Patent Publication Number: US-2012035024-A1

Title: Portable exercise machine

Description:
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     This disclosure relates to a portable exercise machine. More specifically, the disclosure relates to a multi-function exercise machine that is compact, lightweight, and easy to assemble. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The inventor previously developed portable exercise equipment that is capable of enabling a large number of exercises to be performed without requiring either numerous attachments or extensive rearrangement of the parts of such apparatus. Such exercise equipment is lightweight, portable, easily assembled and disassembled, and capable of enabling the user to perform various exercises without significant modification or rearrangement of component of the apparatus. With such exercise equipment, the user may perform exercises that require the imposition of resistance in upward, downward, or substantially horizontal directions. The user may perform exercises requiring both positive and negative resistances wherein a selected resistance may remain substantially constant over the full range of a selected exercise. 
     U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,004,248 and 6,224,514 disclose an exercise apparatus having a base to which is pivoted one end of a rockable arm, the opposite end of which is coupled to one end of a force transmitting line by means of which the arm may be rocked from and to a rest position. Movement of the arm away from the rest position is yieldably opposed by elastic resistance members that react between the rockable arm and the base. An upright arm is removably supported by the base and is equipped with one or more line guides about which the force transmitting line may be reeled. In one embodiment, the line guide automatically compensates for variations in the force applied on the rockable arm to overcome variations in the resistance of the resistance members. 
     Regarding a bar with an adjustable cable capable for being used with exercise equipment, U.S. Pat. No. 6,234,934 discloses a wrist and forearm exerciser with a wrapping cable, but no “eyelet” to center the cable. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure provides an exercise machine that is portable, compact, lightweight, and easy to assemble. The exercise machine can perform multiple exercises. 
     A preferred portable exercise machine includes a substantially flat floor base that can be disassembled from other components, an actuator bar preferably having a centered pin as part of a spooling and anchoring handle; an upright member that may have an integral support and upright arm having pulleys enclosed in the upright arm; and a rocker arm that can be removably pivotably connected, such as by a pin, to the support of the upright member; and a cable attached the actuator bar, passing over the enclosed pulleys and attached to the rocker arm. The integral support may include a mounting recess as an integrated stand to removably secure the actuator bar when not in use. 
     The inventor made improvements over his earlier patents for an exercise apparatus. Specific improved structural features include (1) a spooling, and anchoring and centering handle, (2) an integrated stand for the actuator bar, (3) a combined support base as part of an upright member, and (4) a joint sleeve and anchor. The exercise machine also adds enclosed pulleys, fewer parts, and extruded aluminum components. Improvements allow the exercise machine to be more functional, safer, lighter, more compact and more visually pleasing. 
     An improved spooling, anchoring and centering handle allows the length of the cable to be easily adjusted, centered for symmetrical lifting while being safely anchored. This handle allows a user to quickly adjust the length of cable on the machine to easily reconfigure the machine to perform various exercises. 
     The ability to quickly adjust the length of cable on the machine allows users to easily reconfigure the machine to perform various exercises. For example, if a user was performing a traditional arm curl, the user would hold the actuator bar in the user&#39;s hands at waist level and while keeping the elbows in place curl the actuator bar up to the user&#39;s chest. For the user to then perform a traditional military press, the user would then need to start with the actuator bar at chest level and press the bar over head. If the user wanted to perform a traditional bent over rowing exercise, the user would then need to start with the bar at ground level and while standing bent at the waist pull the actuator bar form the ground to their chest. To move between these three exercises a six-foot tall user would need the length of cable attached to the actuator bar to adjust approximately 5 feet. The handle allows the user to adjust the length of cable. 
     The spooling mechanism provides a safe spooling zone that keeps the cable safely away from the user&#39;s hands. Thus, a user&#39;s hands will not get entangled or injured from normal use of the mechanism with spooling. 
     The centering aspect allows the user to center the cable on the actuator bar, which results in each of the user&#39;s arms lifting a symmetrical load. This avoids the user experiencing an asymmetrical load on the actuator bar with a levering effect that would result in one of the user&#39;s arms pulling harder than the other arm to perform an exercise. 
     Further, centering aspect can lock the cable in place at the precise length that the user wants and will stay fixed throughout the lifting motion. If the user simply spooled the cable around the actuator bar and then started lifting with a strong amount of resistance, the actuator bar would tend to uncontrollably unwind in the user&#39;s hands. 
