Patent Document

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. Section 119 to U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/186,138 filed Mar. 1, 2000 the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention relates generally to the field of exercise equipment, and pertains, more particularly, to an apparatus for performing a leg press exercise. In an embodiment of the invention, the apparatus of the present invention may be attached to a multi-station exercise machine.  
           [0004]    2. Discussion of the Related Art  
           [0005]    In the past, there have been developed many different types of exercise machines used for strengthening the muscles of a user. One type of machine is traditionally referred to as a “leg press”. One type of leg press machine employs a seat mounted in a frame, in combination with a push plate that moves relative to the frame. In use, the user, once seated, pushes the plates with their legs so that the plates move from a start position to an extended position. The push plate is typically connected to some type of exercise resistance means so as to provide a reactive force to the pushing motion of the user. It is typical to use a weight stack with a pre-determined number of these weights being selected for lifting when the push plate is moved forward toward it&#39;s extended position. The weight stack may be coupled to the push plate by a cable and pulley arrangement. Presently, there are a variety of different types of leg press exercise apparatus presently available.  
           [0006]    Another form of leg press employs a frame, a seat, and a rest member for receiving the user&#39;s feet. In this type of machine, the rest member is stationery and the seat is movable by means of a linkage. An example of a machine of this type is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,554,086 to Habing, et al.  
           [0007]    Many of these past machines are relatively complicated in structure, sometimes requiring complicated linkages and rigging members. Accordingly, they tend to be relatively expensive. Moreover, most of these machines do not provide for the optimal body position, particularly, between start and extended positions.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    The present invention provides an exercise apparatus, particularly for leg presses and in which the apparatus is relatively simple in construction, relatively inexpensive, and provides for the maintaining of a more optimized body position throughout the transition from a start position to an extended position and back. This optimized body positioning allows for the rearward rotation of the torso as it translates through the path of motion, to allow for a substantially increased range of motion of the user&#39;s hip during the exercise. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a reversibly extending exercising apparatus that comprises a first arm and a second arm pivotably interconnected to each other such that the interconnected arms are pivotably movable between a start position and an extended position. The first arm may be pivotably supported from an apparatus frame, while the second arm is slidably or rollably supported on a support guide mechanism. In this way, the second arm is supported for movement along a predetermined path of travel, preferably inclined relative to horizontal, between the start and extended positions.  
           [0009]    In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a leg press exercise apparatus that comprises a frame, a rest member on the frame for receiving and supporting a user&#39;s feet, and a first arm and a second arm that are pivotably intercoupled to each other such that the arms are pivotably movable between a start position and an extended position. The first arm is coupled to the frame, preferably adjacent of the rest member. A seat is provided for supporting the user and is carried by the second arm. An incline base support member is disposed under the second arm and is for supporting this second arm during the movement between start and extended positions.  
           [0010]    In accordance with the invention there is also provided an apparatus comprising: a frame; a rest member on said frame for receiving a user&#39;s feet; a first arm and a second arm that are pivotably intercoupled to each other such that the arms are pivotably movable between a start position and an extended position; said first arm coupled to said frame; a seat for supporting a torso of the user and carried by said second arm; and an inclined base support member disposed under said second arm for supporting the second arm during movement between the start and extended positions. The first arm is pivotably coupled to said frame, the second arm following the inclined base support between the start and extended positions such that the torso of the user is rotated rearwardly relative to horizontal during movement between the start and extended positions. The frame preferably includes an upright support piece having at the top end thereof a pivot member for coupling said first arms to said frame. The apparatus preferably includes a pivot member for intercoupling the first and second arms such that the torso of the user is translated rearwardly away from the rest member during movement between the start and extended positions. The apparatus preferably includes a carriage supported on said inclined base support member wherein the carriage at one end thereof includes a pivot member for pivotally supporting the carriage from said second arm. The carriage typically comprises spacedly disposed side plates interconnected by a lower guide member and an upper guide member.  
