Patent Publication Number: US-2007117690-A1

Title: Exercise arm apparatus for exercise machine

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      This application is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 10/305,842, filed on Nov. 26, 2002, which is a Continuation-In-Part of application Ser. No. 09/767,061 field Jan. 22, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,561,960. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      This invention relates generally to an exercise arm apparatus for an exercise machine in which a handle is linked to the end of a weight or resistance bearing exercise arm for gripping by a user in performing exercises.  
      Exercise equipment using a handle attached to the end of a flexible line such as a rope, belt, strap or cable which is secured to a load or resistance has been known in health clubs for over a hundred years. The Lat Pulldown, Low Row, and High/Low Pulley are examples of this type of equipment. Each machine will allow the user to perform multiple exercises. This can be accomplished in a number of ways, such as a slight variation in the direction of push/pull, thereby involving different muscle groups, by changing body position, by changing the body part used (arms, legs, neck, etc.) or simply by changing the type of handle attachment.  
      One advantage to these machines is that they allow the user to control and define the exercise path. Because the handle is attached to a flexible line, the user determines the direction of movement and can adjust or fine-tune the exercise path to suit their needs. This allows the machines to more readily accommodate users of various sizes and shapes. It also allows the user to guide the handle so that it will traverse through multiple planes. This increases the number of muscles used by involving primary, secondary, and stabilizing muscle groups, and will not only increase muscular strength, but also improve balance and coordination, as is typical with free weight exercises, which are often considered the most beneficial.  
      One machine of this type was known as a High/Low pulley. This machine has a continuous cable and pulley system, connected with a load, which ends with two pulleys, placed at different elevations, providing various exercises. This machine was designed to perform a wide variety of both pushing and pulling exercises and allowed the user to define the exercise path and perform exercises that involved multiple muscle groups at the same time.  
      Some known designs attach handles directly to flexible, resilient bands. These bands act as both the flexible line and the resistance at the same time. This design has several drawbacks. First, the resistance cannot be adjusted unless the entire band is replaced. Second, the more the band is stretched, the harder it becomes to move the handles, which can restrict the user&#39;s ability to direct the handles in the desired path.  
      Other machines of this general type use a handle attached to a flexible line and designed to perform a specific exercise working a specific muscle group. Lat Pulldown and Low Row machines are examples of this type of equipment. The flexible line allows the user to adjust the path of the handle to fit their needs.  
      One drawback of most prior art exercise equipment using flexible lines is the size. They are generally very tall, very long, or both, which can pose problems when low ceilings or limited floor space are an issue. Some machines have therefore been designed to solve the size issue, and these typically have rigid movement arms and rigid handles that can traverse through multiple planes to follow a natural movement pattern, but require less space than flexible line equipment. U.S. Pat. No. 5,582,564 of Nichols, Sr., et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,967,954 of Habing are examples of this type of machine. Some machines with rigid movement exercise arms and fixed handles offer bi-directional movement, such as U.S. Pat. No. 6,090,020 of Webber and U.S. Pat. No. 5,549,530 of Fulks. These machines lack the versatility of flexible line machines, as they are used exclusively for upper body exercises, but they provide a greater level of stability and safety than their flexible line counterparts. Machines with rigid movement arms and handles can provide two, three, or even four-dimensional movement, but are usually exercise or muscle group specific. They either perform one type of exercise only, such as a chest press, or they perform multiple exercises, such as chest press and pectoral fly, that involve the same muscle group. A variation on this type of movement arm, usually found on multi-function home gyms, can perform a variety of exercises involving different muscle groups but is movement specific, meaning that the exercises will be all pressing or all pulling, dependent on the machine design.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved exercise arm apparatus for a weight lifting exercise machine.  
      According to one aspect of the present invention, an exercise apparatus is provided which comprises a support frame, an exercise arm assembly pivotally linked to the support frame for swinging movement in at least one fixed arc about a first pivot axis, the exercise arm assembly comprising at least one exercise arm and a handle assembly of flexible material secured to the exercise arm. The handle assembly has a hand grip portion for gripping by a user, and a flexible elongate portion extending from the hand gripping portion to the exercise arm, the flexible elongate portion comprising a flexible line which is adjustably secured to the exercise arm to vary the extension of the line from the exercise arm.  
      The exercise arm assembly may comprise a single exercise arm with a single handle or with two strap handles, or alternatively a pair of rigid exercise arms may be provided, each having a flexible handle assembly secured to it. The flexible handle assemblies may be releasably secured to the respective exercise arms, and different handles having flexible elongate portions of different lengths may be provided for selective attachment to the arms for performing different exercises. Alternatively, each handle may have a flexible elongate portion which is adjustable in length. The flexible elongate portion may be of any suitable flexible line or strap material such as rope, flexible fabric material of the type generally used in handle straps and the like, leather or plastic belt material, or similar flexible materials.  
      In addition to the flexible strap handle assemblies, each exercise arm may also have a rigid, pivotally attached handle for performing selected exercises. The fixed handles may be attached on an outer side of each arm, and may be used to perform pushing exercises. Additionally, an inner handle may be rigidly attached on an inner side of each arm for use in performing lat pull and mid row exercises, while the flexible handles are used for performing selected pulling exercises, such as biceps curl, upright row, and rear deltoid fly.  
      This invention combines a traditional fixed arc exercise arm with flexible handle assemblies to provide unrestricted four dimensional movement. Forward and rearward movement is provided by the rigid exercise arm, while inward/outward, upward/downward, and rotational movement is provided by the flexible handles. This provides the benefits of flexible line machines with the advantage of a moveable or fixed arc exercise arm, and requires less floor space than a flexible line machine. This apparatus is easier and less expensive to manufacture than traditional fixed arc exercise arms with rigid handles, and is more comfortable and easier to use. The flexible handles can readily adapt to the user&#39;s hand and wrist positioning, providing unlimited pronation and supination, as well as flexion/extension and rotation. The provision of adjustable length flexible handles, or replaceable flexible handles of different lengths, will permit a large range of different exercises to be performed with the same basic exercise arms, reducing expense and complexity. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The present invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of some exemplary embodiments of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like parts and in which:  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exercise machine with an exercise arm apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the exercise arm apparatus of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of the machine of  FIG. 1  with a seated user performing a mid-row exercise, with a first flexible handle assembly attached to the exercise arms;  
       FIG. 4  is a side elevational view similar to  FIG. 4  but illustrating a user performing a biceps curl exercise using a second, longer flexible handle assembly;  
       FIG. 5  is a side elevational view similar to  FIGS. 3 and 4  but illustrating a user performing a chest press exercise using a third flexible handle assembly which is longer than the first two;  
       FIG. 6  is a top plan view illustrating the machine with the handle assembly of  FIG. 5  and a user performing a crossover type of exercise;  
       FIG. 7   a  is a side elevation view similar to  FIG. 5  but omitting the exerciser and showing the difference in handle height for performing the exercise illustrated in  FIG. 6  with the handles oriented vertically;  
       FIG. 7   b  is a view similar to  FIG. 7   a  but with the handles oriented horizontally;  
       FIG. 8  is a side elevational view of a modified handle strap assembly for use in place of the different length handle assemblies of FIGS.  1  to  6 ;  
       FIG. 9  is a side elevational view of another alternative adjustable handle strap assembly for use in place of the different length handle assemblies of FIGS.  1  to  6 ;  
       FIG. 10  is a side elevational view of a different exercise machine using a modified exercise arm assembly with the handle assemblies of FIGS.  1  to  7 ;  
       FIG. 11  is a side elevational view of another different exercise machine with a modified exercise arm assembly;  
       FIG. 12  is a side elevational view similar to  FIG. 11  illustrating a user performing a different exercise using the exercise arm assembly;  
       FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a different exercise machine using a modified exercise arm assembly;  
       FIG. 14  is a side elevational view of an exercise arm assembly according to another embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 15  is a perspective view of the assembly of  FIG. 14 ;  
       FIG. 16  is a side elevational view of an exercise machine similar to  FIG. 1  having an exercise arm assembly according to another embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 17  is a side elevational view similar to  FIG. 16  illustrating a modification of the exercise arm assembly of  FIG. 16 ;  
       FIG. 18  is a view similar to  FIG. 17  illustrating the handle in an extended position;  
       FIG. 19  is a side elevational view similar to FIGS.  16  to  18  but illustrating a modified exercise arm assembly;  
       FIG. 20  is a view similar to  FIG. 19  but illustrating the handle in an extended position;  
       FIG. 21  is a side elevational view similar to FIGS.  16  to  20  but illustrating another modified exercise arm and handle assembly;  
       FIG. 22  is a view similar to  FIG. 21  illustrating a modified, dual handle assembly;  
       FIG. 23  is a side elevational view similar to  FIG. 22  but illustrating an alternative dual handle assembly;  
       FIG. 24  is a side elevational view similar to FIGS.  16  to  23  illustrating a modified, two part adjustable exercise arm;  
       FIG. 25  is a side elevational view of the machine in  FIG. 24  illustrating an adjusted exercise arm and handle position;  
       FIG. 26  is a perspective view of an exercise arm apparatus according to another embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 27  is a side elevational view illustrating another modified exercise arm assembly;  
       FIG. 28  is a side elevational view illustrating another modified exercise machine; and  
       FIG. 29  is a side elevational view of another modified exercise apparatus with independent exercise arms. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      FIGS.  1  to  3  of the drawings illustrate an exercise machine  10  having an exercise arm apparatus  12  according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The machine  10  basically comprises a support frame  14  on which a seat  16  is mounted, with a leg exercise station  18  mounted in front of the seat and the exercise arm apparatus  12  mounted behind the seat. The frame  14  has a rear, upright strut  20  on which a weight carriage or transport  22  is slidably mounted. A selected number of weight plates are mounted on the weight transport. It will be understood that other types of exercise resistance may alternatively be used, such as resilient bands, springs, or the like. The weight transport is linked to both the leg exercise station  18  and the exercise arm apparatus  12  by a cable  24  extending around a pulley  25  which forms part of the exercise arm apparatus  12 , as discussed in more detail below.  
      The exercise arm apparatus  12  is illustrated in detail in  FIG. 2 , and basically comprises a pair of pivot plates  26  to which a pair of rigid exercise arms  28  are secured, with each exercise arm having a first end  29  secured to an end of a respective one of the plates and a second, free end  30 . The exercise arms  28  are angled slightly outwardly from opposite sides of the frame, as indicated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The plates  26  are secured together by a connecting rod  32  at their first ends to which the arms  28  are secured, and the pulley  25  is rotatably secured between the opposite ends of plates  26  on pivot pin  34 , as best illustrated in  FIG. 2 . The plates are pivotally mounted on the frame via axle  36  which extends through a tube  38  secured to the frame by a stand-off member (not visible in the drawings) to allow the arms  28  to be pivoted backwards and forwards about the axis of axle  36 .  
      A pair of flexible handle assemblies  40  are secured to the respective upper free ends  30  of the two arms  28 . Each handle assembly is of any suitable flexible material, such as fabric, leather, or plastic belt strap material, rope, chain or the like. Each handle assembly  40  has a triangular hand grip portion  42  having a pair of outwardly diverging arms and a cylindrical hand grip  44  secured between the ends of the diverging arms, and a flexible portion  41  securing portion  42  to the respective exercise arm. Although the hand grip portion  42  is triangular in the illustrated embodiment, it will be understood that other shapes may be used in alternative embodiments such as rectangular, square, u-shaped or other open or closed shapes. The hand grip may be of foam rubber or other resilient material for comfortable gripping by a user. A metal clip member or connecting ring  45  is secured to the end of the portion  41 . A ring or eyelet  46  is provided on each arm  28  adjacent end  30 , and the respective clip members  45  are releasably secured to the eyelets  46 . Preferably, two or more different handles  40 ′ and  40 ″ of different lengths are provided for selective attachment to eyelets  46 , depending on the type of exercise to be performed. The handle  40 ′ has a connecting first portion  41 ′ of greater length than portion  41  of handle  40 , while handle  40 ″ has an even longer connecting portion  41 ″. Handles  40 ′ and  40 ″ are otherwise identical to the short handle  40 , and like reference numerals have been used for like parts as appropriate.  
       FIG. 3  illustrates a user  50  seated on seat  16  in a rearward facing position, and using the short flexible handles  40  attached to exercise arms  28  in order to perform a mid-row exercise. The user can readily rotate the hand grips  44  into a comfortable, horizontal orientation in order to perform this exercise, without needing any mechanical pivots, swivels, or universal joints in order to achieve this orientation. The shorter handles  40  will be used for performing pulling exercises such as the mid-row exercise of  FIG. 3  and lat pull exercises which tend to travel in a straighter exercise path.  
      Other pulling exercises will require a longer handle, and can be performed using the mid-length handle  40 ′. Exercises which require travel in arcing or multi-planar paths, such as upright-row, rear-deltoid fly, and biceps curl, can be performed by replacing the short handle  40  with the mid-length handle  40 ′, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 4  illustrates a user gripping the hand grips  44  of handles  40 ′ in order to perform a biceps curl exercise. The user orients the grips  44  horizontally and then grips each handle from beneath, as illustrated, raising the forearms up and down in order to perform the biceps curl.  
      The longer strap handles  40 ″ will be used to perform pushing exercises such as chest, shoulder and triceps presses or pectoral fly exercises.  FIG. 5  illustrates a user using handles  40 ″ in order to perform a chest press exercise, in which hand grips  44  are oriented horizontally and gripped from above, the user holds their hands at shoulder height, and pushes forwards against the resistance of weights  22 .  
       FIG. 6  illustrates user  50  using the longest handles  40 ″ to perform a crossover type of exercise such as a pectoral fly exercise. In this case, the user orients hand grips  44  vertically, then moves their hands between the dotted outline position and the solid line position in the direction of the arrows, crossing over their hands in front of their body. The soft, flexible material of the strap handles allows the straps  41 ″ to bend around the outside of the user&#39;s arms, allowing them to complete the exercise without causing injury. A machine with rigid handles with a universal joint attachment to rigid exercise arms, such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,004,247, does not permit the user to completely cross over their arms in performing such an exercise. Additionally, the rigid handles will intrude on the user&#39;s elbows and forearms. The handle assembly of this invention avoids such problems.  
       FIGS. 7   a  and  7   b  illustrate the difference in elevation between the user&#39;s hands when performing a cross-over exercise with the long, flexible handles  40 ″ on the machine as illustrated in  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 7   a  illustrates a first alternative where the user holds the hand grips  44  vertically, with the palms of their hands facing one another. This requires a difference in height h 1  of approximately 5.87 inches between the hands in order to provide the necessary clearance, in contrast with a height difference of over eight inches which would be required if the same exercise movement were attempted on a machine with rigid handle arms.  FIG. 7   b  illustrates the same exercise performed with the flexible handles  40 ″ with the hand grips  44  held horizontally, with the user&#39;s hands rotated such that the palms face downwards. This requires a hand height difference h 2  of only around 1.9 inches in order to provide the necessary crossover clearance. Thus, the use of the long flexible strap handles  40 ″ allows the user to decrease the elevation difference between their hands when performing crossover exercises, and also allows this exercise to be performed with the hands oriented vertically or horizontally as in  FIGS. 7   a  and  7   b . This provides a slight variation in the exercise and the muscles used in performing the exercise.  
      In the embodiment of FIGS.  1  to  7 , three different length strap handles  40 ,  40 ′ and  40 ″ were selectively connectable to the exercise arms  28  to perform different types of exercises, each handle having a connecting strap portion  41 ,  41 ′ and  41 ″ of different length.  FIG. 8  illustrates an alternative flexible strap handle  52  which has a straight strap portion  54  with three spaced connection rings  55 ,  56 ,  57  for selective connection to eyelet  46  via clip  45  to accommodate the same three different types of exercises. The handle  52  is otherwise identical to that of FIGS.  1  to  7 , and like reference numerals have been used as appropriate.  
       FIG. 9  illustrates another alternative to the three separate strap handles  40 ,  40 ′ and  40 ″. The flexible strap handle  58  of  FIG. 9  has a straight strap portion  60  which has a sliding buckle  62  to provide a much wider range of length adjustment than the alternatives of FIGS.  1  to  7  and  8 . The sliding buckle adjustment is similar to that found on adjustable purse and luggage shoulder straps. Handle  58  has a ring  64  at the end of adjustable portion  60  for attachment to clip  45 . The handle  58  is otherwise identical to that of the previous embodiments, and like reference numerals have been used as appropriate.  
       FIGS. 11 and 12  illustrate another different exercise machine  80  in which the mid-length strap handles  40 ′ are secured to the ends of bi-directional exercise arms  82  which are pivotally mounted at an intermediate location on an upright frame member  83 . The bi-directional exercise arms  82  are as described in my U.S. Pat. No. 6,090,020 issued Jul. 18, 2000, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. However, the rigid handles on those arms are replaced with flexible strap handles  40 ′, and handles  40 ′ may be replaced with any of the flexible handles  40 ,  40 ″,  52 , or  58  if desired. In this embodiment, a ROM device comprising a plate  200  is rotatably mounted on the strut or frame member  83  via pivot  204 . Plate  200  has a series of spaced openings extending in an arc around the periphery of the plate. Exercise arms  82  are also pivotally mounted at one end on the pivot  204 , and may be secured at any desired orientation relative to the pivot plate by means of a dowel or push pin.  FIG. 11  illustrates the exercise arm secured at an upwardly inclined orientation for performing pull down exercises, and  FIG. 12  illustrates the exercise arm secured at a downwardly inclined orientation for performing push up or chest press exercises.  FIG. 11  illustrates a seated user  50  gripping the hand grips  44  of handles  40 ′ in order to perform a lat pull or pull down exercise, while  FIG. 12  illustrates the user performing a chest press exercise.  
       FIGS. 11 and 12  illustrate another different exercise machine  80  in which the mid-length strap handles  40 ′ secured to the ends of bi-directional exercise arms  82  which are pivotally mounted at an intermediate location on an upright frame member  83 . The bi-directional exercise arms  82  are as described in my U.S. Pat. No. 6,090,020 issued Jul. 18, 2000, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. However, the rigid handles on those arms are replaced with flexible strap handles  40 ′, and handles  40 ′ may be replaced with any of the flexible handles  40 ,  40 ″,  52  or  58  if desired.  FIG. 11  illustrates a seated user  50  gripping the hand grips  44  of handles  40 ′ in order to perform a lat pull exercise, while  FIG. 12  illustrates the user performing a chest press exercise.  
       FIG. 13  illustrates an exercise machine  84  having a frame  85  on which a yoke-type exercise arm  86  is pivotally mounted and suitably secured to an exercise resistance. The short flexible handles  40  are secured to the opposite ends of the yoke-type exercise arm  86 , which has a four bar linkage design. Again, handles  40  may be replaced with either of the longer handles  40 ′ or  40 ″, or with the adjustable length handle  52  or  58  to allow a large number of different exercises to be performed.  
      The flexible strap handles as described above can therefore be used on any fixed arc exercise arms in place of an existing rigid handle to allow a wider variety of exercises to be performed. When secured to any exercise arm, the handles will allow the user to perform both pushing and pulling exercises and to readily control the arc, angle and elevation of the handle path for multi-planar, converging or diverging handle travel. The flexible strap handles are easily adaptable to the user&#39;s hand/wrist positioning, providing unlimited pronation/supination, as well as flexion/extension and rotation adjustment, which is not possible with a rigid handle.  
       FIGS. 14 and 15  illustrate a modification to the embodiment of FIGS.  1  to  7 , and like reference numerals have been used for like parts as appropriate. In this modification, the short flexible handles  40  are shown attached adjacent the ends  30  of exercise arms  28 . However, in addition to the flexible handles  40 , each arm  28  also has a rigid, elongate handle arm  88  pivotally attached to the end of the arm via a three-directional pivot joint  89 , and a fixed angle inner handle  90  on an inner face of each arm  28  adjacent the other two handles, as indicated in  FIG. 15 . When not in use, the rigid pivoted handle arms  88  are releasably retained alongside arms  28  by clips or brackets  91 .  
      The fixed angle inner handles  90  may be used to perform lat pull and mid row exercises, while the three-dimensionally pivoted rigid handles  88  may be used for pushing exercises. The flexible handles  40  may be used to perform selected pulling exercises, such as biceps curl, upright row, and rear deltoid fly. The use of adjustable length flexible handles  52  or  58 , or different length handles  40 ′ and  40 ″, will allow the three-dimensionally pivoted rigid handles  88  and the fixed angle inner handles  90  to be eliminated, considerably simplifying the design and making the apparatus less expensive to manufacture.  
      In the embodiments of FIGS.  1  to  15 , a triangular, flexible hand grip  42  was provided at the end of a straight, flexible strap.  FIG. 16  illustrates an exercise machine  92  similar to that of  FIG. 1  but with an alternative handle arrangement in which a triangular flexible hand grip  93  which is the same as the triangular hand grip  42  of FIGS.  1  to  7  is attached to one end of an adjustable, flexible line  94 . The machine  92  is similar to that of  FIG. 1  and like reference numerals have been used for like parts as appropriate. However, the exercise arm  98  has a series of openings  102 .  
      Line  94  extends from hand grip  42  around a guide formed between two guide pulleys  106  at the outer end of the arm, and is secured at its opposite end to a location device or anchor on a slide device  108  which is adjustably mounted on the arm  98 . The slide device  108  is secured to a sleeve  110  which is slidably engaged over arm  98  and on which a pull pin  104  is mounted. Sleeve  110  has an opening  112  for alignment with a selected opening  102 , so that the pull pin  104  secures the slide device  108  in a selected position.  
      In order to adjust the position of the handle  93  relative to the arm  98 , the user releases the pinning device or pull pin  104 , adjusts the sleeve  110  along the tube  98 , and re-pins it at a new position. Because the line  94  is flexible, it provides movement in all directions and will move in a path determined by a user.  FIG. 16  shows the handle in a retracted position for performing a mid-row exercise, while the dotted line position shows the handle in an extended position as used for performing a chest press. Although two guide pulleys  106  are preferred, one of the pulleys may be eliminated if desired, and the guide may alternatively comprise any suitable shaped surface of arm  98 . A bolt or similar cable guard may be used for keeping the flexible line in the groove of the first guide pulley.  
      By securing the flexible strap handle  93  to a flexible line having a free end adjustably mounted on the arm, a greater range of adjustment of the handle position can be provided than is possible with the different length handles of FIGS.  1  to  9 . This arrangement allows a user to perform all the major upper body exercises using only one exercise station, which is not possible in prior art exercise machines. Traditionally, prior art machines require at least three separate exercise stations, typically a pressing arm for performing all the pressing exercises, as well as mid-rows and abdominal crunch exercises, a high pulley for performing lat pulls, and a low pulley for performing biceps curl and upright rows. Since the exercise apparatus of  FIG. 16  can allow all these exercises to be performed at a single exercise station, the apparatus is both cost-efficient and user friendly.  
       FIGS. 17 and 18  illustrate the machine  92  of  FIG. 16  with a modified exercise arm and handle attachment. Parts of the machine of  FIG. 17  are otherwise identical to those of  FIGS. 1 and 16 , and like reference numerals have been used as appropriate. In this version, the exercise arms  98  are each fixed in length and have a series of openings  102 , as in  FIG. 16 . The flexible, triangular strap handle  93  is secured to one end of a flexible line  94  which extends around a first guide between two guide pulleys  116  which are rotatably secured to a slide device  118  which is slidably mounted on the exercise arm  98  and may be secured in any selected position via pinning device or pull pin  120 . The line extends from the pulleys  116  upwardly along the arm, and is secured to a locating device or cable tie off at the upper end  122  of the arm.  
      In the embodiment of  FIG. 16 , the line anchor is adjustable, while in  FIGS. 17 and 18  the guide pulley is adjustable in order to control the extension of hand grip  93 . In  FIGS. 17 and 18 , as the slide device  118  is adjusted upwardly along the arm  98 , the handle is extended forward.  FIG. 17  shows the handle in a retracted position, with the slide device  118  secured towards the lower end of arm  98 , while  FIG. 18  shows the handle  93  in an extended position with the slide device  118  secured towards the top of arm  98  Because the exercise arms  98  are each on a pivot, they act as levers when pulling against the load. This means that the closer the flexible line contact point or guide  116  with the arm is to the pivot axis  36  of the arm, the greater the effort that will be required to rotate the arm about its pivot and move the load. Thus, the retracted position of  FIG. 17  will require more effort to move the arm than the extended position of  FIG. 18 .  
       FIGS. 19 and 20  illustrate another alternative arrangement using the same exercise arm  98  as  FIG. 16 , with a pair of guide pulleys  106  mounted at the upper end of the arm  98 . However, this alternative combines the features of  FIG. 16  and  FIGS. 17 and 18 , since the cable  94  extends between pulleys  106 , and then around an adjustable pulley  124  on a slide device  125 , and back along the exercise arm to an anchor  126  at the upper end of the arm. A pull pin  128  is provided for securing the slide device  125  in a selected position. This arrangement increases the adjustability, since there is a greater length of flexible line  94  to be adjusted. Each adjustment in this version doubles the amount of line adjustment and moves the handle  93  double the distance of an equivalent adjustment in the version of  FIG. 16 .  FIG. 19  illustrates the handle  93  in a retracted position, with the slide device  125  towards the lower end of the exercise arm  98 , while  FIG. 20  illustrates the handle  93  in an extended position, in which slide device  125  is close to the top of the arm  98 . A comparison of  FIGS. 16, 18  and  20  will illustrate that more handle extension is possible in the embodiment of  FIGS. 19 and 20 .  
      The embodiment of  FIG. 21  illustrates a variation of the exercise arm assembly of  FIGS. 19 and 20 , and like reference numerals have been used as appropriate. Unlike the previous embodiments, the exercise arm in this case is formed from two telescopically engaged tubes  130 ,  132 . Unlike the version of  FIGS. 19 and 20 , the additional pulley  124  in this version is secured via brackets  133  to the fixed, lower tube  130 , and adjustment of the handle position is accomplished by varying the extension of tube  132  out of tube  130 .  FIG. 21  illustrates a retracted position of the handle  93 , in which a pull pin or lock pin  134  mounted on the fixed tube  130  extends into a lower adjustment opening  135  of a series of such openings on the upper tube  132 . In order to adjust the handle, the user releases pull pin  134 , and slides the adjustable upper tube  132  to a new position before re-pinning the pin  134  in a new aligned opening  135 . As the adjusting portion or tube  132  is moved downwardly into fixed tube  130 , the flexible line contact point with guide pulleys  106  is lowered, and the handle will be extended. At the same time, the resistance felt at the handles  93  will increase as the tube  132  is lowered downwardly, closer to the pivot axle  36  of the exercise arms. In an alternative arrangement, the positions of the two sliding tubes may be reversed, with the upper tube  132  sliding over the lower fixed tube  98 .  
       FIG. 22  illustrates a variation of the embodiment of  FIGS. 19 and 20 , and like reference numerals have been used as appropriate. In  FIG. 22 , instead of securing an end of the flexible line  94  to a fixed anchor  126 , a second handle  136  is provided which is secured to the opposite end of line  94  to handle  93 , with the line extending around a further guide pulley  138  at the upper end of the exercise arm  98  before connecting to handle  136 . Line  94  is routed around the first pulley  106 , down around the slidable pulley  124 , and back up over the extra pulley  138  mounted at the upper end of arm  98   FIG. 22  illustrates a position in which one of the handles  93  is extended and the upper handle  136  is in a retracted position. When the slide device  125  is adjusted downwardly from the position illustrated in  FIG. 22 , the handle  93  will be moved back inwardly towards the exercise arm. Because this is a continuous loop system, either handle can be used in any of the adjusted positions. This allows the user to pick the handle height which is best for them or for the exercise being performed.  
      If desired, the spacing between the handles may be changed by changing the separation between the pulleys  106  and  138 . However, the greater the pulley and handle spacing, the greater the difference in resistance which will be felt by the user when using the different handles. Thus, it is preferable that the pulleys are not spaced too far apart.  
       FIG. 23  illustrates an alternative exercise arm assembly which also has two handles  93 ,  136  secured to opposite ends of the flexible line  94 . However, this version is a modification of the embodiment of  FIG. 17 , and like reference numerals have been used as appropriate. This version replaces the line attachment at the top  122  of the one-piece exercise arm  98  with an additional set of pulleys  140 . The cable or line  94  extends from handle  93 , between the lower set of pulleys  116 , upwardly along the arm and between the upper set of pulleys  140 , and is then secured to the second handle  136 . When the slide device  118  is adjusted along the arm  98 , the slack in the line  94  is changed and the handle positions are adjusted. As the slide device  118  is positioned closer to the pivot axle  36  of arm  98 , the resistance felt at the lower handle  93  increases. This device not only allows the user to adjust the handle height for a particular exercise, but also allows the resistance to be changed, dependent on which handle is used. If the handle  93  is adjusted upwardly from the position illustrated in  FIG. 23 , closer to handle  136 , by moving slide device  118  upwardly, the difference in resistance between the two handles will be reduced.  
       FIGS. 24 and 25  illustrate another modified exercise arm assembly which has a double adjustment system for the flexible line  94 , combining the sliding device  125  of  FIG. 19  and the two piece telescoping arm construction of  FIG. 21 . Like reference numerals to those used in  FIGS. 19 and 21  have been used for like parts as appropriate. In this embodiment, the exercise arm has a lower, fixed tube  130  and an upper, adjustable tube  132  which engages telescopically in the lower tube and has a series of openings  135 . Releasable pull pin  134  engages through an aligned opening  135  in the upper tube in order to secure the tube at a selected extension. The flexible line  94  extends from handle  93 , between guide pulleys  106  at the upper end of upper tube  132 , downwardly and around the adjustable pulley  124  which is adjustably mounted on lower fixed tube  130  via slide device  125 , and then back upwardly to the upper end of the adjustable tube  132  where it is secured to anchor  144 . In this device, the handle position can be changed by adjusting the slide device  125 , by adjusting the extension of sliding arm  132 , or both. This offers greater choices in handle height placement, handle retraction/extension, and handle resistance. The line attachment at anchor  144  may be replaced with an additional pulley, as in  FIG. 22 , and an extra handle may be attached to the opposite end of the line, offering even greater adjustment possibilities. It will be understood that the telescoping tubes  130 ,  132  may be reversed, with the lower fixed tube telescopically engaging inside the upper, adjustable tube, rather than the other way around as is illustrated in  FIG. 24 .  FIG. 24  illustrates the handle  93  in a retracted position with the upper tube  132  extended, while  FIG. 25  illustrates a retracted position of tube  132 , lowering the height of handle  93 , and extending the handle outwardly. The handle can be extended at the same height as  FIG. 24  simply by raising the slide device  125 , and can be extended further than indicated in  FIG. 25  also by raising slide device  125 .  
      In each of the embodiments of FIGS.  16  to  24 , where the handle or handles are attached to one or both ends of a flexible line, the line  94  may be a belt, cable, rope, chain or the like. Different styles of handles may also be attached to the flexible line. Different pinning devices from the illustrated pull or pop pins may be used, such as a straight pin, tension knob, or the like. Guide pulleys are used for ease of adjustment purposes, but they are not essential, since the flexible line  94  may be bent around almost any guide surface, such as the end of the exercise arm. The relationship between the location of the exercise arm pivot and the resistance or load connection point may also be varied.  
      In all of the embodiments of FIGS.  1  to  25 , the exercise machine uses a cable and pulley linkage to the load which allows the cable to carry on to another exercise station, such as the leg exercise station  18  illustrated in the drawings. However, different resistance linkages and alternative cable and pulley arrangements could be used in other embodiments. For example, the cable may terminate at the exercise arm, or the exercise arm may be linked to the load using a non-cable linkage. Also, different resistance devices or loads may be used in place of the stacked weights  22 , such as selector plates, springs, resilient bands, hydraulic or gas shocks, or the like. Each of the different embodiments of this invention may be used for either a single or multi-function exercise machine, and the flexible handle assembly may be attached to any type of pivoted exercise arm, such as bi-lateral exercise arms with both sides dependent and traveling together, for example as illustrated in FIGS.  1  to  7  and  13 , or uni-lateral exercise arms with each side independent and traveling separately, or bi-directional exercise arms as illustrated in  FIGS. 11 and 12 . These exercise arms, either unidirectional or bi-directional, may be pivoted to a top strut of the frame, an upright strut, or the lower part of the frame.  
      In all of the previous embodiments, the exercise arm assembly comprises a pair of rigid exercise arms with a flexible handle secured to each arm via a flexible connecting portion. However, a single arm with one strap handle may be used, or a single exercise arm may have two flexible strap handles. In the embodiments of  FIGS. 26 and 27 , two flexible handle assemblies are secured to a single exercise arm.  FIG. 26  illustrates an exercise machine  150  having a support frame  152 , a seat  154  on the frame for supporting a user, a vertically mounted weight stack  155 , and a single exercise arm  156  pivotally mounted on the frame via pivot  158  in front of the seat  154  and linked to the weight stack via a cable  160  extending over a series of pulleys  161 ,  162 . It will be understood that different types of exercise resistance may be used in place of the weight stack, such as resilient bands, springs, or weight plates mounted on a sliding transport, as discussed above.  
      A pair of flexible handle assemblies  40  are mounted at the upper end of arm  156 . Handle assemblies  40  are identical to those of the first embodiment, and like reference numerals have been used for like parts as appropriate. It will be understood that the connecting portion  41  of the strap handles may be of different lengths or may be adjustable in length, as in the previous embodiments. The user sits on seat  154  facing the arm  156 , grips a handle  44  in each hand, and pulls the arm towards their body against the exercise resistance in order to perform exercises.  
       FIG. 27  illustrates another modified exercise arm assembly  170 , in which an elongate exercise arm  163  is pivotally mounted on a frame  164  via pivot  165 . Weight plates  166  are removably mounted over the upper end of arm  163  for exercise resistance. A pair of flexible handle assemblies  40  identical to those of FIGS.  1  to  7  are secured to an anchor plate  168  on the arm below the weight plates  166 . An exerciser  171  on seat  154  faces the arm  163  and grips the handle grips  44  to pull the arm towards his or her body in order to perform exercises, leaning against chest pad  172 . Again, the flexible connecting portion  41  of each handle may be of different lengths or adjustable in length, as in FIGS.  1  to  7 . Instead of providing two separate handle assemblies  40 , a single flexible handle assembly may be secured to arm  163  or arm  156 , with a wider hand grip portion for gripping by both the user&#39;s hands.  
      Any of the various adjustable strap handle designs of FIGS.  16  to  24  may be used on the arm  156  of  FIG. 26  or the arm  163  of  FIG. 27 , with modification of the respective arms to allow the line extension adjustment. In this case, two strap handles  93  will be secured to the end of the line  94 . Alternatively, the single arm  156  of  FIG. 26  may be replaced with two arms which pivot side-by-side. Each arm may have a single strap handle  40  attached, or an adjustable strap handle as in any of FIGS.  16  to  24  may alternatively be used. Similarly, the single arm  163  of  FIG. 27  may be replaced by two separate and independent arms. Each arm may have a single strap handle  40 ,  41  secured as in  FIG. 27 . Alternatively, any of the adjustable strap handle arrangements of FIGS.  16  to  24  may be used.  
       FIG. 28  is a side elevational view of an exercise machine similar to that illustrated in  FIG. 10  but with the exercise arms  98  and strap handle assembly of  FIG. 19  replacing the exercise arms  74  of  FIG. 10 . The machine of  FIG. 28  is otherwise identical to that of  FIG. 10 , and like reference numerals have been used for like parts as appropriate. Similarly, the exercise arm and strap handle assembly of  FIG. 28  is identical to that of  FIG. 19 , apart from its attachment location on the frame, and like reference numerals have been used as appropriate.  FIG. 19  illustrates exercise arms  98  pivoting on a bottom or base strut of the exercise machine frame.  FIG. 28  illustrates the same arms  98  pivoting on the top strut  72  of the exercise machine frame.  
      The machine frame also includes a base strut  180  and a generally upright strut  182 , and a weight stack  184  linked to an upper pivoted member or arm  185  via a cable and pulley linkage, as described in my U.S. Pat. No. 5,236,406, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. A user seat  186  is supported on the base and upright struts in a conventional manner. A flexible strap handle  93  is secured to each exercise arm  98  via flexible line or cable  94  which extends from handle  93 , between pulleys  106  at the end of arm  98 , then around pulley  124  on slide member  125 , and back to an anchor  126  at the end of the arm. The extension of handle  93  can be adjusted by moving slide member  125  along the arm and locking it in a new position using lock pin  128 .  
      The user can sit on the seat  186  facing away from the exercise arms  98  in order to perform pressing type exercises, similar to those depicted in  FIGS. 5, 6  and  10 . Alternatively, the user may sit facing the exercise arms and perform pulling type exercises, similar to those depicted in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . The adjustability of the handles  93  allows the user to tailor the ideal starting positions of the handles to the exercise to be performed. Any of the adjustable handle alternatives of FIGS.  16  to  18  or  20  to  24  may be used in place of the exercise arm  98  and handle assembly of  FIG. 28 .  
       FIG. 29  illustrates an exercise machine  190  having a pair of independent exercise arms  192  each pivoted to the upper end of a rearwardly inclined, upright frame member or strut  204  and connected to the exercise resistance, which may be a weight stack  194  as indicated, via a multi-bar linkage system as generally described in my co-pending application Ser. No. 09/772,812 filed Jan. 30, 2001 and Ser. No. 10/254,386 filed Sep. 25, 2002, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Each exercise arm is similar to the arm  98  of  FIG. 19 , apart from the curved end portion  195 , and like reference numerals have been used for like parts as appropriate. It will be understood that any of the exercise arms and handle assemblies of  FIGS. 16-18  or  20 - 24  may be used in place of the arms  192 .  
      The exercise machine  190  basically comprises a frame having a rear, vertical member  196  where the weight stack is located, a base strut  198 , a seat supporting strut  200  supporting seat  202 , and a rearwardly and upwardly inclined strut  204  extending rearwardly from seat supporting strut  200 , with the base strut  198  being secured to the inclined strut  204  as indicated. Two identical exercise arm assemblies are pivotally mounted on the frame on each side of the inclined strut  204 . Each exercise arm assembly comprises the respective exercise arm  192  which is pivoted to the upper end of the rearwardly and upwardly inclined strut  204  via pivot  205 , a second pivoting arm  206  pivoted to the strut  204  at a location spaced below arm  192  via pivot  208 , and a connecting link  210  having a first end pivoted to the rear end of exercise arm  192  via pivot pin  212  and a second or lower end pivoted to the arm  206  at a location spaced between the arm ends via pivot  213 . Each arm  206  is linked to the weight stack  194  via a cable and pulley linkage. Cable  214  extends from the base strut  198  around a pulley  215  at the rear end of arm  206 , a pair of pulleys  216 ,  217  on the base strut, a pulley  218  at the upper end of vertical member  196 , and down to the weight stack  194 . This arrangement provides a four bar linkage between each exercise arm and the weight stack, as well as a counterweight provided by the generally vertical connecting link  210 .  
      As in  FIG. 19 , a flexible strap handle  93  is secured to each exercise arm  192  via flexible line or cable  94  which extends from handle  93 , between pulleys  106  at the end of arm  192 , then around pulley  124  on slide member  125 , and back to an anchor  126  at the end of the arm. The extension of handle  93  can be adjusted by moving slide member  125  along the arm and locking it in a new position using lock pin  128 .  
       FIG. 29  illustrates the exercise arms pivoting on the upright tube or strut of the frame, and also illustrates a split exercise arm assembly which allows a user to operate the exercise arms independently or separately, one at a time, or bilaterally (both arms pulling down together), with each arm being independently connected to the load. Any of the exercise arms of  FIGS. 16-18  or  20 - 24  may be substituted for the exercise arm illustrated in  FIG. 28  or  FIG. 29 , and may be pivoted at the locations illustrated in  FIGS. 28 and 29  instead of to the base strut of the frame. These arms may also be used either as dependent exercise arms, or on split/independent exercise arms as in  FIG. 29 .  
      Each of the embodiments described above has a rigid, pivoted exercise arm which follows a fixed arcuate path, combined with flexible handles attached to the arm by a flexible strap portion of variable length, or by a flexible line. The flexible handles and strap or line provide multi-dimensional movement. This combines the advantages of prior art flexible line machines with the advantage of a movable rigid arm. The flexible strap handle incorporates all the features and benefits of the arms with rigid handles pivotally attached to the arms by three and four dimensional pivots or universal joints, but is substantially easier and more cost efficient to manufacture, as well as being more comfortable and easier to use than the prior art rigid arms with pivoted handle arms. A flexible strap or line does not require pivots, swivels or universal joints, which also makes it easier to guide the handle through a user-defined exercise path. The handle can easily adapt the user&#39;s hand and wrist positioning, providing unlimited adjustability in pronation/supination, flexion/extension, and rotation. This is not possible with a rigid handle.  
      Another problem with the elongated three dimensionally adjustable handles found in the prior art is the weight of the handles. The user must keep the handles elevated when using them to perform an exercise. This involves the use of shoulder muscles, which will fatigue faster than the chest muscles, causing the user to shorten the number of exercise repetitions performed. Because of this, the user may not receive the full benefit from press or fly exercises by bringing the chest muscles to exhaustion. This would not be true of the flexible strap or line handle attachment, which is much lighter and easier to control and maneuver. This is a real advantage for weaker users, such as children, seniors, and patients recovering from surgery or injury involving the shoulders or hands, where grip strength can be an issue.  
      The flexible line or flexible strap handle arrangements of this invention allow the user to guide the handles through multiple planes, providing converging or diverging movement. The handle assemblies work equally well for pushing and pulling exercises. The flexible line or strap attaching the handle to the exercise arm is safer for the user, since it will “give” when it makes contact with the body, unlike a rigid, elongated handle arm as is found in the prior art. The exercise arm assembly with attached flexible strap or line connected to handles allows an exerciser to perform all major upper body exercises using just one exercise station, where at least three separate stations were required in the past. If desired, an additional short fixed handle such as handle  90  of  FIG. 15  may be attached to the exercise arm in any of the above embodiments, to provide another gripping option for lat pull or mid-row exercises, although this is not necessary since the flexible handle may alternatively be used for such exercises.  
      In the first embodiments described above in connection with FIGS.  1  to  13 , interchangeable or adjustable length flexible strap handles are used to perform all of the various pushing and pulling exercises, while in FIGS.  16  to  24 ,  28  and  29  a flexible line attached to the handle is adjusted to change the handle extension for performing the same exercises. Pulling exercises that tend to travel in a straighter exercise path and are performed facing the handles, such as lat pull or mid-row, will be performed using a short strap handle or a handle with a flexible line in a retracted position. Other pulling exercises which travel in more arcing or multi-planar paths, such as upright-row, rear deltoid fly, or biceps curl, will be performed with longer strap handles or the flexible line extended further outwardly from the exercise arm. Pushing exercises such as chest, shoulder and triceps presses, and the pectoral fly, will require the longest strap handle or the flexible line at a more extended position from the arm. This invention provides a handle which can be adjusted to any suitable position relative to the exercise arm, and which is secured to the exercise arm by a flexible strap or line, to allow all upper body exercises to be performed readily and comfortably at the same exercise station.  
      Although some exemplary embodiments of the invention have been described above by way of example only, it will be understood by those skilled in the field that modifications may be made to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined by the appended claims.