Exercise machine for upper extremities

Exercise apparatus for strengthening the arm, shoulder, and back muscles. A weight bearing bar capable of holding free weights is moved through a path as the user draws a pair of elongate handles over the front of the body. As the weight bearing bar is moved, the moment arm of the weight is reduced, thereby reducing the effort required to draw the elongate levers downward as the leverage of the user's muscles declines. The elongate handles are mounted to a moveable assembly which is rotatable over a limited range and also is pivotable toward the user. The apparatus may be placed in a storage position when use is complete.

If you were to search for Exercise machine for upper extremities using relaxed search criteria, these patents would come up:

Having described the invention, I claim:

1. Exercise apparatus comprising

a base with an inclined bench supported thereupon,

the inclined bench having a lower end and a higher end,

a moveable assembly supported upon said base and spaced apart from the higher end of said inclined bench,

the moveable assembly comprising a first lever, an arm extending from the first lever, and a weight-carrying member mounted to said arm,

said moveable assembly pivotably mounted to said base to pivot about a horizontal axis,

said moveable assembly rotatable mounted to said base to rotate about a vertical axis,

a pair of spaced apart handle members extending from said first lever toward said higher end of said bench,

said horizontal pivot axis disposed laterally between said weight-carrying member and said handle members,

each of said spaced apart handle members disposed toward an opposing side of said inclined bench,

said weight-carrying member operable to receive weights thereon.

2. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 wherein

said base has a first end and a second end,

said inclined bench is disposed on said base with its lower end adjacent said first end of said base,

said movable assembly is disposed between said inclined bench and said second end of said base,

said movable assembly is disposed in substantial alignment with said inclined bench so that a user supported on said inclined bench may engage said moveable assembly,

said arm extends generally perpendicularly from said first lever.

3. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 wherein

said base has a first end and a second end,

a rest support post upstands from said base adjacent said second end thereof,

said arm having a stub arm depending therefrom,

said stub arm having a bearing element laterally mounted thereto,

said bearing element abutting said rest support post at the top thereof when said exercise apparatus is in a storage position.

4. The exercise apparatus of claim 3 wherein

said bearing element is a roller on an axle,

said axle substantially parallel to said arm.

5. The exercise apparatus of claim 4 wherein

said rest support post is provided with a cradle at the top thereof,

said roller rests in said cradle when said apparatus is in a storage position.

6. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 wherein

said movable assembly is supported by a pivot support member which upstands from said base and is located therealong.

7. The exercise apparatus of claim 6 wherein

said base has a first end and a second end,

a first supporting member upstands from said base,

said first supporting member disposed upon said first end of said base,

a second supporting member upstands from said base,

said second supporting member is disposed between said first end and said pivot support member,

said inclined bench is supported upon said first supporting member and said second supporting member.

8. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 wherein

said base has a first end and a second end,

a seat is supported over said base,

the seat mounted adjacent said lower end of said inclined bench,

said seat supported generally above the first end of said base.

9. The exercise apparatus of claim 8 wherein

a transverse bar is disposed below said seat,

said transverse bar substantially perpendicular to the axis of said inclined bench.

10. Exercise apparatus of claim 1 wherein

said base has a first end and a second end,

said moveable assembly rotatably mounted to said base to rotate about a vertical axis,

a first upstanding support post disposed upon said first end of said base,

a second upstanding support post disposed along said base,

an inclined bar supported upon said first upstanding support post and upon said second upstanding support post,

said inclined bench supported upon said inclined bar, said inclined bar having a seat supporting bar extending therefrom, said seat supporting bar overlying said first end of said base,

a seat mounted upon said seat supporting bar,

the seat mounted adjacent said lower end of said inclined bench,

a transverse cushioned bar disposed below said seat,

the transverse cushioned bar extending from opposing sides of said seat,

a third upstanding support post mounted to said base between said second upstanding support post and said second end of said base,

a fourth upstanding support post mounted adjacent said second end of said base,

the fourth upstanding support post having a concave upper end,

said moveable assembly supported over said base between said upper end of said bench and said second end of said base,

said arm extending perpendicularly from said first lever and having a free end,

said weight-carrying member mounted to said free end of said arm,

said weight-carrying member disposed substantially horizontally,

said arm having a stub arm depending therefrom,

said stub aim having a bearing member mounted therealong,

said bearing member comprising a roller bearing on an axle, said axle mounted to said stub arm,

said axle of said bearing member disposed substantially parallel to the axis of said arm,

said free end of said arm disposed over said second end of said base when said moveable assembly is at rest,

said moveable assembly supported upon said third upstanding support post,

said first lever of said moveable assembly axially rotatable upon said third upstanding support post,

the rotation of said first lever bar limited by stop means,

said stop means selectively adjustable,

each of said spaced apart handle members curved toward the other,

each of said spaced apart handle members having a cushion along a section thereof,

said weight-carrying member having smaller cross section extensions sized to receive individual weight plates thereon,

whereby a user reclining upon said bench and resting on said seat may grasp said handle members and pivot said moveable assembly.

11. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 wherein

said moveable assembly has a rest position and an operating position,

a rest support member upstands from said base spaced apart from said horizontal axis of pivot of said moveable assembly,

said rest support member having an upper end,

said arm having a stub arm depending therebelow,

the stub arm supported upon said upper end of said rest support member when said moveable assembly is in the rest position,

said movable assembly supported above said base by a pivot support member located between said rest support member and said inclined bench,

whereby a user reclining on said inclined bench while said moveable assembly is in said rest position may grasp said handles without fully extending the user's arms.

12. An exercise system comprising

an inclined bench having a higher end and a lower end,

a loadable member disposed apart from said higher end of said inclined bench and aligned generally therewith for engagement by a user supported on said inclined bench,

the loadable member rotatable mounted for rotation about a substantially vertical axis,

said loadable member comprising a first lever, an arm extending from said first lever, means for selectively weighing said arm, and handle members extending from said first lever in a direction opposite to that of said arm,

said handle members extending toward said higher end of said bench,

said loadable member pivotably mounted to pivot about a substantially horizontal axis,

said horizontal axis of pivot disposed horizontally between said arm of said loadable member and said handle members thereof.

13. The exercise system of claim 12 wherein

said arm has a stub arm depending therefrom along the length thereof,

said stub arm having a first side,

said first side having a bearing member mounted thereto,

an upstanding member spaced a fixed distance from said higher end of said bench,

said upstanding member having a bearing surface therealong,

said bearing member touchingly engageable with said bearing surface when said loadable member is pivoted through a segment of its range of pivot.

14. The exercise system of claim 13 wherein

said bearing member is a roller rotatable on a shaft mounted to said first side of said stub arm.

15. The exercise system of claim 14 wherein

said rotation of said loadable member is limited to approximately ten degrees,

said bench has a seat member disposed near the lower end thereof,

said seat disposed generally horizontally,

a transverse bar is mounted below said seat member,

said transverse bar is generally perpendicular to the axis of said inclined bench,

said means for selectively weighting said arm comprises a transverse rod mounted to said arm.

16. The exercise system of claim 12 wherein

said rotation of said loadable member is limited.

17. The exercise system of claim 16 wherein

said rotation of said loadable member is limited to approximately ten degrees.

18. The exercise apparatus of claim 12 wherein

said bench has a seat member disposed near the lower end thereof,

said seat disposed generally horizontally.

19. The exercise apparatus of claim 18 wherein

a transverse bar is mounted below said seat member,

said transverse bar is generally perpendicular to the axis of said inclined bench.

20. The exercise system of claim 12 wherein

said means for selectively weighting said arm comprises a transverse rod mounted to said arm.