Patent Publication Number: US-6659923-B2

Title: Exercise bench with linearly adjustable carriage and convenient back and seat adjustments

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to exercise benches of the type used during exercises such as lifting handheld or rack mounted weights. More particularly, the invention is directed to an exercise bench in which the seat and back are conveniently adjustable angularly and are mounted on a carriage that is linearly adjustable along a stationary support base. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Exercise benches for weight training and other exercises have been constructed in a manner allowing linear adjustment of the bench so that different types of exercises are accommodated. However, two different frames have been used in the construction of these benches in order to allow the location of the bench to be adjusted linearly. Typically, this type of two-part frame construction has made use of two telescoping frames which has led to a variety of drawbacks and complications. Separate frames that interfit telescopically creates a structure that is inherently somewhat weak. The frames can accidentally slip relative to one another rotatively and otherwise which can cause the locking mechanism to disengage. The frame structure can then collapse and possibly result in personal injury. Linear adjustment of the bench requires at least one of the frame sections to move along the underlying surface. If the surface is rough or uneven, as in the case of sand, shag carpets, gravel and grass surfaces, adjustment of the frames is difficult at best and often impossible. Units that have two frame sections are also unstable on rough or uneven surfaces. A two frame construction is unduly heavy because both of the frame sections must be heavy duty structures. High costs are also associated with this relatively complicated two-part construction. 
     The backs and seats of existing exercise benches are commonly adjustable in order to provide various inclined positions. However, the adjustments are difficult to carry out and require the user to vacate the seat and stand to one side in order to reach the adjustment mechanism and make the necessary adjustment. This inconvenience detracts significantly from the appeal of the equipment and from its ease of use. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to an exercise bench that is improved in a number of respects compared to what has been available in the past. In particular, the invention is characterized by a bench that is mounted on a carriage having a rolling connection with a sturdy base frame. By virtue of this construction, the bench can be adjusted linearly without the need to roll or otherwise move any parts along the underlying support surface. This allows the equipment to readily accommodate surfaces such as carpets, rugs, grass, sand, gravel and other rough or uneven surfaces. 
     Another important feature of the invention is that it allows the user to make all desired adjustments while remaining seated on the seat portion of the bench. The linear adjustment for the bench and the angular adjustments for the seat and back can be easily reached from a sitting position on the seat, so the bench can be adjusted more conveniently than in the case of the prior art equipment that requires the user to stand and reach the adjustments from one side of the device. 
     The invention is further characterized by a unique construction that enables the seat to be latched in a selected angular position such as 90° relative to the back and to maintain that relative angular position as the back is adjusted to different inclined orientations. The seat can also be selectively released so that both it and the back can be adjusted to a prone orientation allowing the user to assume a flat horizontal position on the bench when the need arises. 
     It is also a significant feature of the invention that the seat and back pivot on a common axis to avoid creating an unduly wide gap between them when they are in their prone positions. 
     Among the other features and characterizing aspects of the invention are its heavy duty yet simple construction, its light weight, its low cost, the ease of making the various adjustments that are provided, its ability to be easily transported between different exercise stations and other locations, and its ability to function reliably even after prolonged use and heavy exercise applications. 
     Other and further objects of the invention, together with the features of novelty appurtenant thereto, will appear in the course of the following description. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the accompanying drawings which form a part of the specification and are to be read in conjunction therewith and in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in the various views: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exercise bench constructed according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, with the seat and back adjusted to accommodate a user lying in a prone position on the bench; 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the exercise bench shown in FIG. 1, but with the seat and back adjusted to accommodate a user sitting in an inclined position, with the arrows and broken line position of the seat indicating the directions and manners in which the components of the bench can be adjusted both linearly and angularly; 
     FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale taken generally along line  3 — 3  of FIG. 1 in the direction of the arrows; 
     FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale taken generally along line  4 — 4  of FIG. 3 in the direction of the arrows, with the broken lines indicating the release position of a lever used for the linear adjustment feature of the invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the carriage which is mounted on the base for adjustable movement and on which the bench components are mounted; and 
     FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along line  6 — 6  of FIG. 4 in the direction of the arrows, with the broken lines indicating the release position of a lever used to make angular adjustments of the back portion of the bench. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings in more detail and initially to FIGS. 1 and 2 in particular, numeral  10  generally designates an exercise bench which is constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention and which may be used to perform various exercises, particularly weight training exercises such as the lifting of conventional handheld and rack mounted weights (not shown). The exercise bench  10  includes a rigid base  11  having a main horizontal beam  12  extending from the front of the unit to the back of the unit. At its back end, the beam  10  connects with a structural cross member which provides a pair of arms  13  extending on opposite sides of the beam  10 . The front end portion of the beam  10  is provided with a padded foot  14  and with a pair of wheels  16  which are rotatably mounted to the beam. The wheels allow the bench  10  to be easily moved between different exercise stations by lifting of the back end of the base and rolling the unit along the underlying support surface  18  (FIG. 2) using the wheels  16 . The outer ends of the arms  13  are provided with end plates  20  and with padded feet  22 . The feet  14  and  22  accommodate stable contact of the base  11  with the support surface  18 . 
     The support surface  18  may take a variety of forms, including smooth surfaces such as finished flooring for a poured concrete surface. The surface  18  may also be a rough or uneven surface such as gravel, sand, shag carpet, grass or bumpy or uneven dirt. The center beam  12  and the cross beam which forms the arms  13  of the base may be constructed of rectangular metal tubing or any other material having the necessary strength. The base  11  is in a stationary position on the surface  18  (except when it is being moved between different locations normally using the wheels  16 ), so the bench  10  of the present invention can be used on rough or uneven surfaces as well as on smooth and flat surfaces. 
     A spotter station is provided at the rear of the base  11 . A pair of inclined posts  24  extend upwardly from the arms  13  and carry horizontal spotter platforms  26  at their upper ends. The connections between the posts  24  and the arms  13  are reinforced by gusset plates  28 . Reinforcing members  30  reinforce and strengthen the connections between the upper ends of the posts  24  and the platforms  26 . Each platform  26  is provided with a generally L-shaped handle  31  which is useful in lifting of the back end of the base  11  in order to roll the unit along the surface  18  to a different exercise station or another location. 
     The base  11  further includes a rail structure which is provided by a pair of upper rails  32  and a pair of lower rails  34  that immediately underlie the upper rails  32 . The rails  32  and  34  are located in pairs on opposite sides of the central beam  12  and extend from the front of the base  11  to the back of the base. The rails  32  and  34  are welded or otherwise suitably secured to the opposite sides of the beam  12 . A front end plate  36  is secured to the front ends of the rails  32  and  34 . Another end plate  38  is suitably secured to the back end of the beam  12  and the rails  32  and  34  at the back end portion of the base  11 . The rails  32  and  34  are preferably tubular metal members although other shapes and constructions are possible. 
     The beam  12  has an upper surface  39  which is horizontal and is located between the rails  32  and  34  on the opposite sides of the base  11 . The upper surface  39  of the beam is provided with a plurality of spaced apart openings  40  (FIGS. 1 and 4) which extend along the length of the beam  12  from front to back. The openings  40  may be provided in any desired number and may be spaced part from one another equidistantly or in any other desired arrangement. 
     A carriage which is generally identified by numeral  42  is mounted on the base  11  for linear movement along its length dimension. The carriage  42  has a main body  44  which takes the form of an inverted U that includes a pair of parallel opposite side plates  46  connected by a horizontal top plate  48 . Each of the side plates  46  is provided with a pair of upper rollers, including a front roller  50  and a back roller  52 . The rollers  50  are located near the front edge portion of the body  44  adjacent to the inside surfaces of the side plates  46 . The back rollers  52  are similarly mounted on the inside surfaces of the plates  46  adjacent to the back end of the body  44 . The rollers  50  and  52  are mounted for rotation on the carriage  42  about horizontal axes. As best shown in FIG. 6, the rollers  50  and  52  have cup shaped peripheries  54  curved to mate with the curvature of the top rails  32 . The rollers  50  and  52  are located and arranged so that they are applicable to the top surfaces of the upper rails  32  in order to accommodate rolling movement of the carriage  42  along the rails. 
     The carriage  42  is equipped with a pair of lower rollers  56  (FIGS. 2 and 4) which are mounted on the inside surfaces of the side plates  46  of body  44 . The lower rollers  56  are located near the bottom edges of plates  46  midway along their lengths and have cup shaped peripheries similar to the cup shaped peripheries  54  of rollers  50 . The rollers  56  are mounted to rotate about a common horizontal axis and are located and arranged to roll against the lower sides of the bottom rails  34 . The rolling contact of the rollers  50 ,  52  and  56  against the rails  32  and  34  provides for easy adjustment of the carriage  42  along the length of the base  11 . At the same time, the engagement of the rollers against the top and bottom sides of the rails provides stability, which is enhanced by the close fit of the cup shaped peripheries of the wheels against the curved surfaces of the rails  32  and  34 . 
     The carriage  42  has a pair of upstanding ears  58  which project upwardly from the top plate  48  adjacent to the two side plates  46  near the center of the carriage body  44 . A horizontal sleeve  60  is secured to extend between the upper end portions of the ears  58 . As best shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, a horizontal sleeve  62  extends between the ears  58  near their lower ends and is able to turn on a horizontal axis provided by a pin  64  (FIG. 4) which extends between the ears  58 . A lever  66  is secured at one end to the sleeve  62  and is provided at its forward end with a handle  68 . A vertical pin  70  extends downwardly from a central portion of the lever  66  through a sleeve  72 . A spring diagrammatically indicated at  74  acts against the pin  72  to continuously urge the lever  66  and pin  70  downwardly toward the solid line position of FIG.  4 . In this position, the tip of the pin  70  extends through an aligned one of the openings  40 , thereby releaseably locking the carriage  42  to the base  11  in a stationary position of the carriage. The pin  70  can be withdrawn from the opening  40  by pulling upwardly on the handle  68  to move the lever  66  to the broken line position shown in FIG.  4 . This pulls the pin  70  upwardly and out of the opening  40 . 
     The carriage  42  includes an inverted U-shaped bracket  76  which is mounted on the top plate  48  behind and adjacent to the ears  58 . As best shown in FIG. 4, a vertical pin  78  is secured to the top of the bracket  76  at the upper end of the pin. A sleeve  80  is mounted on the pin  78  to rotate about its vertical axis. A lever  82  is connected at one end to the sleeve and extends out of the bracket  76  at its rearward end which is provided with a handle  84  (see FIGS. 5 and 6 in particular). A horizontal pin  86  connects at one end with the center area of the lever  82  and extends through a sleeve  88  located on one of the side plates of bracket  76 . A spring shown diagrammatically at  90  in FIG. 6 acts against the pin  86  in a manner to continuously urge the lever  82  and pin  86  toward the position shown in solid lines in FIG.  6 . In this position, the tip of the pin  86  projects outwardly beyond the end of the sleeve  88  to perform a latching function that will be described more fully. 
     The pin  86  can be withdrawn by pulling the handle  84  in a direction to mover lever  82  to the broken line position shown in FIG.  6 . This retracts the pin  86  from its fully extended position and effects unlatching of the pin. 
     The bench portion of the exercise bench  10  includes a padded back  92  which is secured to a rigid back frame  94 . The back  92  has a flat surface to receive the back of a user of the bench. Forming part of the frame  94  are a pair of rigid plates  96  having arcuate edges. The plates  96  are located adjacent to the opposite sides  46  of the carriage body  44  and are rigidly connected with the structural members of the back frame  94 . As best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a horizontal shaft  98  extends through the sleeve  60 . The plates  96  are mounted to rotate on the horizontal axis provided by the shaft  98 , thereby mounting the back  92  and its frame  94  for pivotal movement about the axis of the shaft  98 . 
     The arcuate peripheral area of at least one of the plates  96  is provided with a plurality of spaced part openings  100  which are all located at the same distance from the pivot axis provided by shaft  98 . The openings  100  are located such that the tip of the pin  86  enters an opening  100  that is aligned with the pin  86  when the pin is in its extended position. The entry of the pin  86  into the openings  100  provides a releaseable latch that can be used to latch the back  92  in a variety of different angular positions about the axis of the shaft  98 , thereby allowing adjustment of the inclination of the back  92 . 
     The bench  10  further includes a padded seat  102  which is secured to a rigid seat frame  104 . The seat  102  has a flat surface to accommodate a user sitting on it with his or her back engaged with the flat surface of the back  92 . The seat frame  104  includes a pair of rigid plates  106  which are secured to the structural members of the frame  104  and are located adjacent to and outwardly of the side plates  96  of the back frame  94 . The plates  106  are mounted on the shaft  98  in a manner allowing the seat  102  and its seat frame  104  to pivot about the horizontal axis of the shaft  98 . One of the plates  106  is provided with a sleeve  108  projecting from its outside surface. A horizontal pin  110  having a tee handle  112  on its outer end extends through the sleeve  108  and the side plate  106 . A spring which is diagrammatically indicated at  114  in FIG. 3 acts against the pin  110  in a manner continuously urging the pin inwardly toward the position shown in FIG.  3 . In this position, the tip of the pin  110  extends through one of a plurality of openings  116  formed through the adjacent side plate  96  of the back frame  94 . The fit of the pin  110  in the opening  116  that is aligned with the pin serves as a releaseable fastening arrangement or latch that locks the seat  102  in a selected angular position relative to the back  92 . 
     The openings  116  are arranged in an arcuate pattern centered on the axis of shaft  98  so that the pin  110  comes into alignment with the openings  116  as the seat  102  is pivoted relative to the back  92 . The openings  116  may be arranged in any desired spacial pattern. However, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, one of the openings  116  is located such that the seat  102  can be fastened or locked in a position wherein it forms a right angle with the back  92 , as shown in FIG.  2 . Also, another of the openings  116  is preferably located such that the pin  110  enters it when the back  92  is in the prone position shown in FIG.  1  and the seat  102  is likewise in the prone position of FIG.  1 . Then, the surfaces of the seat  102  and back  92  are co-planar and provide a substantially continuous horizontal position on which a user can lie in a prone position. 
     The pin  110  can be withdrawn from opening  116  by pulling outwardly on the handle  112 , thereby releasing the frame  104  of seat  102  and allowing the seat to be pivoted relative to the back  92 . 
     In use, the carriage  42  can be positioned as desired along the length dimension of the base  11 , with the fit of pin  70  in the aligned opening  40  serving to lock the carriage  44  in place. The back  92  and seat  102  can be adjusted to the desired angular positions. The back  92  is latched in place at the desired inclined position by the fit of pin  86  in the aligned opening  100 . The seat  92  is latched or fastened in place at the desired or angular orientation relative to the back  92  by the fit of pin  100  in the aligned opening  116 . 
     By way of example, the back  92  and seat  102  can be locked in the positions shown in solid lines in FIG. 2 wherein they form a right angle, with the back  92  at an inclination from vertical. If the user thereafter desires to change the inclination of the back  92 , for example to a vertical orientation, he can operate the lever  82  in order to withdraw pin  86  from opening  100  so that the back  92  can be pivoted upwardly to a fully upright position. Because the seat  102  remains locked to the back  92  due to the fit of pin  110  in opening  116 , the seat  102  pivots with the back  92  and the right angle orientation between the seat and back is maintained as the back is pivoted. The back  92  can be pivoted downwardly in a similar fashion, and the seat  102  pivots with the back to maintain its 90° orientation relative to the back. 
     However, if it is desired to pivot the seat  102  to a different angular orientation relative to the back  92 , this can be accomplished by retracting the pin  110  from opening  116  and then pivoting the seat  102  as desired before releasing the pin  110  to enter whichever of the openings  116  is then in alignment with it. For example, the seat  102  can be pivoted independently of the back  92  to the broken line position of the seat shown in FIG.  2 . Then, the seat is in a horizontal orientation while the back remains in an inclined orientation. 
     The exercise bench  10  readily accommodates a prone position of both the seat  102  and back  92 . The back can be released by operating the lever  82  to the broken line position shown in FIG.  6  and then pivoting the back  92  downwardly until it is in the prone position shown in FIG.  1 . The seat can be pivoted downwardly to the prone position shown in FIG. 1 by withdrawing pin  110  from opening  116  and then pivoting the seat downwardly before releasing the pin so that it then enters the opening  116  aligned with the pin. Both the seat  102  and the back  92  are thereafter latched in the prone positions of FIG. 1 so that the user can exercise while lying in a prone position on the seat and back. 
     The position of the bench along the length of the base  11  can be adjusted at any time by operating the lever  66  to the broken line position shown in FIG.  4 . Then, the pin  70  is withdrawn from the openings  40  and the carriage  42  can be rolled along the rails  32  and  34  to the desired position. When the lever  66  is released, it returns to the solid line position and the pin  70  enters the aligned opening  40  to latch the carriage in place. 
     It is noteworthy that the linear adjustment of the bench is carried out without the need to move any of the components along the underlying support surface  18 . The carriage  42  rolls along the base  11  and does not contact the surface  18  as it is being adjusted. Consequently, if the surface  18  is rough or uneven, no difficultly is encountered in carrying out the linear adjustment, in contrast to equipment having telescoping frames, one of which must be moved along surface  18  in order to linearly adjust the bench position. 
     It is also noteworthy that all of the adjustments that are provided can be easily reached and carried out while the user remains in a sitting position on the seat  102 . The linear adjustment of the carriage  42  is carried out using the handle  68  to manipulate lever  66 , and the handle  68  is conveniently located a short distance below the seat  102 . Similarly, the adjustment of the inclination of the back  92  is carried out by pulling the handle  84  in order to manipulate lever  82 . The handle  84  is located near the back edge of the carriage  42  where it can easily be reached by a user sitting on the seat  102 . The handle  84  may be located on either side of the unit. The handle  112  of pin  110  which is used for angular adjustment of the seat  102  is similarly located close to the seat  102  where it is readily accessible to a user sitting on the seat. 
     If the bench  10  is to be used in exercises which require it to be moved from one exercise station to another, it can be easily moved by lifting on the handles  32  to lift the back end of the frame so that the wheels  16  are the only part of the frame in contact with the surface  18 . If the bench  10  is used in weight training exercise, it can be moved in this fashion between different weight racks and positioned correctly for each rack through proper linear adjustment of the carriage  42 . 
     From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with the other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the structure. 
     It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims. 
     Since many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.