Fitness apparatus

Abstract

A fitness apparatus with a member mounted on a support frame which rotates about a first axis, with a handle mounted on said member for gripping by a user, offset from said first axis and rotating about a second axis, the distance between the first and second axes changing during rotation of the member as the user exerts a force on the handle, such that the handle describes an elliptical arc and aligns itself to the correct position with respect to the member in relation to the height and reach of the user at each instant of the revolution.

1 . A fitness apparatus, said apparatus comprising: 
 a support frame;    a member mounted on the support frame for rotation about a first axis;    a handle mounted on said member at a location spaced from said first axis for gripping by the hand or hands of a user to exert a force to rotate said member about said first axis, said handle rotatably mounted with respect to said member at least about a second axis parallel to the first axis, and wherein the distance between said first axis and said second axis can change during the rotation of the member.    
   
   
       2 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said handle is rotated through at least part of a revolution during an application of force by the user to move said member.  
   
   
       3 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said member and said handle are capable of being moved through a complete revolution and repeated revolutions to provide the desired exercise.  
   
   
       4 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein adjustment means are provided such that a range of distance change between the axis of rotation of said member and said handle can be adjusted.  
   
   
       5 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said member is an arm formed of two portions, a first portion rotationally mounted on said first axis and a second portion pivotally mounted on the first portion and including said handle thereon.  
   
   
       6 . An apparatus according to  claim 5  wherein said second portion is mounted on an end of said first portion at a location intermediate ends of said second portion.  
   
   
       7 . An apparatus according to  claim 5  wherein said first portion is mounted on said support frame of said apparatus at a location intermediate ends of said first portion.  
   
   
       8 . An apparatus according to  claim 5  wherein in one revolution, said second portion of said arm pivots from a position where it is extended from said first portion at an obtuse angle, through to a position where said first and said second portions are at an acute angle.  
   
   
       9 . An apparatus according to  claim 5  wherein said first and second portions are retained in a particular angular orientation which acts as a default position by a resilient means.  
   
   
       10 . An apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein strength of said resilient means can be adjusted so as to provide particular resistance to the user.  
   
   
       11 . An apparatus according to  claim 5  wherein during use, the angular orientation of said first and second portions change as rotation of said arm is caused by user.  
   
   
       12 . An apparatus according to  claim 5  wherein said second portion can be locked by locking means at a particular angle with respect to said first portion as required by the user.  
   
   
       13 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said handle includes a body portion in contact with said member and a bar portion rotatably mounted on said body portion such that the bar portion is rotatable about an axis of said body portion.  
   
   
       14 . An apparatus according to  claim 13  wherein the axis of rotation between said body portion and said member is perpendicular to the axis of rotation between said body portion and said bar portion.  
   
   
       15 . An apparatus according to  claim 13  wherein at least one grip portion is rotatably mounted on said bar portion, such that the grip portion rotates around an axis.  
   
   
       16 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said member includes a counterbalance.  
   
   
       17 . An apparatus according to  claim 16  wherein said counterbalance is provided at an opposite end of said member to said handle.  
   
   
       18 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said member is an arm having a track on which said handle is slidably mounted, either directly or via an intermediate slider mounting.  
   
   
       19 . An apparatus according to  claim 18  wherein said handle is free move along a predetermined length of said arm, and as the user rotates said arm by gripping said handle and/or grip portions, an arc shape defined by the handle can vary in shape and size as said handle aligns itself along said arm member to a correct position in relation to a height and reach of the user at each instant of revolution.  
   
   
       20 . An apparatus according to  claim 18  wherein said track and/or handle includes damping means to control movement of said handle along said track.  
   
   
       21 . An apparatus according to  claim 18  wherein said track portion includes shock absorbers at either end of said track.  
   
   
       22 . An apparatus according to  claim 18  wherein the slider mounting or handle includes openings along the same for interengagement with engagement means to allow the user to adjust said handle portion position with respect to said arm.  
   
   
       23 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said support frame includes an upper portion and a lower portion.  
   
   
       24 . An apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein rotation of said member is acted against by inter-engagement with a resistance mechanism.  
   
   
       25 . An apparatus according to  claim 24  wherein the resistance mechanism is at least partially covered by a drum or other housing.  
   
   
       26 . An apparatus according to  claim 24  wherein said resistance mechanism can may be selected from the group consisting of: friction based pads, eddy current magnetic brake, and flywheel counterbalance.  
   
   
       27 . An apparatus according to  claim 23  wherein said upper portion of said support frame is connected to said lower portion via a tilt mechanism, which allows said upper portion to be tilted away from said lower portion.  
   
   
       28 . An apparatus according to  claim 27  wherein said tilt mechanism is controlled by at least two adjustment means; one for forwards-backwards tilting, the other for left-right tilting.  
   
   
       29 . An apparatus according to  claim 28  wherein said apparatus includes a base member, upon which a user may stand when using said apparatus, thereby further lowering the centre of gravity of said apparatus.  
   
   
       30 . A fitness apparatus, said apparatus comprising: 
 a support frame;    a member mounted on the frame for rotation about a first axis having a first portion rotationally mounted on the first axis and a second portion pivotally mounted on the first portion;    a handle mounted on said member second portion at a location spaced from said first axis for gripping by the hand or hands of a user to exert a force to rotate said member about said first axis, said handle mounted with respect to said member at a spaced location from the first axis.    
   
   
       31 . An apparatus according to  claim 30  wherein distance between said first axis and said handle changes during rotation of said member.