Impex PowerhouseWM 1400 Use and care manual

United States Patent
US006685607B1
(12) (10) Patent N0.: US 6,685,607 B1
Olson (45) Date of Patent: Feb. 3, 2004
(54) EXERCISE DEVICE WITH RESISTANCE 5,685,810 A 11/1997 Chung
MECHANISM HAVING A PIVOTING ARM 5,776,040 A 7/1998 Webb et 91
AND A RESISTANCE MEMBER OTHER PUBLICATIONS
(75) Inventor; Michael L, Olson, Logan, UT (US) OWner’s Manual for Impex Fitness Products, Powerhouse
Home Gym WM 1400, Revised Jun. 30, 2000.
(73) Assignee: Icon IP, Inc., Logan, UT (US) Website page of Impex, dated Nov. 6, 2001.
Webiste pages (16 pp.) for Impex dated Dec. 11, 2001.
( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this _ _ _ _
patent is extended or adjusted under 35 Primary Examwer—Nlcholas D‘ Lucchesl
US'C' 154(k)) by 0 days' Assistant Examzner—L Amerson
(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Workman Nydegger; David
B. D b h
(21) Appl. N0.: 10/340,562 we“ ac
57 ABSTRACT
(22) Filed: Jan. 10, 2003 ( )
7 An exercise device is con?gured to provide adjustable
(51) Int. Cl. .............................................. .. A63B 26/00 resistance to the motion of a user exercising With the
(52) US‘ Cl- ~~~~ ~~ 482/142; 482/148; 482/907; exercise device. The exercise device includes a frame that at
_ 482/908 least partially supports an operable assembly. Cooperating
Fleld of Search . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. the Operable assembly is a resistance assembly 482/907, 908 provides a resistance adjustable by the user of the exercise
_ device. The resistance assembly includes an actuating
(56) References Clted assembly that engages With a pivoting arm. The actuating
Us PATENT DOCUMENTS assembly includes a handle mechanism that is simple to
operate and enables a user to easily select a desirable
4,275,882 A 6/1981 Grosser et 91- resistance level. A connecting member of the actuating
474267077 A 1/1984 Becker assembly extends from the handle mechanism to a resistance
4,540,171 A 9/1985 Clark et a1‘ member. Movement of the operable assembly moves the
2 “K1986 Brf’wn arm toWard a ?xed end of the resistance member. The
, , /1987 Minkow . . .
4898 381 A 21990 Gordon connectmg member temporarily lengthens the resistance
4:974j838 A 12/1990 sollenberger member, While the resistance member inhibits'such move
5’031’905 A 7/1991 Walsh ment and provides resistance to the exercismg user’s
5,316,534 A 5/1994 Dalebout et a1. motion.
5,344,374 A 9/1994 Telle
5,527,245 A 6/1996 Dalebout et a1. 22 Claims, 12 Drawing Sheets

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US 6,685,607 B1
1
EXERCISE DEVICE WITH RESISTANCE
MECHANISM HAVING A PIVOTING ARM
AND A RESISTANCE MEMBER
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to exercise devices
and more generally to methods, systems, and devices for
selectively modifying a resistance level of an exercise
device.
2. The Relevant Technology
In recent years, there has been a trend toWards the use of
exercise equipment, Whether it is at a gym or at home.
Although gym exercise equipment provides many bene?ts to
an exercising user, it is typically expensive to become a
member of the gym and usually time consuming and incon
venient to exercise at the gym. Many individuals are turning
to home exercise equipment to obtain the health bene?ts
associated With daily exercising.
Although home exercise equipment is more convenient to
use, in many instances the devices are cumbersome and
dif?cult to use. For instance, many multi-gym exercise
devices use free Weights or other heavy Weights to provide
resistance during an exercise regime. These Weights make
positioning and subsequent movement of the exercise device
dif?cult. Typically, once a multi-gym device has been set-up
in one position, it Will remain there for a signi?cant amount
of time Without being moved. When the device is to be
moved, the oWner must spend a long period to dismantle the
device, move the parts to the neW position Within the home,
and reassemble the exercise device. Additionally, use of
such a multi-gym device requires the user to set aside a
signi?cant amount of space Within the user’s home. This
reduces the livable space Within the home and typically
requires that an area of the home be dedicated to the
performance of exercise regimes. It Would be preferential to
have an exercise device that is mobile and capable of being
repositioned to alloW the user to utiliZe the space Within his
or her home.
Typical exercise devices use Weights to provide resistance
to an exercising user. The selection of Weights may be
dif?cult to achieve before and during an exercise regime.
Additionally, selection of a particular resistance is limited to
the incremental Weights provided With the exercise device.
For instance, the adjustability of the exercise device to a
particular Weight is often limited by the minimum numerical
Weight value of the Weights included With the exercise
device. It Would be bene?cial to have an exercise device
Where very small incremental changes in the exercise resis
tance Were possible.
In addition to the above, the adjustability of the exercise
device limits the usability of the exercise device. Many
exercise devices require removal of pins and repositioning
of Weights to vary the resistance applied to an exercising
user. This may be time consuming and dif?cult to achieve
depending the particular con?guration of the exercise
device. Over time, there is a high likelihood that the pins
associated With the exercise device Will become lost, thereby
preventing a user exercising using the exercise device.
Some exercise devices attempt to overcome the limita
tions associated With the use of heavy Weights to provide
resistance to an exercising user. These exercising devices
may utiliZe gas or ?uid cylinders that provide a resistance as
a user exercises upon the exercise device. A gas or ?uid
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Within an interior chamber of the cylinder may ?oW through
a variable restriction member that may govern the resistance
applied by the cylinder. For instance, When the restriction
member alloWs a high ?oW rate of ?uid therethrough, the
resistance applied by the cylinder is loW. Similarly, When the
restriction member alloWs a loW ?oW rate, the cylinder
provides a high resistance to the exercising user.
