Patent Publication Number: US-9421413-B2

Title: Resistive pull exercise device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/640,911, which was filed on 1 May 2012 and is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     This disclosure relates to exercise equipment and, more particularly, to a resistive pull assembly for resisting movement of a rope, belt, or some other length of material. 
     Individuals perform various exercises for the purpose of developing and training their bodies. Exercises can be performed using free weights, such as barbells, or with machines providing resistance. Many individuals prefer machines that provide a natural motion while utilizing body leverage in performing the exercise. This facilitates isolation of particular parts of the individual&#39;s body. Adjusting the resistance of such machines is often complicated. 
     SUMMARY 
     An example resistive pull exercise device includes a support housing having a first passageway and an opposing, second passageway, and a tension member to selectively impart a resistive force to a length of material spanning the first and second passageways. 
     Another example resistive pull exercise device includes a first plate, a second plate spaced from the first plate to define an interior space therebetween, a plurality of first rollers establishing a perimeter of a first passageway from outside the interior space to the interior space, a plurality of second rollers establishing a perimeter of a second passageway from outside the interior space to the interior space, the first and second passageways positioned along an axis, a length of material having a portion extending through the interior space from the first passageway to the second passageway, and a tension member adjustably mounted to at least one of the first and second plate and contacting a portion of the length of material to move the portion away from the axis. 
     An example method of resisting movement of a length of material in a resistive pull device, where the length of material extends between a first and second passageway in a support housing, includes increasing a curvature of the length of material to increase the resistive force, and decreasing the curvature of the length of material to decrease the resistive force. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The various features and advantages of this disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of an example embodiment. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows: 
         FIG. 1  is a general perspective view of an example rope pull assembly mounted to a frame rack. 
         FIG. 2  is an expanded view of a weightlifting system upright frame member of the frame rack of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic view of an opening in a weightlifting system upright frame member illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a general perspective view of the rope pull assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of the rope pull assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a general perspective view of the rope pull assembly of  FIG. 1  with a first housing member removed. 
         FIG. 7  is a front view of the rope pull assembly of  FIG. 1  with the first housing member removed. 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of the rope pull assembly of  FIG. 1  in the vertically aligned position. 
         FIG. 9  is a side view of the rope pull assembly of  FIG. 1  in the first angled position. 
         FIG. 10  is a side view of the rope pull assembly of  FIG. 1  in the horizontally aligned position. 
         FIG. 11  is a side view of the rope pull assembly of  FIG. 1  in the second angled position. 
         FIG. 12  is a side view of the rope pull assembly of  FIG. 1  rotated relative to  FIG. 9  and in the first angled position. 
         FIG. 13  is a side view of the rope pull assembly of  FIG. 1  rotated relative to  FIG. 10  and in the horizontal position. 
         FIG. 14  is a side view of the rope pull assembly of  FIG. 1  rotated relative to  FIG. 11  and in the second angled position. 
         FIG. 15  is a side view of the rope pull assembly of  FIG. 1  in the second angled position, including a rope, and lowered relative to the vertical position of the rope pull assembly of  FIGS. 8-14 . 
         FIG. 16  is a top view of the rope pull assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 17  is a bottom view of the rope pull assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 18  is a general perspective view of the rope pull assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 19  is a general perspective view of the rope pull assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 20  is a general perspective view of the rope pull assembly of  FIG. 1  with the first housing member and rope removed. 
         FIG. 21  is a general perspective view of the rope pull assembly of  FIG. 1  with the first housing member and rope removed. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an example exercise system  10  includes a frame rack  12  and rope pull assembly  14 . The frame rack  12  is a type of support for the rope pull assembly  14 . It should be understood that although a particular frame rack is illustrated in the example embodiment, other types of supports frame racks could be used to support the example rope pull assembly  14 . The rope pull assembly  14  could also be a wall-mounted unit supported by a wall rather than the frame rack  12 . The rope pull assembly  14  is an example resistive pull exercise device that is used for pulling exercises. 
     The frame rack  12  includes multiple openings  16  along an upright frame member  18 , which receives the rope pull assembly  14 . The rope pull assembly  14  is received into selected openings  16  so that the rope pull assembly  14  may be located at various positions along the upright frame member  18 . Each opening  16  is separated from the next by approximately four inches to provide significant incremental adjustment, however, any separation will be usable with the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , each upright frame member  18  defines a longitudinal axis A extending vertically relative to the ground. The example upright frame member  18  is generally rectilinear in shape and is manufactured of tubing that is rectangular in cross-section. The upright frame member  18  has a front face  20  and a first and second side face  22 ,  24 . The upright frame member  18  includes a multiple of opposed pairs of openings  16   a ,  16   b  along the longitudinal axis A. Each of the opposed pairs of openings  16   a ,  16   b  includes a first opening portion  16 ′ and a second opening portion  16 ″. 
     Each opening  16   a ,  16   b  is generally L-shaped and spans the intersection of the front face  20  and one of the side faces  22 ,  24 . In this non-limiting embodiment, the first opening  16   a  spans the front face  20  and the side face  22 , and the second opening  16   b  spans the front face  20  and the side face  24 . In other words, each opening  16  cuts through the corner of the upright frame member  18 . 
