Patent Publication Number: US-10307630-B2

Title: Assisted chin/dip exercise apparatus with adjustable chin-up/pull-up handles

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/456,201 filed Mar. 10, 2017; which is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/689,917 filed Apr. 17, 2015, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,604,086 issued Mar. 28, 2017; which is a Divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/493,205 filed Jun. 11, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,017,238 issued Apr. 28, 2015, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/500,384 filed Jun. 23, 2011, each of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to an assisted chin/dip exercise apparatus for performing chin-up, pull-up and dip exercises, and is particularly concerned with handle arrangements for such an apparatus. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Chin-ups, pull-ups, and dips are strength training exercises in which an exerciser lifts their entire body weight. In a chin-up exercise, an exerciser grasps an overhead bar and raises himself or herself to a raised position with their chin in substantially the same vertical position as their hands. A pull-up exercise is similar to a chin-up apart from the hand position. Generally, the palms of the hands face towards the face in a chin-up exercise, while the palms face outward or towards one another for a pull-up. In a dip exercise, the exerciser supports their hanging body on a pair of parallel handles with their arms straight and extending down along their sides. The exerciser then bends their arms at the elbow and lowers their body, then pushes their body straight up by straightening their arms. 
     Both chin-up and dip exercises are very difficult for the average person to do without assistance. Various types of chin/dip exercise equipment are known for assisting people in performing such exercises. One example of such equipment is the assisted dip/chin exercise device described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,011,139 of Towley. Dedicated chin/dip exercise equipment generally has an upright frame with overhead handles for chin-ups and pull-ups and a lower pair of parallel handles for dips, as well as a pivotal assist or foot bar connected to a weight stack through a cable and pulley system which can apply a pre-adjusted force to assist an exerciser in performing the exercise. One problem with such equipment is that the exerciser may hit their head on the overhead chin-up handles when stepping onto the raised assist bar or when performing dip exercises. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect, an assisted chin/dip exercise apparatus has a main frame having a foot bar pivotally mounted on the frame and configured for assisting a user during performance of chin and dip exercises. The main frame has a pair of spaced overhead supports having inwardly directed first and second pivot mounts, and first and second adjustable handles are pivotally mounted on the respective first and second pivot mounts for movement between first and second end positions. In the second end position, the handles are spaced apart to leave a gap between the handles which is of sufficient width to provide clearance for the head of a user when they step up onto the foot bar or platform or when performing a dip exercise. 
     In one embodiment, the handles are angled inwardly and rearwardly towards one another in the first position and extend forward and generally parallel to one another in the second position. In the first position, the handles are oriented for gripping by a user when performing a chin-up exercise. In the second position, the handles may be gripped by a user to perform a pullup exercise. If the handles are oriented in the second position while a user performs a dip exercise, clearance is provided between the handles for the user&#39;s head when the user moves their upper body upwards during the exercise. The handles are freely pivotable between the first and second positions. If the user forgets to move the handles from the first position, their head simply pushes the handles up out of the way as they push upwards, reducing or eliminating the risk of injury. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The details of the present invention, both as to its structure and operation, may be gleaned in part by study of the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front elevation view of one embodiment of an assisted chin/dip exercise apparatus having adjustable overhead handles; 
         FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3A  is a top plan view of the apparatus of  FIGS. 1 and 2  with the adjustable overhead handles in a first position; 
         FIG. 3B  is a top plan view of the apparatus as in  FIG. 3A  but with the adjustable handles in a second position; 
         FIG. 3C  is a top plan view of the apparatus as in  FIGS. 3A and 3B  but with the movable foot or assist bar folded out of the way in an inoperative position, and with one of the handles in the first position and the other adjustable handle in the second position; 
         FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of the upper part of the apparatus of  FIGS. 1 to 3C , illustrating the handles in the second position of  FIG. 3B ; 
         FIG. 5  is a front perspective view similar to  FIG. 4  illustrating the handles in the first position of  FIG. 3A ; 