Although bene?cial in reducing the overall Weight of an
exercise device, and thereby enabling repositioning of an
exercise device in a simple and efficient manner, the effec
tiveness and long-term usage of certain gas cylinders may be
limited. Over time, the gas or ?uid contained Within the
cylinder may leak. This can result in the cylinder providing
a lesser amount of resistance than Was possible When the
cylinder Was neWly manufactured.
Based upon the above, it Would bene?cial to have an
exercise device that is simple to position through reducing
the overall Weight of the exercise device, While providing a
resistance mechanism that is easily adjustable, While main
taining the level of resistance associated With the exercise
device over a long period.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to an exercise
device that is capable of being readily adjustable to provide
variable resistance to an exerciser using the exercise device.
The adjustable resistance of the exercise device may be
easily and ef?ciently modi?ed through simply operating a
handle mechanism, repositioning the handle mechanism to a
neW position, and subsequently releasing the handle mecha
nism to set the resistance for the exercise device. This
provides an exercise device that may be easily adjusted
Without the need to remove pins, reposition a resistance
mechanism or Weights upon the device, or reposition a pin
or other fastener removed from the exercise device.
Additionally, the exercise device is adapted to provide a
resistance assembly that has compact characteristics,
thereby limiting the overall space required or associated
With the exercise device.
According to one embodiment of the present invention,
the exercise device includes a frame that at least partially
supports at least one exercise mechanism, such as a leg
exerciser or (ii) overhead handles that may be used to
perform exercises. Aconnecting system, such as a cable and
pulley system connects the exercise mechanism to a resis
tance assembly that is coupled to the frame. The resistance
assembly provides resistance to the motion of the exercise
mechanisms and hence resistance to the motion of the user
exercising With the exercise device.
The resistance assembly includes: a pivoting arm
pivotally coupled to the frame; (ii) an actuating assembly
that engages the pivoting arm; and (iii) at least one
extendible, resilient resistance member. Resistance levels of
the exercise device may be selected as a user moves the
actuating assembly relative to the pivoting arm. The closer
the actuating assembly is to the pivoting axis of the arm, the
loWer the level of resistance provided to the user’s motion.
Inversely, the further the actuating assembly is from the
pivoting axis of the arm, the higher the level of resistance
provided to the user’s motion.
In one embodiment, the actuating assembly couples to a
resilient resistance member such as a rubber band or spring
that is coupled to the frame. The resilient member resists
movement of the actuating assembly and consequently of
the pivoting arm. By employing the resilient member, the
use of a shock is avoided. Furthermore, the resilient member

US 6,685,607 B1
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is strategically oriented so that the resistance assembly is
compact and highly ef?cient.
The actuating assembly includes a handle mechanism that
is simple to operate and enables a user to easily select a
desirable resistance level. The handle mechanism includes a
?xed member and a moveable member pivotally connected
to the ?xed member and biased from the ?xed member.
Disposed at an end of the moveable member is an engage
ment member that is adapted to cooperate With at least one
aperture formed in the pivoting arm. As a user overcomes
the biasing force betWeen the ?xed member and the move
able member, the engagement member is removed from an
aperture to alloW movement of the handle mechanism rela
tive to the arm. When a neW resistance level is selected, such
as When the handle mechanism has been moved to a selected
position on the arm, a user may alloW the biasing force to
move the moveable member relative to the ?xed member to
position the engagement member Within another aperture.
This positioning of the engagement member Within another
aperture locks the position of the handle mechanism and
hence sets the selected resistance level.
Extending from the handle mechanism is a connecting
member. The connecting member cooperates With the resil
ient resistance member and functions to move a moveable
end of the resistance member as a user moves the operable
mechanism. The position of the handle mechanism upon the
pivoting arm and the amount that the connecting system is
moved governs the amount of movement of the resistance
member’s moveable end. With the handle mechanism close
to the pivotal axis of the arm, the amount of movement of
the resistance member’s moveable end is small and so the
level of resistance is small. Similarly, With the handle
mechanism being distant from the pivotal axis of the arm,
the amount of movement of the resistance member’s move
able end is large and so the level of resistance is large. A
variety of resistance selections in betWeen are also available.
According to another embodiment of the present
invention, the exercise device includes a motoriZed resis
tance assembly. The resistance assembly includes an arm
assembly pivotally connected to a frame of the exercise
device. The arm assembly includes an arm With one or more
arced surfaces that cooperate With a connecting assembly of
the exercise device. A cross member of the connecting
assembly slides along the arced surfaces as a motor rotates
a drive member connected to the arm. As the cross member
moves along the drive member, the position of at least one
connecting member relative to at least one resistance mem
ber changes. The position of the cross member and/or the
connecting member de?nes the resistance level of the resis
tance assembly.
