Patent Publication Number: US-6910994-B2

Title: Triceps extension machine

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/299,677, filed 20 Jun. 2001, entitled “Triceps Curl Machine.” 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to exercise machines, and more specifically to exercise machines that exercise the triceps muscles of a user. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Exercise devices, and in particular weight training machines, typically include one or more mechanical members that the user repeatedly moves along a prescribed path for exercise. Conventionally, movement of the mechanical member is resisted in some fashion (often by weights) to render the movement more difficult and thereby intensify the exercise. The movement of the mechanical member determines what muscle or muscle groups are to be involved in the exercise. 
     One popular exercise movement for weight training is the “triceps extension” motion, in which an exerciser bends his arms at the elbow to grasp a handle or other grasping device, and straightens his arms while maintaining the upper arms or elbows in a substantially stationary position. This exercise movement tends to work the triceps muscles of the upper arms. 
     Some triceps extension machines include a frame that has a base and vertical uprights that rise from the base, a seat that is mounted to the frame, and a pair of movement arms that are pivotally mounted to and extend inwardly from the vertical uprights. Support pads for the user&#39;s elbows extend inwardly from the vertical uprights. The user sits on the seat, rests his elbows on the supports, grasps the movement arms with his arms bent, and extends his arms such that the movement arms pivot relative to the frame. This movement is resisted by weights or other resistance system. 
     In many triceps extension machines of this general configuration, planes defined by each vertical upright are generally parallel with one another. The axes of rotation of the movement arms tend to be substantially normal to these planes. As a result, the movement arms are positioned in front of a seated user. This configuration may be inconvenient for a user as he enters the machine; often the movement arm must be moved out of the way in order for the user to sit. 
     In addition, typically the user sits so that his elbows are at substantially the same height as his shoulders during exercise. However, in this configuration the user&#39;s elbows may tend to become disengaged with the supports they rest upon, which may reduce the effectiveness of the exercise. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a triceps extension machine that can enable a user to be seated more easily. The exercise machine includes: a frame configured to rest on an underlying surface; a seat mounted to the frame and configured to receive a seated user; a pair of support pads mounted to the frame above the seat, each of the support pads being positioned to engage one of the upper arms and the elbows of the seated user; a pair of movement arm units pivotally interconnected with the frame and movable about respective generally horizontal axes of rotation; and a resistance system connected with the movement arm units. Each of the pair of movement arm units is configured to engage the forearms and/or the hands of the user and is movable between a retracted position, in which the seated user&#39;s arms are bent, and an extended position, in which the user&#39;s arms are extended, the axes of rotation forming an angle of between about 115 and 155 degrees. The resistance system provides resistance to rotation of the movement arm units as they move from the retracted position to the extended position. In this configuration, the triceps extension machine may provide easier access to a user than prior triceps extension machines. 
     The present invention is also directed to a triceps extension exercise machine that can stabilize the elbows of the user during exercise. This aspect of the invention comprises: a frame configured to rest on an underlying surface; a seat mounted to the frame and configured to receive a seated user; a pair of support pads mounted to the frame above the seat, each of the support pads being positioned to engage one of the upper arms and the elbows of the seated user; a pair of movement arm units pivotally interconnected with the frame and movable about respective generally horizontal axes of rotation, each of the pair of movement arm units being configured to engage the forearms and/or the hands of the user, each of the pair of movement arm units being movable between a retracted position, in which the seated user&#39;s arms are bent, and an extended position, in which the user&#39;s arms are extended; and a resistance system connected with the movement arm units that provides resistance to rotation of the movement arm units as they move from the retracted position to the extended position. The elevations of the seat and the support pads are selected such that, when the user is seated and the user&#39;s upper arms or elbows engage the support pads, the user&#39;s upper arms are angled upwardly from shoulder to elbow at an angle of at least 10 degrees. In this configuration, the user&#39;s elbows tend to remain engaged with the support pads, thereby improving the effectiveness of the exercise. 
