Adjustable position gripping handle assembly for exercise machines

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020121979-A1
Application number	US-201916567555-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 11, 2019
Priority date	Oct 17, 2018
Publication date	Apr 23, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A gripping handle assembly for an exercise machine, the gripping handle assembly having an axial shaft connected at an angle to a gripping handle, wherein the axial shaft is receivable into a circular bearing housing that is mounted to an end of an exercise arm, and wherein the axial shaft and the circular bearing housing each have engaging mechanisms such that a user pushes on a knob or pulls on the gripping handle to first unlock the axial shaft and then rotate the gripping handle to a different radial position. Releasing the gripping handle causes a spring to lock it into its new radial position. The first engaging mechanism may be a collar connected to the gripping handle with an indexing tab on the collar and the second engaging mechanism may be a plurality of indexing slots on the circular bearing housing such that the indexing tab is receivable into any one of the indexing slots.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A gripping handle assembly for an exercise machine, comprising:
a circular bearing housing; an axial shaft receivable into the circular bearing housing; a gripping handle extending from the axial shaft, the gripping arm extending at an angle to the axial shaft; at least one bearing between the axial shaft and the circular bearing housing permitting rotational movement of the axial shaft within the circular bearing housing; a first engaging mechanism on the axial shaft; a second engaging mechanism on the circular bearing housing, wherein the first and second engaging mechanisms interlock to prevent rotation of the axial shaft in the circular bearing housing and wherein the first and second engaging mechanisms detach to permit rotation of the axial shaft in the circular bearing housing; and a spring biasing element in the circular bearing housing, the spring biasing element biasing the axial shaft into a locked position, the spring being displaceable to move the axial shaft into an unlocked position.

2 . The gripping handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the axial shaft moves forward into the locked position when the spring is in a neutral position.

3 . The gripping handle assembly of claim 2 , wherein the spring is compressed to unlock the axial shaft.

4 . The gripping handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first engagement mechanism is a collar having an indexing tab thereon, and the second engagement mechanism is a plurality of indexing slots on the circular bearing housing, and wherein the indexing tab is receivable into any one of the indexing slots.

5 . The gripping handle assembly of claim 4 , wherein the collar wraps around the outside of the circular housing.

6 . The gripping handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first and second engaging mechanisms detach from one another when a user pushes a knob connected to the gripping handle.

7 . The gripping handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first and second engaging mechanisms detach from one another when a user pulls the gripping handle out of the circular bearing housing.

8 . The gripping handle assembly of claim 1 , further comprising padding around the gripping handle.

9 . The gripping handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the handle assembly is mounted to a shoulder press machine such that a user pushing upwards on the exercise arm urges the axial shaft into its locked position.

10 . The gripping handle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first and second engagement mechanisms interlock at a plurality of different radial positions in a circle.

11 . The gripping handle assembly of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of different radial positions in a circle are disposed at 45 degrees to one another.

Assignees

• Hoist Fitness Systems Inc

Inventors

• Hockridge Bruce

Classifications

• A63B21/4035 Primary

  for operation by hand · CPC title

• A63B2225/09

  Adjustable dimensions · CPC title

• A63B21/4047

  Pivoting movement (weight pivoting A63B21/0615) · CPC title

• A63B21/0615

  pivoting about a fixed horizontal fulcrum · CPC title

• A63B23/1254

  Rotation about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body, e.g. butterfly-type exercises · CPC title