These and other objects and features of the present
invention Will become more fully apparent from the folloW
ing description and appended claims, or may be learned by
the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
To further clarify the above and other advantages and
features of the present invention, a more particular descrip
tion of the invention Will be rendered by reference to speci?c
embodiments thereof that are illustrated in the appended
draWings. It is appreciated that these draWings depict only
typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not
to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention Will be
described and explained With additional speci?city and
detail through the use of the accompanying draWings in
which:
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FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective vieW of an exercise device
in accordance With one embodiment of the present inven
tion;
FIG. 2A illustrates a side vieW of the exercise device of
FIG. 1 With a second exercise mechanism in an exercising
position;
FIG. 2B illustrates a side vieW of the exercise device of
FIG. 1 With a second exercise mechanism in a storage
position;
FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective vieW of a portion of a
resistance assembly of the exercise device of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective vieW of a portion of an
actuating assembly of the exercise device of FIG. 1;
FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate a partial cross-sectional vieW
of the portion of the actuating assembly of FIG. 4 demon
strating the selective movement of the handle in order to
selectively move the actuating assembly;
FIG. 6 illustrates a partial cross-sectional vieW of a
resistance assembly of the exercise device of FIG. 1 With the
actuating assembly located at a ?rst position closest to a
pivotal axis of an arm of the resistance assembly;
FIG. 7 illustrates a partial cross-sectional vieW of the
resistance assembly of the exercise device of FIG. 1 as an
exercise mechanism is manipulated;
FIG. 8 illustrates a partial cross-sectional vieW of the
resistance assembly of the exercise device of FIG. 1 With the
actuating assembly located at a second position furthers
from a pivot axis of an arm of the resistance assembly;
FIG. 9 illustrates a partial cross-sectional vieW of the
resistance assembly of the exercise device of FIG. 1 as an
exercise mechanism is manupulated;
FIG. 10 illustrates a perspective vieW of one or more
secondary support members that facilitate attachment of one
or more additional resistance members according to another
aspect of the invention; and
FIGS. 11A and 11B illustrates partial cross-sectional
vieWs of a resistance assembly featuring a motoriZed resis
tance member according to another aspect of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention generally relates to an exercise
device that has an adjustable resistance assembly that pro
vides resistance to an exercising user as he or she manipu
lates the exercise mechanisms of the exercise device. This
resistance assembly provides a simple and ef?cient manner
by Which the user may select different resistances, Without
the possibility of loosing pins or other elements that are
typically used to select a particular resistance. The con?gu
ration of the resistance assembly is compact, thereby limit
ing the overall space required or associated With the exercise
device. With reference noW to FIG. 1, depicted is one
con?guration of an exercise device according to one aspect
of the present invention.
Exercise device 10 comprises: a frame 11; (ii) at least
one exercise mechanism (such as over head handle pull
doWn mechanism 14 and leg exercising mechanism 16); (iii)
a resistance assembly 12 that couples to frame 11; and (iv)
a connecting mechanism 18 that couples the at least one
exercise mechanism, e.g., mechanisms 14 and 16 to the
resistance assembly 12. Resistance assembly 12 controls the
amount of resistance encountered by a user exercising With
exercise mechanisms 14 and 16.
With reference noW to FIGS. 1, 2a, 2b, and 3, resistance
assembly 12 includes: a pivoting arm 110 pivotally

US 6,685,607 B1
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coupled to frame 11; (ii) an actuating assembly 112 that
engages pivoting arm 110; and (iii) at least one and prefer
ably ?rst and second extendible, resilient resistance mem
bers 114a, 114n. Connecting mechanism 18 of FIGS. 1—10
is a cable and pulley system or assembly that couples the at
least one exercise mechanism, e.g., mechanisms 14 and 16
to the resistance assembly 12, such that the second end of
arm 110 cooperates With the exercise mechanism so that
movement of the exercise mechanism moves the arm 110.
Frame 11, cable and pulley system 18, and exercise
mechanisms 14, 16 Will noW be discussed in additional
detail. Frame 11 comprises a base 44; and (ii) ?rst and
second upstanding members 42a, 42b extending upWardly
from base 44. Base 44 may include one or more Wheels 46
that may aid With positioning exercise device 10. Various
portions of frame 11 may be holloW so that connecting
system 18 may be at least partially disposed therein.
Cable and pulley system 18 comprises at least one and
preferably a plurality of cables and at least one and prefer
ably a plurality of pulley stations. In the embodiment shoWn,
system 18 comprises a primary cable 20a that extends from
pulley station 22a to pulley station 22b and passes through
resistance assembly 12. Pulley stations 22a and 22b are
mounted to frame 11 by supports 28a and 28b. Secondary
cables 20b and 20c couple to respective ends of primary
cable 20a and extend upWardly and through respective
pulley stations 22c and 22d. Tertiary cable 20d couples to leg
exercise mechanism 16 and couples to at least one of the
ends of primary cable 20a, preferably forking so as to couple
to both ends of cable 20a.
Each end of cable 20a, and the terminating ends of cables
20b—20c, includes a stop 30 that prevents the end of the
cable passing through the respective pulley stations 22a—22d
toWard resistance assembly 12 during performance of an
exercise. Cable of the present invention may be comprised
of metallic material, rope, string, or other materials that are
capable of functioning as described herein.
Each pulley station 22a—22d includes a pivoting member
24a—24d, respectively, that supports one or more pulleys 26.
As a user moves ?rst exercise mechanism 14, for instance,
pivotal member 24d moves to position pulley 26 so that
cable 20d slides along pulley 26.
Disposed at a top of frame 11 is ?rst exercise mechanism
14. The ?rst exercise mechanism 14 enables an exercising
user to perform exercises using the user’s arms. Handles 58
are attached to respective cables 20b, 20c. The pivoting
properties of pulley stations 22a—22d enable the user to
move handle 58 relative to frame 11, While cable 20a—c
remains in engagement With respective pulley 26.
