Multi-dimensional articulating user support exercise machine

Abstract

Improved exercise machines having a movable user engagement member and a user support movably mounted on a movable slide support surface and a slidable wedge concurrently engaging the movable slide support surface and a stationary slide support surface and an operative linkage system connecting the user engagement and the slidable wedge such that movement of the user engagement causes the slidable wedge to engage the slide support surfaces changing the distance between at least a portion of the slide support surfaces and thereby creating a multi-dimensional articulating movement of the user support during an exercise motion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A multi-dimensional articulating motion exercise machine comprising:
 (a) a stationary main frame having a forward end and a rearward end;   (b) at least one stationary slide support surface having a first end and a second end, the at least one stationary slide support surface being connected to or part of the main frame;   (c) at least one movable slide support surface having a first end, a second end, and a central portion, wherein only the first end is pivotally connected to the main frame, and wherein the central portion is slidably connected to a movable support;   (d) a slidable wedge assembly concurrently engaging the at least one stationary slide support surface and the at least one movable slide support surface for movement in a fixed linear path along the slide support surfaces, wherein movement of the slidable wedge along the slide support surfaces increases or decreases the distance between at least a portion of the at least one stationary slide support surface and the at least one movable slide support surface;   (e) at least one link bar having a first end and a second end;   (f) a movable user support having at least one first pivotal connection point and at least one second pivotal connection point, wherein the at least one first pivotal connection point is connected to the at least one movable slide support surface and the second pivotal connection point is connected to at least one link bar;   (g) an operative drive linkage assembly comprising the at least one link bar, wherein the first end of the at least one link bar is pivotally connected to the at least one second pivotal connection point of the user support and the second end of the at least one link bar is pivotally connected to the slidable wedge assembly;   (h) at least one movable user engagement member mounted on the user support or on the main frame, the at least one movable user engagement member being operatively linked to the slidable wedge assembly;   (i) an operative drive linkage connecting the at least one movable user engagement member to the slidable wedge assembly,   wherein movement of the at least one movable user engagement member concurrently moves the operative drive linkage assembly, the slidable wedge assembly, the at least one movable slide support surface, the user support, and the user support linkage assembly, and   wherein exercise resistance is provided to the machine by at least a user's weight so as to create a force required to move the user engagement member, the operative drive linkage, the slidable wedge assembly, and the user support from the first at rest and inactivated position to the second engaged and fully activated position and all points in between the first at rest and inactivated position and the second engaged and fully activated position.   
     
     
         2 . The exercise machine of  claim 1 , wherein the operative drive linkage assembly further comprises at least one flexible component and at least one guide component. 
     
     
         3 . The exercise machine of  claim 1 , wherein the location of the slidable wedge assembly along the slide support surfaces controls the angular orientation of the user support relative to the main frame during operation of the machine. 
     
     
         4 . The exercise machine of  claim 3 , wherein engagement and activation of the at least one movable user engagement member simultaneously causes the at least one movable slide support surface to move in an arcing pattern and the user support to articulate relative to the at least one movable slide support surface during an exercise motion thus creating a multi-dimensional motion of the user support. 
     
     
         5 . The exercise machine of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one movable user engagement member, the operative drive linkage, the slidable wedge assembly, and the user support have a first at rest and inactivated position and a second engaged and fully activated position, and the at least one movable user engagement member, the operative drive linkage, the slidable wedge assembly, and the user support are maintainable at any position in between the first at rest and inactivated position and the second engaged and fully activated position during operation of the machine. 
     
     
         6 . The exercise machine of  claim 5 , further comprising means for adding additional exercise resistance to the machine. 
     
     
         7 . The exercise machine of  claim 5 , wherein the distance between the at least one movable user engagement member and at least a portion of the user support is adjustable when the machine is in the at rest and inactivated position, and wherein an angle between the at least one movable user engagement member and at least a portion of the user support is adjustable when the machine is in the at rest and inactivated position. 
     
     
         8 . The exercise machine of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one movable user engagement member comprises a single member, or two separate dependent members, or two separate independent members. 
     
     
         9 . The exercise machine of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one movable user engagement member has a motion pattern that is controlled by the machine. 
     
     
         10 . The exercise machine of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one movable user engagement member has a motion pattern that is controlled by a user. 
     
     
         11 . The exercise machine of  claim 1 , wherein the operative drive linkage assembly further comprises at least one rigid component. 
     
     
         12 . The exercise machine of  claim 1 , comprising at least two stationary slide support surfaces that are parallel to each other. 
     
     
         13 . The exercise machine of  claim 1 , comprising at least two movable slide support surfaces that are parallel to each other. 
     
     
         14 . The exercise machine of  claim 1 , wherein exercise resistance is provided to the machine by at least a user's weight and the weight of at least some of the machine components. 
     
