Patent Publication Number: US-6656092-B1

Title: Method and apparatus for exercise with forced pronation or supination

Description:
This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08,667,428 filed on Jun. 21, 1996 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,769,757. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates generally to exercise machines and more particularly to exercise machines with forced pronation or supination movement for the hands and arms. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Many athletes and non-athletes utilize weight lifting or weight training exercises to build strength and/or bulk, to prevent injury, or to improve overall condition and appearance. Typically, weight training exercises are performed with either exercise machines or free weights, i.e, barbells and weighted plates, dumbbells, etc. For various reasons, most exercise programs incorporate both machines and free weights in a variety of different exercise routines in order to maximize the effect of working the desired muscle groups. 
     Free weights offer a number of advantages over exercise machines. For instance, they are relatively inexpensive in comparison to exercise machines. Free weights are also more versatile because a variety of exercises can be performed with one set of weights, whereas most exercise machines are designed for only one exercise. Even though some exercise machines accommodate more than one exercise, the cost of these machines usually increases proportionately with the number of exercises. Use of dumbbells also enables both arms to be exercised independently. Finally, free weights are popular among many weight lifters because the lifting movements are not restricted to prescribed planes of motion or prescribed angles. 
     Nevertheless, there are also a number of inherent disadvantages associated with free weights. One such disadvantage relates to safety. Although most weight room instructors strongly advise against an individual working out alone, this cautionary measure is particularly important when the lifting of free weights is involved. This is due to commonly recognized dangers such as the possibility of dropping a weight on a body part, or becoming trapped beneath a bar, which could easily occur in exercises such as bench press, incline or squat. Additionally, through carelessness, loading and unloading of heavy weighted plates onto the ends of a bar sometimes results in an unbalanced bar that falls downward from its rack. 
     Another disadvantage associated with free weights relates to the fact that the weight resistance, or opposing force, that is exercised against is always directed vertically downward by gravity. Yet, the moment arm of the weight about the pivot point varies considerably throughout the full range of motion. This principle is explained in U.S. Pat. No. 3,998,454 with respect to a commonly performed exercise referred to as the dumbbell bicep curl. In short, during this exercise the applied moment arm about tie elbow varies according to the sine of the angle of the lower arm with respect to the vertically oriented upper arm. The moment arm is greatest when the angle is 90° and it is lowest when the angle is 180° and 0°. 
     If the resistance capabilities of the muscles of the human body matched this moment arm, the degree of difficulty experienced by the exerciser would be uniform, or balanced, throughout the entire range of motion. However, as reported in U.S. Pat. No. 3,998,454, the strength generated by the human muscles during this exercise is not in fact “balanced” throughout the range of motion, and there are some “sticking points” of increased difficulty. As a result, maximum benefits are not achieved when performing a bicep curl with a dumbbell. 
     The pullover machine disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,998,454 utilizes an eccentric cam to vary weight resistance over the range of motion for the muscles utilized in a pullover maneuver. Over the years, for various muscle groups, a number of these cam and chain machines have been designed in an attempt to match a resistance variation through a range of motion with the natural strength curve for a particular muscle group associated with the range of motion. To the extent that these machines actually do succeed in approximating a resistance variation to an appropriate strength curve, an improvement over lifting of free weights probably has been achieved. 
     A number of exercise devices in the prior art allow the handles that the user grips to pivot freely while moving through. the desired range of motion for the prescribed exercise. However, a supination or pronation movement in the hands and forearms is desirable in conjunction with the standard range of motion for a specified exercise because additional muscle groups are exercised. Heretofore exercise devices have not typically included a forced pronation or supination movement of the hands and arms occurring as the hands and arms are moved through the desired exercise range of motion. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, therein is disclosed an exercise device with forced pronation or supination movement of the hand and arms in conjunction with the standard range of motion for a specified exercise. The device comprises a conventional frame and a centrally mounted seat. The seat is bisected by a vertical midplane that extends through the middle of the frame. The device has two sides that are mirror images with respect to the vertical midplane. 
     Pivotally attached to the frame is a sub-frame including a pair of levers. A “U” shaped member attached between the levers provides structural support and requires the levers to pivot in tandem about a first axis of rotation A 1 . 
