US20100204021A1 - Torso exercise machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A lower torso exercise machine for a user having a frame; a user support structure mounted to the frame, the user support structure including a seat and a pelvic stabilizing pad, the seat being mounted to the frame below and at an angle oblique to the pelvic stabilizing pad; and a footrest attached to the frame in front of the user support structure for pushing against by the user's feet, the seat and the stabilizing pad being adjustably positionable relative to the footrest such that the user can selectively adjust the force of the user's pushing against the footrest to enable the user to push the user's pelvis into the stabilizing pad to a degree that immobilizes the user's pelvis.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
• This application is a continuation of and claims the benefit of priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/051,976 filed Mar. 20, 2008 which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/293,042, filed Nov. 13, 2002 which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/338,039, filed Nov. 13, 2001, entitled TORSO EXERCISE MACHINE, the entirety of the disclosures of all of the foregoing applications are incorporated herein by reference.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
• n/a
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
• The present invention relates to a method and system for exercising the lower torso, and more particularly to an exercise machine which includes a stabilizer assembly to effectively immobilize the user's lower body, maintaining proper pelvic positioning and stabilization during execution of the exercise.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• Proper form is essential for effective and safe results when performing resistive exercises such as with weight machines used for strength training. This is especially true for exercise of the muscle groups found in the torso during spinal extention and spinal flexion exercises, as it is known in the art. This exercise motion focuses on training the lower back muscles, the abdominals, and obliques. Too often however, the various machines and devices available for this purpose lack proper features to ensure that users execute a safe and effective motion thereupon to exercise the back or abdominal muscles.
• Many torso exercise machines use a conventional cable and pulley system coupled to a weight stack. A user typically sits on a stationary surface, and then applies his or her upper body against another surface. A user may then apply force on this latter surface whilst rotating the torso about the base of the spine, to either: (a) flex the spine by contracting the abdominal muscles so as to train the abdominal muscles group, or (b) extend the spine by contracting the back muscles so as to train the muscles of the central and lower back. To achieve this range of motion, a user's hips are often unsecured, and may be free to move or shift while the exercise is performed. This allows other skeletal motions such as hip flexion to substitute for spinal flexion and conversely hip extension to substitute for spinal extention. When that is allowed to happen, the user will be exercising the hip and not the abdominals and back musculature. Some torso exercise machines may use a back support to try to limit the extent of spinal extention range especially in the lumbar region of the spine but unless there is some significant force holding the back against this back support, they are traditionally ineffective at stabilizing the pelvis and preventing hip flexion/extention substitution.
• It is desirable therefore, to provide a weight training machine which allows a user to exercise his or her muscles in the torso region, while sufficiently stabilizing the pelvis to effectively block hip motion and substitution and focus the training effect on the intended muscles of the abdomen and lower back.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• The subject invention provides an exercise machine for exercising the lower torso. As described herein, the exercise machine includes a pelvic stabilizer assembly, which effectively immobilizes the user's lower body to maintain proper pelvic positioning during execution of the exercise.
• For example, the exercise machine of the present invention could be a back extension machine, which includes a user support structure is mounted on the support frame. The user support structure includes a seat surface and a pelvic stabilizer pad. The seat is mounted on a forwardly facing angled upper portion of the support frame, below and at an angle oblique to the pelvic stabilizer pad. The seat is positioned such that the user's lower back and pelvic region abuts the pelvic stabilizer pad and the user's legs extend outwardly and downwardly. The pelvic pad is affixed to the upper end of the support frame and is inclined rearwardly, and being curved in a substantially half-cylindrical shape, to accommodate the user's lower back at full extension.
• In addition to the pelvic stabilization pad, the stabilization assembly includes an adjustable footrest is attached to the front of the support frame, such that a user's feet are positioned on the footrest. The footrest can be adjusted back and forth with the footrest adjustment mechanism to accommodate users of varying heights. The footrest is positioned so the user can apply a force using the leg muscles to push the pelvis into the pelvic stabilization pad. The spatial arrangement of the stabilization assembly which comprises: pelvic stabilizer pad, seat, and footrest combination effectively immobilize the user's pelvic area, preventing it from rotating in either the anterior or posterior direction while not interfering with the normal range of motion in extention and flexion of the spine.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• A more complete understanding of the present invention, and the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a back extension machine of the subject invention;
• FIG. 2 is a side view of a back extension machine of the subject invention;
• FIG. 3 is a left side perspective view of the start-positioning device of the subject invention;
• FIG. 4 is a right side perspective view of the start-positioning device of the subject invention; and
• FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an abdominal machine in accordance with the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
• In an exemplary embodiment, as shown inFIG. 1, a back extension machine10 of the present invention includes asupport frame12 on which auser support structure14 is mounted. Theuser support structure14 includes aseat surface16 and apelvic stabilizer pad18. Theseat16 is mounted on the forwardly facing angled upper portion of thesupport frame12, below and at an angle oblique to thepelvic stabilizer pad18. Theseat16 is positioned such that the user's lower back and pelvic region abuts thepelvic stabilizer pad18 and the user's legs extend outwardly and downwardly. Thepelvic stabilizer pad18 is affixed to the upper end of thesupport frame12, is inclined rearwardly, and is curved in a substantially half-cylindrical shape to accommodate for the user's lower back.
• Anadjustable footrest20 is attached to the front of thesupport frame12, where the oblique angle of theseat16 substantially directs theseat16 down towardsfootrest20. Thefootrest20 is positioned so the user can apply a force using the leg muscles to push the pelvis into thepelvic stabilization pad18. Thefootrest20 can be adjusted back and forth with thefootrest adjustment mechanism22 to accommodate users of varying heights. When a user's feet are positioned on thefootrest20, the footrest is adjusted such that the users thighs are substantially parallel with the ground. Additionally, the user's knees are in a flexion position of between about 10 degrees knee flexion to about 30 degrees knee flexion. This spatial arrangement of thepelvic stabilizer pad18,seat16, andfootrest20 combination effectively immobilize the user's pelvic area, preventing it from rotating in either the anterior or posterior direction.
• Aninput assembly24 is positioned above theseat16, and mounted to thesupport frame12 for rotation about a horizontal axis A-A, as defined by the range-limitingdevice26, described in further detail below. Theinput assembly24 includes a paddedmember28 affixed to ahorizontal arm30, where the paddedmember28 is positioned for engagement of a user's upper back. Thehorizontal arm30 is attached to acurved offset arm32, where thecurved offset arm32 is affixed to the range-limiting device26, such that thepadded member28 is positioned above theseat16. Acounterweight34 is attached to the range-limitingdevice26 to balance theinput assembly24 about the horizontal axis A-A.
• Aweight stack brace36 is attached to thesupport frame12 bybeams38aand38bandsecondary support frame40, such that theweight stack42 is easily accessed by a seated user.Weight stack pulleys44aand44bare mounted to the top of theweight stack brace36, withpulley44abeing aligned with the start-positioning device26 andpulley44bbeing aligned with theweight stack42.Rails46 are mounted vertically within theweight stack brace36, where the individual plates of theweight stack42 are slideably mounted to therails46 and provide a resistance to the exercise.
• Theweight stack42 is selectively connected to one end of acable48 by inserting a pin in one of a plurality of holes in a lifting post50 that passes vertically through the plates, as is well known in the art. For example, theweight stack42 is formed by a stack of rectangular, brick-shaped plates52. Eachplate52 further has at least one horizontal channel or hole, wherein a pin may be disposed to slideably engage any of a series of horizontal channels which are vertically oriented on the lifting post50 in a spaced apart manner to match the vertical spacing of the stackedweight plates52. The pin thereby engages a portion of the stack ofweight plates52, such that when vertical force is applied to the lifting post50, the selected stack ofweight plates52 is moved upwards to create a resistance. Typically, theweight stack42 apparatus is oriented such that the further down the pin is entered into the lifting post50, the greater the number ofplates52 are engaged, thereby increasing the resistance of the machine.
• Thecable48 extends up from theweight stack42 and a portion ofcable48 extends overpulleys44aand44b.The second end of thecable48 is connected to the start-positioningdevice58, thereby inhibiting rotation of the start-positioning device.
• Additionally, theweight stack42 can be connected to the start-positioningdevice58 by other means known in the art, including, but not limited to, belts, cables, chains, or tethers, so as to inhibit rotation thereof.
• In alternative embodiments, other mechanisms for providing resistance, such as friction fittings, springs, elastic bands, pneumatic or electromagnetic resistance, or an air resistance fan could be employed (either alone or in combination) and still practice the invention. Additionally, free weights could be operably engaged to the transmission assembly to resist the movement.
• As shown inFIG. 1, the range-limitingdevice26 includes ahorizontal shaft54, defining the horizontal axis of rotation A-A, thehorizontal shaft54 being pivotally connected to thesupport frame22 and thesecondary support frame40. An end-positioning device56 and a start-positioningdevice58 are affixed to thehorizontal shaft54. The end-positioning device56 includes adetent plate60 having ahorizontal stop61, ahandle element62, and defining a plurality adjustment holes64. (See alsoFIG. 2). Thedetent plate60 is rotateably affixed about thehorizontal shaft54 and affixable to the support frame'sstop arm66 by the engagement ofstop pin68 to one of the detent plate's adjustment holes64. The detent plate'svertical stop61 is positioned for engagement of the curved offsetarm32, where thehorizontal stop84 limits the angle of rotation of theinput assembly24.
• As shown inFIGS. 3 and 4, the start-positioningdevice58 is affixed to thehorizontal shaft54, and includes acam70,eccentric plate72, and acam plate74. Thecam70 is configured to receive theeccentric plate72, such that theeccentric plate72 is rotateable within thecam70. Thecam plate74 is attached to thecam70, sealing theeccentric plate72 within thecam70, such that thecam70 andcam plate74 are rotateable about theeccentric plate72. Theeccentric plate72 includes acam pin76 for engaging the cam plate's adjustment holes78. Theeccentric plate72 is attached to the horizontal shaft's offset mountingarm80, such the axis of rotation of theeccentric plate72 is offset from the eccentric plate's central axis.
• As noted above, theeccentric plate72 is attached to the horizontal shaft's offset mountingarm80, such the axis of rotation of theeccentric plate72 is offset from the eccentric plate's central axis. Accordingly, as theeccentric plate72 rotates within thecam70, the radial positioning of thecam70 about thehorizontal shaft54 is changed, changing the effective radius of curvature of thecam70 with respect to theinput assembly24. The automatic change in the effective radius of curvature of thecam70 provides an automatic change in the mechanical advantage over the adjusted range of motion, thus providing the correct anatomical mechanical advantage for the adjusted range of motion.
• In an exemplary method of use, the end-positioning device56 and the start-positioningdevice58 are used in conjunction to adjust the exercise start and stop positions. Initially, the user adjusts the start position as noted above. In doing so, the effective radius of curvature of thecam70 is changed, providing the appropriated mechanical advantage for the new start position. The user can then adjust the stop position as noted above, thereby provided a limited range of motion for the exercise.
• Referring now toFIG. 5, the present invention is shown in the context of anabdominal machine86, which includessupport frame12 on which auser support structure14 is mounted. Theuser support structure14 includes aseat surface16 and apelvic stabilizer pad18. Theseat16 is mounted on the forwardly facing angled upper portion of thesupport frame12, below and at an angle oblique to thepelvic stabilizer pad18. Theseat16 is positioned such that the user's lower back and pelvic region abuts thepelvic stabilizer pad18 and the user's legs extend outwardly and downwardly. Thepelvic stabilizer pad18 is affixed to the upper end of thesupport frame12, is inclined rearwardly, and is curved in a substantially half-cylindrical shape to accommodate for the user's lower back.
• Theadjustable footrest20 is attached to the front of thesupport frame12, where the oblique angle of theseat16 substantially directs the seat down towardsfootrest20. Thefootrest20 is positioned so the user can apply a force using the leg muscles to push the pelvis into thepelvic stabilization pad18. Thefootrest20 can be adjusted back and forth with thefootrest adjustment mechanism22 to accommodate users of varying heights. When a user's feet are positioned on thefootrest20, the footrest is adjusted such that the users thighs are substantially parallel with the ground. Additionally, the user's knees are in a flexion position of between about 10 degrees knee flexion to about 30 degrees knee flexion. This spatial arrangement of thepelvic stabilizer pad18,seat16, andfootrest20 combination effectively immobilize the user's pelvic area, preventing it from rotating in either the anterior or posterior direction.
• In theabdominal machine86, theinput assembly12 includes ahorizontal arm88 fitted withhandles90, where thehorizontal arm88 and arm handles90 are position directly in front of the user. Thehorizontal arm88 pivots about ahinge92 positioned substantially below theseat16, such that handles90 travel in a substantially linear path as the user pushes against the arm handles90.
• In a method of use, the user extends their arms until the elbows are fully extended. While keeping the elbows locked at zero degrees of flexion, the user will alternately flex the spine in a forward bending motion and extend the spine in a rearward bending motion. As such, the user's upper torso faces a substantially linear path of resistance, such that the body's abdominal muscles are effectively contracted and exercised. The user uses his arms to push the arm handles90, and hence the path of resistance offered by theweight stack42 flows directly through the user's hands, arms, and shoulders, and only then along the length of the torso. The user must then contract the entire length of his or her frontal abdominal wall. The stabilization assembly effectively locks the pelvis in one position essentially blocking the hip muscles from use during the exercise. This forces the abdominals to do all the work. To end the exercise, the user simple bends the elbows, removing the force exerted by theweight stack42 on the user.
• Alternatively, the user may grasp handle90 with only one hand while still flexing and extending the spine in the forward and rearward direction, such that by pushing on the arm handles90, the oblique abdominals may be exercised either on the left or right side of the torso.
• It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described herein above. In addition, unless mention was made above to the contrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawings are not to scale. A variety of modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, which is limited only by the following claims.

Claims (20)

1. A lower torso exercise machine comprising:

a frame;

a user support structure mounted to the frame, wherein the user support structure includes a seat and a pelvic stabilizing pad, the seat being mounted to the frame below and at an angle oblique to the pelvic stabilizing pad; and

a footrest attached to the frame in front of the user support structure.

2. The lower torso exercise machine according toclaim 1, wherein the oblique angle is such that the seat is directed towards the footrest.

3. The lower torso exercise machine according toclaim 1, wherein the footrest is positioned such that a user's thighs are substantially parallel to the ground.

4. The lower torso exercise machine according toclaim 1, wherein the footrest is positioned such that a user's knees are in an angle of flexion between about 10 degrees knee flexion to about 30 degrees knee flexion.

5. The lower torso exercise machine according toclaim 1, wherein the footrest is adjustable such that a user's thighs are substantially parallel to the ground and the user's knees are in an angle of flexion between about 10 degrees knee flexion to about 30 degrees knee flexion.

6. The lower torso exercise machine according toclaim 1, wherein the pelvic stabilizing pad is substantially half-cylindrical in shape.

7. The lower torso exercise machine according toclaim 1, further comprising an input assembly engageable by a user; and a resistance mechanism operably connected to the input assembly.

8. The lower torso exercise machine according toclaim 7, wherein the input assembly includes a padded member affixed to a horizontal arm, wherein the padded member is positioned substantially above the seat and engageable by a user's upper back.

9. The lower torso exercise machine according toclaim 7, wherein the input assembly comprises a horizontal arm including a pair of arm handles, wherein the arm handles are positioned substantially above the seat and engageable by a user's hands, through the user's extend arms.

10. The lower torso exercise machine according toclaim 9, wherein the horizontal arms moves in a substantially liner direction.

11. The lower torso exercise machine according toclaim 9, where the weight stack applies a resistive force through the users extended arms.

12. The lower torso exercise machine according toclaim 7, wherein the input assembly is positioned substantially above and in front of the seat, such that the input assembly is engagable by a user's extended arms.

13. The lower torso exercise machine according toclaim 7, further comprising a range-limiting device disposed between the input assembly and the frame, wherein the range-limiting device is pivotally connected to the frame and operatively connected to the resistance mechanism.

14. A lower torso exercise machine comprising:

a frame;

a user support structure mounted to the frame, wherein the user support structure includes a seat and a pelvic stabilizing pad, the seat being mounted to the frame below and at an angle oblique to the pelvic stabilizing pad; and

a footrest attached to the frame in front of the user support structure, such that a user's thighs are substantially parallel to the ground and the user's knees are in an angle of flexion between about 10 degrees knee flexion to about 30 degrees knee flexion.

15. The lower torso exercise machine according toclaim 14, wherein the footrest is an adjustable footrest.

16. The lower torso exercise machine according toclaim 14, further comprising an input assembly engagable by a user; and a resistance mechanism operably connected to the input assembly.

17. The lower torso exercise machine according toclaim 16, wherein the input assembly comprises a horizontal arm including a pair of arm handles, wherein the arm handles are positioned substantially above the seat and engagable by a user's hands, through the user's extend arms.

18. The lower torso exercise machine according toclaim 17, wherein the input assembly includes a padded member affixed to a horizontal arm, wherein the padded member is positioned substantially above the seat and engagable by a user's upper back.

19. The lower torso machine according toclaim 14, further comprising a means for transmitting a resistive force through a user's extended arms.

20. A lower torso exercise machine comprising:

a frame;

a user support structure mounted to the frame, wherein the user support structure includes a seat and a pelvic stabilizing pad, the seat being mounted to the frame below and at an angle oblique to the pelvic stabilizing pad;

a footrest attached to the frame in front of the user support structure, such that a user's thighs are substantially parallel to the ground and the user's knees are in an angle of flexion between about 10 degrees knee flexion to about 30 degrees knee flexion; an input assembly engagable by a user; and

a resistance mechanism operably connected to the input assembly.

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