exercise achievable by an embodiment of the combined exercise apparatus of the invention; 
         FIGS. 4A and 4B  are schematic side view diagrams illustrating a strength training exercise achievable by an embodiment of the combined exercise apparatus of the invention; 
         FIG. 5  is schematic side view diagram illustrating a yet another weight lifting exercise achievable by an embodiment of the combined exercise apparatus of the invention; 
     
    
    
     While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown merely by way of example in the drawings. The drawings are not necessarily complete and components are not essentially to scale; emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles underlying the present invention. 
     DETAILED DISCLOSURE OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described below. In the interest of clarity, not all features of actual implementation are described in this specification. It will of course be appreciated that in the development of any such actual embodiment, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers&#39; specific goals, such as compliance with technology- or business-related constraints, which may vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that the effort of such a development might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure. 
     In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, reference is now made to  FIG. 1 to 5 , showing treadmill assembly  10 , furnished with add-on members  20 A and  20 B, configured for a Nordic walking exercise as well as forceful strength training and/or weight lifting exercise. Treadmill assembly  10  is typically a standard treadmill, comprising vertical struts  12 A and  12 B, supporting the upper portion  14 , optionally furnished with screen  16  and handles  18 . 
     Add-on members  20 A and  20 B, configured to allow a combined Nordic walking as well as forceful strength training and/or weight lifting exercise, are mounted onto support tabs  22 A and  22 B, which are affixed to vertical struts  12 A and  12 B of treadmill assembly  10 . Support tabs  22 A and  22 B are optionally affixed to vertical struts  12 A and  12 B by a means of bolts, screws, rivets or any other type of fasteners. Tabs  22 A and  22 B are preferably affixed to vertical struts  12 A and  12 B by a means of frictional fasteners (not shown), circumstantially adjoining struts  12 A and  12 B and reversibly tightened thereon, thereby allowing controllably releasing the frictional adjoining to struts  12 A and  12 B and adjusting the vertical position of tabs  22 A and  22 B on struts  12 A and  12 B. 
     Tabs  22 A and  22 B are typically furnished with bearings, sustaining rotation of add-on members  20 A and  20 B relatively to struts  12 A and  12 B. Members  20 A and  20 B typically include pivots  28 A and  28 B, respectively, inserted into tabs  22 A and  22 B so as sustaining rotation of add-on members  20 A and  20 B relatively to struts  12 A and  12 B. In some embodiments, however, tabs  22 A and  22 B include pivots (not shown), similar to pivots  24 A and  24 B, whereas members  20 A and  20 B, mutatis mutandis, include apertures configured to receive aforesaid pivots so as sustaining rotation of members  20 A and  20 B relatively to struts  12 A and  12 B. 
     It is noted that the rotation of member  20 A relatively to strut  12 A is performable independently to the rotation of member  20 B relatively to strut  12 B. The independent rotation of member  20 A and member  20 B allowing a Nordic walk type for person  50  undertaking exercise, depicted in  FIG. 3 , wherein member  20 A is rotated in the direction indicated by arrow  30 A, whereas member  20 B concomitantly rotated the opposite direction indicated by arrow  30 B, and vice versa in turn. 
     Members  20 A and  20 B preferably include two telescopic subparts, namely driven subparts  24 A and  24 B as well as weight loading subparts  26 A and  26 B. Driven subpart  24 A is translatable relatively to weight loading subparts  26 A whereas driven subpart  24 B is independently translatable relatively to  26 B; thereby allowing controllably adjusting the lengths of members  20 A and  20 B in an independent manner. Driven subparts  24 A and  24 B are affixable in respect to weight loading subparts  26 A and  26 B by the means of knobs  32 A and  32 B, respectively. Driven subparts  24 A and  24 B or optionally weight loading subparts  26 A and  26 B include an array of apertures  34 A and  34 B, into which knobs  32 A and  32 B are insertable in order to affix driven subparts  24 A and  24 B in a particular position relatively to weight loading subparts  26 A and  26 B, respectively, thereby allowing independently and controllably determining the lengths of members  20 A and  20 B. 
     Driven subparts  24 A and  24 B comprise gripping handles  36 A and  36 B, respectively, configured for gripping by the hands in order to perform the combined exercise. Weight loading subparts  26 A and  26 B include an array of pins  38 A and  38 B, respectively, employed for threading weights  40  thereon. Weights  40  include an aperture therein, respectively matching pins  38 A and  38 B, on weight loading subparts  26 A and  26 B include. Pins  38 A and  38 B optionally include fasteners (not shown) configured for securing weights  40  thereon and preventing release of weights  40  from pins  38 A and  38 B. 
     It is noted that weights  40  preferably embody an elongated rectangular shape, as opposed to the standard discoid shape known in the art, configured to prevent inadvertent collision of weights  40  with knees and lower limbs of person  50  undertaking exercise on treadmill assembly  10 . It is further emphasized that each of add-on members  20 A and  20 B, on treadmill assembly  10  can be loaded with different strain, by manipulating the number weights  40  threaded onto pins  38 A and  38 B of weight loading subparts  26 A and  26 B of each of add-on member  20 A or  20 B. Consequently the strain applied to each hand, whether right or left, can be customizeably set by loading a desired number weights  40  onto each loading subpart  26 A or  26 B of add-on members  20 A and  20 B. 