     The spooling mechanism preferably has an increased diameter at the center of the actuator bar leaving the hand grips on the actuator bar at a comfortable size. The diameter of the actuator bar has a preferred range due to the average size of a person&#39;s hands. A grip surface, such as a non-slip foam grip, is typically applied to the hand grip portions. A preferred overall diameter of the actuator bar plus the foam grip less than 1¼ inches. If a ⅛ th  inch foam grip is applied over actuator bar, the maximum diameter of the actuator bar is 1 inch. At one inch, to spool the cable around the actuator bar, it may take 20 revolutions to spool the five feet of cable needed to move from the military press to the bent over row. Adjusting the cable between different exercises, 20 revolutions around the actuator bar would become very monotonous and time consuming over a full workout. Due to the increased diameter of the spooling mechanism, the revolutions needed to adjust the cable five feet drops from 20 to 9. For ten different exercises during a workout, the disclosed spooling mechanism could result in approx. 100 fewer revolutions of the cable around the actuator bar. 
     The next improvement is enclosed pulleys that are enhancements over pulleys mounted to the outside of a bar that extends vertically from a base. The disclosed pulleys are enclosed in an upright member that extends vertically from the floor base. With the pulleys encased, there is less chance injury. Functionally, the enclosed pulleys keep the cable permanently on both pulleys so the cable will not slip off the pulleys in any direction; for instance, if the user does not pull on the actuator bar in a vertical motion. With the cable secured around both pulleys, the need to reattach the cable around the pulleys and the chance of injury from a cable slipping off a pulley are eliminated. 
     The upright member can have an integrated stand that is adapted for holding the actuator bar when not in use. This allows the user to safely store the actuator bar in a safe and visually pleasing manner. Thus, the actuator bar need not be placed on the floor when it is not in use for exercises. 
     The exercise machine preferably has a combined arm, sleeve, and support. The presently disclosed machine has integrated the upright arm, wherein the upstanding square sleeve 15 and brace 16 described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,004,248 are formed into one part, which is not permanently attached to the floor base. The upright member may include an integral sleeve that attaches to a tube that removably attaches to the floor base. The apparatus described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,004,248 has the upstanding sleeve and brace attached to the base. By not having the upstanding square sleeve and brace attached to the base, the presently disclosed floor base becomes substantially flat, which allows the overall machine to become flatter when disassembled. For a portable machine, a flatter design allows the machine to fit into a smaller box or gym bag. 
     On the apparatus described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,004,248, the base has a sleeve down the center that an anchor member telescopes into. The presently disclosed machine integrated these two parts into one part, which results in fewer parts and less weight for easier transporting. The weight of the exercise machine is reduced by combining these two parts into one part. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above-mentioned and other features of this disclosure and the manner of obtaining them will become more apparent, and the disclosure itself will be best understood by reference to the following descriptions of machines taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures, which are given as non-limiting examples only, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows components of a portable exercise machine disassembled; 
         FIG. 2  shows the compact components of the exercise machine in a portable state; 
         FIG. 3  shows a side view of the compact components of the exercise machine illustrating flat disassembly; 
         FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of an assembled exercise machine; 
         FIG. 5  shows a view illustrating the components assembled in such a manner to perform a selected exercise; 
         FIG. 6  shows a view illustrating the components assembled at a different range in performing a selected exercise; 
         FIG. 7  shows a view illustrating the components assembled for performing another selected exercise wherein the cable is a different length; 
         FIG. 8  shows a view of the cable centered for symmetrical lifting while being safely anchored to a centering pin on a spooling, anchoring and centering handle; 
         FIG. 9  shows an upright member with an actuator bar in an integrated stand; and 
         FIG. 10  shows tube adapted to secure into loops of a floor base without the upright support attached to the tube. 
     
    
    
     The exemplifications set out herein illustrate embodiments of the disclosure that are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the disclosure in any manner. Additional features of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the disclosure as presently perceived. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     While the present disclosure may be susceptible to embodiments in different forms, the figures show, and herein described in detail, embodiments with the understanding that the present descriptions are to be considered exemplifications of the principles of the disclosure and are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the details of construction and the arrangements of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the figures. 
