Pacific Fitness Corporation

Other

Precor Incorporated

Dream Visions LLC

Tnwk Corporation

Douglas J Habing

Theodore G Habing

Ronald S Gibson

Yong S Chu

Carlos E Gonzalez

Theodore J Habing

Harvey Goodman

Yong Suk Chu

A resistance system, which can be suitable for incorporation in exercise equipment, is a 'hybrid' resistance assembly having at least a first and a second resistance unit. The first resistance unit can be of a first type and the second resistance unit can be of a second type. The first resistance unit can be an inertial resistance unit, which incorporates an inertial load that creates resistance influenced by the inertia of a movable mass, such as a rotatable flywheel. The second resistance unit can be a static or non-inertial resistance unit, such as a displacement resistance unit, which incorporates a load that creates resistance influenced by displacement (e.g., linear or rotational displacement) of an input to the displacement resistance unit.

Hybrid resistance system

A multi-station exercise apparatus includes a station for performing abdominal exercises. The abdominal exercise station is combined with another exercise station, such as a press exercise station, a high pulley station or a leg extension/leg curl station. The apparatus for performing an abdominal exercise includes a pad for the head and/or neck of the exerciser that is pivotally connected to the frame of the exercise machine. A pair of hand grips are connected to the head/neck pad and disposed so that the exerciser may grasp the hand grips in order to pull forward in a 'crunch' exercise. Exercise resistance is provided by means such as a weight stack that is shared by the various stations of the exercise machine. The head/neck pad may be 'docked' when not performing an abdominal exercise to prevent looseness and serve as a fixed headrest for other exercises.

Abdominal exercise station

Principles of exercise machine construction, an exercise machine, components of an exercise machine, and methods related to exercising on or constructing an exercise machine that allows for the performance of multiple different exercises, where the user utilizes related arcs of an arm with a fixed path of motion for the different exercises. Generally the arcs will be utilized for both pull-type exercises and push-type exercises and/or for diverging and converging exercises.

Single apparatus converging/diverging exercise machine

A motivational apparatus contains a supply of tokens. The apparatus includes a release mechanism for releasing one of the tokens, which may be actuated by a child as a reward for good behavior. After being released, the token is collected in a reservoir. The apparatus may include a token routing path with a variety of obstacles and the like for the amusement of the child. Once a predetermined number of tokens have been collected in the reservoir, the child may be awarded a prize. The prize may be dispensed by the apparatus in response to the collection of the predetermined number of tokens.

Child reward center

Lounge swing

An improved press arm allows an operator to perform either a traditional straight chest press exercise or to incorporate 'butterfly' motion during the performance of the chest press exercise. A main arm is pivotally coupled to the frame of the exercise machine at a main pivot in the same manner as conventional press arms. The main arm includes a cross-beam to which a pair of handle arms are pivotally coupled at secondary pivots. The axes of the secondary pivots are orthogonal to the axis of the main pivot and are inclined with respect to vertical when the press arm is in a rest position. This inclination causes the handle arms to assume a natural rest position under the influence of gravity. The rest positions of the handle arms place the press arm handles at a comfortable starting position for performance of a press exercise. Stops to limit the inward or outward travel of the handle arms are not necessary. A source of exercise resistance resists both forward motion of the press arm assembly and inward motion of the handle arms.

Exercise machine press arm

A multi-station exercise machine has a movable subframe on which a user sits while performing various exercises. The subframe is pivotally attached to a stationery frame and is supported by a lever arm that is also pivotally attached to the stationery frame. The pivot arms coupling the subframe to the stationery frame bear against a carriage that is movable located on the lever arm. A cable and pulley system couples the lever arm to the various operable members of the apparatus so that a selectable ratio of the weight of the subframe, including the user, is communicated as exercise resistance. The amount of weight that is coupled to the operable members is selected by positioning the carriage along the lever arm. This adjustment also varies the height to which the subframe is lifted by the exercise stroke and hence the effort that must be exerted by the user.

Exercise machine

A longitudinal frame supports a seat whose longitudinal position on the frame is adjustable. A pair of footbeams are mounted on either side of the forward end of the frame near the floor and extend generally upwardly. The footbeams independently pivot on the frame so that the user can operate them in an alternating reciprocating fashion. Pivotal movement of the footbeams by the user is resisted, thereby requiring the user to expend energy in operating the device. The footbeams are preferably interconnected so that their respective movements are coordinated. In alternative embodiments, the footbeams pivot about a point just below the seat. The seat can also be adapted to recline. The footbeams can also be replaced by a crank with footpedals that are used to drive a flywheel and a generator.

Recumbent leg exerciser

A mechanism applies exercise resistance to a rotating member in both directions of rotation without a significant 'dead zone' surrounding the neutral position. A cam is rotatably mounted to the frame of an exercise machine. A flexible member, which may be a belt, cable, chain or the like, is attached to a peripheral surface of the cam and is loaded by the exercise weights or other source of exercise resistance. The flexible member is guided around a pulley mounted on an arm that is pivotally attached to the cam so as to maintain the flexible member in close proximity to the peripheral surface of the cam. A pair of stops act on the arm to engage the arm for rotation with the cam in one direction and to prevent rotation of the arm with the cam in the opposite direction.

Bi-directional exercise resistance mechanism

An exercise machine has a pair of exercise arms pivotally coupled to the frame for use by the operator in performing a triceps press exercise. The exercise arms are coupled to the frame for rotation about two spaced-apart, generally horizontal axes. One axis is fixed with respect to the frame, while the second axis is fixed with respect to the exercise arms. A linkage member pivotally coupled to both the frame and the exercise arms connects the two axes of rotation. Exercise resistance is provided by weights, although other sources of exercise resistance may be used. The selected exercise resistance is transmitted by a flexible belt and pulley system to a cam attached to a cross member connecting the two exercise arms. A second belt is attached between the cam and the frame to control the movement of the cam within a vertical plane. As the operator applies an exercise force to the exercise arms, the arms rotate about both the first and second axes, the relative movement about the two axes being coordinated by the controlled movement of the cam. This method can also be applied to many other types of exercise machines involving a non-linear motion path, including, for example, machines for performing biceps, leg curl, and leg extension exercises.

Articulated upper arm exerciser

A longitudinal frame supports a seat whose longitudinal position on the frame is adjustable. A pair of footbeams are mounted on either side of the forward end of the frame near the floor and extend generally upwardly. The footbeams independently pivot on the frame so that the user can operate them in an alternating reciprocating fashion. Pivotal movement of the footbeams by the user is resisted, thereby requiring the user to expend energy in operating the device. The footbeams are preferably interconnected so that their respective movements am coordinated. In alternative embodiments, the footbeams pivot about a point just below the seat. The seat can also be adapted to recline, preferably at an angle greater than 30.degree. from the vertical. The footbeams can also be replaced by a crank with footpedals that are used to drive a flywheel and a generator.

A compact attachment for a multi-station exercise machine conveniently couples to a low pull station and therefore utilizes the weight stack or other resistance mechanism of the exercise machine. The attachment is designed for performing leg press and other lower limb exercises. The attachment has a frame on which a pair of foot pads are mounted. A seat for the operator of the attachment is suspended from the frame by a pair of parallel pivoting arms so that the seat remains in a relatively constant attitude throughout the exercise stroke. The invention may be alternatively embodied as a stand alone device utilizing free weights as a means for providing exercise resistance.

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Manhattan Beach, CA, United States of America

Douglas J Habing