Exercise apparatus

Abstract

An exercise apparatus is disclosed for strength training and physical therapy of a user thereof. The apparatus includes a frame having a first side and a second side spaced relative to the first side and at least one spacer extending between the sides. An axle is rotatably supported by the frame, the axle having a first and a second end. An arm has a first and a second extremity, the first extremity of the arm being rigidly secured to the first end of the axle. A handle extends from the second extremity of the arm such that in use of the apparatus, when the user moves the handle in an orbital direction about the axle, the axle is rotated relative to the frame. A weight table is movably supported by the frame. A weight guide extends from the weight table for permitting weights to be guided onto the weight table. A first table support has a proximal and a distal end, the proximal end being pivotally secured to the frame at a first location, the distal end being pivotally secured to the weight table at a first disposition. A second table support has a first and a second termination, the first termination being pivotally secured to the frame at a second location spaced relative to the first location. The second termination is pivotally secured to the weight table at a second disposition, the second disposition being spaced relative to the first disposition. The arrangement is such that, in use of the apparatus, the weight table is moved from a first position adjacent to the frame to a second position away from the frame. The weight table is inclined relative to the frame when in the first position thereof for facilitating guiding weights onto and along the weight guide onto the weight table. The weight table is disposed substantially horizontal when in the second position thereof. A transmission is provided for transmitting rotational movement of the axle when the axle is rotated relative to the frame, the rotational movement of the axle being transmitted to the weight table for moving the weight table between the first position and the second position thereof.

1 . An exercise apparatus for strength training and physical therapy of a user thereof, said apparatus comprising:
 a frame having a first side and a second side spaced relative to said first side and at least one spacer extending between said sides;   an axle rotatably supported by said frame, said axle having a first and a second end;   an arm having a first and a second extremity, said first extremity of said arm being rigidly secured to said first end of said axle;   a handle extending from said second extremity of said arm such that in use of the apparatus, when the user moves said handle in an orbital direction about said axle, said axle is rotated relative to said frame;   a weight table movably supported by said frame;   a weight guide extending from said weight table for permitting weights to be guided onto said weight table;   a first table support having a proximal and a distal end, said proximal end being pivotally secured to said frame at a first location, said distal end being pivotally secured to said weight table at a first disposition;   a second table support having a first and a second termination, said first termination being pivotally secured to said frame at a second location spaced relative to said first location, said second termination being pivotally secured to said weight table at a second disposition, said second disposition being spaced relative to said first disposition such that in use of said apparatus, said weight table is moved from a first position adjacent to said frame to a second position away from said frame;   said weight table being inclined relative to said frame when in said first position thereof for facilitating guiding weights onto and along said weight guide onto said weight table, said weight table being substantially horizontal when in said second position thereof; and   a transmission for transmitting rotational movement of said axle when said axle is rotated relative to said frame, said rotational movement of said axle being transmitted to said weight table for moving said weight table between said first position and said second position thereof.   
     
     
         2 . An exercise apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  further including:
 a further axle rotatably supported by said frame, said further axle having a further first and a further second end;   a further arm having a further first extremity and a further second extremity, said further first extremity of said further arm being rigidly secured to said further first end of said further axle;   a further handle extending from said further second extremity of said further arm such that in use of the apparatus, when the user moves said further handle in a further orbital direction about said further axle, said further axle is rotated relative to said frame;   a further weight table movably supported by said frame;   a further weight guide extending from said further weight table for permitting weights to be guided onto said further weight table;   a further first table support having a further proximal and a further distal end, said further proximal end being pivotally secured to said frame at a further first location, said further distal end being pivotally secured to said further weight table at a further first disposition;   a further second table support having a further first and a further second termination, said further first termination being pivotally secured to said frame at a further second location spaced relative to said further first location, said further second termination being pivotally secured to said further weight table at a further second disposition, said further second disposition being spaced relative to said further first disposition such that in use of said apparatus, said further weight table is moved from a further first position adjacent to said frame to a further second position away from said frame;   said further weight table being inclined relative to said frame when in said further first position thereof for facilitating guiding weights onto and along said further weight guide onto said further weight table, said further weight table being substantially horizontal when in said further second position thereof.   
     
     
         3 . An exercise apparatus as set forth in  claim 2  further including:
 an interlock mechanism having a first and a second mode such that when said mechanism is in said first mode, said weight table and said further weight table are connected and when said mechanism is in said second mode, said weight table and said further weight table are disconnected such that, when in said first mode, the user by moving said handles moves said weight tables between said first and second positions thereof and when in said second mode, the user by moving said handles moves said weight table only between said first and second position thereof.   
     
     
         4 . An exercise apparatus as set forth in  claim 3  further including:
 a foot pedal operatively connected to said interlocking mechanism for selectively operator movement of said mechanism between said first and said second mode.   
     