     Movably attached to the distal end of each lever is a double “L” shaped handle. The handle includes an elongated tubular grip section and a shorter cylindrical section attached 90° to the grip. The cylindrical section passes through an opening in the distal end of the lever, thereby allowing pivotal movement of the grip about a second axis of rotation A 2 . 
     A second leg of the double “L” shaped handle is attached at a 90° angle to the cylindrical section of the handle. A linkage rod is movably attached by means of a ball and socket connector to the distal end of the leg portion of the handle. The linkage rod is movably attached by means of a second ball and socket connector to the frame. 
     In operation, as force is applied by the exerciser to the handle, the lever of the sub-frame is pivoted forward about axis A 1 . As the lever pivots about axis A 1 , the handle is forced to pivot in a predetermined fixed relationship about axis A 2 . The hand and forearm of the exerciser undergoes a pronation or supination movement as the grip handle is pivoted about the axis A 2  when the levers are pivoted about the axis A 1 . The hand and forearm also move down and in as the lever is pivoted. 
     In an alternate embodiment, a pair of miter gears are inserted in place of the linkage rod and ball and socket connectors. A stationary miter gear is located on a fixed axle and adjacent to the previously described lever. A hub is affixed to the proximal end of the lever oriented 90° to the fixed axle. A rolling miter gear is mounted on the hub such that the rolling miter gear is oriented 90° to the stationary miter gear. Attached to the rolling. miter gear is a bracket. As the rolling gear rotates, the bracket pivots about the hub in an axis A 4 , in a plane perpendicular to the plane of axis A 1 . 
     The distal end of the bracket is pivotally connected to the first end of the connector rod, allowing for pivotal movement of the bracket about an axis of rotation A 5  that is parallel to, but displaced from, axis A 4 . 
     In the second embodiment, the handle includes an elongated tubular grip section and a shorter cylindrical section attached at a 90° angle to the grip section, said cylindrical section passes through an opening in the distal end of the lever allowing for pivotal movement of the grip section about an axis of rotation A 6 . 
     Connected to the cylindrical section and perpendicular to the axis of the cylindrical section is a bracket. The distal end of the bracket is pivotally connected to the linkage rod. Pivotal movement of the linkage rod is allowed about axis A 7  in a plane parallel to but displaced from the plane of pivotal movement of handle. 
     During operation of the second embodiment, as force is applied by the exerciser to the handle, the sub-frame is pivoted forward about axis A 1 . As the lever pivots about axis A 1 , the stationary gear forces the rolling gear to rotate. The bracket affixed to the rotating gear pivots about axis A 4 , perpendicular to axis A 1 , thereby forcing the linkage rod to pivot about axis A 5 . The linkage rod forces the bracket to rotate about axis A 6 , thereby pivoting the handle in a predetermined fixed relationship about axis A- 6 . The hands and forearms of the exerciser undergo a forced pronation or supination movement as the grip handle pivots about the axis A 6  when the lever is pivoted about the axis A 1 . 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A more complete understanding of the present invention may be had by reference to the following Detailed Description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exercise machine comprising the first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of the exercise device of FIG. 1, illustrating a first position in the use thereof; 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of the exercise device of FIG. 1, illustrating a second position in the use thereof; 
     FIG. 4 is a partial rear view of the exercise device of FIG. 1, illustrating a first position in the use thereof; 
     FIG. 5 is a partial rear view of the exercise device of FIG. 1, illustrating a second position in the use thereof; 
     FIG. 6 is a partial side view of the exercise device of FIG. 1, illustrating a first position in the use thereof; 
     FIG. 7 is a partial side view of the exercise device of FIG. 1, illustrating a second position in the use thereof; 
     FIG. 8 is a partial rear view of a second embodiment of the exercise device of the present invention, illustrating a first position in the use thereof; 
     FIG. 9 is a partial rear view of the exercise device of FIG. 8 illustrating a second position in the use thereof; 
     FIG. 10 is a partial side view of the exercise device of FIG. 8 illustrating a first position in the use thereof; 
     FIG. 11 is a partial side view of the exercise device of FIG. 8 illustrating a second position in the use thereof; 
     FIG. 12 is a partial front view of a third embodiment of the exercise device of the present invention illustrating a first position in the use thereof; 
     FIG. 13 is a partial side view of the exercise device of FIG. 12 illustrating a first position in the use thereof; and 
     FIG. 14 is a partial side view of the exercise device of FIG. 12 illustrating a second position in the use thereof. 