         FIG. 6  is a rear perspective view of the upper part of the apparatus illustrating one handle in the first position and the other handle in the second position; 
         FIG. 7A  is a side elevation view of one adjustable handle assembly with the protective cover removed to illustrate the stop mechanism, with the handle in the first position; 
         FIG. 7B  is a side elevation view similar to  FIG. 7A  but illustrated the handle rotated into the second position with the rotating stop engaging the opposite side of the stop pin; 
         FIG. 8A  is a side elevation view of the apparatus of  FIGS. 1 to 7B  illustrating an exerciser in position and ready to perform a dip exercise; 
         FIG. 8B  is a side elevation view of the apparatus as in  FIG. 8A  but with the user in a different, raised position during the dip exercise; 
         FIG. 9  is a side elevation view similar to  FIGS. 8A and 8B  but illustrating the user gripping the overhead handles at the start of a chin-up exercise; 
         FIG. 10  is an enlarged, front perspective view of the upper part of the machine with the user gripping the overhead handles in the first position while performing the chin-up exercise; 
         FIG. 11  is a side elevation view similar to  FIG. 9  but illustrating the user at the start of a pull-up exercise, with the adjustable overhead handles in the second position; and 
         FIG. 12  is an enlarged, front perspective view similar to  FIG. 10  but with the user gripping the handles as in  FIG. 11  during a pull-up exercise. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Certain embodiments as disclosed herein provide for an assisted chin/dip exercise apparatus with a pair of adjustable overhead handles which can be pivoted between two end positions, one of which provides clearance for a user&#39;s head when stepping onto the apparatus or when performing dip exercises. 
     After reading this description it will become apparent to one skilled in the art how to implement the invention in various alternative embodiments and alternative applications. However, although various embodiments of the present invention will be described herein, it is understood that these embodiments are presented by way of example only, and not limitation. 
       FIGS. 1 to 12  illustrate one embodiment of an assisted chin/dip exercise apparatus  10  with adjustable overhead handles. Although the exercise apparatus is a standalone chin/dip machine with adjustable handles in the illustrated embodiment, it may alternatively be part of an exercise machine with multiple exercise stations or may be secured to a wall or other fixed member. As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 6 , the apparatus or machine  10  basically comprises a stationary frame having a base portion  14 , an upright portion  15 , and an overhead portion  17 , a weight stack housing  16 , a pivotally mounted foot or assist bar  18  which is connected to a selectorized weight stack  20  in housing  16  in a conventional manner via a cable and pulley system (not visible in the drawings), a dip handle assembly  22  secured to the upright frame portion  15  and housing  16  at a location spaced above foot bar  18 , and an adjustable overhead handle assembly  24  secured to overhead support portion  17  above dip handle assembly  22 . Adjustable handle assembly  24  may be positioned for gripping by a user while performing chin-up or pull-up exercises, as described in more detail below. 
     The base or floor engaging portion  14  of the frame has a rear strut  26 , a pair of side struts  25  extending forward from rear strut  26  on opposite sides of the frame, and a front strut  27  extending between the forward ends of struts  25 . A central upright  28  extends upward from strut  27  at a forward end of the frame, and a pair of steps  29 ,  30  are mounted on upright  28  to assist the exerciser in stepping onto foot supports or foot platform  32  mounted on the front end of foot bar  18 . A rear upright  34  extends upward from rear strut  26  and a rear end of foot or assist bar  18  is pivotally mounted on rear upright  34  via pivot mount  35 , as best illustrated in  FIGS. 3A and 3B . The foot bar  18  includes a conventional range of motion (ROM) adjustment mechanism for adjusting the foot plate position.  FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate the foot plates  32  in a raised position prior to a user stepping onto the plates, due to the positive or upward biasing force of the weights in weight stack  20  which are linked to the foot bar  18 . A user can select the amount of biasing force or assist desired before starting an exercise. 
     Upright portion  15  of the frame includes a pair of struts  36  which extend generally upwards from the respective side struts and are inclined rearwards. The overhead portion  17  comprises overhead supports  38  extending forward from the upper ends of respective struts  36 . A cross bar  37  extends between overhead supports  38 . 
     Dip handle bar  22  is generally U-shaped and has a rear portion  23  secured to the rear of the weight stack housing  16  and a pair of arm portions  58  which project forwards on opposite sides of the housing and are each secured to the respective upright struts  36  at an intermediate point in their length, with forwardly extending hand grips  60  projecting from the forward ends of the respective arm portions  58 . 
