Dual Balance Spring Tower Apparatus and Method of Using Same

Abstract

A resistance exercise machine having cable and pulley linkage assemblies attached to a plurality of springs, or other resistance sources. Each cable and pulley linkage assembly, which is independent of the other(s), can be used by one arm or leg during bilateral exercise resistance training (that is, training in which both limbs of a pair are used to simultaneously pull a certain resistance). A tilt platform and biofeedback assembly display and measure in real-time how much each limb of a pair is contributing so such exercise movement and effort.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . An exercise assembly comprising:
 a) a frame;   b) a spring carriage assembly comprising a single resistance source, wherein said spring carriage assembly comprises a top plate member;   c) a tilt platform pivotally attached to said top plate member of said spring carriage assembly;   d) a first pulley connected to said frame;   e) a second pulley connected to said tilt platform;   f) a first cable disposed around said first and second pulleys and connected to said frame;   g) a third pulley connected to said frame;   h) a fourth pulley connected to said tilt platform; and   i) a second cable disposed around said third and fourth pulleys and connected to said frame.   
     
     
         2 . The exercise assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a first tension force is applied to said first cable by a first limb, a second tension force is applied to said second cable by a second limb, and said first and second tension forces are independently imparted on said resistance source. 
     
     
         3 . The exercise assembly of  claim 2 , wherein said resistance source of said carriage assembly comprises at least one spring member, wherein said spring member can have a variety of different resistance levels. 
     
     
         4 . The exercise assembly of  claim 3 , wherein said spring member is attachably connected to said top plate and to a bottom frame support. 
     
     
         5 . The exercise assembly of  claim 4 , wherein said tilt platform is adapted to visually display relative contributions of said first limb and said second limb simultaneously applying force on said resistance source. 
     
     
         6 . An exercise assembly comprising:
 a) a frame;   b) at least one spring member;   c) a top plate member attached to said spring member;   d) a tilt platform pivotally attached to said top plate;   e) a first linkage assembly comprising:
 i) a first pulley connected to said frame; 
 ii) a second pulley connected to said tilt platform; 
   f) a first cable having a distal end and a proximate end, wherein said distal end is anchored to said frame, and said first cable is disposed around said first and second pulleys of said first linkage assembly;   g) a second linkage assembly comprising:
 i) a third pulley connected to said frame; 
 ii) a fourth pulley connected to said tilt platform; and 
   h) a second cable having a distal end and a proximate end, wherein said distal end is anchored to said frame, and said second cable is disposed around said third and fourth pulleys of said second linkage assembly.   
     
     
         7 . The exercise assembly of  claim 6 , wherein said tilt platform is adapted to visually display relative contributions of a first limb applying a first tension force to said first cable and a second limb simultaneously applying a second tension force to said second cable. 
     
     
         8 . A method for determining relative contributions of a first limb and a second limb simultaneously imparting pulling force on a resistance source comprising:
 a) pulling on a proximate end of a first cable of an exercise assembly with said first limb, wherein said exercise assembly comprises:
 i) a frame, wherein said resistance source is disposed on said frame; 
 ii) a spring carriage assembly comprising a single resistance source, wherein said spring carriage assembly comprises a top plate member; 
 iii) a tilt platform pivotally attached to said top plate of said carriage assembly; 
 iv) a first pulley connected to said frame; 
 v) a second pulley connected to said tilt platform, wherein said first cable has said proximate end and a distal end, said first cable is disposed around said first and second pulleys, and said distal end of said first cable is connected to said frame; 
 vi) a third pulley connected to said frame; 
 vii) a fourth pulley connected to said tilt platform; and 
 viii) a second cable, wherein said second cable has said proximate end and a distal end, said second cable is disposed around said third and fourth pulleys, and said distal end of said second cable is connected to said frame; 
   b) simultaneously pulling on a proximate end of said second cable with said second limb; and   c) observing relative contributions of said first and second limbs in lifting said single resistance source based on the amount of tilt of said tilt platform from a horizontal orientation.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising the step of adjusting the amount of force applied by said first and second limbs in order to maintain said tilt platform in a substantially horizontal orientation. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said single resistance source of said carriage assembly comprises at least one spring member, wherein said spring member can have a variety of different resistance levels.