With continued reference to FIG. 2A, mounted to base 44
is second exercise mechanism 16 is shoWn coupled to
pivoting bench assembly 19. Bench assembly 19 includes an
elongate member 70 pivotally mounted to base 44 by Way of
a bracket 72. This bracket 72 alloWs elongate member 70 to
be positioned in an exercising position Where elongate
member 70 is generally parallel to a surface upon Which
exercise device 10 is disposed and a storage position, shoWn
in the partial vieW of exercise device 10 depicted in FIG. 2B,
Where elongate member 70 is generally perpendicular to a
surface upon Which exercise device 10 is disposed. Bracket
72 may be secured in either the exercising position or the
storage position through use of a locking member 78 that
passes through bracket 72 to cooperate With extension
member
Cooperating With elongate member 70 is a seat 90 and a
backrest 92 upon Which a user may sit or incline as he or she
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uses ?rst exercise mechanism 14 and/or second exercise
mechanism 16. The seat 90 may be slidably positioned upon
elongate member 70 to accommodate user of various siZes.
The backrest 92 may be inclined and optionally cooperate
With frame 11.
Also attached to elongate member 70 at a location distant
from bracket 72 is exercise mechanism 16 in the form of a
leg developer assembly having a leg lever 82 pivotally
coupled to a leg lever support 84. The leg lever 82 connects
to, in one embodiment, resistance assembly 12 by Way of
pulley station 22a and cable 20d.
Resistance assembly 12 Will noW be described in addi
tional detail. As illustrated in FIG. 1, resistance assembly 12
is at least partially enclosed by a housing 32. Discussion of
housing 32 Will be made With respect to one side of housing
32, hoWever, it is contemplated that the other side of housing
32 is generally a mirror image of the described housing. The
housing 32 includes a hole 34 that enables a user to access
resistance assembly 12. The housing 32 may optionally
include one or more indicia 36 that may be used With
resistance assembly 12 to identify the particular level of
resistance at Which resistance assembly 12 may be set. The
housing 32 may optionally include cable guides 38 that may
receive cables 20b and 20c and securely retain the same
therein.
With continued reference to FIGS. 1—3, resistance assem
bly 12 includes a resistance arm 110 that is pivotally coupled
to frame 11 and is movably coupled to actuating assembly
112. The resistance arm 110 is pivotally attached to a
mounting member 120 (FIG. 4) of frame 11. The second end
122 of resistance arm 110 moves as a user exercises using
exercise device 10. Arm 110 is depicted as having a gener
ally curved pro?le. HoWever, one skilled in the art may
appreciate that arm: 110 may have various other con?gura
tions to perform the functions described herein.
A ?rst end 118 of arm 110 is pivotally coupled to frame
11. A second end 122 of arm 110 has a pulley assembly 124
therein that receives cable 20a about its one or more pulleys
125a—125n, Which are mounted to second end 122 by one or
more brackets 127a and 12711. Cable 20a extends from
pulley station 22b to pulley station 22a after being received
by one or more intermediate pulleys 128a—128n, pulley
assembly 124, and a base pulley assembly 144 that is
mounted to base 44 by bracket 146.
In the illustrated con?guration, cable 20a extends from
pulley station 22b, through one or more of intermediate
pulleys 128a—128n mounted to frame 11. This cable 20a
continues from intermediate pulleys 128a—128n to be
received at pulley assembly 124 and associated the one or
more pulleys 125a—125n. Extending from pulley assembly
124, cable 20a is received by a base pulley assembly 144
that also includes one or more pulleys 129a—129n. This
cable 20a then optionally repeatedly extends from pulley
assembly 144 to pulley assembly 124 and then passes to
other similar intermediate pulleys 128a—128n, before termi
nating at pulley station 22a. As an exerciser moves both of
the handles of ?rst exercise mechanism 14 (FIG. 1), for
example, the available length of cable 20a extending
betWeen pulley assembly 124 and pulley assembly 144
shortens. This shortening of the available portion of cable
20a causes pulley assembly 124 to move toWard pulley
assembly 144, thereby resulting in arm 110 pivoting about
mounting member 120. This movement causes actuating
assembly 112 to move resistance members 114a—114n that
limit the motion of arm 110, thereby providing resistance to
the exercising user.

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Returning to FIG. 2a, in the illustrated con?guration, an
exercising user may receive resistance from resistance
assembly 12 When the user exercises With both handles 58
associated With ?rst exercise mechanism 14 (FIG. 1) or a
single handle 58 associated With ?rst exercise mechanism
14. This occurs because movement of one end of cable 20a
results in a shortening of the available length of cable 20a
betWeen pulley assembly 124 and pulley assembly 144.
Disposed betWeen ?rst end 118 and second end 122 of
arm 110 are one or more apertures 126, as illustrated in FIG.
4. Apertures 126 are adapted to cooperate With actuating
assembly 112 to de?ne different resistance levels. Each
aperture 126 de?nes a different resistance level. By varying
the spacing of apertures 126, one may provide an exercise
device that has a small incremental change in the resistance
level from one aperture to an adj acent aperture or an exercise
device that has a large incremental change in the resistance
level from one aperture to another. In this manner, the
present invention provides exercise devices that may be
con?gured to provide numerous various incremental steps of
resistance level.
The actuating assembly 112 includes a handle mechanism
130 and a connecting member 132. The actuating assembly
112 alloWs a user to select a particular resistance that the
user encounters While exercising using exercise device 10.
More speci?cally, a user of exercise device 10 may manipu
late handle mechanism 130 to slidably move handle mecha
nism 130 relative to arm 110. Movement of handle mecha
nism 130 enables a user to set different resistance values or
levels that the user With encounter While exercising using
exercise device 10. As handle mechanism 130 moves along
arm 110 the angular orientation of connecting member 132
relative to resistance members 114a—114n (FIG. 3A)
changes.