     The first opening portion  16 ′ in the front face  20  generally transverse to the longitudinal axis A along a transverse opening axis T and a second opening portion  16 ″ through the respective side face  22 ,  24  generally parallel to the longitudinal axis A along a parallel opening axis P. In this non-limiting embodiment, the first opening portion  16 ′ of the opening  16   a  extends through the front face  20  generally transverse to the longitudinal axis A along the transverse opening axis T. A second first opening portion  16 ″ of the opening  16   a  extends through the first side face  22  generally parallel to the longitudinal axis A along the parallel axis P. The second opening  16   b  defines the first second opening portion  16 ′ through the front face  20  generally transverse to the longitudinal axis A along the transverse opening axis T. A second second opening portion  16 ″ of the second opening  16   b  extends through the second side face  24  generally parallel to the longitudinal axis A along the parallel axis P. That is, the portions  16 ′ of the openings  16   a  and  16   b  are generally perpendicular and portions  16 ′ are generally parallel if laid flat ( FIG. 3 ). Each example opening  16   a ,  16   b  includes relatively large corner radiuses. 
     The openings  16  are arranged in horizontally opposed pairs of openings  16   a ,  16   b  perpendicular to the longitudinal axis A. That is, each pair of openings  16  includes a first opening  16   a  located through the front face  20  and the first side face  22  and a second opening  16   b  located through the front face  20  and the second side face  24  such that the openings  16   a ,  16   b  are aligned when viewed from one of the side faces  22 ,  24 . 
     A lock opening  26  is located through the front face  20  between each vertically separated pair of openings  16   a ,  16   b . Each lock opening  26  is displaced parallel to the longitudinal axis A and is generally square in shape. It should be understood that other shapes will also be readily usable with the example embodiment. The example lock opening  26  is longitudinally staggered above each pair of openings  16   a ,  16   b.    
     Referring to  FIGS. 4-7 , the rope pull assembly  14  includes a main support  30  having a first support plate  32  opposed to and generally parallel with a second support plate  34 . The support plates  32 ,  36  extend generally perpendicularly from a central support plate  36  to generally form a U-shape. The main support  30  may be manufactured from a single, integral U-channel member. 
     An attachment support  40  includes a first attachment plate  42  opposed to and generally parallel with a second attachment plate  44 . The first attachment plate  42  and the second attachment plate  44  extend from the main support  30  to form a U-shaped opening for accepting a support housing  54 . The first attachment plate  42  and the second attachment plate  44  include corresponding pivot openings  46  for pivotably attaching a post  60  that extends from the support housing  54  to the attachment support  40 . A removable pivot pin  52  extends through pivot openings  46  on the first and second attachment plates  42 ,  44  and through two of the post pivot openings  61  on the post  60  to pivotably connect the support housing  54  to the attachment support  40 . The support housing  54  is locked in a fixed rotational position relative to the attachment support  40  by a support pin  50  that extends through a pair of adjustment openings  48   a ,  48   b ,  48   c ,  48   d  located on the first and second attachment plates  42 ,  44  and two of the post pivot openings  63  on the post  60 . 
     The support housing  54  includes a first housing member  56  and a second housing member  58 , which together form halves of the support housing  54 . The support housing  54  includes a tension member  62 , or tension member, for controlling the force required to pull a rope  28  or belt through the support housing  54  by a user. The rope  28  or belt may be a continuous loop, or may terminate at distinct ends as shown. 
     The example tension member  62  includes a handle  64  fixedly attached to a rotatable threaded shaft  66  that extends from a tension member  68  to a guide member  72 . The guide member  72  extends from the second housing member  58  to support the rotatable threaded shaft  66 . The threads on the rotatable threaded shaft  66  engage the tension member  68  but moves freely relative to the guide member  72 . 
     A first end of a spring  70  engages the tension member  68  and a second end of the spring  70  engages the guide member  72  to provide a separation force between the tension member  68  and the guide member  72 . The spring  70  provides a biasing force that moves the tension member  68  away from contact with the rope  28 . Although the example tension  62  includes a single threaded rotatable shaft  66 , a second threaded rotatable shaft could be located on the opposite side of the support housing  54  or a clamp mechanism could be used. 
     A length of material M of the rope  28  extends through the support housing  54  in a serpentine or curved manner through a pair of rope passageways  78  on opposing sides of the support housing  54  and between the tension member  68  and the guide member  72 . The pair of rope passageways  78  are positioned along an axis. The length of material M is considered the portion of the rope  28  within an interior of the support housing  54 . 
     Because the length of material M is curved or serpentine, the length of material M may be considered to be displaced relative to the axis. The tension member  68  moves in a direction that is generally perpendicular to the axis in this example to selectively increase or decrease the curvature, which increase or decreases the resistive force. 
     Each of the pair of rope passageways  78  includes a first pair of rollers  80  that are generally transverse to a second pair of rollers  82 . The first and second pair of rollers  80 ,  82  decrease the chance of the rope  28  snagging or fraying while passing through the support housing  54 . The tension member  68  in this example does not roll relative to the first or second housing member  56 ,  58 , but is fixed in order to provide increased resistance for pulling the rope  28  through the support housing  54 . The tension member  68  may roll in some examples and still provide increased resistance. 