     
         15 . A multi-dimensional articulating motion exercise machine comprising:
 (a) a stationary main frame having a forward end and a rearward end;   (b) at least one stationary slide support surface having a first end and a second end, the at least one stationary slide support surface being connected to or part of the main frame;   (c) at least one movable slide support surface having a first end, a second end, and a central portion, wherein only the first end is pivotally connected to the main frame, and wherein the central portion is slidably connected to a movable support;   (d) a slidable wedge assembly concurrently engaging the at least one stationary slide support surface and the at least one movable slide support surface for movement in a fixed linear path along the slide support surfaces, wherein movement of the slidable wedge along the slide support surfaces increases or decreases the distance between at least a portion of the at least one stationary slide support surface and the at least one movable slide support surface;   (e) at least one connection link bar having a first end and a second end, at least one support link bar having a first end and a second end, and at least one guide link bar having a first end and a second end;   (f) a lower body user support having a first pivotal connection and a second pivotal connection, wherein the first pivotal connection of the lower body user support is connected to the at least one movable slide support surface and the second pivotal connection of the lower body user support is connected to the at least one connection link bar;   (g) an upper body user support having a first pivotal connection, a second pivotal connection, and a third pivotal connection, wherein the first pivotal connection of the upper body user support is connected to the at least one connection link bar, the second pivotal connection of the upper body user support is connected to the at least one support link bar, and the third pivotal connection of the upper body user support is connected to the at least one guide link bar;   (h) a user support linkage assembly comprising the at least one connection link bar, the at least one support link bar, and the at least one guide link bar, wherein
 (i) the first and second ends of the at least one connection link bar are first and second pivotal ends, wherein the first pivotal end of the at least one connection link bar is connected to the upper body user support and the second pivotal end of the at least one connection link bar is connected to the lower body user support, 
 (ii) the first and second ends of the at least one support link bar are first and second pivotal ends, wherein the first pivotal end of the at least one support link bar is connected to the upper body user support and the second pivotal end of the at least one support link bar is connected to the movable slide support surface, and 
 (iii) the first and second ends of the at least one guide link bar are first and second pivotal ends, wherein the first pivotal end of the at least one guide link bar is connected to the upper body user support and the second pivotal end of the at least one guide link bar is connected to the base frame or the slidable wedge assembly; 
   (i) at least one movable upper body user engagement member mounted on the upper body user support and at least one movable lower body user engagement member mounted on the lower body user support, wherein the upper body user engagement member and the lower body user engagement member are operatively linked to the slidable wedge assembly; and   (j) an operative drive linkage cooperatively connecting the upper body user engagement member, the lower body user engagement member, and the slidable wedge assembly,   wherein movement of the at least one upper body user engagement member or the at least one lower body user engagement member concurrently moves the operative drive linkage, the slidable wedge assembly, the at least one movable slide support surface, the upper body user support, the lower body user support, and the user support linkage assembly, and   wherein exercise resistance is provided to the machine by a user's weight so as to create a force required to move the at least one upper body user engagement member, the at least one lower body user engagement member, the operative drive linkage, the slidable wedge assembly, the upper body user support, and the lower body user support from the first at rest and inactivated position to the second engaged and fully activated position and all points in between the first at rest and inactivated position and the second engaged and fully activated position.   
     
     
         16 . The exercise machine of  claim 15 , wherein the operative drive linkage assembly further comprises at least one flexible component and at least one guide component. 
     
     
         17 . The exercise machine of  claim 15 , wherein the location of the slidable wedge assembly along the slide support surfaces controls the angular orientation of the upper body user support and the lower body user support relative to the main frame during operation of the machine. 
     
     
         18 . The exercise machine of  claim 17 , wherein engagement and activation of the upper body user engagement member or the lower body user engagement member simultaneously causes the at least one movable slide support surface to move in an arcing pattern and the upper body user support and the lower body user support to articulate relative to the at least one movable slide support surface during an exercise motion thus creating a multi-dimensional motion of the upper body user support and the lower body user support. 
     
     
         19 . The exercise machine of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one movable upper body user engagement member, the at least one movable lower body user engagement member, the operative drive linkage, the slidable wedge assembly, the upper body user support, the lower body user support, the at least one connection link bar, the at least one support link bar, and the at least one guide link bar each have a first at rest and inactivated position and a second engaged and fully activated position, and the at least one movable upper body user engagement member, the at least one movable lower body user engagement member, the operative drive linkage, the slidable wedge assembly, the upper body user support, the lower body user support, the at least one connection link bar, the at least one support link bar, and the at least one guide link bar are maintainable at any position in between the first at rest and inactivated position and the second engaged and fully activated position during operation of the machine. 
     
     
         20 . The exercise machine of  claim 19 , further comprising means for adding additional exercise resistance to the machine. 
     
     
         21 . The exercise machine of  claim 18 , wherein the distances between the at least one upper body user engagement member and the at least one lower body user engagement member, and at least a portion of the upper body user support and at least a portion of the lower body user support are adjustable when the machine is in the at rest and inactivated position, and wherein an angle between the at least one upper body user engagement member and the at least one lower body user engagement member, and at least a portion of the upper body user support and at least a portion of the lower body user support are adjustable when the machine is in the at rest and inactivated position. 
     
     
         22 . The exercise machine of  claim 18 , wherein the upper body user engagement member and the lower body user engagement member are dependent upon each other and operate in unison. 
     
     
         23 . The exercise machine of  claim 15 , wherein the operative drive linkage comprises at least one rigid component. 
     
     
         24 . The exercise machine of  claim 15 , comprising at least two stationary slide support surfaces that are parallel to each other. 
     
     
         25 . The exercise machine of  claim 15 , comprising at least two movable slide support surfaces that are parallel to each other. 
     
     
         26 . The exercise machine of  claim 15 , wherein exercise resistance is provided to the machine by at least a user's weight and the weight of at least some of the machine components.