GB2352643A

GB2352643A - Stowable exercise apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2352643A
Application number: GB9917988A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Phil Littlewood; Phil Geeves; Ben Poate
Original assignee: YORK BARBELL
Current assignee: YORK BARBELL
Priority date: 1999-07-30
Filing date: 1999-07-30
Publication date: 2001-02-07
Anticipated expiration: 2019-07-30
Also published as: GB9917988D0; GB2352643B

Abstract

An exercise apparatus 1 comprises a frame 2, a bench 41 movably attached to the frame at one end of the bench so that the bench can move between a substantially horizontal operational position and a substantially vertical stowed position, a leg exercising unit 60 movably attached to an opposed end of the bench, and a load connected to the leg exercising unit so that movement of the leg exercising unit performs work against the load but movement of the bench between the operational position and stowed position does not perform work against the load. The load (37, Figure 2) may be connected to the leg exercising unit by a cable 70 running over a system of pulleys 81, 82. When the bench is not required it may be moved to the stowed position by removing a locking pin (52, Figure 5), pivoting the bench upwardly and relocating the pin (52) in aperture (51). With the bench in the stowed position other devices on the apparatus can be used by detaching the cable 70 from the cable connector (70A, Figure 6) and attaching the cable 70 to a chain or cable at pulley 82 and thence to a handle or other accessory.

Description

2352643 EXERCISE APPARATUS This invention relates to an exercise

apparatus. The invention has particular application for a multi-gym apparatus on which a number of different exercises may be performed.

Known exercise apparatus incorporates a bench upon which some exercises may be performed and typically the bench has a pivoted leg exercising unit (or leg unit) for exercising the legs of the user, the pivoted leg unit being connected to a weight by cables so that movement of the leg unit raises and lowers the weight. When not in use the bench may be disconnected from the apparatus after first disconnecting the cable from the leg unit or from a cable connector at an inner end of the bench. Indeed, the bench may have to be removed to use parts of the equipment not employing the bench.

It is known for such a leg unit to operate in two modes, one in which the leg unit is raised from a vertical to a horizontal position, to perform socalled leg extensions, and another in which the leg unit is moved through the vertical in an inverted mode above the level of the bench to perform socalled leg curls. In the know art the cable has to be disconnected from the leg unit to change from one mode of operation to the other.

Known leg units are 'L'-shaped and cannot be folded flat. When not in use, such leg units therefore tend to impede exercises and mounting and dismounting the bench. It is therefore necessary to detach the cable from the leg unit and remove the leg unit from the apparatus to avoid the leg unit impeding these activities. Such a leg unit also protrudes at head height from a bench stowed vertically.

It is also known for such exercise apparatus to be provided with a pair of handles for operating in two modes. In a first mode both handles are I pressed on together to rotate the handles together about a first pivot and in a second mode of operation the handles are rotated with respect to each other about handle pivots. In known apparatus it is necessary to relocate a locking pin to change from one mode of operation to the other.

It is an object of this invention to provide an exercise apparatus which at least to some extent ameliorates these inconveniences.

According to this invention in its broadest aspect there is provided an exercise apparatus including a frame, a bench moveably attached to the frame proximate a first end of the bench for movement of the bench between a substantially horizontal operational position and a substantially vertical stowed position, leg exercising means moveably attached proximate to a second end of the bench opposed to the first end of the bench, load creating means connected to the leg exercising means such that movement of the leg exercising means performs work against the load, wherein movement of the bench between the operational position and the stowed position does not do work against the load.

Z According to an aspect of this invention there is provided an exercise apparatus including a frame, a bench pivoted by a bench pivot to the frame proximate a first end of the bench for rotational movement of the bench about the bench pivot between a substantially horizontal operational position and a substantially vertical stowed position, a leg exercising unit pivoted by a leg exercising unit pivot proximate to a second end of the bench opposed of the first end of the bench, load creating means connected by a tensioned cable guided by cable guide means to the leg exercising unit such that rotation of the leg exercising unit about the leg exercising unit pivot performs work against the load, wherein the bench pivot and cable guide means are adapted so that movement of the bench between the operational position and the stowed position does not do work against the load.