     Treadmill assembly  10  preferably includes panel  42 , extending between struts  12 A and  12 B. Panel  42  comprises a plurality of pins, similar to pins  38 A and  38 B, used to accommodate surplus weights  40  which currently are not loaded onto weight loading subpart  26 A and  26 B of add-on members  20 A and  20 B, respectively. 
     In some preferred embodiments treadmill assembly  10  comprises a rod (not shown) interlocking between handles  36 A and  36 B of driven subparts  24 A and  24 B; thereby unifying the movements of add-on member  20 A or  20 B. In such a configuration person  50  undertaking exercise on treadmill assembly  10  may engage in forceful strength training, depicted in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , involving simultaneous movement of handles  36 A and  36 B in essentially horizontal orientation. During forceful strength training, person  50  simultaneously pulls both handles  36 A and  36 B on driven subparts  24 A and  24 B of add-on members  20 A and  20 B, in direction of arrow  44 A towards himself/herself and then in turn simultaneously pushes both handles  36 A and  36 B on driven subparts  24 A and  24 B of add-on members  20 A and  20 B, in direction of arrow  44 B away from himself/herself. Typically during forceful strength training person  50  applies essentially the force of the torso as well as upper limbs to swing add-on members  20 A and  20 B back and forth. 
     It should be noted that forceful strength training, as referred to herein, depicted in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , entailing simultaneously pulling both handles  36 A and  36 B in direction of arrow  44 A and then in turn simultaneously pushing both handles  36 A and  36 B in direction of arrow  44 B does not require aforesaid rod (not shown) which interlocks handles  36 A and  36 B but rather the simultaneous movement of add-on members  20 A and  20 B, can be synchronized by person  50 . If aforesaid rod (not shown) which interlocks handles  36 A and  36 B is not implemented but rather the person  50  synchronizes simultaneous movement of add-on members  20 A and  20 B, the strain applied to each hand, whether right or left, can be customizeably set by loading a desired number weights  40  onto each loading subpart  26 A or  26 B of add-on members  20 A and  20 B. 
     Furthermore and contradistinctively to the prior art, in some preferred embodiments treadmill assembly  10  is configured for weight lifting exercise, depicted in  FIG. 5 . Weight lifting exercise, as referred to herein, entails swinging add-on members  20 A and  20 B into an essentially horizontal position, as shown in  FIG. 5 , and performing forceful pushing downwards and forceful restraining the lifting up of handles  36 A and  36 B, in essentially vertical orientation, in the direction of arrows  46 A and  46 B on driven subparts  24 A and  24 B of add-on members  20 A and  20 B, respectively. Typically during weight lifting exercise person  50  steps somewhat backwards on treadmill assembly  10  and applying essentially the manual force of the upper limbs to counterbalance the weight of the weights  40 . 
     It should be noted that weight lifting exercise, as referred to herein, depicted in  FIG. 5 , may entail simultaneously pushing both handles  36 A and  36 B in direction of arrows  46 A and  46 B then in turn simultaneously forcefully restraining the lifting up of handles  36 A and  36 B in direction of arrows  46 A and  46 B, which is optionally performed with aforesaid rod (not shown) which interlocks handles  36 A and  36 B or alternatively the simultaneous movement of add-on members  20 A and  20 B, can be synchronized by person  50 . If aforesaid rod (not shown) which interlocks handles  36 A and  36 B is not implemented but rather the person  50  synchronizes simultaneous movement of add-on members  20 A and  20 B, the strain applied to each hand, whether right or left, can be customizeably set by loading a desired number weights  40  onto each loading subpart  26 A or  26 B of add-on members  20 A and  20 B. 
     In some embodiments however weight lifting exercise, as referred to herein, depicted in  FIG. 5 , may entail simultaneously pushing handle  36 A downwards in direction of arrow  46 A while simultaneously forcefully restraining the lifting up of handle  36 B in direction of arrow  46 B. In such a case the add-on members  20 A and  20 B are driven by person  50  in opposite directions, which constitutes a variation of the weight lifting exercise, as referred to herein. 
     In some embodiments treadmill assembly  10  is provided or commercialized with the add-on members  20 A and  20 B as a combined exercise apparatus, shown in  FIG. 1 to 5 , while support tabs  22 A and  22 B are pre-fitted to vertical struts  12 A and  12 B. In such instances vertical struts  12 A and  12 B as well as support tabs  22 A and  22 B optionally include structural elements allowing affixing the latter along the former in predetermined location. It is noted, however, that in some preferred embodiments treadmill assembly  10  is a standard existing treadmill, whereas the constituents of add-on members  20 A and  20 B as well as support tabs  22 A and  22 B provided or commercialized as a kit-of-parts, configured for assembling a combined exercise apparatus onto standard existing treadmill. 
     BIBLIOGRAPHICAL CITATION LIST OF PATENT LITERATURE 
     
         
         
           
             U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,000,440, 5,171,196, 6,544,147, 5,632,708, 8,007,409, 8,241,187, 5,951,449 and 5,110,117 
             US patent application Ser. Nos. 2008287267 and 2009075784 
             European patents Ser. No. 1312395 and 0877640; 
             German utility model Ser. No. 202005012299 
             Chinese utility model Ser. No. 2511339 
             International patent application Pub. No. WO9938575 
           
         
       
    
     It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited by what has been particularly shown and described herein above. Rather the scope of the invention is defined by the claims which follow: