Exercise machine

Abstract

An exercise machine includes a frame having a horizontal cross beam which can be formed in two sections at right angles each defining an exercise area on a floor underneath the cross beam together with two pairs of upright posts where a first exercise area is formed between a wider spaced pair of the posts and a second exercise area is formed between a narrower spaced pair of the posts. Each post carries an exercise element including a mounting collar carried on the respective post and slidable longitudinally of the post to adjust the position of the exercise element on the post. Each exercise element includes a cable attached to an adjustable resistance element, a pair of pulleys between which the cable passes carried on a housing pivotal relative to the post and a hand grip member attached to an end of the cable such that the hand grip member can be grasped by a person for pulling on the cable with the cable being guided as it is pulled by at least one of the pulleys. The apparatus also provides a glove which is designed to allow the cable to be attached while applying forces to the forearm away from the wrist and also provides a mat which shows exercises to be doe on the machine

1 . An exercise machine comprising: 
 a frame arranged to be mounted on and fixed to a floor for multiple exercises to be carried out by a person at the frame, the frame comprising:    a horizontal cross beam defining an exercise area on a floor underneath the cross beam;    at least one pair of upright posts each at a respective side of the exercise area underneath the cross beam and connected thereto so as to extend from the cross beam to the floor;    and a plurality of exercise elements mounted on the frame with two of the exercise elements being located each on a respective one of the pair of posts;    each of the exercise elements mounted on respective ones of the posts including a mounting bracket carried on the respective post and moveable longitudinally of the post to adjust the position of the exercise element on the post;    and each exercise element including a cable attached to an adjustable resistance element, a pair of pulleys between which the cable passes and a hand grip member attached to an end of the cable such that the hand grip member can be grasped by a person for pulling on the cable with the cable being guided as it is pulled by at least one of the pulleys.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein each of the exercise elements is movable relative to its respective post from a bottom of the post for the person to pull upwardly and to a top of the post for the person to pull downwardly.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein each of the exercise elements includes a mounting member carrying the pulleys so that the cable passes between the pulleys and a pivot coupling connecting the mounting member to the post allowing the pulleys in the mounting member to pivot about an axis parallel to the post so as to move side to side.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein each of the exercise elements includes a collar surrounding the respective post and slidable along the post, the post having a series of location points which can be selected so as to set the collar at a selected one of the location points.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein there are provided a first pair of posts spaced by a distance greater than the arm span of the person such that the person can pull horizontally inwardly from an arm spanned position and a second pair of posts spaced by a distance which is less than that of the first pair and less than the arm span of the person.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus according to  claim 5  wherein the first pair of posts is provided at a first location on the frame to provide a first exercise area and wherein the second pair of posts is provided at a second location on the frame to provide a first exercise area.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus according to  claim 6  wherein the horizontal cross beam includes a first beam portion at which the first pair of posts and the first exercise area is located and a second beam portion at right angles to the first beam portion at which the second pair of posts and the second exercise area is located.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein there is provided a mat for location on the floor in the exercise area, the mat having printed on an upper surface thereof illustrations of a series of exercises available to the carried out at the apparatus.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus according to  claim 8  wherein the illustrations are arranged in rows and columns.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus according to  claim 8  wherein the illustrations are arranged in columns headed by an area of the body to be exercised.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus according to  claim 8  wherein the illustrations include start and finish positions only for reach exercise.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein there is provided a glove for wearing by the person having a forearm engaging portion for engaging around the forearm of the person and a hand engaging portion which engages over the hand of the person, at least one brace therein extending from the hand engaging portion longitudinally toward the forearm engaging portion to resist bending of the wrist during exercise; wherein the cable includes an attachment portion for attachment to loops on the forearm engaging portion in such a manner that the force for the attachment portion is communicated into the forearm engaging portion and the brace to avoid applying bending forces to the wrist.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus according to  claim 12  wherein the glove includes a plurality of longitudinally extending straps extending from the hand engaging portion to the forearm engaging portion and wherein at least one of the straps includes a loop for receiving the attachment portion of the cable.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus according to  claim 12  wherein the glove includes a peripheral strap extending around the forearm engaging portion at a base end of the glove and wherein the peripheral straps includes at least one loop for receiving the attachment portion of the cable.  
   
   
       15 . An exercise machine comprising: 
 a frame arranged to be mounted on and fixed to a floor for multiple exercises to be carried out by a person at the frame;    a plurality of exercise elements mounted on the frame at an exercise area of the frame;    wherein there is provided a mat for location on the floor in the exercise area, the mat having printed on an upper surface thereof illustrations of a series of exercises available to the carried out at the apparatus.    
   
   
       16 . The apparatus according to  claim 15  wherein the illustrations are arranged in rows and columns.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus according to  claim 15  wherein the illustrations are arranged in columns headed by an area of the body to be exercised.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus according to  claim 15  wherein the illustrations include start and finish positions only for reach exercise.  
   
   
       19 . An exercise machine comprising: 
 a frame arranged to be mounted on and fixed to a floor for multiple exercises to be carried out by a person at the frame;    a plurality of exercise elements mounted on the frame;    each exercise element including a cable, a pair of pulleys between which the cable passes and an attachment portion at the end of the cable;    and a glove for wearing by the person having: 
 a forearm engaging portion for engaging around the forearm of the person;  
 a hand engaging portion which engages over the hand of the person;  
 at least one brace therein extending from the hand engaging portion longitudinally toward the forearm engaging portion to resist bending of the wrist during exercise;  
 and a plurality of loops on the forearm engaging portion for connection to the attachment portion of the cable and arranged thereon in such a manner that the force from the attachment portion is communicated into the forearm engaging portion and the brace to avoid applying bending forces to the wrist.  
   
   
   
       20 . The apparatus according to  claim 19  wherein the glove includes a plurality of longitudinally extending straps extending from the hand engaging portion to the forearm engaging portion and wherein at least one of the straps includes a loop for receiving the attachment portion of the cable.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus according to  claim 19  wherein the glove includes a peripheral strap extending around the forearm engaging portion at a base end of the glove and wherein the peripheral straps includes at least one loop for receiving the attachment portion of the cable.