     As an additional aspect, the present invention is directed to a frame for an exercise machine that can provide easy access to the exerciser. Such a frame comprises: pairs of front and rear uprights rising from respective legs, each set of respective front and rear uprights and legs defining a generally vertical plane, the generally vertical planes defining an angle of between about 20 and 70 degrees; a seat mounted to the frame and configured to receive a seated user; and a pair of pads mounted to the frame above the seat, each of the pads being positioned to engage the upper arms of the seated user. The frame is adapted to receive a pair of movement arm units pivotally interconnected with the frame and movable about respective generally horizontal axes of rotation, each of the pair of movement arm units being configured to engage a portion of the arms or hands of the user, each of the pair of movement arm units being movable between a retracted position, in which the seated user&#39;s arms are bent, and an extended position, in which the user&#39;s arms are extended. A frame of this configuration may be used for either a triceps extension machine or a biceps curl machine. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a triceps extension machine of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the machine of  FIG. 1 , with the retracted exercise position being shown in solid line, and the extended position being shown in phantom line. 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the frame, cam assemblies, handle assemblies, and seat assembly employed with the machine of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the weight stack employed with the machine of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic view of the belt-pulley system of the machine of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a partial top view of the frame of the machine of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a partial side view of the frame and seat support member of the machine of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a graph plotting resistance as a function of cam angle for certain embodiments of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, like numbers refer to like elements throughout. Thicknesses and dimensions of some components may be exaggerated for clarity. 
     A triceps extension machine, designated broadly at  10 , is illustrated in  FIGS. 1-7 . The machine  10  includes a frame  11 , a weight stack  12 , a seat assembly  13 , two movement arm units  40 , and two pulley systems  50 ,  60 . These components are described in more detail below. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 ,  6  and  7 , the frame  11  includes a base  14  with legs  14   a ,  14   b  and a cross member  14   c , rear uprights  15   a ,  15   b  that extend upwardly and forwardly from rear portions of the legs  14   a ,  14   b , and front uprights  16   a ,  16   b  that extend upwardly from front portions of the legs  14   a ,  14   b . The rear and front uprights  15   a ,  16   a  define plane P 1  and the rear and front uprights  15   b ,  16   b  define a plane P 2 . The planes P 1 , P 2  form an angle α (see  FIG. 6 ) of between about 20 and 70 degrees, with an angle α of between 35 and 45 degrees being preferred, and an angle α of about 40 degrees being most preferred. This angular arrangement can provide easy access into the machine for a user; as noted above, prior machines, particularly those that have frame arms and uprights that are parallel to one another, may require that the movement arm be raised in order for the user to be seated for exercise. A respective pad arm  17   a ,  17   b  extends inwardly and upwardly from each front upright  16   a ,  16   b  to terminate at a position below the horizontal portions of the rear uprights  15   a ,  15   b . A support pad  18  is attached to the upper end of each pad arm  17   a ,  17   b  in position to engage the upper arms or elbows of the user. A seat mounting platform  33  is mounted to the forward edge of the cross member  14   c.    
     Those skilled in this art will appreciate that the frame  11  may take alternative forms. For example, additional uprights may be employed, or certain components may be formed from multiple pieces. Further, those skilled in this art will recognize that the frame  11  may be suitable for use as part of a biceps curl machine, such as that described in co-assigned and co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/998,039, entitled “Biceps Curl Machine” filed Nov. 30, 2001. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  4 , the weight stack  12  is positioned on the leg  14   b  and includes a plurality of weights  20  arranged in a vertical stack. Two guide rods  21   a ,  21   b  extend vertically from the leg  14   b  to the upper portion of the rear upright  15   b ; the weights  20  have apertures that receive the guide rods  21   a ,  21   b  such that the weights are free to slide vertically thereon. An elongate lifting member  22  extends through an aperture in the center of each weight  20 . The lifting member  22  includes apertures  23  that can receive a pin  24 . An auxiliary weight stack  25  includes a pair of lighter weights  26  that slide on a guide rod  27  that also extends from the leg  14   b  to the upper portion of the rear upright  15   b . An auxiliary weight bracket  28  is attached to the uppermost weight  20  and to a stack pin  28   a  that fits within a groove in the guide rod  27  and includes apertures to receive a pin  29  for the selection of weights  26 . 