     
         5 . An exercise apparatus as set forth in  claim 2  wherein
 said first side of said frame includes:   a first and second member, said first member having an end and a further end, said second member having and extremity and a further extremity;   a base from which said members extend;   a platform supported by said base;   a beam secured to said end of said first member;   a transverse beam extending between said beam and said extremity of said second member;   said second side of said frame being a mirror image of said first side of said frame;   said at least one spacer including:   a first and a second support, said supports extending between said beams of said sides of said frame, said second support being disposed spaced and parallel relative to said first support.   
     
     
         6 . An exercise apparatus as set forth in  claim 5  wherein
 said axle and said further axle are rotatably supported by said first and said second support of said frame such that said axles are disposed spaced and parallel relative to each other.   
     
     
         7 . An exercise apparatus as set forth in  claim 2  wherein
 said orbital direction and said further orbital direction are opposite relative to each other.   
     
     
         8 . An exercise apparatus as set forth in  claim 2  wherein
 said weight tables are selectively movable in an eccentric path.   
     
     
         9 . An exercise apparatus as set forth in  claim 5  wherein
 said weight tables when disposed in said first position thereof are disposed substantially parallel to said transverse beam.   
     
     
         10 . An exercise apparatus as set forth in  claim 2  wherein
 said transmission further includes:   a reel rigidly secured to said axle;   a further reel rigidly secured to said further axle;   a drum rotatably secured to said frame;   a flexible drive extending between said reel and said drum;   a further flexible drive extending between said further reel and said drum such that when said handles are moved by the user, said drum is rotated relative to said frame;   a lever rigidly secured to one of said table supports adjacent to said frame such that said lever is disposed angularly relative to said one of said table supports, said lever having a first and a second anchor;   a connector having a first and a second end, said first end of said connector being connected to said drum, said second end of said connector being selectively connected to said first and said second anchor such that when said second end of said connector is connected to said first anchor, when the user moves said handles, the weight table is moved from said first towards said second position thereof and when said second end of said connector is connected to said second anchor, when the user moves said handles, the weight table is moved from said second towards said first position thereof.   
     
     
         11 . An exercise apparatus as set forth in  claim 4  wherein
 said pedal includes:   a first operation in which both weight tables are locked against movement thereof;   a second operation in which said weight table is unlocked for movement thereof;   a third operation in which both of said weight table are unlocked for movement thereof;   a fourth operation in which said further weight table is locked against movement thereof;   a fifth operation in which both weight tables are again locked against movement thereof.   
     
     
         12 . An exercise apparatus for strength training and physical therapy of a user thereof, said apparatus comprising:
 a frame having a first side and a second side spaced relative to said first side and at least one spacer extending between said sides;   an axle rotatably supported by said frame, said axle having a first and a second end;   an arm having a first and a second extremity, said first extremity of said arm being rigidly secured to said first end of said axle;   a handle extending from said second extremity of said arm such that in use of the apparatus, when the user moves said handle in an orbital direction about said axle, said axle is rotated relative to said frame;   a weight table movably supported by said frame;   a weight guide extending from said weight table for permitting weights to be guided onto said weight table;   a first table support having a proximal and a distal end, said proximal end being pivotally secured to said frame at a first location, said distal end being pivotally secured to said weight table at a first disposition;   a second table support having a first and a second termination, said first termination being pivotally secured to said frame at a second location spaced relative to said first location, said second termination being pivotally secured to said weight table at a second disposition, said second disposition being spaced relative to said first disposition such that in use of said apparatus, said weight table is moved from a first position adjacent to said frame to a second position away from said frame;   said weight table being inclined relative to said frame when in said first position thereof for facilitating guiding weights onto and along said weight guide onto said weight table, said weight table being substantially horizontal when in said second position thereof;   a transmission for transmitting rotational movement of said axle when said axle is rotated relative to said frame, said rotational movement of said axle being transmitted to said weight table for moving said weight table between said first position and said second position thereof.   a further axle rotatably supported by said frame, said further axle having a further first and a further second end;   a further arm having a further first extremity and a further second extremity, said further first extremity of said further arm being rigidly secured to said further first end of said further axle;   a further handle extending from said further second extremity of said further arm such that in use of the apparatus, when the user moves said further handle in a further orbital direction about said further axle, said further axle is rotated relative to said frame;   a further weight table movably supported by said frame;   a further weight guide extending from said further weight table for permitting weights to be guided onto said further weight table;   a further first table support having a further proximal and a further distal end, said further proximal end being pivotally secured to said frame at a further first location, said further distal end being pivotally secured to said further weight table at a further first disposition;   a further second table support having a further first and a further second termination, said further first termination being pivotally secured to said frame at a further second location spaced relative to said further first location, said further second termination being pivotally secured to said further weight table at a further second disposition, said further second disposition being spaced relative to said further first disposition such that in use of said apparatus, said further weight table is moved from a further first position adjacent to said frame to a further second position away from said frame;   said further weight table being inclined relative to said frame when in said further first position thereof for facilitating guiding weights onto and along said further weight guide onto said further weight table, said further weight table being substantially horizontal when in said further second position thereof; and   an interlock mechanism having a first and a second mode such that when said mechanism is in said first mode, said weight table and said further weight table are connected and when said mechanism is in said second mode, said weight table and said further weight table are disconnected such that, when in said first mode, the user by moving said handles moves said weight tables between said first and second positions thereof and when in said second mode, the user by moving said handles moves said weight table only between said first and second position thereof.   
     