     The adjustable chin/pull-up handle assembly  24  comprises a pair of adjustable handles or hand grips  40  each associated with a pivot portion or pivot sleeve  50 . The handles are adjustably mounted on respective pivot mounts  42  on the inner sides of the respective overhead supports  38  via pivot portion  50 , as best illustrated in  FIG. 3A to 7B . Handle or hand grip  40  extends at an angle to the pivot mount, as described in more detail below.  FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate the handles  40  in first end position  40 A (chin-up position) and second end position  40 B (pull-up position), respectively, while  FIG. 3C  illustrates one handle in the first end position  40 A and the other in the second end position  40 B, with the foot plates  32  moved into an inoperative position in this figure. Additional fixed handles or rock-climbing grips  44 ,  45  are provided on the outer side of each overhead support  38  to provide different gripping positions for varying a pull-up exercise. Handles  44  extend outwards in opposite directions from the outer sides of supports  48 , while handles  45  have forwardly extending, inwardly angled gripping portions (see  FIGS. 1 to 3A ). 
     Each pivot mount  42  has a first part extending transversely inward from the respective support  38  in alignment with the corresponding inner part of the other pivot mount along transverse axis, and a pivot pin  46  extending at a forward angle of around 30 degrees from the first part of pivot mount  42  to define handle pivot axis  52 . Annular housing  48  surrounds an inner end of pin  46  and a stop mechanism which defines the handle end positions, as illustrated in  FIGS. 7A and 7B  and described in more detail below. The pivot axes  52  of the pivotally mounted handles are angled inwardly towards one another and at a forward angle of around 30 degrees to transverse axis X of  FIG. 3C  (a horizontal axis extending transverse to the central longitudinal axis of the exercise machine frame). The pivot axes may be oriented at different angles in alternative embodiments, and may be at forward angles in the range from 20 degrees to 40 degrees to axis X in alternative embodiments. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the pivot portion of each handle comprises a pivot sleeve  50  rotatably mounted on a respective pivot pin  46 , and handle or hand grip  40  extends from the pivot sleeve at a predetermined angle to the respective pivot axis. In one embodiment, the angle may be in the range from about 50 degrees to 70 degrees to the pivot axis, and in the illustrated example this angle is around 60 degrees to the pivot axis  52 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3C . The handles are freely rotatable back and forth about pivot axis  52  between rearwardly angled chin-up position  40 A and forwardly extending pull-up position  40 B, as defined by end stops of the stop mechanism which is described in more detail below. The hand grips may be oriented horizontally or substantially horizontally in both end positions  40 A and  40 B. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 4, 5, 10 and 12 , a guard plate or cover  49  is welded or otherwise secured over the front of guard or housing  48 . The cover  49  is removed in  FIGS. 7A and 7B  to illustrate the stop mechanism which defines the handle end positions. The cover plate keeps fingers out of the mechanism so that they do not become pinched or trapped. Sleeve  50  extends with clearance through central opening in guard plate  49 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 7A and 7B , a stop pin  54  is mounted inside housing  48  and a rotating stop  55  secured to sleeve  50  has a first end  55 A which engages one side of the stop pin when the handle is in the chin-up position  40 A, as seen in  FIG. 7A , and a second end  55 B which engages the opposite side of stop pin  54  when the handle is in the pull-up position  40 B, as seen in  FIG. 7B , limiting the rotation of the handle to rotation between these two positions. In one embodiment, the end stops are configured so that the hand grips  40  are horizontal in each end position with the handles rotating through around 180 degrees between the end stop positions. In alternative embodiments, the angle of rotation may be more or less than 180 degrees and one or both end portions may be non-horizontal, depending on the desired hand grip positions. The hand grips extend in the forward direction and parallel to one another in the pull-up position  40 B, and are angled rearward and inwardly towards one another at around 30 degrees to the transverse direction X in the chin-up position  40 A. Chin-up position  40 A of the hand grip is at angle of around 120 degrees to the pull-up position  40 B. 
