Exercise machine with movable user support

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9707448-B2
Application number	US-201313946446-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 19, 2013
Priority date	Aug 8, 2012
Publication date	Jul 18, 2017
Grant date	Jul 18, 2017

Abstract

An exercise machine with a two directional pivoting user support assembly has a user support or platform which supports the user and pivots about a first pivot axis during an exercise movement, and is also pivotable about at least one second pivot axis to involve the user's core muscles in balancing and maintaining the user support in a stable position. A manually operable locking device with a simple flip switch lever is provided for selectively locking the user support against rotation about the second pivot axis, so that the user can easily chose whether to perform the exercise with a stable support or to add a level of difficulty by using the unstable seat mode and exercising core muscles during the exercise.

First claim

We claim:

1. A movable user support assembly for supporting a user in a seated or kneeling position while performing an exercise on an exercise machine, comprising:
a base;
a two directional pivoting user support associated with the base and configured to support a user in an exercise position while performing an exercise, the user support being rotatable about a first pivot axis during the exercise;
a pivotal connection between the base and the user support defining at least one second, non-vertical pivot axis for tilting of the user support about said at least one second, non-vertical pivot axis in at least two opposite directions between first and second end positions, the user support having a centered support position between said end positions;
a locking device which is configured to selectively lock the user support against tilting about the second non-vertical pivot axis, the locking device having a first, locking position defining a stable support mode in which the user support rotates about the first pivot axis only and is locked against tilting about the second, non-vertical pivot axis, and a second, released position defining an unstable support mode in which the user support is free to tilt about said second, non-vertical pivot axis between said end positions; and a stop assembly between the base and user support which defines the respective first and second end positions and limits tilting movement of the user support from said centered support position.

2. The user support assembly of claim 1 , wherein said user support is configured for free tilting movement in opposite directions about said second, non-vertical pivot axis in the unstable support mode.

3. The user support assembly of claim 2 , wherein the stop assembly comprises first and second end stops which engage the user support at respective opposite ends of a predetermined angular range to define the respective first and second end positions.

4. The user support assembly of claim 3 , wherein the predetermined angular range is from zero to approximately 5 degrees.

5. The user support assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second, non-vertical pivot axis extends transversely through the user support to allow side to side swiveling motion of the user support in the unstable support mode.

6. The user support of assembly of claim 1 , wherein the user support has at least one user support pad having a rear end, a forward end, and a central axis between the rear and forward ends, and the user support pad is configured for engagement by a user's knees and lower legs on opposite sides of the central axis with the user in a kneeling position.

7. The user support assembly of claim 1 , wherein the user support has at least one user support pad configured to support a user in a seated position.

8. The user support assembly of claim 1 , wherein the locking device comprises a first lock part having an opening and a second part comprising a releasable locking pin movable between a locked position engaging the opening to prevent rotation of the user support about the second non-vertical pivot axis and an unlocked position retracted from the opening, one of the lock parts being associated with the user support and the other lock part being associated with the base.

9. The user support assembly of claim 8 , wherein the user support includes a user support platform and a user support pad on top of the platform on which the user is supported during an exercise, the first lock part comprises a lock plate secured to the user support platform and extending downwards from the platform and the second part is mounted on the base.

10. The user support assembly of claim 8 , wherein the first lock part is secured to the base and the second part is secured to the user support.

11. An exercise machine, comprising:
a stationary main frame;
a user support assembly mounted on the main frame
the user support assembly comprising a base pivotally mounted on the main frame for rotation about a first, vertical pivot axis, a user support adapted to support a user in an exercise position during an exercise, and a pivot connection between the user support and the base configured for allowing tilting of the user support about at least one second, non-vertical pivot axis in at least two opposite directions from a centered user support position;
an exercise arm assembly movably mounted relative to the main frame and having a user engaging portion which is adapted for engagement by a part of a user's body to perform an exercise when a user is supported in an exercise position on the user support; and
a locking device between the user support and the base which is configured to selectively lock the user support against tilting about the second, non-vertical pivot axis, the locking device comprising a lock pin, a pin housing having a fixed rear edge, and a cam member attached to the lock pin, the locking device having a first, locking position defining a stable support mode in which the user support is locked against tilting about the second, non-vertical pivot axis during an exercise and the lock pin extends out of the lock pin housing, and a second, released position defining an unstable support mode in which the user support is free to tilt about said second, non-vertical pivot axis during an exercise and the cam member and the attached lock pin are forced into a retracted position by the fixed rear edge of the pin housing.

12. The exercise machine of claim 11 , further comprising a stop assembly between the base and user support which defines respective first and second end positions and limits tilting of the user support in the unstable support mode in each direction from said centered support position to a predetermined angular range.

13. The exercise machine of claim 12 , wherein the stop assembly comprises first and second end stops defining the respective first and second end positions.

14. The exercise machine of claim 11 , wherein the first vertical pivot axis is perpendicular to the second, non-vertical pivot axis.

15. The exercise machine of claim 11 , further comprising a connecting linkage between the user support assembly and exercise arm assembly which links movement of the exercise arm assembly during an exercise to movement of the user support assembly about said first pivot axis, and a load which resists movement of at least one of the user support assembly, the exercise arm assembly and the connecting linkage.

16. The exercise machine of claim 13 , wherein the user support includes a user support platform and the second, non-vertical pivot axis is a tilting pivot axis in a plane parallel to the user support platform.

17. The exercise machine of claim 16 , wherein the end stops comprise resilient bumpers mounted on one of the base and the user support platform on opposite sides of the tilting pivot axis.

18. The exercise machine of claim 17 , wherein the end stops are resilient bumpers mounted on the base.

19. The exercise machine of claim 11 , wherein the locking device comprises a first lock part having an opening and a second part comprising a releasable locking pin movable between a locked position engaging the opening to prevent tilting of the user support about the second, non-vertical pivot axis and an unlocked position retracted from the opening, one of the lock parts being associated with the user support and the other lock part being associated with the base.

20. The exercise machine of claim 19 , wherein the user support includes a user support platform and a user support p

Assignees

• Hoist Fitness Systems Inc

Inventors

• Hockridge Bruce
• Meredith Jeffrey O
• Doan Thao V

Classifications

• A63B23/00

  Exercising apparatus specially adapted for particular parts of the body (A63B22/00 takes precedence; force-resisting aspects A63B21/00; electric or electronic controls therefor A63B24/00; devices for exercising or strengthening of fingers, or arms in teaching operation of keyboards G09B15/06) · CPC title

• A63B21/4039

  contoured to fit to specific body parts, e.g. back, knee or neck support (arrangements for attaching exercising apparatus to the user's body A63B21/4001; handles, pedals, bars or platforms A63B21/4033) · CPC title

• A63B2023/003

  by torsion of the body part around its longitudinal axis · CPC title

• A63B21/4033

  Handles, pedals, bars or platforms · CPC title

• A63B21/4049

  Rotational movement · CPC title