Exercise machine

Abstract

An exercise machine which includes a base upon which a user stands alongside an upwardly extending support. A handle, mounted to a lever rotatably fixed to the support, extends over the base so that the user can grip the handle with both hands and rotate the handle along a circular loop, alternately bending at the knees and then moving to an upright position, with arms extended, against a variable resistance force which is generated by a flywheel connected via a drive mechanism to the lever.

Description

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention[0002] This invention relates to exercise machines, and in particular to an exercise machine that provides continuous load exerting resistance for the user.[0003] 2. Prior Art[0004] Exercise machines that utilize bicycle like motion for hands and feet are well known in the art. Such machines suffer the drawback that the action is pedal-like in that one arm pushes while the other pulls and vice versa. This action does not provide continuous resistance for each of the pushing and pulling actions, and as such results in an undesirable exercise regiment.[0005] The invention provides an exercise machine which includes a support structure, a resistance assembly which is connected to the support structure, a drive member with an output point from which force is applied to the resistance assembly and an input point which is spaced from the output point by a distance L, and at least one handle which acts on the drive member at the input point and which a user ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012] As indicated though it is preferred for the path of movement to lie in a vertical plane for this allows the user to stand on one side of, and adjacent, the plane, away from the support structure. This feature makes it possible for the user to move fully and freely, and obtain maximum benefit from the machine for many parts of the body.

[0037] A smooth, sweeping-type action can however be obtained if the handle is permanently connected to the flywheel, ie. if no uni-directional device is used, for the flywheel's momentum drives the handle through dead spots which could occur at extremities of the path of movement, and a continuous input of force is required of the user via the handle. It is imperative though for the resistance force, the mass of the flywheel, the radius of movement of the handle and the relationship between the rotational speed of the handle and the rotational speed of the flywheel to be carefully inter-related to ensure that the handle can be moved at a steady speed, which is not too fast to unbalance a user, against a resistance force of sufficient magnitude to provide a safe and effective workout.

Problems solved by technology

Such machines suffer the drawback that the action is pedal-like in that one arm pushes while the other pulls and vice versa.

This action does not provide continuous resistance for each of the pushing and pulling actions, and as such results in an undesirable exercise regiment.

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