     Those skilled in this art will appreciate that other resistance systems may be employed with the present invention. For example, other weight stack configurations, friction-imparting devices, variable viscosity devices, air drag-based resistance devices, and the like, may also be employed with a machine of the present invention. Exemplary resistance devices include those illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,810,696; 4,708,338; 4,720,093; 5,033,733; 4,542,897; 4,298,893; 4,805,901; 4,790,528; 4,786,049; 5,031,900; 4,775,145; 4,589,656; and 4,659,074, the disclosures of each of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
     The seat assembly  13  includes a support member  30  that is mounted to the seat mounting platform  19  and extends upwardly and rearwardly therefrom. Preferably, the support member  30  reclines at an angle β ( FIG. 7 ) with the underlying surface that is between about 60 and 80 degrees, and more preferably between about 70 and 80 degrees, with 75 degrees being most preferred. A track  31  with a serrated front surface  32  is mounted to the front surface of the support member  30 . A seat bracket  33  is mounted to the track  31  such that the rear edge thereof mates with one of the serrations in the track front surface  32 . A seat  34  is mounted on the upper surface of the seat bracket  33 . The interaction between the seat bracket  33  and the serrations in the track front surface  32  enable the seat  34  to be adjusted vertically to a number of discrete positions along the track  31 . A backrest  35  is mounted to a backrest support  36 , which is in turn mounted to the support member  30  above the seat  34 ; the reclining angle of the backrest support  36 , and in turn the backrest  35 , can be adjusted as desired. 
     Each of the movement arm units  40  is pivotally attached to the frame  11 ; only one movement arm unit  40  will be described in detail herein, as the movement arm units  40  are essentially mirror images of one another. A cam  41  is pivotally attached to an upper portion of each front upright  16   a ,  16   b  via a pivot pin  41   a  that extends through an aperture in a respective front upright  16   a ,  16   b . The cam  41  has an upper camming surface  41   b . A lever arm  42  extends upwardly and rearwardly from each cam  41  and terminates in a hollow, elongate sleeve bearing hubs  43 . An L-shaped handle  49  includes a grip portion  44  that points generally downwardly and is gripped by the user&#39;s hand, a padded bearing surface  47  that is configured to be engaged by the user&#39;s hand or forearm, an intermediate portion  45  that merges with the grip portion  44 , and a mounting portion  46  that is received within and pivots relative to the bearing  43 . Thus, each handle  49  is free to pivot relative to its corresponding lever arm  42  about a respective generally horizontal axis of rotation A 1 , A 2 , and each cam  41  is free to pivot relative to its corresponding upright  16   a ,  16   b  about a respective axis of rotation B 1 , B 2  that is substantially parallel with its corresponding axis of rotation A 1 , A 2 . Notably, the axis A 1  defines an angle γ ( FIG. 6 ) which is between about 115 and 155 degrees with the axis A 2 , and more preferably is between 135 and 145 degrees, with 140 degrees being most preferred; consequently, the axis B 1  forms a similar angle with the axis B 2 . Also, it is notable that the axes A 1 , A 2  are substantially perpendicular to the respective planes P 1 , P 2  defined by the arms  14   a ,  14   b  and their respective rear and front uprights  15   a ,  15   b ,  16   a ,  16   b.    
     The configuration of the camming surface  41   b  controls the resistance curve experienced by the user during exercise. Fundamentally, it is typically desirable to vary the resistance experienced by the user at different points during movement; otherwise, the magnitude of resistance necessary to provide a strengthening workout to a muscle or muscle group may be too high to enable the user to move the movement arm unit  40  through positions within the full range of motion in which the user enjoys a lower mechanical advantage. In the illustrated embodiment, the non-circular camming surface  41   b  of the cam  41  causes the resistance experienced by the user to follow the resistance curve illustrated in FIG.  8 . Those skilled in this art will recognize that, although a non-circular cam is preferred to provide a varying resistance curve to the machine  10 , other structures, such as four-bar linkages and the like, can also be employed to vary the resistance of the machine during exercise. 