2 Conveniently, the load creating means is at least one weight adapted to be lifted against gravity.

Advantageously, the cable guide means includes at least one pulley and the bench pivot and cable guide means are adapted to retain sufficient tension in the cable during movement of the bench between the operational position and the stowed position for the cable to remain in engagement with the at least one pulley.

Advantageously, the bench is pivoted to the frame at an upper bench pivot, a leg is pivotally connected at an upper end thereof to the second end of the bench, an elongate member is pivotally connected between a lower portion of the leg and a connection to the frame at a lower bench pivot, such that in the stowed position the leg is substantially coaxial with a longitudinal axis of the elongate member, the elongate member is substantially parallel to the bench and a distance between the bench and the elongate member is smaller than a corresponding distance in the operational position.

Conveniently, bench locking means is provided to lock the bench in the stowed position.

Conveniently, the bench locking means comprises a locking pin for passing through apertures in the bench and the frame.

Advantageously, the cable guide means includes a pulley proximate the lower bench pivot the pulley having a arcuate pulley guide providing quadrant shaped guide means for co-operation with stop means fixed to the cable, such that the stop means moves along the guide means to retain tension in the cable between the pulley guide and the load creating means, as the bench moves between the operational position and the stowed position.

Conveniently, the apparatus includes at least one exercise means usable with the bench in the stowed position.

3 Advantageously, the leg exercising unit is provided with adaptation means for operation in a first configuration such that the leg exercising unit is moveable between a substantially vertical orientation dependant from the leg unit pivot and a substantially horizontal position coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the bench, and a second configuration such that the leg exercising unit is moveable between two positions either side of a vertical position above the leg unit pivot.

Advantageously, the adaptation means comprises an inner member to which the cable is attachable and an outer member, such that in the first configuration the inner member is located coaxially within the outer member and in the second configuration the outer member is locked by leg unit locking means to the inner member at an angle thereto.

Preferably, the inner member is provided with a sub-arm attached substantially perpendicularly to the inner member and the leg unit locking means includes a leg unit locking pin for passing through first apertures in the inner and outer members in the first configuration and for passing through second apertures in the outer member and the sub-arm in the second configuration.

Advantageously, the apparatus is additionaJly provided with an opposed pair of handles connected by cable to the load creating means, the handles being adapted for operation by hand from the bench and comprising an elongate portion pivoted to the frame by a transverse pivot orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the elongate portion and two U- shaped handle portions pivoted by parallel pivots parallel to the longitudinal axis of the eloncrate Z: tD section respectively, such that operation of the handle portions at extremities thereof from the parallel pivots causes the handles to pivot about the transverse pivot to do work against the load and operation of the handle portions at a position closer to the parallel pivots causes the handle portions to rotate about the parallel pivots to do work against the load.

4 Conveniently, the apparatus is additionally provided with adjustable stepper means comprising a pair of elongate members pivoted to the frame proximate a base thereof and struts pivotally connected to the elongate members and connected to a vertical portion of the frame by stepper locking means, such that the position of the stepper locking means on the vertical portion may be adjusted to raise or lower the ends of the elongate members remote from the frame.

The present invention has the advantage that the bench remains connected to the frame of the apparatus both during use and when stowed away. Additional advantages are provided by embodiments of the invention. For example, the leg exercising unit can be used in the two known modes of operation, yet can be easily folded down out of the way to perform bench exercises and when the bench is in the vertical stowed position. Also, various features of the apparatus may be used with the bench in the vertical stowed position. Moreover, the bench can be moved between the stowed and the operating position without any resultant lifting of the weights and without the cable becoming slack so that the cable is in danger of disengaging from pulleys used to guide the cable.

The apparatus also has the advantage that the mode of use of the leg unit can be changed without detaching the cable from the leg unit.

