Patent Publication Number: US-8529414-B2

Title: Neck exercise machine

Description:
The present disclosure is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/727,429, filed Mar. 19, 2010, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/161,522, filed Mar. 19, 2009. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates to weightlifting equipment, and more particularly to a combined shoulder shrug and neck exercise machine. 
     Many 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. 
     Free weights permit the lifter to perform the exercises in a natural motion which utilize pure body leverage in performing the exercise. Oftentimes it is desirable to simulate the range of motion of free weights within the relatively controlled environment of an exercise machine. 
     Many exercise machines are typically focused to a specific muscle group. Focus on the specific muscle group is a key element of an exercise machine. Other exercise machines may permit a multiple of exercises for a multiple of muscle groups. 
     SUMMARY 
     A neck exercise machine according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes a position plate fixed to a cam for rotation therewith about an axis of rotation. The position plate has a multiple of apertures which defines a multiple of start positions for the arm. 
     A neck exercise machine according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes a cam pivotally mounted to a frame about an axis of rotation. A position plate is fixed to the cam for rotation therewith about the axis of rotation, the position plate having a multiple of apertures. An arm pivotally mounted to the cam about the axis of rotation, the arm engageable with any of the multiple of apertures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The various features and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the currently preferred embodiment. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows: 
         FIG. 1A  is a front right perspective view of a combined shoulder shrug and neck exercise machine; 
         FIG. 1B  is a bottom perspective view of the combined shoulder shrug and neck exercise machine; 
         FIG. 1C  is a top view of the combined shoulder shrug and neck exercise machine; 
         FIG. 1D  is a front view of the combined shoulder shrug and neck exercise machine; 
         FIG. 1E  is a front left perspective view of the combined shoulder shrug and neck exercise machine; 
         FIG. 1F  is an expanded perspective view of a right shrug arm assembly; 
         FIG. 1G  is a expanded view of a head assembly of the combined shoulder shrug and neck exercise machine; 
         FIG. 1H  is a expanded rear view of a head assembly of the combined shoulder shrug and neck exercise machine; 
         FIG. 1I  is a expanded rear view of a head assembly of the combined shoulder shrug and neck exercise machine in a stowed position; 
         FIG. 2  is an example of the combined shoulder shrug and neck exercise machine in use to perform a shrug exercise in a shrugged position; 
         FIG. 3  is an example of the combined shoulder shrug and neck exercise machine in use to perform a shrug exercise in a rest position; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a neck lift arm; 
         FIG. 5A  is an example of the combined shoulder shrug and neck exercise machine in use to perform a rear neck exercise in a rest position; 
         FIG. 5B  is an example of the combined shoulder shrug and neck exercise machine in use to perform a rear neck exercise in an articulated position; 
         FIG. 5C  is an example of the combined shoulder shrug and neck exercise machine in use to perform a front neck exercise in a rest position; 
         FIG. 5D  is an example of the combined shoulder shrug and neck exercise machine in use to perform a front neck exercise in an articulated position; 
         FIG. 6A  is an example of the combined shoulder shrug and neck exercise machine in use to perform a side neck exercise in a rest position; and 
         FIG. 6B  is an example of the combined shoulder shrug and neck exercise machine in use to perform a side neck exercise in an articulated position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1A  illustrates perspective views of a combined shoulder shrug and neck exercise machine  10  that includes a shrug exercise system  20  and a neck exercise system  22 . The machine generally includes a frame assembly  24 , a seat assembly  26 , a shrug arm assembly  28 , a neck lift arm  30  and a head assembly  32 . 
     The frame assembly  24  includes a right side frame  34 A and a left side frame  34 B fixed to a center frame  36 . The center frame  36  includes a center bar  38  with cross bars  40 ,  42  which attach to the side frames  34 A,  34 B. The center bar  38  supports the seat assembly  26  while the cross support  40  includes fixed handles  44 . Weight horns  46  may extend from the side frames  34 A,  34 B to store weight plates. Although the frame assembly  24  is manufactured of rigid square cross-section tubing in the disclosed non-limiting embodiment, it should be understood that other structures may alternatively be provided. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1B , the seat assembly  26  generally includes a seat frame  50 , a seat handle  52 , a seat pad  54  and seat position brackets  56 . The seat pad  54  is mounted atop the seat frame  50  and the seat handle  52  extends forward therefrom opposite the center bar  38 . The seat handle  52  extends from the seat frame  50  to pivot the seat frame  50  relative to the position brackets  56  to position a transverse bar  58  on the seat frame  50  into one of a multiple of slots  60  which positions the seat frame  50  at a desired vertical height. The transverse bar  58  extends around the position brackets  56  such that the seat frame  50  may be lifted to disengage the transverse bar  58  from the multiple of slots  60  so that the height position of the seat pad  54  adjusted. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1C , the arm assembly  28  includes an independently operable right shrug arm assembly  70  and a left shrug arm assembly  72 . The right shrug arm assembly  70  and the left shrug arm assembly  72  are pivotally mounted to the relative right side frame  34 A and the left side frame  34 B at a respective pivot  74 ,  76 . The right shrug arm assembly  70  and the left shrug arm assembly  72  in the disclosed non-limiting embodiment are pivotally mounted within the relative right side frame  34 A and the left side frame  34 B relative the seat assembly  26  for independent operation to facilitate focused exercise. 