       FIGS. 1 through 7  show a portable exercise machine  12  that is compact, lightweight, and easy to assemble. The exercise machine  12  includes a floor base  14 , an upright member  16 , a user-held actuator bar  18  at an end of a cable  20  (defined broadly as any flexible force transmitting line, cord or rope). The cable  20  connects the actuator bar  18  via pulleys  22  and  24  to a rocker arm  26 , such as on a distal end that extends from a pivoting connection  28 . The exercise machine  12  can be easily assembled without tools and then disassembled to fit in a gym bag. The lightweight exercise machine  12  may typically be about 17 pounds. 
     In operation, the user may stand on the floor base  14  and exert force on the actuator bat  18  that via cable  20  to rock the rocker arm  26  with positive or negative resistance for exercising the user. The machine may include resistance members  30 , as fully described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,004,248, that provide resistance. 
     The user-held actuator bar  18  is preferably a spooling, and anchoring and centering handle  32  as shown in  FIG. 8 . The improved spooling, anchoring and centering handle  32  allows the length of the cable  20  to be easily adjusted, centered for symmetrical lifting while being safely anchored. The handle  32  allows a user to quickly adjust the length of cable  20  on the exercise machine  12  to easily reconfigure the exercise machine  12  to perform various exercises. 
     The ability to quickly adjust the length of cable  20  on the exercise machine  12  allows users to easily reconfigure the exercise machine  12  to perform various exercises. To move between these exercises the length of cable  20  attached to the actuator bar  12  must adjust several feet. 
     The handle  32  allows the user to adjust the length of cable  20 . A spooling mechanism  34  provides a safe spooling zone that keeps the cable  20  safely away from the user&#39;s hands. The spooling mechanism  34  may include a cylinder, such as between a one and two inch diameter, preferably more than 1.25 inch diameter. A lip  36  is preferably on each end of the spooling mechanism  34  to assist the wrapping or winding of the cable  20  between the lips  36 . The cable  20  preferably attaches at an end  38  of the spooling mechanism  34  to allow for winding with access to a centering pin  40  to secure the cable  20 . 
     A centering pin  40  allows the user to center the cable  20  on the actuator bar  18 , which assists the user&#39;s arms each lifting a symmetrical load. The centering pin  40  is centered on the spooling mechanism  32  which is centered on the actuator bar  18 . The centering pin  40  is preferably somewhat T-shaped with a stem  42  and curved barbs  44  to assist in securing a cable  20  wound through the centering pin  40 . 
     Further, centering pin  40  can lock the cable  20  in place at the precise length that the user wants and will stay fixed throughout the lifting motion. The cable  20  can be wound, wrapped or woven around the centering pin  40  so the cable  20  is fixed. The cable  20  can be wrapped around the stem  42  and looped or woven about both curved barbs  44  to secure the cable  20  at a desired length for a particular exercise. 
     The spooling mechanism  34  preferably has an increased diameter in the center of the actuator bar  18  leaving the hand grip portions  48  on the handle  32  at a comfortable size. The diameter of the hand grip portion  48  of the actuator bar  18  has a preferred range due to the size of the average person&#39;s hands. A grip surface  50 , such as a non-slip foam grip, is typically applied to the hand grip portions  48 . A preferred overall diameter of an actuator bar  18  plus the foam grip is less than 1¼ inches. If a ⅛ th  inch foam grip is applied over actuator bar  18  on the hand grip portions  48 , the maximum diameter of the actuator bar  18  would be about one inch. At only one inch, to spool the cable  20  around the actuator bar  18 , it may take twenty revolutions to spool the example of five feet of cable  20  needed to move from the military press to the bent over row. Adjusting the cable  20  between different exercises, twenty revolutions around the actuator bar  18  would become very monotonous and time consuming over a full workout. Due to the increased diameter of the spooling mechanism  34 , the revolutions needed to adjust the cable  20  five feet can drop from twenty to nine revolutions as an example. 
     The upright member  16  preferably encloses pulleys  22  and  24 . With pulleys enclosed in the upright member  16 , there is less chance for injury or slippage. Functionally, the enclosed pulleys  22  and  24  keep the cable permanently on both pulleys  22  and  24  so the cable  20  will not slip off the pulleys  22  and  24  in any direction; for instance, if the user does not pull on the actuator bar  18  in a vertical motion. With the cable  20  secured around both pulleys  22  and  24 , the need to reattach the cable  20  around the pulleys  22  and  24  and the chance of injury from a cable  20  slipping off a pulley  22  or  24  are eliminated. 
