Patent Publication Number: US-6991588-B1

Title: Standing single leg press exercise machine

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The invention broadly relates to exercise machines. 
   2. Prior Art: 
   A typical leg press exercise machine is comprised of a reclined bench for supporting a user, and a hinged weight carriage positioned for being pressed by both legs simultaneously. The upper body is generally perpendicular to the weight carriage. The user extends and retracts both legs to repeatedly press and release the weight carriage to lift and lower the weight. When the legs are fully extended, they are at a substantial angle relative to the upper body. 
   A problem with conventional leg presses is that the bent body position prevents the lower back and gluteal muscles from being properly exercised. Also, it is common for people to have a dominate leg, which will perform more work and maintain the imbalance between the legs. Using both legs together requires more weight to resist the strength of both legs. The seated position eliminates the body weight from the resistance, so that more weight is required. The main problem is that the body does not finish in a straight line, but instead is bent at all times. 
   Therefore, such machines do not provide the full range of motion necessary for proper exercising. 
   Two physiological limiting factors in exercising are the cardiovascular/aerobic threshold and anaerobic threshold. The cardiovascular threshold is the point of maximum possible heart rate, and the anaerobic threshold is the point of muscle failure. When exercising both legs together, a user may reach the cardiovascular threshold before the legs reach the anaerobic threshold. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, the objects of the invention are:
         to be used in a standing position;   to exercise a single active leg while resting a stationary leg, thereby allowing the active leg to reach the anaerobic threshold while the user remains under the cardiovascular threshold;   to align both legs with the body in a standing position when the active leg is fully extended so as to exercise the lower back;   to enable a complete range of motion for exercising the gluteal muscles;   to provide a range of leg motion that closely approximates natural movements such as running, jumping, and climbing;   to stabilize the user; and   to prevent the user&#39;s body from lifting when extending the active leg.       

   The standing single leg press exercise machine is comprised of a single movable step arranged to move up and down for exercising only one leg at a time. The movable step is guided by inclined guide bars to move along a slanted path. A resistance mechanism is connected to the movable step for providing resistance to movement. Two stationary steps are positioned on either side of the bottom position of the movable step. Hand rails are positioned on either side of movable step. A shoulder pad is positioned above the movable step. A method for using the leg press is comprised of standing on one of the stationary steps with a stationary leg straight, and an active leg on the movable step in a raised and bent position. The active leg is extended downward to depress the movable step against the resistance until the active leg is straight, and retracted upward against the resistance to return the movable step to its starting position. The extension and retraction are repeated until the active leg is tired, and the legs are switched to exercise the previously stationary leg while the previously active leg is resting. Since one leg is resting, the active leg is more capable of reaching the anaerobic threshold while the user remains under the cardiovascular threshold. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the standing single leg press exercise machine. 
       FIG. 2  shows a user in a starting position for exercising the right leg, wherein the right leg raised and bent. 
       FIG. 3  shows the user with the right leg partially extended. 
       FIG. 4  shows the user with the right leg fully extended. 
       FIG. 5  shows the user exercising the left leg. 
   

   DRAWING REFERENCE NUMERALS 
   
     
       
         
             
             
             
           
             
                 
                 
             
           
          
             
                 
               10. Movable Step 
               11. Guide Bars 
             
             
                 
               12. Support Structure 
               13. Vertical Portion 
             
             
                 
               14. Resistance Mechanism 
               15. Weights 
             
             
                 
               16. Guide Bars 
               17. Cable 
             
             
                 
               18. Pulley 
               19. Stationary Step 
             
             
                 
               20. Stationary Step 
               21. Guide Bar 
             
             
                 
               22. Guide Bar 
               23. Hand Rail 
             
             
                 
               24. Hand Rail 
               25. Shoulder Pad 
             
             
                 
               26. Bracket 
               27. Guide Bar 
             
             
                 
               28. Pin 
               29. Chain 
             
             
                 
                 
             
          
         
       
     
   
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1 : 
   A preferred embodiment of the standing single leg press exercise machine is comprised of only a single movable step  10  arranged to move up and down for exercising only one leg at a time. Movable step  10  is shown in a resting position at a top end of its movement range. Movable step  10  is preferably guided by inclined movable step guide bars  11  to move along a slanted path positioned at about 37 degrees from vertical for optimal benefit, but other angles are also possible. Also, guide bars  11  may be curved instead of straight. Movable step guide bars  11  are supported by a generally triangular support structure  12  with an upwardly projecting vertical portion  13 . 
   A resistance mechanism  14  is connected to movable step  10  for providing resistance to movement. In this example, resistance mechanism  14  is comprised of a stack of weights  15  arranged to move along vertical weight guide bars  16  in support structure  12 , and connected to movable step  10  by a cable  17  which is wrapped around a pulley  18  attached to support structure  12  above weights  15  and movable step  10 . The number of weights  15  connected to cable  17  may be user selectable with the same type of mechanism (not shown) used in prior art weight training machines for adjusting the resistance. Alternatively, weight guide bars may be slanted or curved, and other types of resistance mechanisms may be provided, such as springs, elastic bands, hydraulic cylinders, electromagnets, etc. 
   Two stationary steps  19  and  20  are positioned on either side of movable step  10  adjacent a bottom end of its movement range, preferably by being attached to opposite sides of support structure  12 . Stationary steps  19  and  20  are preferably attached to stationary step guide bars  21  and  22  that are parallel to movable step guide bar, so that steps  19  and  20  are adjustable up and down along stationary step guide bars  21  and  22 , and are lockable in selected positions, such as by pins (not shown), for users of different heights. Alternatively, stationary steps  19  and  20  may be fixed in height. 
   Hand rails  23  and  24  are positioned on either side of movable step  10  adjacent the top end of its movement range, preferably by being attached to the top of support structure  12 . A generally horizontal shoulder pad  25  is positioned above movable step  10 , preferably by being attached to vertical portion  13  of support structure  12 . Shoulder pad  25  is attached to a bracket  26  which is movable along a shoulder pad guide bar  27  attached to vertical portion  13 , and is lockable in position by a pin  28  positioned through bracket  26  and shoulder pad guide bar  27 . In this example, a single shoulder pad  25  is shown along the median plane of the leg press, but two parallel shoulder pads offset from the median plane may also be provided. 
     FIGS. 2–5 : 
   The leg press is used for exercising the legs one at a time with a selected amount of resistance suitable for the user. A method for exercising the right leg is shown in  FIGS. 2–4 . 
   In  FIG. 2 , the user is standing on left stationary step  19  with the left or stationary leg straight, and the right or active leg on movable step  10  in a raised and bent starting position. Stationary steps  19  and  20  are adjusted in height so that when movable step  10  is at the top position, the upper part of the active leg is generally horizontal, and the lower part of the active leg is generally vertical. Movable step  10  may be adjusted in height by being connected to different links on a chain  29  which is connected to cable  17 . The hands are gripped around handrails  23  and  24  for stability. Shoulder pad  25  is adjusted in height to engage the shoulder on the same side as the active leg to prevent the user&#39;s body from lifting. 
   In  FIGS. 3–4 , the active leg is extended downward to depress movable step  10  against the resistance provided by resistance mechanism  14  until the active leg is straight and aligned with the upper body. The bottom position of movable step  10  is generally aligned with stationary steps  19  and  20 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . The active leg is retracted upward against the resistance to return movable step  10  to its top position. Each cycle of extension and retraction is a repetition. Moving the active leg from a bent position to a straight position aligned with the upper body most closely approximates natural motions such as running, jumping, or climbing uphill. The standing position also exercises the lower back and gluteal muscles more completely. Additional repetitions are performed until the active leg is tired, and the legs are switched to exercise the previously stationary leg. Anyone with a dominant or stronger leg can exercise the weaker leg appropriately to achieve symmetry. 
   In  FIG. 5 , the right leg is positioned on right stationary step  20  and becomes the stationary leg. The left leg is positioned on movable step  10  and becomes the active leg. Since the stationary leg is resting while the active leg is exercising, the active leg is more capable of reaching the anaerobic threshold while the user remains under the cardiovascular threshold. 
   An exemplar training method is comprised of performing 10–15 repetitions with one leg until anaerobic failure with the maximum possible resistance for the user&#39;s capacity, then switch legs until anaerobic failure. The user may perform 2 or 3 sets or cycles. Another possible training method is to select a resistance about 20% below the user&#39;s maximum capacity, perform 20–30 repetitions with each leg and intermingle several upper body exercises, repeat the leg training, then again return to the upper body exercises. Alternating between lower and upper body exercises allows alternate parts of the body to rest while the other part is being exercised, so that greater resistance can be used. Another possible training method is to select a resistance about 20% below the user&#39;s capacity, and alternately perform 20–30 repetitions with each leg for an extended period. 
   Although the foregoing description is specific, it should not be considered as a limitation on the scope of the invention, but only as an example of the preferred embodiment. Many variations are possible within the teachings of the invention. For example, different attachment methods, fasteners, materials, dimensions, etc. can be used unless specifically indicated otherwise. The relative positions of the elements can vary, and the shapes of the elements can vary. Therefore, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, not by the examples given.