The apparatus has the further advantage that either mode of operation of the handles may be employed without necessitating the relocation of a locking pin.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which FIGURE 1 is a composite side view of the apparatus of the present invention showing the bench in both the operational and stowed positions; FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus of figure I from the rear and one side showing the bench in the operational position; FIGURE 3 is the apparatus of figure 2 viewed from the front and one 5 side; FIGURE 4 is a side view of the apparatus of figure 2; FIGURE 5 shows a detail of the connection of the bench to the 10 frame; FIGURE 6 shows a detail of an arcuate pulley cage for use in the present invention; FIGURE 7 is a side view of a leg exercising unit for use in the present invention; FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of the leg exercising unit of Figure 7; FIGURE 9 is a schematic plan view of a pair of handles for use in the present invention; FIGURE 10 shows a detail of the handles of figure 9; 25 FIGURE 11 is a side view of the stepper foot plates for use in the present invention; FIGURES 12 & 13 show the use of the stepper foot plates with the 30 apparatus; and 6 FIGURE 14 shows use of the apparatus with the stepper foot plates in a stowed position.

FIGURE 15 shows a detail of the connection of a cable to the weights 5 for use in the invention.

In the figures like reference numerals denote like parts.

The exercise apparatus 1 shown in figures I to 4, comprises a generally K-shaped frame 2 having a first vertical member 21 bolted at a lower end to a longitudinal base member 22, one end of which abuts the lower end of the first vertical member 21. Bolted to the longitudinal base member is a first transverse base member 23 which abuts and is bolted to a leg 25 of a generally U-shaped base member 26 which surrounds the lower end of the first vertical member 21 and the first transverse base member 23 to provide a base for the apparatus 1, such that the legs 25 of the U- shaped base member are parallel to the longitudinal base member 22 and perpendicular to the first transverse base member 23. A continuation transverse base member 23' is bolted to an opposed side of the leg 25 coaxial with the transverse base member 23. Bolted to the top of the first vertical member 21 above the longitudinal base member 22 is an upper member 27, having a substantially inverted U-shaped transverse crosssection, which is angled upwards above the horizontal from the top of the first vertical member 21. Rising from the first transverse base member 23 welded at a point substantially midway between the longitudinal base member 22 and the leg 25 of the U-shaped base member 26 to which the first transverse base member 23 is bolted, is a second vertical member 29, connected at the upper end thereof by an orthogonal crosspiece to the upper member 27.

Rising from the longitudinal base member 22 at a point proximate the junction with the first upright member 21 is a first diagonal member 31 which is joined to the approximate midpoint of the upper member 27 to 7 suppor-t that upper member 27. Joined between a location below the midpoint of the first diagonal member 31 and a location on the longitudinal base member 22 proximate the end of that member remote from the first vertical member 21 is a second diagonal member 32 having a portion 33 close to the junction with the first diagonal member 31 bent at an obtuse angle to the remaining portion of the second diagonal member 32. In this way the first vertical member 21, the first diagonal member 31 and the second diagonal member 32 form a general K-shape. The longitudinal base member 22 is connected at its end remote from the first upright member 21 to the approximate mid-point of a second transverse base member 28 which is parallel to the first transverse base member 23.

Within the area defined by the U-shaped base member 26 and on the side of the longitudinal base member 22 opposed to that on which the first transverse base member 23 is located are provided two upright parallel weight guides 35, 36, terminated by a crosspiece 39, for guiding generally rectangular-shaped weights 37 each having two apertures 38 for sliding along the weight guides 35,36. The crosspiece is connected by an orthogonal member 39A to the upper end of the upper member 27, as best shown in FIGURE 15.

Rising from the lower portion of the second diagonal member 32 is a short upright bench support member to which a bench 41 is pivoted at a location spaced from the end of the bench 41 closest to the frame 2. At the end of the bench 41 remote from the frame 2 the bench 41 is pivotally fixed to a horizontal extension 42 on an upper end of a bench leg 43. A lower end of the bench leg 43 is pivotally connected to a hor-izontal base rail 44 which is pivotally connected at its opposed end to the lower portion of the second diagonal member 32 such that the bench pivots 45, 46 are horizontally spaced from the respective horizontal base rail pivots 47,48 by a distance smaller than the distance between the bench 41 and the horizontal base rail 44 in the operational position. The end of the bench 41 remote from the 8 frame 2 is provided with knee supports 410 known per se. The lower end of the bench leg is connected to a second U-shaped transverse member 69 to stabilise the bench 41.

As shown in FIGURE 1 by double-headed arrow A, this arrangement of pivots allows the bench 41 to be moved from the operating position to a stowed position by folding the bench 41 upwards, resulting in the bench 41 being compactly stored in a concertina configuration with the bench 41 proximate the horizontal base rail 44 in the stowed position. An aperture 49 is provided proximate the end of the bench 41 closest to the frame 2 and a corresponding aperture 51 provided in the bench support member 39 so that a bench locking pin 52 can be passed through the apertures 49,51 to lock the bench 41 in the stowed position, as best seen in FIGURE 5.

A T-shaped leg exercising unit 60 is pivotally attached to the upper end of the bench leg 43. The "upright" portion of the T-shaped leg exercising unit is formed of an inner portion 61 and an outer portion 62 to which a cross-piece of the T-shaped unit is attached, wherein the inner portion 61 is pivotally connected by a U-shape bracket 63 to the bench leg 43. As best shown in FIGURES 7 and 8, the outer portion 62 is pivotally connected to the inner portion 61 such that in a first configuration the inner portion 61 is substantially located within the outer portion 62 and locked into position by a leg unit locking pin 64 passing through a first aperture in the outer arm and a first aperture 65 in the inner arm. In a second configuration the outer portion 62 is at an obtuse angle to the inner portion 61 and is locked in position relative to the inner portion 61 by means of the leg unit locking pin 64 passing through a second aperture 66 in the outer portion and an aperture in a transverse member 67 located on the inner portion 61 proximate to the pivot 68 thereof. A cable 70 is connected to an attachment point 71 at the lower end of the inner portion 61. This cable 70 is connected by a system of pulleys to be described below to the weights 37 so that movement of the leg exercising unit 60 raises and lowers the weights 37. A 9 37. A second pulley 82 is provided on the second diagonal member 32 co axial with the horizontal rail pivot 47 as may best be seen in FIGURE 6. A pulley cage 87 partially surrounding the second pulley 82 comprises two parallel quadrant shaped guides which co-operate with a ball shaped stop 87A fixed on the cable 70 to limit movement of the cable towards the weights 37.

As shown in FIGURES 9 and 10, a pair of handles 90 comprising two parallel elongate portions 91,92 and two generally U-shaped handles 93,94 are pivotally connected substantially at the midpoint of the first vertical member 21. The elongate members 91,92 terminate at their ends remote from the first vertical member 21 in a cross-piece 95 and the substantially U-shaped handles 93,94 are pivotally connected to the cross piece 95 by pivots 96 which are parallel to the elongate members 91,92 and orthogonal to the pivot 98 which passes through the first vertical member 2 1.

Pivotally attached to the lower end of the second vertical member 29 are two substantially parallel stepper foot plates 101,102 as schematically shown in FIGURE 11 in raised and lowered posiitons. The stepper foot plates 101,102 are attached close to their midpoints by two struts 103, 104 to a stepper locking unit 105 which is slideably mounted on, and lockable to, the second vertical member 29 so that the elevation at the ends of the stepper foot plates 10 1, 102 remote from the frame 2 can be adjusted by adjusting the position at which the locking unit 105 is locked to the second vertical member 29. Attached to the second vertical member above the stepper units 101,102 is a U-shaped support arm 106, incorporating a backrest 107, for use either in conjunction with the stepper foot plates 101,102 or with the stepper foot plates stowed in a horizontal position, in a manner to be described.

A substantially horizontal bar 110 is suspended by a cable 72 from the end of the upper member 27 remote from the first vertical member 21, the cable 72 passing over pulleys to lift the weight 37 in a manner to be described.

As best seen in FIGURES 2 and 3, a first cable 70 passes sequentially from the connection point 71 on the inner portion 61 of the leg unit 60 under a first pulley 81 located co-axially with the first horizontal base rail pivot -48, under a second pulley 82 located at the second horizontal base rail pivot 47 and then passes over the lower of a first pair of pulleys 83 arranged in a figure of eight, with a lower pulley orthogonal to the upper pulley, under a third pulley 84 located at the lower end of the first diagonal member 31 and over a lower pulley of a second figure of eight pair of pulleys 85, in which the upper and lower pulleys are arranged parallel to each other, and is fixed to a fixation point at the base of the first upright member 2 1. There is a connector 70A joining two portions of this first cable 70 at the second pulley 82, as best seen in FIGURE 6.

A second cable 72 passes from a fixing point 99 on a first of the handles 94 over a substantially semicircular cable guide 111 and under the upper pulley of the first figure of eight pair of pulleys 83 and passes over a corresponding cable guide on a second handle 93 and is fixed to a fixing point on the second handle 93. A third cable 73 passes from the horizontal bar 110 suspended from the upper member 27 over a fourth pulley 86 located in the end of the upper member 27 remote from the first vertical member 21, over a fifth pulley 88 located proximate the end of the upper member 27 proximate the first upright member 21, beneath the upper of the second figure of eight pair of pulleys 85, over a sixth pulley 87 and a seventh pulley 87A on the orthogonal member 39A joining the upper member 27 and the weight guide cross-piece 39 and thence is connected to a fixing point on the weights 37 (see FIGURE 15). The cables 70,72,73 are of such a length that with the weights 37 in the rest position, all the cables are taut, with the leg unit 60 in the downwardmost position and a stop on the cable 73 close to the horizontal bar 110 engaging the fourth pulley 86.

11 The operation of the apparatus will now be described.

With the bench 41 in the horizontal operational position, a person sitting on the bench 41 and facing outwards from the frame 2 may exercise their legs with the leg unit 60 in the first configuration by raising the leg unit from a vertical position to a horizontal position thereby lifting the weights 37 by means of the attached cables 70,72,73. Alternatively, a person in a prone position on the bench 41 and facing towards the frame 2 may exercise their legs by using the leg unit 60 in the second configuration and rotating the leg unit 60 backwards and for-wards through the vertical, thereby raising and lowering the weights 37 by means of the attached cables.

When not required, the bench 41 may be moved to the stowed position by removing the locking pin 52 from an aperture at the inner extremity of the bench 41 and pivoting the bench 41 upwards and relocating the pin 52 in the locking apertures 51. With the bench 41 in this position, C, the exercising apparatus can be used by detaching the cable 70 from cable connector 70A and attaching the cable 70 to a chain or double cable at pulley 82 and thence to a handle or other accessory, for example for connecting to a leg of a user.

With the bench 41 in the operating position, a user laying face up on the bench 41 with his head towards the frame 2 may perform bench presses by pressing upwards on the extremities of the handles 90 so that the handles rotate about the pivot 98 through the first vertical member 21, thereby raising the weights using the attached cables. Alternatively, a user lying in the same position may rotate the U-shaped handles 93,94 towards each other about the handle pivots 96 thereby shortening the effective length of the cable 72 joining the handles 93,94 and raising the weights 37.

C 12 The stepper feet 101, 102 may be used to give assistance for dips exercises by using the U-shaped support 106 as shown in FIGURES 12 and 13 or may be lowered to the horizontal position for performing leg raise exercises on the U-shaped support as shown in FIGURE 14. 5 13

Claims

I. An exercise apparatus including a frame, a bench moveably attached to the frame proximate a first end of the bench for movement of the bench between a substantially horizontal operational position and a substantially vertical stowed position, leg exercising means moveably attached proximate to a second end of the bench opposed to the first end of the bench, load creatina means connected to the lec, exercising means such that movement of C, ZD the leg exercising means performs work against the load, wherein movement t:

of the bench between the operational position and the stowed position does not do work against the load.
2.. An exercise apparatus including a frame, a bench pivoted by a bench pivot to the frame proximate a first end of the bench for rotational movement of the bench about the bench pivot between a substantially horizontal operational position and a substantially vertical stowed position, leg exercising means pivoted by a leg exercising means pivot proximate to a second end of the bench opposed of the first end of the bench, load creating means connected by a tensioned cable guided by cable guide means to the leg exercising means such that rotation of the leg exercising means about the leg :D Z:1 exercising means pivot performs work against the load, wherein the bench pivot and cable guide means are adapted so that movement of the bench between the operational position and the stowed position does not do work against the load.
3. An exercise apparatus as claimed in claims I or 2, wherein the load creating means is at least one weight adapted to be lifted against gravity.

Z)
4. An exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cable guide means includes at least one pulley and the bench pivot and cable guide means are adapted to retain sufficient tension in the cable durina movement of the bench between the operational position and the stowed position for the cable to remain in engagement with the at least one pulley.

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5. An exercise apparatus as claimed in claims 2 or 4, wherein the bench is pivoted to the frame at an upper bench pivot, a leg is pivotally connected at an upper end thereof to the second end of the bench, an elongate member is pivotally connected between a lower portion of the leg and a connection to the frame at a lower bench pivot, such that in the stowed position the leg is substantially coaxial with a longitudinal axis of the elongate member, the elongate member is substantially parallel to the bench and a distance between the bench and the elongate member is smaller than a corresponding distance in the operational position.
6. An exercise apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein bench locking means is provided to lock the bench in the stowed position.
7. An exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the bench locking means comprises a locking pin for passing through apertures in the bench and the frame.
8. An exercise apparatus as claimed in claims 2 or 4-7, wherein the cable guide means includes a pulley proximate the lower bench pivot, the pulley having a arcuate pulley guide providing quadrant shaped guide means for co-operation with stop means fixed to the cable, such that the stop means moves along the guide means to retain tension in the cable between the pulley guide and the load creating means, as the bench moves between the operational position and the stowed position.
9. An exercise apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus includes at least one exercise means usable with the bench in the stowed position.
10. An exercise apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the leg exercising means is provided with adaptation means for operation in a first configuration such that the leg exercising means is moveable between a substantially vertical orientation dependant from the leg exercising means pivot and a substantially horizontal position coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the bench, and a second configuration such that the leg exercising means is moveable between two positions either side of a vertical position above the leg exercising means pivot.
11. An exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the adaptation means comprises an inner member to which the cable is attachable and an outer member, such that in the first configuration the inner member is located coaxially within the outer member and in the second configuration the outer member is locked by leg exercise means locking means to the inner member at an angle thereto.
12. An exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the inner member is provided with a sub-arm attached substantially perpendicularly to the inner member and the leg exercising means locking means includes a leg exercising means locking pin for passing through first apertures in the inner and outer members in the first configuration and for passing through second apertures in the outer member and the sub-arm in the second configuration.
13. An exercise apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus is additionally provided with an opposed pair of handles connected by cable to the load creating means, the handles being adapted for operation by hand from the bench and comprising an elongate portion pivoted to the frame by a transverse pivot orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the elongate portion and two U-shaped handle portions pivoted by parallel pivots parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongate portion respectively, such that operation of the handle portions at extremities thereof from the parallel pivots causes the handles to pivot about the transverse pivot to do work against the load and operation of the handle portions at a position closer to the parallel pivots causes the handle portions to rotate about the parallel pivots to do work against the load.
14. An exercise apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus is additionally provided with adjustable stepper means 16 comprising a pair of elongate members pivoted to the frame proximate a base thereof and struts pivotally connected to the elongate members and connected to a vertical portion of the frame by stepper locking means, such that the position of the stepper locking means on the vertical portion may be adjusted to raise or lower the ends of the elongate members remote from the frame.
15. An exercise apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

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