     The shrug arm assemblies  70 ,  72  pivot about an axis A which is defined perpendicular to the shrug arm assemblies  70 ,  72  and the side frame  34 A,  34 B. The pivots  74 ,  76  may be defined by bearings, bushings, or other rotational support structure. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1D , the shrug arm assemblies  70 ,  72  each generally include a shrug arm  78 ,  80 , a weight horn  80 ,  82  to load weight plates thereon and a shrug handle  84 ,  86 . The shrug handle  84 ,  86  is generally inboard of the respective weight horn  80 ,  82 . Either one of both of the shrug handles  84 ,  86  may be movable between an exercise position ( FIG. 2 ) generally perpendicular to the shrug arm  78 ,  80  and a stowed position generally perpendicular to the respective shrug arm  78 ,  80 . The stowed position facilitates side exercise with the head pad assembly  30  ( FIG. 3 ). 
     Referring to  FIG. 1E , the neck system  22  generally collocates the neck lift arm  30  with right shrug arm assembly  70 . That is, the neck lift arm  30  pivots about the same pivot  74  as the right shrug arm  78 . The neck lift arm  30  ( FIG. 4 ) is define by a generally U-shaped channel to at least partially receive the right shrug arm  78  ( FIG. 1F ). 
     The neck lift arm  30  is attached to the head assembly  32  through a pulley system  90 . The pulley system  90  includes a belt  92  or other flexible member such as a cable. The belt  92  is attached between a fixed point  94  ( FIG. 1F ) on the neck lift arm  30 , runs over a pulley  96  mounted to the side frame  32 A and is fixed to a cam  98  on the head assembly  32  ( FIG. 1G ). The pulley  96  and the cam  98  rotate relative the side frame  32  in response to rotation of the head assembly  32  which is weighted by the neck lift arm  30  and the right shrug arm assembly  70  which supports a desired weight on the weight horn  80 . That is, the head assembly  32  lifts the neck lift arm  30  and the right shrug arm assembly  70  through the pulley system  90 . 
     The pulley system  90  operates to reduce the weight on the right shrug arm assembly  70  by a desired ratio. In one non-limiting embodiment, the pulley system provides a ratio of approximately 3.5:1 between the right shrug arm assembly  70  of the shrug exercise system  22  and the neck exercise system  24  such that a 45 pound weight plate on the right shrug arm assembly  70  would result in approximately 13 pounds of weight on the head assembly  32 . Such a ratio has been found to be a desired ratio for the targeted athletes. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1G , the head assembly  32  generally includes a head pad  100  and an arm  102  which is mounted to the cam  98  through a position assembly  104 . The head pad  100  is rotationally mounted to the arm  102  ( FIG. 1H ). Notably, the arm  102  includes a bend  102 A such that the head pad  100  is along an axis H defined by the arm  102 . The head pad  100  is free to rotate approximately forty five degrees (45°) about the axis H defined by the arm  102 . The bend  102 A positions the head pad  100  to facilitate the a more comfortable and ergonomic neck exercise. 
     The position assembly  104  includes a position plate  106  with a multiple of apertures  108 . The position plate  106  is fixed to the cam  98  for rotation therewith about a common axis of rotation B. The arm  102  is positioned in one of the multiple of apertures  108  through a lock pin  110  to thereby provide for a multiple of start positions for the arm  102  and the head pad  100  associated with each of the apertures  108 . The arm  102  may additionally be placed in a stowed position ( FIG. 1I ) by removal of the lock pin  110  completely from the cam  98 . 
     To summarize operations of the machine  20  in accordance with the method of operation for the present disclosure, the athlete first positions the seat assembly  26  for shrug exercises or the seat assembly  26  and the head assembly  32  for neck exercises. 
     After the desired weight is placed on the weight horns  80 ,  82 , and the seat assembly  26  positioned, the athlete need only lift the shrug handles  84 ,  86  to the operational position and lift the handles  84 ,  86  to perform the shrug exercise ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ). Notably, the neck lift arm  30  remains in an at rest position as the right shrug arm assembly  70  is lifted during the exercise. 
     To perform the forward neck exercise, the athlete sits on the seat pad and faces the cross support  40  and positions the head pad  100  to the desired start position. The athlete may then grasp the fixed handles  44  and performs the forward neck exercise ( FIGS. 5A-5D ). 
     To perform the side neck exercise, the athlete sits on the seat pad and faces either the right frame  32 A or the left frame  32 B and positions the head pad  100  to the desired start position. The athlete then performs the side neck exercise. The seat handle  52  also provides a hand hold for a side neck exercise ( FIGS. 6A-6B ). That is, the seat handle  52  allows an athlete a hold which facilitates isolation of the neck muscles to minimize usage of other torso muscle groups which are not the focus of the neck exercise system  22  and may otherwise facilitate “cheating”. The shrug handles  84 ,  86  in the stowed position provides space for the legs of the athlete when the side neck exercise is performed. 
     It should be understood that relative positional terms such as “forward,” “aft,” “upper,” “lower,” “above,” “below,” “right”, “left” and the like are with reference to the normal operational attitude and should not be considered otherwise limiting. 
     The foregoing description is exemplary rather than defined by the limitations within. Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. The preferred embodiments of this invention have been disclosed, however, one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described. For that reason the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention.