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US 6,685,607 B1
3
is strategically oriented so that the resistance assembly is
compact and highly ef?cient.
The actuating assembly includes a handle mechanism that
is simple to operate and enables a user to easily select a
desirable resistance level. The handle mechanism includes a
?xed member and a moveable member pivotally connected
to the ?xed member and biased from the ?xed member.
Disposed at an end of the moveable member is an engage
ment member that is adapted to cooperate With at least one
aperture formed in the pivoting arm. As a user overcomes
the biasing force betWeen the ?xed member and the move
able member, the engagement member is removed from an
aperture to alloW movement of the handle mechanism rela
tive to the arm. When a neW resistance level is selected, such
as When the handle mechanism has been moved to a selected
position on the arm, a user may alloW the biasing force to
move the moveable member relative to the ?xed member to
position the engagement member Within another aperture.
This positioning of the engagement member Within another
aperture locks the position of the handle mechanism and
hence sets the selected resistance level.
Extending from the handle mechanism is a connecting
member. The connecting member cooperates With the resil
ient resistance member and functions to move a moveable
end of the resistance member as a user moves the operable
mechanism. The position of the handle mechanism upon the
pivoting arm and the amount that the connecting system is
moved governs the amount of movement of the resistance
member's moveable end. With the handle mechanism close
to the pivotal axis of the arm, the amount of movement of
the resistance member's moveable end is small and so the
level of resistance is small. Similarly, With the handle
mechanism being distant from the pivotal axis of the arm,
the amount of movement of the resistance member's move
able end is large and so the level of resistance is large. A
variety of resistance selections in betWeen are also available.
According to another embodiment of the present
invention, the exercise device includes a motoriZed resis
tance assembly. The resistance assembly includes an arm
assembly pivotally connected to a frame of the exercise
device. The arm assembly includes an arm With one or more
arced surfaces that cooperate With a connecting assembly of
the exercise device. A cross member of the connecting
assembly slides along the arced surfaces as a motor rotates
a drive member connected to the arm. As the cross member
moves along the drive member, the position of at least one
connecting member relative to at least one resistance mem
ber changes. The position of the cross member and/or the
connecting member de?nes the resistance level of the resis
tance assembly.
These and other objects and features of the present
invention Will become more fully apparent from the folloW
ing description and appended claims, or may be learned by
the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
To further clarify the above and other advantages and
features of the present invention, a more particular descrip
tion of the invention Will be rendered by reference to speci?c
embodiments thereof that are illustrated in the appended
draWings. It is appreciated that these draWings depict only
typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not
to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention Will be
described and explained With additional speci?city and
detail through the use of the accompanying draWings in
which:
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15
25
35
45
55
65
4
FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective vieW of an exercise device
in accordance With one embodiment of the present inven
tion;
FIG. 2A illustrates a side vieW of the exercise device of
FIG. 1 With a second exercise mechanism in an exercising
position;
FIG. 2B illustrates a side vieW of the exercise device of
FIG. 1 With a second exercise mechanism in a storage
position;
FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective vieW of a portion of a
resistance assembly of the exercise device of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective vieW of a portion of an
actuating assembly of the exercise device of FIG. 1;
FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate a partial cross-sectional vieW
of the portion of the actuating assembly of FIG. 4 demon
strating the selective movement of the handle in order to
selectively move the actuating assembly;
FIG. 6 illustrates a partial cross-sectional vieW of a
resistance assembly of the exercise device of FIG. 1 With the
actuating assembly located at a ?rst position closest to a
pivotal axis of an arm of the resistance assembly;
FIG. 7 illustrates a partial cross-sectional vieW of the
resistance assembly of the exercise device of FIG. 1 as an
exercise mechanism is manipulated;
FIG. 8 illustrates a partial cross-sectional vieW of the
resistance assembly of the exercise device of FIG. 1 With the
actuating assembly located at a second position furthers
from a pivot axis of an arm of the resistance assembly;
FIG. 9 illustrates a partial cross-sectional vieW of the
resistance assembly of the exercise device of FIG. 1 as an
exercise mechanism is manupulated;
FIG. 10 illustrates a perspective vieW of one or more
secondary support members that facilitate attachment of one
or more additional resistance members according to another
aspect of the invention; and
FIGS. 11A and 11B illustrates partial cross-sectional
vieWs of a resistance assembly featuring a motoriZed resis
tance member according to another aspect of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention generally relates to an exercise
device that has an adjustable resistance assembly that pro
vides resistance to an exercising user as he or she manipu
lates the exercise mechanisms of the exercise device. This
resistance assembly provides a simple and ef?cient manner
by Which the user may select different resistances, Without
the possibility of loosing pins or other elements that are
typically used to select a particular resistance. The con?gu
ration of the resistance assembly is compact, thereby limit
ing the overall space required or associated With the exercise
device. With reference noW to FIG. 1, depicted is one
con?guration of an exercise device according to one aspect
of the present invention.
Exercise device 10 comprises:
a frame 11; (ii) at least
one exercise mechanism (such as over head handle pull
doWn mechanism 14 and leg exercising mechanism 16); (iii)
a resistance assembly 12 that couples to frame 11; and (iv)
a connecting mechanism 18 that couples the at least one
exercise mechanism, e.g., mechanisms 14 and 16 to the
resistance assembly 12. Resistance assembly 12 controls the
amount of resistance encountered by a user exercising With
exercise mechanisms 14 and 16.
With reference noW to FIGS. 1, 2a, 2b, and 3, resistance
assembly 12 includes:
a pivoting arm 110 pivotally
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