The handle mechanism 130 includes a ?rst plate 134 and
a second plate 136. First plate 134 and second plate 136 are
disposed on opposite sides of arm 110. First plate 134 and
second plate 136 may be connected one to another using a
variety of different mechanisms, such as by one or more
fasteners, so long as ?rst plate 134 and second plate 136 are
separated sufficiently to alloW arm 110 to be disposed there
betWeen. For instance, one or more spacers 138 may be used
to separate ?rst plate 134 and second plate 136 to maintain
the desired displacement one or another.
A loWer portion of each plate 134, 136 is adapted to
cooperate With connecting member 132 and optionally With
a ?xed member 150 and a moveable member 152.
Additionally, the loWer portions of each plate 134, 136 are
adapted to retain a Wheel 140, as illustrated in FIGS. 5A and
5B. Wheel 140 engages With a portion of arm 110 and alloWs
actuating assembly 112 to slide along or translate along arm
110. It may be appreciated that Wheel 140 is only one
embodiment of the structure capable of performing the
function of means for aiding With translating actuating
assembly along arm 110. For instance, in another
con?guration, Wheel 140 may be substituted With a friction
reducing block or other element that alloWs actuating assem
bly 112 to move along arm 110.
With continued reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B, attached to
?rst plate 134 is ?xed member 150 of handle mechanism
130. Pivotally connected to ?xed member 150 by Way of
pivot member 156 is a moveable member 152. The pivot
member 156 may having the form of a fastener, a pin, or
other structure capable of performing the function of mem
ber about Which moveable member 152 pivots.
The moveable member 152 is spring biased With respect
to ?xed member 150. Biasing of moveable member 152 may
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be achieved through use of a spring 154. Although reference
is made to spring 154, it can be appreciated by one skilled
in the art that various other structures may be used to bias
moveable member 152 relative to ?xed member 150. For
instance, and not by Way of limitation, other resilient mem
bers may be disposed or substituted for spring 152.
Disposed at an end of moveable member 152 is an
engagement member 160. The engagement member 160,
such as a pin, is adapted to cooperate With apertures 126 of
arm 110 and With associated apertures 158 in ?rst plate 134
and/or second plate 136. Although depicted as threadably
engaging the end of moveable member 152, one skilled in
the art may appreciate that engagement member 160 may be
integrally formed With moveable member 152 or connected
to moveable member 152 using one or more structures
capable of performing the function of means for connecting
one member to another member.
In operation, by moving moveable member 152 relative to
?xed member 150, as is shoWn in FIG. 5B, engagement
member 160 is removed from engaging With aperture 126 to
alloW a user to traverse arm 110 to a desired location and to
set a desired resistance. For instance, handle mechanism 130
may be moved until ?xed member 150 aligns With a desired
one of indicia 36 (FIG. 1) on housing 32. The engagement
member 160 may optionally be removed completely from
aperture 158 in ?rst plate 134 or second plate 136, hoWever,
maintaining engagement member 160 Within aperture 158
but removed from aperture 126 may aid With aligning
engagement member 160 With aperture 160 When the bias
ing force is alloWed to position engagement member 160
into aperture 126.
In one embodiment, When the user positions handle
mechanism 130 of actuating assembly 112 at a desired
position, i.e., indicators upon or handle mechanism 130
itself align With complementary indicators 36 (FIG. 1) upon
housing 32, the user releases handle mechanism 130 to lock
the selected resistance for exercise device 10, as is illustrated
in FIG. 5A. By merely gripping handle mechanism 130
suf?ciently to release the same, a user may move handle
mechanism 130 to different resistance levels in a simple and
ef?cient manner.
With reference noW to FIG. 6, connecting member 132
extends from handle mechanism 130 to resistance members
114a—114n. In the illustrated con?guration, connecting
member 132 connects to a support member 142 upon Which
resistance members 114a—114n are disposed. In this manner,
movement of support member 142 under the in?uence of
connecting member 132 moves a portion of each resistance
member 114a—114n simultaneously. In other con?gurations,
one or more connecting member 132 may connect to one or
more resistance member 114a—114n With or Without support
member 142.
Resistance members 114a—114n are adapted to provide
resistance to the motion of arm 110 as a user pulls on one or
more of cables 20a—20a' (FIG. 1) connected to pulley
assembly 124. To achieve this, in one con?guration, a ?rst
end 164 of each resistance member 114a—114n is coupled to
frame 11 at a location 168, While connecting member 132
may move a second end 166 of each resistance member
114a—114n. As arm 110 moves about a central axis of
mounting member 120, When cable 20a is moved in the
direction of arroW A in FIG. 7, pulley assembly 124 moves
toWard pulley assembly 144 and connecting member 132
moves second end 166 of each resistance member
114a—114n, such as depicted in FIG. 7. With each resistance
member 114a—114n being resilient, the resiliency character

US 6,685,607 B1
istics of each resistance member 114a—114n allow connect
ing member 132 to extend each resistance member
114a—114n under the force exerted by an exercising user.
The resilient characteristics of each resistance member
114a—114n, however, enables each resistance member
114a—114n to return to its con?guration prior to being
extended by the force exerted by the exercising user, as is
depicted in FIG. 6.
Generally, resistant members 114a—114n may have vari
ous con?gurations so long as they are capable of being
temporarily stretched or lengthened under application of a
force from a ?rst con?guration, While substantially returning
to the ?rst con?guration folloWing stretching or lengthening
to the second con?guration. Illustratively, each resistant
member 114a—114n may be springs, elastomeric members
(e.g., bone shaped rubber bands), or other materials or
structures having suf?cient resiliency. Additionally, resistant
members 114a—114n may having any shape, such as, but not
limited to, polygonal, curved, oval, bone-shaped, combina
tions thereof, or other shapes that may aid With providing
resiliency.