     The tension member  68  is generally positioned to contact a side of the rope  28  to deflect the rope  28  into the serpentine orientation as it passes through the support housing  54  to increase the force necessary to pass the rope through the support housing  54 . The example tension member  68  contacts the length of material at a position that is approximately equidistant from the pair of rope passageways  78 . 
     The amount of force needed to pull the rope  28  through the support housing  54  can be varied by repositioning the tension member  68 . As the handle  64  on the tension member  62  is rotated in a first direction, the tension member  68  moves in a first direction through grooves  74 ,  75  located on the first and second housing members  56 ,  58 , respectively, to increase the force required to pull the rope  28  through the support housing  54  by increasing the friction and deflection experienced by the rope  28 . As the handle  64  is rotated in a second direction, the tension member  68  moves in a second direction opposite the first direction through grooves  74 ,  75  located on the first and second housing members  56 ,  58 , respectively, to decrease the force required to pull the rope  28  through the support housing  54  by decreasing the friction and deflection experienced by the rope  28 . 
     The first and second directions extend along an axis that is transverse, and perpendicular in this example, to and axis defined by the passageways  78 . 
     The force needed to pull the rope  28  through the support housing  54  will vary depending on the dimensions and type of the rope  28  and the position of the tension member  68 . For example, stiffer ropes  28  with a large diameter will require more force to pull through the support housing  54  than more flexible ropes when the tension member  68  is in the same position. Forces for belts and other structures may similarly vary. 
     A first, a second, a third, and a fourth stud  33   a - 33   d  ( FIG. 6 ) extend from an inner surface of the first and second support plates  32 ,  34  to engage the openings  16 . The first stud  33   a  extends from the first support plate  32  and is directly opposed to the second stud  33   b , which extends from an inner surface of the second support plate  34 . The third stud  33   c  extends from the first support plate  32  and is directly opposed to the fourth stud  33   d , which extends from an inner surface of the second support plate  34 . The first and second studs  33   a ,  33   b  are located on a common axis S 1  and the third and fourth studs  33   c ,  33   d  are located along a common axis S 2 . The studs  33   a - 33   d  are relatively significant solid members. The studs  33   a - 33   d  mount through the first and second support plates  32 ,  34  with fasteners  35  or the like. A safety pin  38  extends through the central support plate  36  to secure the rope pull assembly  14  to the upright frame member  18  by extending through the lock opening  26 . 
       FIG. 4-8  show the support housing  54  secured in a vertical position generally parallel to the upright frame member  18 . The support housing  54  is secured in the vertical position by pivoting the support housing  54  about the pivot pin  52 , which extends through pivot openings  46  on the first and second attachment plates  42 ,  44  and the post pivot openings  61  on the post  60 , until post pivot openings  63  on the post  60  align with the pair of adjustment openings  48   a  on the attachment support  40  to allow the support pin  50  to secure the support housing  54  in the vertical position. Each side of the post  60  includes a pair of the post pivot openings  61 ,  63 . 
       FIG. 9  shows the support housing  54  secured in a first angled position. The support housing  54  is secured in the first angled position by pivoting the support housing  54  about the pivot pin  52  until the post pivot openings  63  on the post  60  align with the pair of adjustment openings  48   b  on the attachment support  40  to allow the support pin  50  to secure the support housing  54  in the first angled position. 
       FIG. 10  shows the support housing  54  secured in a horizontal position generally perpendicular to the upright frame member  18 . The support housing  54  is secured in the horizontal position by pivoting the support housing  54  about the pivot pin  52  until the post pivot openings  63  on the post  60  align with the pair of adjustment openings  48   c  on the attachment support  40  to allow the support pin  50  to secure the support housing  54  in the horizontal position. 
       FIG. 11  shows the support housing  54  secured in a second angled position. The support housing  54  is secured in the second angled position by pivoting the support housing  54  about the pivot pin  52  until the post pivot openings  63  on the post  60  align with the pair of adjustment openings  48   d  on the attachment support  40  to allow the support pin  50  to secure the support housing  54  in the second angled position. 
       FIG. 12  shows the support housing  54  rotated  90  degrees and secured in the first angled position, horizontal position, and second angled positions, respectively. The pivot pin  52  and support pin  50  engage pivot post openings  63  on other sides of the post  60  when rotated  90  degrees. 
     Referring to  FIG. 15 , the rope pull assembly  14  is movable to different vertical positions along the upright frame member  18 . Additionally, the upright frame member  18  could be attached directly to a wall  84  or another fixed element. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 16 and 17 , the first housing member  56  and the first attachment plate  42  have been removed to illustrate an example interior of the rope pull assembly  14  when in the position of  FIGS. 4-7 . 
       FIGS. 18 and 19  show additional perspective views of the rope pull assembly  14  with the rope  28  removed. 
     Although an example embodiment of this disclosure has been disclosed, a worker of ordinary skill in this art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this disclosure. For that reason, the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this disclosure.