     The movement arm units  40  are interconnected with the weight stack  12  via two pulley systems  50 ,  60  (FIG.  5 ). The pulley system  50  includes a belt  51  that is attached to the forward portion of the perimeter of one cam  41 . The belt  51  follows the contour of the upper camming surface  41   b  of the cam  41  as the belt  51  travels rearwardly, then extends downwardly to a pulley  52  mounted to an upper portion of one rear upright  15   a , extends downwardly to a pulley  53  mounted to one end of a floating pulley bracket  54  (seen best in FIG.  3 ), extends horizontally to a pulley  55  mounted to the other end of the floating pulley bracket  54 , extends upwardly to a pulley  57  mounted on the opposite rear upright  15   b , and terminates by following the contour of the upper camming surface  41   b  of the other cam  41  and attaching to the forward perimeter portion thereof. The pulley system  60  includes a belt  61  that is attached to the lifting member  22  and extends upwardly over a pulley  62  attached to a forward portion of a pulley mounting bracket  63  attached to the upper portion of the frame  11 , rearwardly to a pulley  64  attached to the rear portion of the pulley mounting bracket  63 , downwardly to a pulley  65  attached to a bracket  69  attached to the lower end of the rear upright  15   b , horizontally to a pulley  66  mounted via a pin  67  to the cross member  14   c , and upwardly to fixedly mount to a pin  68  mounted to the lower central portion of the floating pulley mounting bracket  54 . 
     Those skilled in this art will recognize that, although the pulley systems  50 ,  60  are employed to interconnect the weight stack  12  and the movement arm units  40 , other systems that connect the movement arm units and the chosen resistance system, such as cables, chains, and the like, may be suitable for use with the present invention. 
     In operation, the user selects a desired weight by inserting the pin  24  into an aperture in the individual weight  20  that provides the user with a stack of weights  20  that corresponds to the desired exercise resistance (and, if desired, inserts the pin  29  to select one or both auxiliary weights  26 ). The user then adjusts the seat assembly  13  to the desired height (preferably one in which the user&#39;s elbows align with the axes of rotation B 1 , B 2 ) by manipulating the seat  34  until the seat bracket  33  mates with a desired serration  31  on the track front surface  32 . The user may also adjust the angle of the backrest  35 . The user then sits upon the seat  34 , rests his back against the backrest  35 , grasps the grip portions  44  of the handles  49 , and places his elbows on the pads  18  with his arms bent at the elbow (see FIG.  2 ). In this retracted position, the lever arm  42  extends upwardly and rearwardly from the cam  41 , and the grip portion  44  of the handle  49  extends downwardly and rearwardly from the bearing hub  43 . It is preferred that the user be seated at a height such that the user&#39;s upper arms are angled upwardly from shoulder to elbow; an angle of at least 5 degrees is preferred, with an angle of at least 10 degrees being more preferred. This posture tends to stretch the user&#39;s latissimus dorsi and the triceps, thereby increasing the range of motion and stabilizing the position of the elbows during the exercise movement, which is intended to work the triceps. 
     Exercise is performed by the user straightening his arms at the elbows and pressing on the bearing surfaces  47 , thereby driving the grip portions  44  of the handles  49  away from his shoulders to an extended position (see  FIG. 2  in phantom line). Doing so causes the cams  41  to pivot relative to the rear uprights  15   a ,  15   b  and take up some of the belt  51  on their camming surfaces  41   b  (when viewed from the right side of the user, both cams  41  pivot clockwise). As the cams  41  take up the belt  51 , the shortening of the belt  51  causes the floating pulley bracket  54  to rise, which in turn draws the end of the belt  61  attached to the pin  68  of the floating pulley bracket  54  upwardly. As the end of the belt  61  rises, it draws the selected weights  20  in the weight stack  12  upwardly, thereby providing resistance to the user. Once the user has straightened his arms, he bends them at the elbow to return the movement arm units  40 , the weights  20 , and the pulley systems  50 ,  60  to their original positions. 
     The foregoing is illustrative of the present invention and is not to be construed as limiting thereof. Although exemplary embodiments of this invention have been described, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined in the claims. The invention is defined by the following claims, with equivalents of the claims to be included therein.