The curved con?guration of arm 110 alloWs differing
levels of force to be selected by a user. The variations in
resistance force result from the position of handle mecha
nism 130 relative to the pivoting axis of arm 110, i.e., the
axis of mounting member 120. For instance, the loWest
resistance levels occur When handle mechanism 130 is
closest to mounting members 120, While the highest resis
tance levels occurs When handle mechanism 130 is closest to
pulley assembly 124. This happens because handle mecha
nism 130, When positioned closest to mounting members
120, moves toWard second end 166 of resistance members
114a—114n to a lesser degree than does handle mechanism
130 When handle mechanism 130 is positioned closest to
pulley assembly 124. Since actuating assembly 112 has a
?xed length, i.e., connecting member 132 has a ?xed length,
and is connected to second end 166 that acts as the center of
the radius for the curve of arm 110, changes in the initial
position of handle mechanism 130 relative to second end
166 of resistance members 114a—114n results in different
stretching or lengthening of resistance members 114a—114n
and hence the amount of resistance to the motion of the
exercising user. Although reference is made to the second
end 166 acting as the center of a curve to Which arm 110 is
matched When no force is applied to cable 20a, one skilled
in the art may appreciate that various other center points and
curve orientations are possible and may be used With the
present invention.
The above affect may be seen With reference to FIGS.
6—9. For instance, FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate resistance assem
bly 12 Where handle mechanism 130 is positioned close to
mounting member 120, While FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate
resistance assembly 12 Where handle mechanism 130 is
positioned close to pulley assembly 124. As cable 20a is
moved during performance of an exercise, the shortening of
available portion of cable 20a received by pulley assembly
124 and pulley assembly 144 causes arm 110 to pivot about
mounting member 120. This movement results in connect
ing member 132 moving second end 166 of resistance
members 114a—114n in a direction aWay from arm 110. The
movement of second end 166 of resistance member
114a—114n is greater in FIG. 9 than in FIG. 6, resulting in
a greater resistance force in the con?guration of FIG. 9 than
in the con?guration of FIG. 6.
To aid With moving second end 166 of resistance mem
bers 114a—114n, frame 11 may include a track 170, as shoWn
in FIG. 3. Track 170 provides a path for second end 166 of
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resistance members 114a—114n to folloW as connecting
member 132 moves second end 166. The track 170 may
cooperate With a guide 172 that is. optionally coupled to
second end 166 of each resistance member 114a—114n or
one or more of resistance members 114a—114n. This guide
172 aids to maintain resistance. members 114a—114n Within
track 170 to prevent torquing or tWisting of resistance
member 114a—114n during stretching or lengthening. Vari
ous con?gurations of guide 172 are knoWn to those skilled
in the art. For instance, guide 172 may have a generally
circular form to enable guide 172 to optionally roll as
resistance members 114a—114n stretch. In another
con?guration, guide 172 may slidably mate With a slot (not
shoWn) formed in the track. In this con?guration, guide 172
may have a stepped con?guration Where a portion of guide
172 slides against the track, While another portion mates
With the slot.
In addition to the above, embodiments of the present
invention enable additional resistance members to be
coupled or otherWise added to the one or more resistance
members 114a—114n disposed Within housing 32 of exercise
device 10. With reference to FIG. 10, exercise device 10
may include secondary support members 180a—180n that
accommodate one or more additional resistance members
114a—114n to increase the possible resistance levels associ
ated With exercise device 10. One or more of secondary
support members 180a—180n may be mounted to support
member 142 (FIG. 6) through a slot 38 in housing 32. The
slot 38 alloWs the one or more of secondary support mem
bers 180a—180n to move as resistance members 114a—114n
(FIG. 3) move Within housing 32 under the in?uence of
actuating assembly 112. This slot 38 may be partially
covered by an interior cover 48 (FIG. 3) and move With
resistance members 114a—114n (FIG. 3).
The upper secondary support members 180a may be
mounted to the frame (not shoWn) at location 168, thereby
providing a ?xed point attachment for the additional resis
tance members 114a—114n. The loWer secondary support
members 180n may threadably connect Within opposing
ends of support member 142 (FIG. 6). Although reference is
made to secondary support members 180a—180n threadably
connecting With support member 142, one skilled in the art
may appreciate that other manners of connecting the sec
ondary support members to the support member. For
instance, and not by Way of limitation, the secondary support
members may be slip-?t, friction ?t, releasable lock-?t, or
otherWise connected to the support member using a means
for connecting one member to another member.
In another con?guration, one or more of secondary sup
port members 180a—180n may mate With connecting mem
ber 132 (FIG. 6) rather than support member 142. Similarly,
secondary support members 180a—180n may optionally
mate directly With one or more of resistance members
114a—114n (FIG. 3).
To maintain resistance members 114a—114n upon second
ary support members 180a—180n, one or more fastening
members 182 cooperate With one or more of secondary
support members 180a—180n. These fastening members 182
lock resistance members 114a—114n upon secondary support
members 180a—180n and prevent inadvertent removal of the
same. The fastening members 182 may be spring loaded
members that are con?gured to mate With an exterior surface
of secondary support members 180a—180n. Other con?gu
rations of fastening members 182 are knoWn to those skilled
in the art.
