Exercise system and method

Abstract

An exercise system includes a frame, an upper body carriage, a lower body carriage, a positioning carriage, a resistance assembly attached to the frame, and a connecting mechanism. The frame includes a right guide rail, a left guide rail, and a central guide rail disposed between the right guide rail and the left guide rail. The upper body carriage includes an upper right and an upper left carriage slidingly attached to the right and left guide rail, respectively. The lower body carriage includes a lower right and lower left carriage slidingly attached to the right and left guide rail, respectively. The connecting mechanism mechanically couples one of the upper body carriage, the lower body carriage, or the carriage to the resistance assembly such that the resistance assembly applies a predetermined level of resistive force to the upper body carriage, the lower body carriage, and/or the tension carriage.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An exercise system, comprising:
 a frame including a first side upper body guide rail and a second side upper body guide rail;   an upper body assembly including an elbow support and a forearm support, the upper body assembly slidingly engaged with the first side upper body guide rail and the second side upper body guide rail, and the elbow support adjustable to accommodate different arm lengths and positions;   an adjustment bar disposed between the first side upper body guide rail and the second side upper body guide rail, the adjustment bar selectively coupled to the upper body assembly and configured to position the upper body assembly at a predetermined position;   a lower body assembly including a knee support slidingly engaged with the first side upper body guide rail and the second side upper body guide rail; and   a resistance assembly coupled to at least one of the adjustment bar and the lower body assembly such that the resistance assembly applies a predetermined level of resistive force to the at least one of the upper body assembly and the lower body assembly,   wherein the upper body assembly and the lower body assembly are configured to slide, and the resistive force applies resistance against such movement.   
     
     
         2 . The exercise system of  claim 1 , wherein the upper body assembly includes a handle for grasping when performing an exercise. 
     
     
         3 . The exercise system of  claim 1 , wherein the resistance assembly includes at least one of a weight stack, a hydraulic piston, a flywheel, a resistance band, and a retractable spring. 
     
     
         4 . The exercise system of  claim 1 , wherein the resistance assembly includes a cable and pulley system. 
     
     
         5 . The exercise system of  claim 4 , further comprising a connecting mechanism further configured to move one of the upper body assembly and the lower body assembly relative to the adjustment bar. 
     
     
         6 . The exercise system of  claim 1 , further comprising a lock mechanism configured to selectively secure at least one of the upper body assembly, the lower body assembly, and the forearm support. 
     
     
         7 . The exercise system of  claim 6 , wherein the lock mechanism includes a retractable pin. 
     
     
         8 . The exercise system of  claim 6 , wherein the lock mechanism is configured to removably secure the upper body assembly. 
     
     
         9 . The exercise system of  claim 1 , wherein the elbow support is adjustable along a second adjustment member to accommodate variable arm lengths. 
     
     
         10 . The exercise system of  claim 1 , wherein the lower body assembly includes a knee pad configured to receive a knee and a knee stop. 
     
     
         11 . The exercise system of  claim 1 , wherein the elbow support is configured to swivel in a forward direction and a backward direction relative to the upper body assembly guide rail. 
     
     
         12 . The exercise system of  claim 10 , wherein the elbow support includes a groove and a stop, such that the elbow support is prevented from swiveling 360 degrees. 
     
     
         13 . A method of using an exercise system by a user, comprising:
 providing a frame having a first side body guide rail and a second side body guide rail;   slidingly engaging an upper body assembly with the first side upper body guide rail and the second side upper body guide rail, the upper body assembly including an elbow support and a forearm support, the elbow support adjustable to accommodate different arm lengths and positions;   positioning the upper body assembly at a predetermined position using an adjustment bar disposed between the first side upper body guide rail and the second side upper body guide rail;   slidingly engaging a lower body assembly including a knee support with the first side body guide rail and the second side body guide rail;   coupling the upper body assembly and the lower body assembly to a resistance assembly via a connecting mechanism; and   applying a predetermined level of resistive force to one of the upper body assembly and the lower body assembly during a sliding movement.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising grasping a handle of the upper body assembly by the user when performing an exercise. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the resistance assembly includes at least one of a weight stack, a hydraulic piston, a flywheel, a resistance band, and a retractable spring. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein coupling the upper body assembly and the lower body assembly includes using a cable and pulley system. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising selectively detaching the connecting mechanism from the resistance assembly to move one of the upper body assembly and the lower body assembly. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising selectively securing at least one of the upper body assembly, the lower body assembly, and the forearm support using a lock mechanism. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising adjusting the elbow support along the upper body assembly guide rail to accommodate an arm length of the user. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising positioning a knee on a knee pad by the user and engaging with a knee stop.