     In  FIG. 3A , both hand grips are positioned in end position  40 A, extending inward and rearward at an angle of about 30 degrees to transverse direction X and 60 degrees to the respective support  38  (see right hand grip position of  FIG. 3C ). As illustrated, the inner ends of the handles are very close together in this position. In  FIG. 3B , both hand grips are positioned in end position  40 B, extending in a forward direction and parallel to one another so as to leave a relatively large gap between the handles. The handles may be placed in this position for performing pull-up exercises, and also while performing dip exercises gripping dip bar handles  60 , to provide clearance for the user&#39;s head when raising their body to a straight arm position, as described below. 
       FIGS. 8A to 12  illustrate a user  65  performing dip exercises, chin-up exercises, and pull-up exercises, respectively, on the exercise apparatus  10 . At the start of an exercise, the user first selects the desired assistance weight on the weight stack. For a dip exercise, the user rotates the dip hand grips  60  into a narrow or wide position as provided by a conventional adjustment mechanism. The overhead handles are also rotated outward into the second position  40 B to provide overhead head clearance between the handles directly above foot bar  18 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 1, 3B and 4 . The user then steps onto the foot platform or plates  32  using steps  29  and  30 . Since the overhead handles are pivoted outward in position  40 B, the user&#39;s head can pass freely between them when stepping up onto the platform. The platform then sinks down under the user&#39; weight into a lower position as in  FIG. 8A , and the user grips the handles  60  of the dip handle assembly  22  with their arms bent rearward. They then push their body upwards from the position of  FIG. 8A  to the position of  FIG. 8B , straightening the arms, while the foot platform provides a positive upward force to assist the user in performing the dip exercise. The gap between the hand grips in the position  40 B also provides clearance for the user&#39;s head as the body is pushed upward. Even if the user forgets to rotate the handles from position  40 A before performing this exercise, their head simply contacts the hand grips and pushes them up out of the way, since they are freely rotatable upward and forward about pivot axis  52  from position  40 A towards position  40 B. Thus, the risk of injury to the head is reduced or eliminated. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates the start position for a chin-up exercise, while  FIG. 10  illustrates the hand grip position for this exercise in more detail. For a chin-up exercise, the user rotates the handles inward into position  40 A, and then grasps the hand grips with their palms facing inward towards their face as in  FIG. 10 . The user then steps up onto the platform and performs chin-up exercises in the normal manner, with foot bar assembly  18  providing a positive assist as the user pulls up their body until their chin is level with their hands. 
       FIGS. 11 and 12  illustrate the adjustable handle and hand position for a pull-up exercise. In this exercise, the handles are rotated into the pull-up position  40 B. The rock climbing grips or handles  44  or  45  may alternatively be gripped while performing pull-up exercises to provide different grip positions and vary the exercise.  FIGS. 11 and 12  illustrate the user  65  preparing to perform a pull-up exercise after stepping onto the foot plate  32  of assist bar  18  and gripping the adjustable handles or hand grips in the pull-up position  40 B, with the palms facing inwards towards one another. They may alternatively grip the handles with their palms facing outwards. Once the handles are gripped, the user lifts or pulls up their body until their chin is level with their hands, with foot bar assembly  18  assisting the exercise. Since there are no separate, fixed chin-up handles, there is no risk of the user&#39;s head hitting any such handles while performing such exercises. 
     For an un-assisted dip, chin-up or pull-up exercise, the foot platform or plates  32  may be folded down out of the way in the normal manner. 
     The rotating chin-up/pull-up handles allow a greater range of different hand grip positions while also permitting free rotation of the handles from inwardly extending, rearwardly angled chin-up grip positions to forwardly projecting, parallel pull-up grip positions. This avoids or reduces the risk of a user hitting fixed, rigid chin-up handles with their head as they step up onto the movable assist bar or foot platform, or while they are lifting their body when performing a dip or pull-up exercise with their head directly under the overhead handle assembly. 
     The above description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles described herein can be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is to be understood that the description and drawings presented herein represent a presently preferred embodiment of the invention and are therefore representative of the subject matter which is broadly contemplated by the present invention. It is further understood that the scope of the present invention fully encompasses other embodiments that may become obvious to those skilled in the art and that the scope of the present invention is accordingly limited by nothing other than the appended claims.