Referring noW to FIGS. 11A and 11B, depicted is an
alternate con?guration of a resistance assembly according to

US 6,685,607 B1
11
another aspect of the present invention. The majority of
features described With respect to resistance assembly 12
apply to resistance assembly 212. The resistance assembly
212 includes an arm 220 that cooperates With an actuating
assembly 222. The arm 220 is pivotally mounted to a frame
240 of an exercise device, either directly or by Way of an
intermediary bracket 242, at a ?rst end 224, and a second
end 226 cooperates With a pulley assembly 228. The arm 220
is formed from tWo side by side plates separated one from
another by an end plate. A?rst plate 232 and a portion of an
end plate 236 are depicted in FIGS. 11A and 11B. It Will be
appreciated that in one embodiment the con?guration the
second plate is generally a mirror image of the ?rst plate.
Therefore, discussion With respect to ?rst plate 232 is also
applicable to the second plate.
The level or resistance provided by resistance assembly
212 may be selected through use if actuating assembly 222.
The actuating assembly 222 cooperates With ?rst plate 232
and the second plate that have complementary arced sur
faces 250. The actuating assembly 222 moves along arced
surfaces 250 to vary the level of resistance provided by
resistance assembly 212. FIG. 11B depicts a situation Where
actuating assembly 222 has moved along arced surfaces 250.
The actuating assembly 222 includes a drive member 254
disposed betWeen ?rst plate 232 and the second plate (not
shoWn). The drive member 254 extends from a second end
226 of arm 220 to threadably cooperate With a connecting
assembly 260. Alternatively, drive member 254 may extend
from end plate 236 toWard connecting assembly 260.
Whether drive member 254 is mounted to second end 226 of
arm 220 or end plate 236 it cooperates With a motor 270 that
may be pivotally mounted to arm 220. The motor 270 rotates
drive member 254 to move a portion of connecting assembly
260 and vary the selected resistance of exercise device 210.
The motor 270 may have various con?gurations, such as, but
not limited to, an electrical motor or some other motor that
is capable of rotating drive member 254.
Threadably cooperating With drive member 254 is con
necting assembly 260 that extends from drive member 254
to resistance members 114a—114n. The connecting assembly
260 includes tWo connecting members, only connecting
member 262a being depicted in FIGS. 11A and 11B, that
extend from a cross member 264 to a support member 266
upon Which resistance members 114a—114n are mounted.
Alternatively, the connecting members may connect directly
to one or more of resistance members 114a—114n.
The cross member 264 of connecting assembly 260
optionally pivots relative to the connecting members, only
connecting member 262a being depicted in FIGS. 11A and
11B, While slidably cooperating With arced surfaces 250 of
?rst plate 232 and the second plate (not shoWn) as cross
member 264 engages With drive member 254. As cross
member 264 moves along arced surfaces 250 the level of
resistance that Would be applied to an exercising user is
varied. In another con?guration, drive member 254 mates
With a cross member that is located distant from arced
surfaces 250, While a guide disposed at an end of the
connecting members slides along arced surfaces 250 as the
cross members moves along drive member 254.
In the illustrated con?guration, cross member 264
includes a hole that is complementary to drive member 254,
so that rotational movement of drive member 254 causes
cross member 264 to move along the length of drive member
254. In one con?guration, drive member 254 and cross
member 264 include complementary threaded portions that
engage to move cross member 264 along the length of drive
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member 254 as the same rotates. Other complementary
con?gurations may be knoWn to those skilled in the art in
light of the teaching contained herein.
Optionally mounted to, or otherWise cooperating With,
support member 266 are guides 272. Guides 272 slidable or
rotatably engage With frame 240 to maintain resistance
members 114a—114n in the desired position relative to frame
240 as they move under the in?uence of the connecting
members. The guides 272 may have various con?gurations
so long as they aid With positioning resistance members
114a—114n. For instance, a guide may have a stepped
con?guration Where a portion of the guide is disposed
betWeen a resistance member and the frame, While another
portion only cooperates With the frame. In another
con?guration, the guide is solely disposed betWeen resis
tance member and the frame. In still another con?guration,
the guide solely cooperates With the frame.
The operation of resistance assembly 212 is similar to that
described With respect to resistance assembly 12. Auser may
select a level of resistance by operating a controller (not
shoWn) to cause motor 270 to rotate drive member 254. The
controller may be an electronic controller that provides a
digital readout of the resistance level chosen. Although one
type of controller is identi?ed, one skilled in the art may
identify other controllers that may be used to perform the
same function.
As drive member 254 rotates, cross member 264 moves
along surfaces 250 of the plates. Once the desired level of
resistance has been selected, such as a numerical value of the
selected resistance being displayed upon a digital readout,
engagement of cross member 264 and drive member 254
maintain actuating assembly 222 in the desired position. As
a user operates the operable mechanisms of the exercise
device, pulley assembly 228 moves toWard pulley assembly
144, thereby moving the connecting members. The connect
ing members in turn moves second end 166 of resistance
members 114a—114n, resulting in resistance members
114a—114n providing resistance to the motion of the exer
cising user.
The present invention, therefore provides various an exer
cise device that is capable of being readily adjustable to
provide variable resistance to an exerciser using the exercise
device. The adjustable resistance of the exercise device may
be easily and efficiently modi?ed through simply operating
a handle mechanism or controller to change the resistance
level of the exercise device. Additionally, by maintaining the
actuating assembly generally betWeen the pivoting arm and
a second end of the resistance member the exercise device
provides a resistance assembly that has compact
characteristics, thereby limiting the overall space required or
associated With the exercise device.
The resistance assemblies described herein may be used
in conjuction With a variety of different exercise devices and
the frame members, exercise mechanisms, and connecting
systems described herein are only illustrative of the types of
mechanisms that may be employed in conjunction With the
resistance assemblies of the present invention.