           [0011]    Further in a accordance with the invention there is provided a reversibly extending exercise apparatus comprising: a pair of pivotably interconnected arms on which a subject is mountable on a chair mechanism; a support and guide mechanism forming a part of a frame of the apparatus; wherein the support and guide mechanism support one of the pair of pivotably interconnected arms; wherein the arms are reversibly extendible by forcible extension of the legs of the subject between a rest position and an extended position; the arms being extendible such that the subject is positioned in an upwardly prone position at all times between the rest and extended position. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a preferred embodiment of exercise apparatus of the present invention;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the exercise apparatus of FIG. 1;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevation view of the apparatus disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 2 and showing the apparatus in rest and extended positions;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the exercise apparatus of the present invention with the apparatus in its extended position, but with the seat removed for clarity;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 5 is a somewhat schematic view of the exercise apparatus similar to that depicted in FIG. 3, but showing further cutaway details; and  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 3 as taken along line  6 - 6  of FIG. 3. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0018]    Reference is now made to the drawings herein, particularly FIGS.  1 - 6  which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the leg press apparatus of the present invention. The apparatus comprises a frame  10  preferably constructed of metal. The frame is comprised of a number of different components, many of which are of square or U-shaped metal cross section. The frame  10  includes an elongated base piece  12  having at one end a curved section  14  and at its other end connects to an upright support piece  16 . An extension member  18  is secured at about the middle of base piece  12  as noted in, for example, FIG. 4. A pulley  20  is supported at a position where the extension member  18  is secured to the base piece  12 .  
         [0019]    At the end of the base piece  12  where the upright support piece  16  is secured, there is also provided a U-shaped support member  24 . Member  24  has upstanding support members  26  and  28 . These support members  26  and  28 , at the respective tops thereof, support leg plates  30  and  32 . Each of these leg plates  30  and  32  may carry a hard rubber pad  34 , such as shown in either FIG. 1 or FIG. 3.  
         [0020]    To stabilize the apparatus, frame  10  and its various members employ stabilizer legs. These are in the form of cylindrical members  38 . These are shown, for example, in FIG. 4, two being attached to the U-shaped support member  24 , and one being attached to the frame between the base piece  12  and the curved section  14 . The stability of the apparatus is also enhanced by the extension member  18  extending from the base piece  12 .  
         [0021]    An inclined support member  40  is provided. Member  40  extends from the base piece  12  to the top of the curved section  14 . The inclined support member  40  functions as a fixed rail for the carriage  42 .  
         [0022]    The carriage  42  comprises two side plates  44 , one disposed on each side of the incline support member  40 . These side plates are interconnected by a lower guide member  46  and by an upper guide member  48 . The carriage  42  is also pivotably connected to the arm structure which is to be described in further detail hereinafter. This connection, as noted in the figures, is at pivot  50 .  
         [0023]    As indicated previously, in addition to the frame  10  and rest members, namely leg plates  30  and  32 , there is also provided a pair of arms that are pivotably interconnected to each other such that the arms are pivotably movable between a start position and an extended position. In the drawings, these are identified as arms  52  and  54 . These arms  52  and  54  are interconnected at a common end at the pivot member  56 . The top end of arm  52  is also pivoted at pivot member  58  such as shown in the somewhat schematic diagram of FIG. 5. Pivot  58  is secured at the top of the upright support piece  16 . Refer also to the enlarged side elevation view of FIG. 3 which shows the pivot member  58  with the arms  52  and  54  in solid and dotted position indicating two different positions of the linkage arms.  
         [0024]    Also included in the apparatus of the present invention is a seat  60  and its associated backrest  62  attached or rigidly connected to arm  54  such that pivoting of the arm  54  simultaneously pivots seat  60  and backrest  62 . A plate  64  may be used for commonly supporting the seat  60  and the backrest  64  such as indicated in FIG. 5. A reference may also be made to the perspective view of FIG. 4 which shows the plate  64  and the seat  60  and the backrest  62  in dotted outline.  
         [0025]    It is also noted from the drawings that the arm  54  has an upturned end  68  that supports at its top end an adjustment bar  70  that is affixed to the plate  64  and may be used for adjusting the position of the seat and backrest. For this purpose, the adjustment bar  70  includes an inner-member  73  and an outer-member  74 . The inner-member  73  is provided with holes into which a pin  75  may be inserted or threaded so as to hold the seat and backrest in any one of a number of positions along the arm  54 . The pin  75  may be a spring loaded pin for adjusting seat position. As also noted in FIG. 5, there may be a slidable channel or plate  80  disposed between the plate  64  and the arm  54  so as to enable the seat mechanism to slide readily on the arm  54 . The member  80  may be constructed, for example, of Teflon. For proper support of the seat and backrest, there are also preferably provided side guides  82 , such as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. Furthermore, at one of the guides  83 , there is disposed outwardly on either side of the arm  54 , handlebars  84 . In this regard, also note FIG. 1 which shows the user  100  in a seated position on the seat  60  with his back against the backrest  62  and with his hand grasping one of the handlebars  84 , that is the one that is visible in FIG. 1.  
         [0026]    Now, with further regard to the drawings, and in particular, the perspective view of FIG. 4, there is clearly shown the cable arrangement for providing the resistance to the user. In this regard, for example, in FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown in dotted outline a multi-station apparatus  88  to which the extension member  18  may be coupled, as indicated, in FIG. 2. A cable  90  may connect in the machine  88  to weights or some other mechanism for providing resistance. But, as indicated, for example, in FIG. 4 of the present application, the cable  90  extends about pulley  20  and from there to a further pulley  91 . Pulley  91  is supported between spaced brackets  92  of the frame  10 . From there, the cable  90  extends to a further pulley  94  that is rotatable but has its supporting housing fixed directly to arm  52 . The cable  90  extends to about pulley  94  and then is secured by means of a pin  95  between the spaced brackets  92 . Depending upon the amount of weight that is selected or other form of resistance that is used, as the user moves from the rest position toward an extended position, the weight and cable mechanism impose a force on the user to carry out the exercise in muscle strengthening.  
         [0027]    Reference may now be made to FIG. 3 that shows, in solid outline, the arms  52  and  54  in a rest position. In this position, the stop plate  96  is resting against the elastomeric stop  98 . FIG. 3 also shows, in phantom outline, the arms  52  and  54  pivoted to a more extended position. This would also be similar to the position of the apparatus depicted in the perspective view of FIG. 4 where it is noted that the stop plate  96  is spaced away from the stop  98 . FIG. 5 shows the apparatus in its rest position also with the stop  98  engaging the plate  96 .  
         [0028]    With further reference to FIG. 3, it should also be noted that as the arm  54  moves from the solid position (initial) to the dotted position (extended) in FIG. 3, the attitude of the arm  54  and the seat  60 /backrest  62  mounted on the arm  54  and changes relative to the horizontal. This provides a comfortable body position as the user provides leg press action between initial and extended positions. Because the arm  54  is secured at pivot  50 , the carriage  42  simply transitions along rail  40  such as between the two positions illustrated in FIG. 3 and the arm  54 , seat  60  and backrest  62  pivot backwardly.  
         [0029]    With regard to the diagram of FIG. 5, this also clearly indicates the position of the arm  54  in its rest position with the carriage being against a stop. FIG. 5 also illustrates the cable  90  and its transition around the pulleys. It is noted in FIG. 5, that the pulley  20  is shown, for the sake of illustration, vertically disposed when, in actuality, it is horizontally disposed such as illustrated in FIG. 3.  
         [0030]    Having now described a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it should now be apparent to those skilled in the art that various other embodiments and modifications thereof, are contemplated as falling within the scope of the present invention. The scope of the invention is to be interpreted by the appended claims.

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