# US 7,172,538 B2 · Exercise apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,172,538 B2 - Document ID: US7172538B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/294,476 - Filed: 2002-11-13 - Published: 2003-06-26 - Granted: 2007-02-06 - Earliest claimed: 2001-11-13 - Assignees: Keiser Corporation - Inventors: Dennis L. Keiser - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7172538B2 ## CPC - A63B 21/155: {Cam-shaped pulleys or other non-uniform pulleys, e.g. conical} - A63B 21/00069: {Setting or adjusting the resistance level; Compensating for a preload prior to use, e.g. changing length of resistance or adjusting a valve} - A63B 21/00072: {by changing the length of a lever} - A63B 21/0087: {of the piston-cylinder type (using hydraulic piston-cylinder type force resistors A63B21/0083)} - A63B 21/156: {the position of the pulleys being variable, e.g. for different exercises} - A63B 23/03533: {With separate means driven by each limb, i.e. performing different movements} - A63B 23/03541: {Moving independently from each other (A63B22/00 takes precedence)} - A63B 23/12: for upper limbs {or related muscles, e.g. chest, upper back or shoulder muscles (bench press exercises A63B21/078; for teaching music G09B15/06)} - A63B 23/1209: {Involving a bending of elbow and shoulder joints simultaneously} - A63B 21/4035: {for operation by hand} - A63B 21/4043: {Free movement, i.e. the only restriction coming from the resistance (A63B21/00043, A63B21/072 take precedence)} - A63B 23/03508: {For a single arm or leg, (A63B21/0726 takes precedence)} - A63B 2225/09: Adjustable dimensions - A63B 2225/30: Maintenance - Y10S 482/907: Stretching - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS ## Abstract An exercise apparatus includes a compact resistance unit that houses a pneumatic cylinder. The cylinder is connected to a pulley wheel that moves at least toward the cylinder. A main cable extends about a portion of the pulley wheel. One end of the main cable is fixed to the unit housing and the other end is attached to a pulley block of a block-and-tackle mechanism. A user cable extends through the block-and-tackle mechanism and is connected to a handle. The pneumatic cylinder resists movement of the handle away from the unit. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An exercise apparatus comprising: a frame; a user interface movable between a retracted position and an extended position; a pneumatic actuator having a cylinder and a piston rod that extends from the cylinder along a stroke axis, the pneumatic actuator being disposed on the frame; a pulley wheel rotatably connected to the piston rod; and a cable wrapped about at least a portion of the pulley wheel and having a first cable end and a second cable end, the second cable end being fixed to the frame and the first cable end being coupled to the user interface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the piston rod is connected to the pulley wheel at a location offset from a center of the pulley wheel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The exercise apparatus of claim 2, wherein the pulley wheel is substantially circular. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The exercise apparatus of claim 2, wherein the offset point of attachment of the piston rod to the pulley wheel lies on the same side of the pulley wheel as does the first cable end at least when the user interface is in the retracted position, and lies on the opposite side of the pulley wheel when the user interface is in the extended position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pneumatic actuator is pivotally connected to the frame. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The exercise apparatus of claim 5, wherein the pneumatic actuator is arranged to resist movement of the user interface toward the extended position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The exercise apparatus of claim 6, wherein a first section of the cable extends from the pulley wheel toward the first cable end and a second section of the cable extends from the pulley wheel toward the second cable end, and wherein the pneumatic actuator is arranged such that its stroke axis lies generally parallel to the first section of the cable at least when the user interface is in the retracted position. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The exercise apparatus of claim 7, wherein the stroke axis of the pneumatic cylinder has a generally vertical orientation when the user interface is in the retracted position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pneumatic actuator and the pulley wheel are arranged such that when the user interface is in the retracted position, the stroke axis of the pneumatic actuator lies generally normal to a line that passes through a center point of the pulley wheel and the point at which the piston rod is attached to the pulley wheel. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The exercise apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising a guide connected to the frame, the guide being disposed next to the pulley wheel and arranged such that the pulley wheel rides along the guide. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The exercise apparatus of claim 10, wherein the guide extends in a direction that is generally parallel to a plane that is perpendicular to a face of the pulley wheel and that passes through a center point of the pulley wheel, and wherein the guide is disposed on one side of the plane and an attachment point of the pneumatic cylinder to the frame is located on the other side of the plane. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The exercise apparatus of claim 11, wherein the point at which the piston rod is attached to the pulley wheel is on the same side of the plane as the point of attachment of the pneumatic cylinder to the frame when the user interface is in the retracted position. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The exercise apparatus of claim 12, wherein the stroke axis of the piston rod extends in a direction that is generally parallel to a plane that passes through a center point of the pulley wheel, and wherein the guide is disposed on one side of the plane and a point of attachment of the piston rod to the pulley wheel is located on the other side of the plane when the user interface is located in the retracted position. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The exercise apparatus of claim 1, additionally comprising a block-and-tackle mechanism operating between the user interface and the cable first end, the block-and-tackle being disposed to one side of the pneumatic actuator and a point at which the cable second end is fixed to the frame being disposed generally to an opposite side of the pneumatic actuator. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The exercise apparatus of claim 1, additionally comprising a guide for the pulley wheel that is connected to the frame, the guide being disposed generally to the same side of the pneumatic actuator as the fixed second end of the cable. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the cable is fixed to the pulley wheel. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The exercise apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising a pulley system including at least one pulley block to which the first end of the cable is attached. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The exercise apparatus of claim 17, wherein the pulley system includes a block-and-tackle mechanism that operates between the user interface and the cable first end, the block-and-tackle mechanism including a first block having at least one pulley and a second block having at least one pulley, the first block being connected to the frame and the first cable end being connected to the second block. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The exercise apparatus of claim 18 additionally comprising a cable guide mechanism movably attached to and selectively locked to the frame so as to vary the position of the cable guide mechanism on the frame, the block-and-tackle mechanism including a cable being wound through the pulleys of the first and second blocks, one end of the cable passing through the cable guide mechanism and connecting to the user interface and the opposite end of the cable being fixed relative to the cable guide mechanism. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The exercise apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising at least one accumulator in communication with a chamber within the cylinder of the pneumatic actuator. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The exercise apparatus of claim 20 additionally comprising at least a second accumulator, the pneumatic cylinder and the accumulators operatively connected by at least one air equalization line so as to maintain generally equal air pressures within the cylinder and the accumulators, the second accumulator selectively communicating with the first accumulator and the cylinder. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cylinder includes a cylinder body and one or more end caps and houses a piston of the pneumatic actuator, and wherein the cylinder body, the one or more end caps, and the piston are each formed of a polymer. ### Claim 23 An exercise system comprising: a station frame; a resistance unit being configured to provide an exercise resistance force and cooperating with a user interface, the resistance unit being movably connected to the station frame so that the resistance unit can be moved in a lateral direction relative to a user and between at least a first position and a second position. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The exercise system of claim 23, wherein the station frame includes at least one track upon which the resistance unit moves. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The exercise apparatus of claim 24, wherein the resistance unit is movable between a plurality of discrete positions relative to the track. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The exercise apparatus of claim 25, wherein the resistance unit includes a locking mechanism that selectively locks the resistance unit to the station frame at one of the discrete positions. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The exercise apparatus of claim 26, wherein the locking mechanism includes a latching device that cooperates with the track. ### Claim 28 (depends on 23) The exercise apparatus of claim 23 additionally comprising a second resistance unit being movably connected to the station frame. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The exercise apparatus of claim 28, wherein the station frame has a generally symmetric shape relative to a central plane, and one resistance unit is disposed on one side of the central plane and the other resistance unit is disposed on the other side of the central plane. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The exercise system of claim 29, wherein the station frame includes a plurality of track upon which the resistance units move, each track having an arcuate shape with its center of curvature located toward the central plane, and each resistance unit is movable between a plurality of discrete positions relative to the track. ### Claim 31 (depends on 23) The exercise apparatus of claim 23, wherein the resistance unit comprises a pneumatic actuator. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The exercise apparatus of claim 31, wherein the pneumatic actuator has a cylinder and a piston and the resistance unit additionally comprises a housing, a pulley wheel connected to the piston rod, and a cable wrapped about a portion of the pulley wheel and having a first end and a second end, the second end being fixed relative to the housing and the first end being operatively connected to the user interface. ### Claim 33 (depends on 31) The exercise apparatus of claim 31, wherein the resistance unit additionally comprises a first air reservoir and at least a second air reservoir, a cylinder chamber of the pneumatic actuator and the reservoirs connected by at least one air equalization line so as to maintain generally equal air pressures within the cylinder chamber and the reservoirs, the second reservoir selectively communicating with the first reservoir and the cylinder chamber. ### Claim 34 (depends on 23) The exercise apparatus of claim 23 additionally comprising a seat assembly movably connected to the station frame so that the seat assembly can be moved between at least a first position and a second position. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The exercise apparatus of claim 34, wherein the seat assembly comprises a seat bottom and a seat back, and the bottom and back are hinged together. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) The exercise apparatus of claim 35, wherein the seat bottom is connected to at least one support post, and the support post has at least one wheel. ### Claim 37 (depends on 34) The exercise apparatus of claim 34, wherein the station frame comprises a guidepost, and the seat assembly is movably connected to the guidepost. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) The exercise apparatus of claim 37, wherein the seat assembly is slidingly connected to the guidepost. ### Claim 39 (depends on 38) The exercise apparatus of claim 38, wherein the guidepost is substantially vertical, and the seat assembly is connected to a counter weight. ### Claim 40 An exercise apparatus comprising: a frame; a user interface movable between a retracted position and an extended position; a pneumatic actuator having a cylinder and a piston rod that extends from the cylinder along a stroke axis, the pneumatic actuator being disposed on the frame; a pulley system disposed at least in part next to the pneumatic actuator, the pulley system coupled to the user interface; and means for coupling the pneumatic actuator to the pulley system so as to provide resistance to movement of the user interface toward the extended position. ### Claim 41 (depends on 40) The exercise apparatus of claim 40, wherein said means for coupling additionally producing a generally constant resistance force as the user interface is moved from the retracted position to the extended position. ### Claim 42 (depends on 40) The exercise apparatus of claim 40, wherein the pulley system comprises a block-and-tackle mechanism. ### Claim 43 An exercise system comprising: a station frame; a resistance unit being configured to provide an exercise resistance force and cooperating with a user interface, the resistance unit being movably connected to the station frame so that the resistance unit can be moved between a plurality of discrete positions relative to the track; and a locking mechanism that selectively locks the resistance unit to the station frame at one of the discrete positions. ### Claim 44 An exercise system comprising: a station frame; a resistance unit being configured to provide an exercise resistance force and cooperating with a user interface, the resistance unit being movably connected to the station frame so that the resistance unit can be moved between at least a first position and a second position; and a second resistance unit being movably connected to the station frame. ### Claim 45 An exercise system comprising: a station frame; a resistance unit having a pneumatic actuator and being configured to provide an exercise resistance force and cooperating with a user interface, the resistance unit being movably connected to the station frame so that the resistance unit can be moved between at least a first position and a second position. ### Claim 46 An exercise system comprising: a station frame; a seat assembly movably connected to the station frame so that the seat assembly can be moved between at least a first position and a second position; and a resistance unit being configured to provide an exercise resistance force and cooperating with a user interface, the resistance unit being movably connected to the station frame so that the resistance unit can be moved between at least a first position and a second position. ### Claim 47 An exercise apparatus comprising: a frame; a user interface movable between a retracted position and an extended position; a pneumatic actuator having a cylinder and a piston rod that extends from the cylinder along a stroke axis, the pneumatic actuator being disposed on the frame; a pulley wheel operatively coupled to the piston rod such that movement of the piston rod varies the distance between the pulley wheel and the cylinder; and a cable wrapped about at least a portion of the pulley wheel and having a first cable end and a second cable end, the second cable end being fixed to the frame and the first cable end being coupled to the user interface. ### Claim 48 An exercise apparatus comprising: a frame; a user interface movable between a retracted position and an extended position; a pneumatic actuator having a cylinder and a piston rod that extends from the cylinder along a stroke axis, the pneumatic actuator being disposed on the frame; a pulley wheel operatively coupled to the piston rod at a location offset from a center of the pulley wheel; and a cable wrapped about at least a portion of the pulley wheel and having a first cable end and a second cable end, the second cable end being fixed to the frame and the first cable end being coupled to the user interface.