     FIG. 15 is a partial auxiliary view, showing an exercise machine similar to FIG. 4 with an alternative handle arrangement. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference is now made to the Drawings wherein like reference characters denote like or similar parts throughout the 15 FIGURES. Referring to FIG. 1, therein is illustrated an exercise device  100 . A seat  110  and a back  112  are bisected by a vertical midplane that extends through the middle of a frame  20 . The device  100  has two sides that are mirror images with respect to the vertical midplane. 
     The device  100  comprises a conventional frame  20  including a rectangular base  22  formed of standard metallic tubing, an intermediate cross brace  24  perpendicularly disposed between an opposing right member  26  and left member  28  of the rectangular base  22 . A pair of “L” shaped supports  32  and  34  are rigidly fixed to the top of the cross brace  24 . A rod  40  passes through openings  33  and  35  in the “L” shaped supports. 
     A movable sub-frame  50  includes a right lever  52  and a left lever  54 , attached to opposite ends of the rod  40 , thereby permitting pivotal movement of the levers  52  and  54  about a horizontal first axis of rotation A 1 . A “U” shaped member  56  attached between the levers  52  and  53  provides structural stability to the sub-frame  50  and requires the levers  52  and  54  to pivot in tandem about the first axis of rotation A 1 . A cross brace  58  further reinforces the rigidity and structural stability of the sub-frame  50 . A cylindrical post  60  is affixed to the top of the “U” shaped member  56 . Standard iron weights  59  may be stacked in increments around the post  60  to provide incremental mass for resisting pivotal movement about axis A 1  (see also FIGS.  6  and  7 ). 
     Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5 in addition to FIG. 1, there is movably attached to the distal end of each lever  52  and  54  identical double “L” shaped handles  62  and  64 . Although not shown in FIGS. 4-7, the lever  54  and the handle  64  and their associated components are mirror images of the lever  52  and the handle  62 . The handle  62  includes an elongated tubular grip section  63  for grasping by the exerciser&#39;s hand. The handle  62  further includes a shorter cylindrical section  66  attached at a 90° angle to the grip section  63  and passing through an opening in the distal end of the lever  52 , thereby allowing for pivotal movement of the grip  63  about a second axis of rotation A 2 . The companion handle  64  includes corresponding elements allowing for pivotal movement of grip  65  about a third axis A 3 . 
     The cylindrical section  66  is connected to a second leg  68  of the double “L” shaped handle  62 . Similarly, companion double “L” shaped handle  64  includes a second leg  69  attached to cylindrical section  67 . 
     The distal end of the leg  68  of the double “L” shaped handle  62  includes a first ball connector  72 . A mating first socket connector  76  is attached to the first end of linkage rod  82 . A second socket connector  86  is attached to the opposite end of the linkage rod  82 . The socket connector  86  receives a ball connector  92  that is attached to a bracket  96  that is in turn rigidly attached to the base member  22  of the support frame  20 . In like manner, the distal end of the leg  69  of the double “L” shaped handle  64  includes a first ball connector  74 . A mating first socket connector  78  is attached to the first end of the linkage rod  84 . A second socket connector  88  is attached to the opposite end of linkage rod  84 . The second socket connector  88  receives a ball connector  94  that is in turn attached to a bracket  98  that is rigidly attached to the base member  28  of the support frame  20 . Since the two sides of exercise device  100  are mirror images about a vertical mid-plane, linkage rod  84  is a mirror image of linkage rod  82 , both as to configuration and position. Thus, axis A 4 , through the centers of ball connectors  92  and  94 , is parallel to horizontal axis A 1 . The seat  110  and the back  112  are attached to a support  120  that is in turn rigidly attached to the cross support  24  of the frame  20 . The seat  110  and the back  112  are positioned between the grip handles  62  and  64  and the levers  52  and  54 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, in operation, as force is applied by the exerciser  200  to the handle  62  and companion handle  64  (not shown), the lever  52  of the sub-frame  50  is pivoted forward about axis A 1 . Resistance to forward movement is provided by the mass of the weight stack  59 . As is illustrated in FIGS. 3 through 7, as the lever  52  pivots about axis A 1 , the handle  62  is forced to pivot in a predetermined fixed relationship about axis A- 2 . The hands and forearms of the exerciser  200  undergo a pronation or supination movement as the grip handles  62  and  64  are pivoted about the axis A 2  so as to converge and diverge when the levers are pivoted about the axis A 1 . The hands and forearms also move down and in as the levers are pivoted. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 8-11 therein is illustrated an alternate embodiment  180  wherein a pair of miter gears  186  and  188  are inserted in place of the linkage rod  82  and the connectors  72 ,  74 ,  76 ,  78 ,  86 ,  88 ,  92  and  94  of FIGS. 4-7. The below described elements designated by (′) reference numerals replace those like numbered elements illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 without the (′) designation. 
     Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9 in addition to FIGS. 1-3, a pair of identical “L” shaped handles  62 ′ and  64 ′ (not shown) are movably attached to the distal ends of a lever  52 ′ and a lever  54 ′ (not shown). Although not shown in FIGS. 8-11, the lever  54 ′ and the handle  64 ′ and their associated components are mirror images of the lever  52 ′ and the handle  62 ′. 
     Levers  52 ′ and  54 ′ are mounted at the proximal ends thereof to rotate on fixed axle  189 . Fixed axle  189  is rigidly supported by mounting bracket  192 . Located on the fixed axle  189  and adjacent to the lever  52 ′ is a stationary miter gear  188  fixed to axle  189 . A hub  185  is affixed to the proximal end of the lever  52 ′ oriented  90 ° to the fixed axle  189 . A rolling miter gear  186  is mounted on the hub  185  such that the rolling miter gear  186  is oriented 90° to the stationary miter gear  188 . The stationary miter gear  188  and the rolling miter gear  186  include a 45° miter oil their face and are commercially available from the Martin Company of Arlington, Tex. Attached to the rolling miter gear  186  is a bracket  184 . As the rolling gear  186  rotates, the bracket  184  pivots about the hub  185  in an axis A 4 , in a plane perpendicular to the plane of axis A 1 . 
     A standard connector pin  190  connects the distal end of the bracket  184  with the first end of the connector rod  82 ′, allowing pivotal movement of the bracket  184  about an axis of rotation A 5  that is parallel to, but displaced from axis A 4 . 
     The handle  62 ′ includes an elongated tubular grip section  63 ′ for grasping with a hand. The handle  62 , further includes a shorter cylindrical section  66 ′ attached at a 90° angle to the grip section  63 ′ and passing through an opening in the distal end of the lever  52 ′ allowing for pivotal movement of the grip section  63 ′ about an axis of rotation A 6 . 
     Connected to the cylindrical section  66 ′, and perpendicular to the axis of the cylindrical section  66 ′, is a bracket  68 ′. The distal end of the bracket  68 ′ includes a standard pin connector  172  received in an opening  176  in linkage rod  82 ′. Pivotal movement of the linkage rod  82 ′ is allowed about axis A 7  in a plane parallel to, but displaced from, the plane of pivotal movement of handle  63 ′. 