     The upright member  16  preferably has an integrated stand  52  that is adapted for holding the actuator bar  18  when not in use. This allows the user to safely store the actuator bar  18  in a safe, compact, and visually pleasing manner with the cable  20  preferably wrapped around the actuator bar  18 . Thus, the actuator bar  18  need not be placed on the floor when it is not in use. At the top end of the upright member  16 , various attachment means  54 , such as a clasp, holder gripper or recess, may secure a top portion of the actuator bar  18 . At the base of the upright member  16 , the integrated stand  52  may include a mount  56 , such as a recess  58  to secure the other end of the upright member  16 . It is contemplated that only the mount  56  could secure the actuator bar  18  without the attachment means  54 . The mount  56  is preferably formed into a support  60 . 
     The upright member  16  preferably includes a combined support  60 , upright arm  62 , and sleeve  64 . These three pieces are preferable fixed together as an integral component. 
     The integral support  60  can serve multiple functions. First, the mount  56  or other aspect of the integrated stand  52  as the actuator bar holder can be molded into an end of the support  60  as part of the upright member  16  to be part of the integrated stand  52 . As shown, a recess  58  forms the mount  56  in the support  60  to hold the actuator bar  18  parallel and adjacent to the upright arm  62 . The recess  58  may also include a channel  66  for the cable  20  to pass through while being somewhat controlled to avoid movement of the cable  20  perpendicular to the upright arm  62 . 
     The upright arm  62  can extend from the support  60 , which are preferably fixed connected forming a distinct integral piece. The pulleys  22  and  24  are preferably within the uprights arm  62 , which may be extruded aluminum. Substituting extruded aluminum for square steel tubing can help obtain a lighter weight, but still maintain required strength and other benefits as described. The lower enclosed pulley  22  can also be within the boundary of the support  60 . 
     Next, the pivoting connection  28  can be integrated into the support  60  to pivotably secure the rocker arm  26  to the upright member  16 . A pin  74  can allow for a removable connection of the rocker arm  26  from the support  60  of the upright member  16 . In another embodiment, the pivoting connection  28  could be a permanent connection such as a torsional spring. 
     The sleeve  64  can be attached on the bottom of the support  60  as part of a distinct integral piece. The sleeve  64  is preferably not permanently attached to the floor base  14 , but the sleeve  64 , preferably as attached to a tube  72  via pins  74 , can facilitate sliding into a recess  70 , such as loops  80  complementary to the tube  72 , in the floor base  14  to secure the sleeve  64  and the entire upright member  16  to the floor base  14 . By not having the upright member  16  permanently attached to the floor base  14 , the presently disclosed floor base  14  is substantially flat, including low profile loops  80 . This allows the overall machine  12  to become flatter when disassembled. The sleeve  64  is narrower than the width of floor base  14  that it attaches to, and when turned sideways as part of the upright member  16 , the sleeve  64  is narrow enough for compact disassembly and transport. As a portable exercise machine  12 , a flatter design allows the exercise machine  12  to fit into a much smaller box or gym bag. 
     The tube  72  may include prongs  76 , such as anchor rods transversely projecting, to which resistance members  30 , such as elastic multi-hole donuts as shown, functionally attach to prongs  78  on the rocker arm  26 , including anchor rods transversely projecting from the rocker arm  26 . Such anchor rod and resistance member arrangement is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,004,248. The resistance members  30  can also be a variety of bands, elastic devices, and resilient means, including extension coil springs. 
     The presently disclosed exercise machine  12  integrates multiple parts into one piece, which results in fewer parts and less weight for easier transporting. The integrated upright member  16  is detachable from the floor base  14 . The weight of the exercise machine  12  is reduced by combining multiple parts into individual parts including preferred separation from the floor base  14  of the upright member  16 , which allows for flatter disassembly. 
     The present disclosure eliminates or relocates multiple components into fewer integral pieces that dissemble flatter than the prior art. 
     This disclosure has been described as having exemplary embodiments and is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations using its general principles. It is envisioned that those skilled in the art may devise various modifications and equivalents without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as recited in the following claims. Further, this disclosure is intended to cover such variations from the present disclosure as come within the known or customary practice within the art to which it pertains.