Fitness and Strength Building Machine with Flywheel/Fan Resistance

Abstract

An exercise fitness machine is configured for vertical lift exercises. Resistance is provided by a fan-flywheel arrangement, with flexible inextensible cables connected to the ends of a horizontal barbell member such that a vertical lift motion rotates the fan-flywheel to create a greater force on the concentric exercise phase, but a reduced force on the return or eccentric phase. This may be configured for shoulder presses, squats, curls, or bench press exercises.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vertical lift exercise apparatus comprising:
 a horizontal platform member of a predetermined width and length configured such that a human subject may position himself or herself over a first portion of the platform member;   at least one rotatable resistance member positioned at a second portion of said compartment and on or at least partially beneath said platform member;   said horizontal platform member having a deck portion with a proximal end portion thereof and adapted to permit said human subject to be supported thereon when performing an exercise motion;   a left cable positioned to extend upwards from a left portion of said horizontal platform member, and a right cable positioned to extend upwards from right portion of said horizontal platform member;   an elongated rigid bar member having left and right ends to which said left and right cables are respectively attached; and   a transmission arrangement within said compartment coupling said left and right cables to said rotatable resistance member and configured to apply a torque to said rotatable resistance member when said bar member pulls said left and right cable upward and to release from said rotatable resistance member when said bar member and said left and right cables are let downward towards said platform member.   
     
     
         2 . Vertical lift exercise apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said horizontal platform member includes a footplate at said deck and configured to indicate positions of left and right feet of said human subject when standing on said platform member. 
     
     
         3 . Vertical lift exercise apparatus according to  claim 1  further comprising pulleys within said transmission compartment for redirecting the directions of said left and right cables, respectively, to align with inputs of said transmission arrangement. 
     
     
         4 . Vertical lift exercise apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said rotatable resistance member includes a flywheel which is arranged to be accelerated when torque is applied by upward movement of said left and right cables. 
     
     
         5 . Vertical lift exercise apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said rotatable resistance member includes a rotary fan that provides resistance by moving air when torque is applied by upward movement of said left and right cables. 
     
     
         6 . Vertical lift exercise apparatus according to  claim 5  said rotatable resistance member further comprising a mechanism for adjustably controlling airflow so that the amount of resistance on the upward motion of the left and right cables can be adjusted. 
     
     
         7 . Vertical lift exercise apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein said rotatable resistance member includes a pair of rotary fans that each provide resistance by moving air when torque is applied by upward movement of said left cable and said right cable, respectively. 
     
     
         8 . Vertical lift exercise apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said elongated rigid bar member is configured to accept weight disks at left and right ends thereof. 
     
     
         9 . Vertical lift exercise apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said transmission arrangement includes an arrangement of pulleys, cables, and at least one resilient return member, connected from ends of said left and right cables to a one-directional drive member on said rotatable resistance member. 
     
     
         10 . A method of performing an exercise by lifting against a vertically directed resistance, the method comprising placing an individual subject on a horizontal support surface of an exercise work station, the work station including
 at least left and right horizontal portions extending from a proximal end portion to a distal portion;   at least one rotatable resistance member disposed in a housing at said distal portion;   a left cable and a right cable positioned respectively in or on said left and right horizontal members, and said left and right cables having end portions extending upwards from the respective proximal end portions of said left and right horizontal members and said left and right cables also extending to a transmission arrangement associated with said rotatable resistance member;   an elongated horizontal rigid bar member having left and right ends to which the respective end portions of said left and right cables are attached; and   the method further comprising   said individual subject performing an exercise movement by moving said elongated horizontal rigid bar member upwards thereby applying a torque to said rotatable resistance member, and lowering said elongated rigid bar member thereby releasing torque from said rotatable resistance member,   whereby said individual subject experiences a downward force that is relatively greater on the upward movement and relatively lesser on the downward movement.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said exercise movement is a standing shoulder press. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said exercise movement is an arm curl. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said individual subject is place in a reclining position and said exercise movement is a bench press. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10  wherein lengths of said end portions of said left and right cables can be adjusted to place said elongated horizontal rigid bar at different respective positions for different exercise movements.