     During operation of the second embodiment, as force is applied by the exerciser to the handle  62 ′ and the companion handle  64 ′ (not shown), the levers  52 ′ and  54 ′ of the sub-frame  50 ′ are pivoted forward about axis A 1 . Resistance to forward movement is provided by the mass of the weight stack  59 ′. As is illustrated in FIGS. 8-11, as the lever  52 ′ pivots about axis A 1 , the stationary gear  188  rotates rolling gear  186 . The bracket  184  affixed to the gear  186  pivots about axis A 4 , perpendicular to axis A 1  thereby forcing the linkage rod  82 ′ to pivot about axis A 5 . The linkage rod  82 ′ forces the bracket  68 ′ to rotate about axis A 6 , thereby pivoting the handle  62 ′ in a predetermined fixed relationship about axis A- 6 . The hands and forearms of the exerciser undergo a forced pronation or supination movement as the grip handle  62 ′ pivots about the axis A 6  when the lever  52 ′ is pivoted about the axis A 1 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 12-14 therein is illustrated a third embodiment  280  of the present invention that provides for a modified hand and arm motion occurring as the hands and arms moved through the desired exercise range of motion. An “L” shaped handle  262  is movably attached to a lever  252  by means of brackets  268  and  284  and bearings  267  and  285 . The handle  262  includes an elongated tubular grip section  263  for grasping with a hand. The handle  262  further includes a leg section  282  attached at a 90° angle to the grip section  263 , said leg section  282  is disposed through the bearings  267  and  285  of brackets  268  and  284  providing for pivoting movement of the grip section  263  about an axis of rotation A 9 . 
     On the proximal end of the lever  252  is a cylindrical opening containing a pair of bearings  290  and  292 . The lever  252  is pivotally mounted on a fixed axle  289  that passes through the bearings  290  and  292 , thereby providing for a pivoting movement about an axis A 8 . 
     A rolling miter gear  286  is fixably mounted on the leg section  282  of the handle  262 . Located on the fixed axle  289  and adjacent to the lever  252  is a stationary miter gear  288 . The rolling miter gear  286  is oriented 90° to the stationary miter gear  288 . The stationary miter gear  288  and the rolling miter gear  286  include 20° pressure angle gear teeth with a 45° bevel angle and are commercially available from the Martin Company of Arlington, Tex. Cylindrical post  258  is affixed to the top of member  256 , which extends from lever  252 . Standard iron weights may be stacked in increments around post  258  to provide incremental mass for resisting pivotal movement about axis A 8 . 
     During operation of the, third embodiment, as force is applied by the exerciser  200  to the handle  262 , the lever  252  is pivoted forward about axis A 8 . Resistance to forward movement is provided by the mass of the weight stack  259 . As is illustrated in FIGS. 12-14, as the lever  252  pivots about axis AB, the stationary gear  288  forces rolling gear  286  to rotate about axis A 9 . The leg section  282  affixed to rolling gear  286  rotates with gear  286  thereby pivoting the grip handle  263  in a predetermined fixed relationship about the axis A 9 , perpendicular to axis A 8 . The hands and arms of the exerciser  200  undergo a forced movement as the grip handle  262  pivots about the axis A 9  when tie lever  252  is pivoted about the axis A 8 . 
     It is to be understood that the elements of the above-described invention used to create a forced pronation or supination movement may be used in any number of configurations for exercise machines including but not limited to push or pull motions in bench press machines, rowing machines, pull down machines and decline press machines. Although the preferred and alternative embodiments of the invention have been illustrated in the accompanying Drawings and described in the foregoing Detailed Description, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiment disclosed but is capable of numerous modifications without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed. 
     FIG. 15 shows a partial auxiliary view, showing one side of a symmetrical exercise machine, similar to FIG. 4 , but having an alternative handle arrangement. The proximal end of lever  352  is mounted to rotate about axis A 1  in the same manner as lever  52  of FIG.  4 . Handle  362  is mounted in skewed end member  353  at the distal end of lever  352  so that handle  362  rotates about axis A 2  as lever  352  rotates about axis A 1 . It is notable that grip portion  363  is bent with respect to the “L” shaped portion of handle  362  so as to be in a position substantially perpendicular to the user&#39;s forearm but the shape of handle  362  is otherwise as described for handle  62  of FIG.  4 . Skewed member  353  causes axis A 2  to be inclined at an angle of as much as 30°-45° with respect to the user&#39;s forearm. Thus, the substantially perpendicular relationship of axis A 2  to axis A 1  shown and described in FIG. 4 can include angles approximately 45° off perpendicular and still be effective for the purposes of the present invention. Leg  368  extends from handle  362  and connects to linkage rod  82  by means of ball connector  72  and socket connector  76 . The opposite end of linkage rod  82  is connected to bracket  96  and frame  20  by socket and ball connectors  86  and  92 . This connection causes handle  362  to pivot on axis A 2  as lever  352  rotates about axis A 1 .