     
         13 . An exercise apparatus for strength training and physical therapy of a user thereof, said apparatus comprising:
 a frame having a first side and a second side spaced relative to said first side and at least one spacer extending between said sides;   an axle rotatably supported by said frame, said axle having a first and a second end;   an arm having a first and a second extremity, said first extremity of said arm being rigidly secured to said first end of said axle;   a handle extending from said second extremity of said arm such that in use of the apparatus, when the user moves said handle in an orbital direction about said axle, said axle is rotated relative to said frame;   a weight table movably supported by said frame;   a weight guide extending from said weight table for permitting weights to be guided onto said weight table;   a first table support having a proximal and a distal end, said proximal end being pivotally secured to said frame at a first location, said distal end being pivotally secured to said weight table at a first disposition;   a second table support having a first and a second termination, said first termination being pivotally secured to said frame at a second location spaced relative to said first location, said second termination being pivotally secured to said weight table at a second disposition, said second disposition being spaced relative to said first disposition such that in use of said apparatus, said weight table is moved from a first position adjacent to said frame to a second position away from said frame;   said weight table being inclined relative to said frame when in said first position thereof for facilitating guiding weights onto and along said weight guide onto said weight table, said weight table being substantially horizontal when in said second position thereof;   a transmission for transmitting rotational movement of said axle when said axle is rotated relative to said frame, said rotational movement of said axle being transmitted to said weight table for moving said weight table between said first position and said second position thereof;   a further axle rotatably supported by said frame, said further axle having a further first and a further second end;   a further arm having a further first extremity and a further second extremity, said further first extremity of said further arm being rigidly secured to said further first end of said further axle;   a further handle extending from said further second extremity of said further arm such that in use of the apparatus, when the user moves said further handle in a further orbital direction about said further axle, said further axle is rotated relative to said frame;   a further weight table movably supported by said frame;   a further weight guide extending from said further weight table for permitting weights to be guided onto said further weight table;   a further first table support having a further proximal and a further distal end, said further proximal end being pivotally secured to said frame at a further first location, said further distal end being pivotally secured to said further weight table at a further first disposition;   a further second table support having a further first and a further second termination, said further first termination being pivotally secured to said frame at a further second location spaced relative to said further first location, said further second termination being pivotally secured to said further weight table at a further second disposition, said further second disposition being spaced relative to said further first disposition such that in use of said apparatus, said further weight table is moved from a further first position adjacent to said frame to a further second position away from said frame;   said further weight table being inclined relative to said frame when in said further first position thereof for facilitating guiding weights onto and along said further weight guide onto said further weight table, said further weight table being substantially horizontal when in said further second position thereof;   an interlock mechanism having a first and a second mode such that when said mechanism is in said first mode, said weight table and said further weight table are connected and when said mechanism is in said second mode, said weight table and said further weight table are disconnected such that, when in said first mode, the user by moving said handles moves said weight tables between said first and second positions thereof and when in said second mode, the user by moving said handles moves said weight table only between said first and second position thereof;   a foot pedal operatively connected to said interlocking mechanism for selectively operator movement of said mechanism between said first and said second mode;   said first side of said frame including:   a first and second member, said first member having an end and a further end, said second member having and extremity and a further extremity;   a base from which said members extend;   a platform supported by said base;   a beam secured to said end of said first member;   a transverse beam extending between said beam and said extremity of said second member;   said second side of said frame being a mirror image of said first side of said frame;   said at least one spacer including:   a first and a second support, said supports extending between said beams of said sides of said frame, said second support being disposed spaced and parallel relative to said first support;   said axle and said further axle are rotatably supported by said first and said second support of said frame such that said axles are disposed spaced and parallel relative to each other;   said orbital direction and said further orbital direction are opposite relative to each other;   said weight tables are selectively movable in an eccentric path;   said weight tables when disposed in said first position thereof are disposed substantially parallel to said transverse beam;   said transmission further including:   a reel rigidly secured to said axle;   a further reel rigidly secured to said further axle;   a drum rotatable secured to said frame;   a flexible drive extending between said reel and said drum;   a further flexible drive extending between said further reel and said drum such that when said handles are moved by the user, said drum is rotated relative to said frame;   a lever rigidly secured to one of said table supports adjacent to said frame such that said lever is disposed angularly relative to said one of said table supports, said lever having a first and a second anchor; and   a connector having a first and a second end, said first end of said connector being connected to said drum, said second end of said connector being selectively connected to said first and said second anchor such that when said second end of said connector is connected to said first anchor, when the user moves said handles, the weight table is moved from said first towards said second position thereof and when said second end of said connector is connected to said second anchor, when the user moves said handles, the weight table is moved from said second towards said first position thereof.