Apparatus and methods for adjustable supports for exercise machines

An exercise machine, comprising:

• a load;
• a force-transferring assembly operatively coupled to the load, the force-transferring assembly including at least one pulley;
• a support frame operatively coupled to the force-transferring assembly and having a support member pivotably coupled to an upright member by an adjustment assembly, the support member projecting outwardly from the upright member and having a proximal end portion that is proximate the upright member and a distal end portion that is distal from the upright member, at least part of the force-transferring assembly being coupled to the support member at a location distally-spaced from the upright member;
• and
• an exercise station coupled to the force-transferring assembly proximate the support member, wherein the adjustment assembly is configured to maintain the support member in a fixed position during use of the exercise station, and to enable adjustment of a projection angle of the support member relative to the upright member when the exercise station is not in use such that the exercise station is correspondingly adjustable over a plurality of vertical positions, and wherein the adjustment assembly includes:
• a pivot member at least partially disposed through a first portion of the support member between the proximal and distal end portions and at least partially disposed through the upright member, the pivot member pivotably coupling the outwardly-projecting support member to the upright member and rotatably supporting the at least one pulley of the force-transferring assembly;
• and
• a threaded member at least partially disposed through the support member at a location spaced apart from the pivot member toward the proximal end portion of the support member, the threaded member being threadedly engaged through a threaded portion coupled to the upright member, the threaded member being configured such that when rotated in a first direction the support member is pivoted in a first pivot direction and the exercise station is raised, and when rotated in a second direction the support member is pivoted in a second pivot direction and the exercise station is lowered.

A method of exercising using an exercise machine, comprising:

• providing an exercise station operatively coupled by a force-transferring assembly to a load, the force-transferring assembly including at least one pulley, the exercise station being positioned proximate a support member coupled to an upright member of a support frame by an adjustment assembly configured to maintain the support member in a fixed position during use of the exercise station, and to enable adjustment of a position of the support member relative to the upright member such that the exercise station is correspondingly adjustable over a plurality of vertical positions when the exercise station is not in use, the support member having a proximal end portion that is proximate the upright member and a distal end portion that is distal from the upright member, at least part of the force-transferring assembly being coupled to the support member at a location distally-spaced from the upright member, and wherein the adjustment assembly includes:
• a pivot member at least partially disposed through a first portion of the support member between the proximal and distal end portions and at least partially disposed through the upright member, the pivot member pivotably coupling the outwardly-projecting support member to the upright member and rotatably supporting the at least one pulley of the force-transferring assembly;
• and
• a threaded member at least partially disposed through the support member at a location spaced apart from the pivot member toward the proximal end portion of the support member, the threaded member being threadedly engaged through a threaded portion coupled to the upright member;
• with the exercise station not in use, varying a vertical height of the exercise station by adjusting the support member with respect to the upright member using the adjustment assembly, including at least one of rotating the threaded member in a first direction to raise the exercise station, or rotating the threaded member in a second direction to lower the exercise station;
• maintaining the support member in a fixed position using the adjustment assembly;
• and
• with the support member maintained in the fixed position by the adjustment assembly, exerting an exercising force on the exercise station.