Device to prevent binding of a guidance system for an upper body exercise apparatus
AssigneeStairmaster Sports/Medical Products, Inc.
InventorsFred H. Holmes, Robert L. Rawls, James A. Duncan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An upper body exercise apparatus to assist an exerciser to do chin-ups and dips. The apparatus includes a frame having a base, a support for the exerciser, and chin-up handles and dip handles extending from the frame. A motive device provides for movement of the support vertically between a lower position and an upper position. Angular displacement of the platform is prevented by coupling the platform to a guide device which constrains the support to travel along a predetermined path. The guide device can comprise a wheel and track system. Binding of the wheel and track system is avoided by providing a force to the wheel and track system which tends enhance tracking.
Claims22
Chin-up/dip exercise apparatus comprising:
- an exerciser lifting support for supporting an exerciser, said exerciser having a weight;
- a guidance system by which the exerciser lifting support is movably coupled to said frame, providing linear movement in a first direction;
- at least a first handle coupled to said frame for grasping by the user during a chin-up/dip exercise;
- a force source coupled to said exerciser support to supply a force to said exerciser support, said force having at least a first component in said first direction;
- and
- wherein said lifting support is horizontally spaced a first distance from said guidance system for using the weight of said exerciser, place on said lifting support to provide tracking loading on said guidance system.
A chinning/dip exercise apparatus, comprising:
- a frame;
- a guidance system, coupled to said frame;
- and guidance system for supporting an exerciser, coupled to said supporting, such that a weight positioned on said means for supporting creates a first torque on said means for supporting with respect to said guidance system for providing tracking loading of said guidance system.
Chin-up/dip exercise apparatus comprising:
- a frame;
- an exerciser support for supporting an exerciser;
- a guidance system comprising at least one track and one wheel constrained to move along said track, said guidance system movably coupling said exerciser support to said frame and causing a force of said wheel to be applied against said track to avoid jamming;
- a weight stack;
- and
- a line coupling said exerciser support to said weight stack to supply a force to said exerciser support for at least partially lifting both said exerciser support and said exerciser.
An upper body exercise apparatus to assist an exerciser comprising:
- a frame having a base and a framepost;
- a platform parallel to said base to support said exerciser;
- at least a first handle coupled to and extending from said frame;
- means for exerting a force, coupled to said platform, having a component in a first direction opposite a force of gravity, on said platform;
- means for coupling said platform to said framepost such that said platform can move in a vertical direction relative to said framepost and cannot move in any horizontal direction relative to said framepost;
- and
- means for loading said means for coupling to enhance tracking.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.