Exercise device

Abstract

An exercise machine that includes a baseplate, pneumatic cylinder assemblies pivotally mounted on the right and left sides of the baseplate, and an exercise bar coupled to the pneumatic cylinder assemblies at each end. A bench assembly is positioned between the pneumatic cylinder assemblies. A support member is removably coupled to the baseplate and the bench assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An exercise device comprising:
 a baseplate having a right side and a left side;   a first pneumatic cylinder assembly pivotally mounted on the right side of the baseplate, the first pneumatic cylinder assembly including a first piston configured to move linearly inside a first cylinder;   a second pneumatic cylinder assembly pivotally mounted on the left side of the baseplate, the second pneumatic cylinder assembly including a second piston configured to move linearly inside a second cylinder;   an exercise bar including a first end and a second end, the exercise bar coupled to the first pneumatic cylinder assembly at the first end and the second pneumatic cylinder assembly at the second end;   a bench assembly positioned between the first pneumatic cylinder assembly and the second pneumatic cylinder assembly, the bench assembly including a horizontal bench for supporting a user in a substantially supine position and legs elevating the horizontal bench above the baseplate; and   a support member removably coupled to the baseplate and the bench assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The exercise device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a bottom bracket mounted to a top surface of the baseplate, the bottom bracket receiving a bottom end of the support member; and 
 a top bracket mounted to a bottom surface of the horizontal bench, the top bracket receiving a top end of the support member. 
 
     
     
         3 . The exercise device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first bearing joint coupling the exercise bar to the first piston such that the exercise bar swivels in relation to the first pneumatic cylinder assembly; and   a second bearing joint coupling the exercise bar to the second piston such that the exercise bar swivels in relation to the second pneumatic cylinder assembly.   
     
     
         4 . The exercise device of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a first flange at the first end of the exercise bar;   a second flange at the second end of the exercise bar;   a first collar configured to clamp on the first end of the exercise bar such that the first bearing joint is positioned between the first flange and the first collar along the exercise bar; and   a second collar configured to clamp on the second end of the exercise bar such that the second bearing joint is positioned between the second flange and the second collar along the exercise bar.   
     
     
         5 . The exercise device of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a first telescoping arm coupling the first bearing joint to the first piston such that a first distance between the exercise bar and the first piston is adjustable; and   a second tele coping arm coupling the second bearing joint to the second piston such that a second distance between the exercise bar and the second piston is adjustable; and   
     
     
         6 . The exercise device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 wherein the first pneumatic cylinder assembly includes a first adjustable valve configured to adjust resistance to movement of the first piston relative to the first cylinder in a first direction; and   wherein the second pneumatic cylinder assembly includes a second adjustable valve configured to adjust resistance to movement of the second piston relative to the second cylinder in the first direction.   
     
     
         7 . The exercise device of  claim 6 , further comprising
 wherein the first pneumatic cylinder assembly includes a first muffler coupled to the first adjustable valve; and   wherein the second pneumatic cylinder assembly includes a second muffler coupled to the second adjustable valve.   
     
     
         8 . The exercise device of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 wherein the first pneumatic cylinder assembly includes a first check valve configured to allow free movement of the first piston relative to the first cylinder in a second direction; and   wherein the second pneumatic cylinder assembly includes a second check valve configured to allow free movement of the second piston relative to the second cylinder in the second direction.   
     
     
         9 . The exercise device  claim 1 , further comprising:
 wherein the first piston divides the first cylinder into a first top chamber and a first bottom chamber, the first adjustable valve is pneumatically coupled to the first top chamber and the first check valve is coupled to the first bottom chamber; and   wherein the second piston divides the second cylinder into a second top chamber and a second bottom chamber, the second adjustable valve pneumatically coupled to the second top chamber and the second check valve coupled to the second bottom chamber.   
     