The present invention may be embodied in other speci?c
forms Without departing from its spirit or essential charac
teristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in
all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope
of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended
claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes
that come Within the meaning and range of equivalency of
the claims are to be embraced Within their scope.

US 6,685,607 B1
13
What is claimed is:
1. A resistance assembly con?gured to provide adjustable
resistance to a motion of an exercise mechanism of an
exercise device, the resistance assembly comprising:
(a) an arm having a ?rst end pivotally coupled to a frame
of the exercise device, the arm having a second end
cooperating With the exercise mechanism such that
movement of the exercise mechanism moves the arm;
(b) an actuating assembly moveably coupled to said arm;
and
(c) a resilient resistance member coupled to said actuating
assembly such that movement of the exercise
mechanism of the exercise device results in the move
ment of the resilient resistance member and (ii) move
ment of the actuating assembly selectively adjusts the
amount of resistance applied by the resistance assembly
to movement of the exercise mechanism.
2. A resistance assembly as recited in claim 1, Wherein
said resistance member comprises a ?rst end and a second
end, said ?rst end being coupled to a frame of the exercise
device said second end being coupled to said actuating
assembly.
3. A resistance assembly as recited in claim 1, Wherein
said actuating assembly comprises a motoriZed mechanism.
4. A resistance assembly as recited in claim 1, Wherein
said actuating assembly comprises a connecting member and
a handle mechanism coupled to said connecting member,
said handle mechanism being adapted to cooperate With said
arm.
5. A resistance assembly as recited in claim 4, Wherein
said handle mechanism comprises a ?rst member and a
second member spring biased With respect to said ?rst
member.
6. A resistance assembly as recited in claim 5, Wherein
said second member further comprises an engagement
member, said engagement member being adapted to selec
tively couple With at least one aperture Within said arm.
7. A resistance assembly as recited in claim 1, Wherein
said actuating assembly is movably connected to said arm.
8. An assembly as recited in claim 1, Wherein a cable and
pulley system couples the arm to the exercise mechanism.
9. A resistance assembly con?gured to provide adjustable
resistance to a motion of an exercise mechanism of an
exercise device as a user moves the exercise mechanism, the
resistance assembly comprising:
(a) an arm having a ?rst end pivotally coupled to a frame
of the exercise device, the arm having a second end
cooperating With the exercise mechanism such that
movement of the exercise mechanism moves the arm;
(b) a resiliently extendable resistance member having a
?rst end and a second end, the ?rst end being coupled
to the frame; and
(c) an actuating assembly having a ?rst end moveably
coupled to the pivoting arm and (ii) a second end
coupled to the second end of the resiliently extendable
resistance member, such that movement of the actuat
ing assembly selectively adjusts an amount of resis
tance applied by said resistance assembly to movement
of the exercise mechanism.
10. A resistance assembly as recited in claim 9, Wherein
the ?rst end of the resistance member is coupled to the frame
at a position betWeen the pivot axis of the arm and an end
of the actuating assembly coupled to the second end of said
resistance member.
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11. A resistance assembly as recited in claim 9, Wherein
said resistance member comprises an elastomeric member.
12. An assembly as recited in claim 9 Wherein a cable and
pulley system couples the second end of the arm to the
exercise mechanism.
13. An exercise device con?gured to provide adjustable
resistance, the exercise device comprising:
a frame;
at least one exercise mechanism; and
a resistance assembly con?gured to provide adjustable
resistance to a motion of the exercise mechanism as a
user moves the exercise mechanism;
a connecting system cooperating With the arm and the
exercise mechanism such that movement of the exer
cise mechanism moves the arm;
Wherein the resistance assembly comprises:
(a) an arm pivotally coupled to a frame of the exercise
device;
(b) a resiliently extendable resistance member having a
?rst end and a second end, the ?rst end being coupled
to the frame; and
(c) an actuating assembly having a ?rst end move
ably coupled to the pivoting arm and (ii) a second
end coupled to the second end of the resiliently
extendable resistance member, such that movement
of the actuating assembly selectively adjusts an
amount of resistance applied by said resistance
assembly to movement of the exercise mechanism.
14. A device as recited in claim 13, Wherein the connect
ing system comprises a cable and pulley system.
15. The exercise device as recited in claim 13, Wherein
said resistance member comprises at least one of an elasto
meric member and a spring.
16. The exercise device as recited in claim 13, Wherein
said actuating assembly comprises a connecting member
coupled to a handle mechanism, at least a portion of said
handle mechanism being pivotally coupled to said connect
ing member.
17. The exercise device as recited in claim 16, Wherein
said handle mechanism comprises a spring-loaded handle
con?gured to selectively couple to said arm.
18. The exercise device as recited in claim 17, Wherein
said handle mechanism comprises a ?rst member and a
moveable member spring biased With respect to said ?rst
member.
19. The exercise device as recited in claim 18, Wherein
said handle mechanism comprises at least one engagement
member, said at least one engagement member being
adapted to selectively couple to said arm as said spring
loaded handle manipulated.
20. The exercise device as recited in claim 13, Wherein
said exercise device further comprises a track coupled to
said frame, said track being adapted to receive at least a
portion of said resistance member and Wherein at least a
portion of said resistance member slidably engages With said
track.
21. The exercise device as recited in claim 13, Wherein
said actuating assembly comprises at least one Wheel
adapted to cooperate With a portion of said arm and aid in
moving said actuating assembly along said arm.
22. The exercise device as recited in claim 13, Wherein
movement of said arm results in movement of said second
end of said resistance member.