Exercise machine for performing rowing-type and other exercises

An exercise machine includes a longitudinal rail for slidably supporting a carriage assembly together with the weight of a user. The longitudinal rail is supported at an elevation above a support surface by a fore support structure positioned at the fore end of the rail and by an aft support structure positioned at the aft end of the rail. A carriage assembly slidably engages the rail structure and supports the weight of a user on the rail structure. The carriage assembly includes roller wheels for rolling engagement with the rail. A lever is pivotally connected to the rail and enables a user to operate the exercise machine. The lever has a hand grip assembly at one end and a foot grip assembly at the other end. A resistance structure is connected to and positioned between the fore end of the rail and the carriage assembly and provides resistance to translational movement of the carriage assembly and pivotal movement of the lever. A cable connects the lever to the carriage assembly and, thereby, to the resistance structure. A pulley is secured to the aft end of the rail and is used to guide the ends of the cable to the lever and to the carriage. A seat is positioned on the carriage for sitting by a user, who operates the exercise machine in a conventional or modified rowing-type fashion.

If you were to search for Exercise machine for performing rowing-type and other exercises using relaxed search criteria, these patents would come up:

What is claimed:

1. An exercise machine, comprising: rail means for supporting a carriage means together with the weight of a user, said rail means having a first end and a second end spaced fromsaid first end; support means for supporting said rail means above a support surface, said support means having a first end connected to said rail means and a second end configured for contact with said support surface; carriage means for slidablysupporting the weight of a user on said rail means, said carriage means having sliding means for sliding engagement with said rail means, said carriage means having a first connection means and a second connection means; lever means for operating saidexercise machine by said user, said lever means being pivotally connected to said rail means, said lever means having a first end and a second end spaced from said first end; resistance means for providing resistance to pivotal movement of said levermeans, said resistance means having a first end connected to said first connection means and a second end connected to said rail means; cable means for operably connecting said lever means to said resistance means, said cable means having a first endconnected to said second connection means and a second end connected to said second end of said lever means; guide means for guiding said first end of said cable means toward said second connection means and for guiding said second end of said cablemeans toward said second end of said lever means, said guide means being connected to said rail means proximate said second end of said rail means; and seat means for positioning the buttocks of a user thereon, said seat means being connected to saidcarriage means.

2. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein said rail means includes a first longitudinal rail and a second longitudinal rail, said first longitudinal rail and said second longitudinal rail being disposed in a side by side fashion, said firstlongitudinal rail having an upper surface and a lower surface, said second longitudinal rail having an upper surface and a lower surface.

3. The exercise machine of claim 2, wherein said lever means comprises an elongate member having a first end and a second end spaced from said first end, said elongate member having an intermediate portion pivotally disposed between said firstlongitudinal rail and said second longitudinal rail.

4. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein said carriage means includes a frame member and wherein said sliding means includes at least one roller wheel mounted to said frame member and in rolling contact with said rail means.

5. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein said resistance means includes at least one elastic cord.

6. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein said resistance means includes at least one gas cylinder.

7. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein said guide means includes a pulley, and wherein said pulley is rotatably mounted to said rail means proximate said second end of said rail means.

8. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein said rail means includes at least one longitudinal rail, said at least one longitudinal rail having a first end, a second end and a central portion intermediate said first end and said second end.

9. The exercise machine of claim 8, wherein said central portion of said at least one longitudinal rail has an aperture extending there through and wherein said lever means includes an elongate member having a first end and a second end spacedfrom said first end, said elongate member having an intermediate portion extending through said aperture and pivotally connected to said longitudinal rail.

10. The exercise machine of claim 8, wherein said central portion of said at least one longitudinal rail has a first side wall and a second side wall and wherein said lever means includes an upper portion, a lower portion and an intermediateportion and wherein said intermediate portion is pivotally connected to at least one of said first side wall and said second side wall.

11. The exercise machine of claim 8, wherein said at least one longitudinal rail has a length and a sidewall extending along a portion of said length, wherein said sidewall has a channel recessed therein, wherein said carriage means includes aframe and wherein said frame includes at least one tab member configured for sliding engagement with said channel.

12. The exercise machine of claim 2, wherein said carriage means includes a roller and frame assembly slidably engaged with both said first longitudinal rail and said second longitudinal rail, said roller and frame assembly having a first wheelin rolling contact with said upper surface of said first longitudinal rail and a second wheel in rolling contact with said upper surface of said second longitudinal rail, said roller and frame assembly having a third wheel in rolling contact with saidupper surface of said first longitudinal rail and a fourth wheel in rolling contact with said upper surface of said second longitudinal rail, said roller and frame assembly having a fifth wheel in rolling contact with said lower surface of said firstlongitudinal rail and a sixth wheel in rolling contact with said lower surface of said second longitudinal rail.

13. The exercise machine of claim 12, further including a hand grip, said hand grip being connected to said lever means proximate said first end of said lever means.

14. The exercise machine of claim 12, further including a foot grip, said foot grip being connected to said lever means proximate said second end of said lever means.

15. An exercise machine, comprising: at least one longitudinal rail, said at least one longitudinal rail having a first end and a second end spaced from said first end; a support structure connected to said at least one longitudinal rail; alever structure pivotally connected to said at least one longitudinal rail; a carriage structure slidably engaged with said at least one longitudinal rail; resistance means for providing resistance to movement of said carriage structure along said atleast one longitudinal rail, said resistance means having a first end connected to said longitudinal rail and a second end connected to said carriage structure; a cable, said cable having a first end connected to said carriage structure and a second endconnected to said lever structure; and a pulley, said pulley being rotatably connected to said at least one longitudinal rail proximate said second end of said at least one longitudinal rail, said cable being operably coupled to said pulley.

16. An exercise machine, comprising: a frame, said frame having a first end, a second end and a longitudinal portion intermediate said first end and said second end, said frame being configured for positioning on a support surface; a leverstructure pivotally connected to said longitudinal portion of said frame, said lever structure having an upper end and a lower end, said lever structure including foot supports positioned proximate said lower end and sized and configured for placement ofthe feet of the user, said lever structure further including hand grips positioned proximate said upper end and sized and configured for receiving the hands of a user; a carriage structure slidably engaged with said longitudinal portion of said frame; resistance means for providing resistance to movement of said carriage structure along said longitudinal portion of said frame; a cable, said cable having a first end connected to said carriage structure and a second end connected to said leverstructure; and a pulley, said pulley being rotatably connected to said longitudinal portion of said frame proximate said second end of said longitudinal portion of said frame, said cable being operably coupled to said pulley.

17. The exercise machine of claim 16, wherein said longitudinal portion of said frame includes a single longitudinal rail.

18. The exercise machine of claim 16, wherein said longitudinal portion of said frame includes a plurality of longitudinal rails.

19. The exercise machine of claim 16, wherein said carriage structure includes a roller wheel.

20. The exercise machine of claim 16, wherein said longitudinal portion of said frame is disposed at a non-zero angle relative to said support surface.