     
         10 . The exercise device  claim 1 , further comprising:
 wherein the first piston divides the first cylinder into a first top chamber and a first bottom chamber, the first adjustable valve is pneumatically coupled to the first bottom chamber and the first check valve is coupled to the first top chamber; and   wherein the second piston divides the second cylinder into a second top chamber and a second bottom chamber, the second adjustable valve is pneumatically coupled to the second bottom chamber and the second check valve is coupled to the second top chamber.   
     
     
         11 . The exercise device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first cylinder mount assembly fixed on the right side of the baseplate, the first cylinder mount assembly including a first hinge configured to pivotally link the first pneumatic cylinder assembly to the baseplate; and   a second cylinder mount assembly fixed on the left side of the baseplate, the second cylinder mount assembly including a second hinge configured to pivotally link the second pneumatic cylinder assembly to the baseplate.   
     
     
         12 . An apparatus for enabling a user to exercise comprising:
 a baseplate having a right side and a left side;   a first pneumatic cylinder assembly pivotally mounted on the right side of the baseplate, the first pneumatic cylinder assembly including a first piston configured to move linearly inside a first cylinder;   a second pneumatic cylinder assembly pivotally mounted on the left side of the baseplate, the second pneumatic cylinder assembly including a second piston configured to move linearly inside a second cylinder;   an exercise bar including a first end and a second end, the exercise bar coupled to the first pneumatic cylinder assembly at the first end and the second pneumatic cylinder assembly at the second end;   a bench assembly positioned between the first pneumatic cylinder assembly and the second pneumatic cylinder assembly, the bench assembly including a horizontal bench for supporting a user in a substantially supine position;   a first bearing joint coupling the exercise bar to the first piston such that the exercise bar swivels in relation to the first pneumatic cylinder assembly; and   a second bearing joint coupling the exercise bar to the second piston such that the exercise bar swivels in relation to the second pneumatic cylinder assembly.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  further comprising:
 a support member removably coupled to the base late and the bench assembly; 
 a bottom bracket mounted to a top surface of the baseplate, the bottom bracket receiving a bottom end of the support member; and 
 a top bracket mounted to a bottom surface of the horizontal bench, the top bracket receiving a top end of the support member. 
 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a support member removably coupled to the baseplate and the bench assembly, the support member transferring load from the horizontal bench to the baseplate. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a first flange at the first end of the exercise bar;   a second flange at the second end of the exercise bar;   a first collar configured to clamp on the first end of the exercise bar such that the first bearing joint is positioned between the first flange and the first collar along the exercise bar; and   a second collar configured to clamp on the second end of the exercise bar such that the second bearing joint is positioned between the second flange and the second collar along the exercise bar.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a first telescoping arm coupling the first bearing joint to the first piston such that a first distance between the exercise bar and the first piston is adjustable; and   a second telescoping arm coupling the second bearing joint to the second piston such that a second distance between the exercise bar and the second piston is adjustable.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 wherein the first pneumatic cylinder assembly includes a first adjustable valve configured to adjust resistance to movement of the first piston relative to the first cylinder in a first direction; and   wherein the second pneumatic cylinder assembly includes a second adjustable valve configured to adjust resistance to movement of the second piston relative to the second cylinder in the first direction.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 wherein the first pneumatic cylinder assembly includes a first muffler coupled to the first adjustable valve; and   wherein the second pneumatic cylinder assembly includes a second muffler coupled to the second adjustable valve.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 wherein the first pneumatic cylinder assembly includes a first check valve configured to allow free movement of the first piston relative to the first cylinder in a second direction; and   wherein the second pneumatic cylinder assembly includes a second check valve configured to allow free movement of the second piston relative to the second cylinder in the second direction.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus  claim 12 , further comprising:
 wherein the first piston divides the first cylinder into a first top chamber and a first bottom chamber, the first adjustable valve is pneumatically coupled to the first top chamber and the first check valve is coupled to the first bottom chamber; and   wherein the second piston divides the second cylinder into a second top chamber and a second bottom chamber, the second adjustable valve pneumatically coupled to the second top chamber and the second check valve is coupled to the second bottom chamber.