Exercise machine

Abstract

An exercise machine includes a frame with a bench and/or standing platform mounted thereon. A pivotable member is pivotally mounted on the frame and rotates against a force produced by gas springs or other mechanisms each pivotally and removably connected to the frame and pivotable member at respective mounting locations. The gas springs are selectively mountable at a variety of locations in order to vary the direction and degree of force against which the user works. A handle and foot rest may be connected to the pivotable member and a cable-pulley assembly may be mounted on the pivotable member and frame for manipulation by a user. The pivotable member may be bent or curved toward the frame. A mounting structure may be slidable along the pivotable member or members of the frame to facilitate positioning of the gas springs for adjusting the degree of resistant force experienced by the user.

1 . An exercise machine comprising: 
 a frame adapted to sit on a floor and having a plurality of frame mounting locations;    a pivotable member pivotally mounted on the frame about a pivot axis and having at least one pivotable member mounting location; and    at least one gas spring mountable at the at least one pivotable member mounting location and selectively mountable at a respective one of the frame mounting locations.    
   
   
       2 . The machine of  claim 1  wherein the at least one pivotable member mounting location includes a plurality of mounting locations; and wherein the at least one gas spring is selectively mountable on the pivotable member at a respective one of the pivotable member mounting locations.  
   
   
       3 . The machine of  claim 2  wherein the at least one gas spring includes a plurality of gas springs each mounted at a respective one of the pivotable member mounting locations and at a respective one of the frame mounting locations.  
   
   
       4 . The machine of  claim 1  wherein the frame has a pair of opposed ends and a pair of opposed sides; and wherein the pivotable member is substantially centered between the opposed sides of the frame.  
   
   
       5 . The machine of  claim 1  further including a first stop to limit rotation of the pivotable member in a first direction and a second stop to limit rotation of the pivotable member in a second direction opposite the first direction.  
   
   
       6 . The machine of  claim 1  wherein at least one pulley is mounted on one of the pivotable member and the frame; wherein a flexible line adapted to be pulled movably engages the at least one pulley so that the pivotable member rotates about the pivot axis in response to movement of the flexible line.  
   
   
       7 . The machine of  claim 6  wherein the at least one pulley is mounted on the pivotable member whereby the pulley moves with rotation of the pivotable member so that the direction in which the flexible line is pulled varies as a result of the rotation of the pivotable member.  
   
   
       8 . The machine of  claim 1  wherein one of the at least one pivotable member mounting locations and the frame mounting locations is selectively movable and selectively securable at a desired location; and wherein the at least one gas spring is selectively positionable via the selectively movable mounting location to control the amount of force acting against pivotal movement the pivotable member.  
   
   
       9 . The machine of  claim 1  wherein the at least one gas spring includes a pair of gas springs mounting opposite one another respectively on opposite sides of the pivotable member.  
   
   
       10 . The machine of  claim 1  wherein the at least one gas spring includes a plurality of gas springs; wherein a set of a plurality of mounting locations is mounted on the pivotable member and a set of a plurality of mounting locations is mounted on the frame; wherein the sets are associated with one another such that a plurality of gas springs are each mountable on each of the sets at a respective mounting location thereof.  
   
   
       11 . The machine of  claim 1  wherein a mounting member for mounting the at least one force producing member is removably mounted on one of the frame and the pivotable member to allow removal and replacement of the mounting member if damaged.  
   
   
       12 . The machine of  claim 1  wherein the pivotable member includes a first portion extending from adjacent the pivot axis in a first direction and a second portion extending from adjacent the pivot axis in a second direction generally opposite to the first direction.  
   
   
       13 . The machine of  claim 12  wherein the at least one pivotable member mounting location includes a mounting location on each of the first and second portions of the pivotable member.  
   
   
       14 . The machine of  claim 12  wherein the frame has a front end and a rear end; wherein a user support is mounted on the frame adjacent the front end of the frame; and wherein the second portion of the pivotable member extends rearwardly beyond the rear end of the frame.  
   
   
       15 . The machine of  claim 12  wherein a user support is mounted on the frame; wherein at least part of the first portion of the pivotable member extends over the user support when the pivotable member is in a fully forward rotated position; and wherein no part of the second portion of the pivotable member extends over the user support.  
   
   
       16 . The machine of  claim 12  wherein a handle is connected to the first portion and adapted to be moved by a user to rotate the pivotable member; wherein the second portion of the pivotable member has a terminal end and is configured so that the terminal end extends downwardly when the pivotable member is in a fully forward rotated position; and wherein the at least one pivotable member mounting location includes a mounting location on the second portion of the pivotable member.  
   
   
       17 . The machine of  claim 12  wherein a handle is connected to the first portion and adapted to be moved by a user to rotate the pivotable member; wherein the second portion of the pivotable member is curved toward the frame; and wherein a mounting member is selectively movably mounted on the curved second portion to provide a plurality of pivotable member mounting locations along the curved second portion.  
   
   
       18 . The machine of  claim 17  wherein the mounting member is disposed on a sleeve defining a passage which receives the curved second portion of the pivotable member whereby the sleeve is slidably movable along the curved portion.  
   
   
       19 . The machine of  claim 12  wherein a handle is mounted on the first portion of the pivotable member and a footrest is mounted on the second portion of the pivotable member.  
   
   
       20 . The machine of  claim 12  wherein a handle is mounted on the first portion of the pivotable member to form a T-shaped structure with the first portion as the upright and the handle as the cross bar thereof.  
   
   
       21 . The machine of  claim 12  wherein one of the first and second portions of the pivotable member is curved toward the frame and has a terminal end distal the pivot axis; and wherein the curved portion adjacent the terminal end thereof abuts a stop on the frame to limit rotation of the pivotable member.  
   
   
       22 . An exercise machine comprising: 
 a frame adapted to sit on a floor; the frame having opposed front and rear ends and at least one frame mounting location;    a user support mounted on the frame;    an elongated pivotable member pivotally mounted on the frame about a pivot axis which is disposed rearwardly of the user support; the pivotable member including an elongated first portion extending from adjacent the pivot axis in a generally forward direction and an elongated second portion extending from adjacent the pivot axis in a generally rearward direction;    the pivotable member having at least one pivotable member mounting location; and    at least one gas spring mountable at the at least one frame mounting location and mountable at the least one pivotable member mounting location.    
   
   
       23 . The machine of  claim 22  wherein the at the least one pivotable member mounting location includes a mounting location along the second portion of the pivotable member.  
   
   
       24 . The machine of  claim 22  wherein the at the least one frame mounting location is disposed rearwardly of the user support.  
   
   
       25 . An exercise machine comprising: 
 a frame adapted to sit on a floor; the frame having opposed front and rear ends and at least one frame mounting location;    a standing platform mounted on the frame;    an elongated pivotable member pivotally mounted on the frame about a pivot axis and having at least one pivotable member mounting location; the pivotable member extending forward of the pivot axis generally toward the standing platform; and    at least one gas spring mountable at the at least one frame mounting location and mountable at the at least one pivotable member mounting location.    
   
   
       26 . The machine of  claim 25  wherein a bench is removably mounted on the frame over the standing platform.  
   
   
       27 . The machine of  claim 25  wherein at least one pulley is mounted on one of the pivotable member and the frame; wherein a flexible line movably engages the at least one pulley so that the pivotable member rotates about the pivot axis in response to movement of the flexible line; and wherein a handle is connected to the flexible line and is adapted to be pulled against a force produced by the at least one gas spring.