Rear deltoid exercise machine and method of exercise

Abstract

 An apparatus and a method for performing a rear deltoid exercise are disclosed. A user support is mounted to a frame. An arm is pivotally mounted to the frame at a point proximate the user support. A handle (70) is mounted to the arm at a point distal to the user support. The handle is adapted to be grasped and displaced by the user. A means for resisting the displacement of the handle (70) is provided. The resistance means may include a lever (30) adapted to support removable weights mounted to the frame and operably engaged to the arm. A second handle and arm may be provided for the other hand of a user. The handles (70) may be connected to the arms by means of an intermediate link, thereby allowing for variations in user arm size and range of motion. To use the exercise machine, a user selects a weight for exercise, sits on the user support, grasps the handle (70) and displaces the handle laterally through an arc having its center proximate the user's shoulder, overcoming the resistance.

Description

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of exercise and physical rehabilitation equipment. In particular, it relates to an apparatus and method for exercising the upper torso of a user, specifically the rear deltoid muscles.

Background of the Invention

[0002] It is often necessary or desirable for a person to exercise a particular muscle or group of muscles. For example, when a muscle is damaged, such as through injury or surgery, it is important to exercise the muscle to prevent atrophy and to strengthen the muscle for normal use. Further, people exercise healthy muscles to increase strength and to maintain an active and healthy lifestyle, as well as to improve their appearance. Various routines have been developed to exercise different muscle groups by forcing the muscles to contract and extend under a load, such as by moving a free weight against the force of gravity or by moving a handle whose movement is resisted by an exercise machine.

[0003] One such exercise is known as a row or a rear deltoid pull. An exerciser lies prone on a bench, or bends at the waist, and grasps a barbell below him. The exerciser then pulls the barbell to his chest and lowers it down. This exercise can be dangerous as the exerciser may drop the barbell. Further, the exerciser should have a partner to spot him in case he fails to lift the weight. During a row or rear deltoid pull, the hands seek to follow a curved path outward as the weight is retracted to the chest. This path cannot be followed when using a barbell because the hands are maintained at a fixed distance.

[0004] This difficulty can be overcome by performing the exercise with dumbbells. However, when using dumbbells, the user may not follow the optimal path of travel for exercising the deltoids. For example, the user may contract his biceps while pulling the weights up, thereby drawing the dumbbell towards his shoulder. In so doing, the user is "cheating" by using his biceps to assist in moving the weights and is not getting the best possible work out of the rear deltoids.

[0005] To overcome these difficulties, machines have been developed that simulate the exercise movements of a row or rear deltoid pull. In one apparatus marketed by the assignee of the instant application, a user exercises by pulling handles toward his chest. A seat and chest pad are mounted to a frame to position a user. Arms are rotatably mounted to the frame. The handles are mounted to the arms. The pivot for the arms is disposed above and in front of the chest pad. A cable operably connects the arms to a weight stack such that when a user pulls back on the handles, thereby rotating the arms, the weight stack is lifted and provides resistance to the exercise. The cable may be journaled over a variable radius cam to alter the distance the weight is displaced for a given amount of handle rotation at a particular point in the range of motion. Consequently, the resistance to the movement of the handles can be varied to match the strength curve of the back muscles. While this apparatus has solved many problems associated with performing rows or rear deltoid pulls with barbells and dumbbells, it did not adequately direct the users arm movement so as to isolate the rear deltoid muscles.

[0006] In another apparatus, disclosed in U.S. patent no. 5,135,456, a rowing machine is disclosed in which levers are rotatably mounted to a frame above and in front of a user support. Handles are mounted to the levers. Resistance to handle movement exercise is provided by weight plates mounted to the levers. The hinges for the levers are disposed at an angle of 17 degrees with respect to a central vertical midplane, such that the user must move his hands in defined arcs in diverging planes as he pulls back on the handles. This apparatus forces the user's hands to be spread apart at a preset rate as they are drawn back toward the chest, regardless of the user's anatomy. This apparatus does not, however, adequately discourage use of the biceps and therefore does not isolate the rear deltoid muscles sufficiently.

Summary of the Invention

[0007] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for performing a rear deltoid exercise in which the rear deltoid muscles are isolated.

[0008] It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for performing a rear deltoid exercise in which a user can select the path of hand motion best suited for his particular anatomy.

[0009] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for performing a rear deltoid exercise in which a variable resistance is provided to match the strength curve of the user's muscles.

[0010] In accord with one aspect of the invention, an apparatus is provided for exercising the muscles of a user. A user support is mounted to a frame. An arm is pivotally mounted to the frame at a point proximate the user support. A handle is mounted to the arm at a point distal to the user support. The handle is adapted to be grasped and displaced by the user. Due to the mounting position of the arm proximate to the user support, the handle is displaced horizontally about an arc having a center proximate the user's shoulder, thereby isolating the rear deltoid muscle. A means for resisting the displacement of the handle is provided. The resistance means may include a lever adapted to support removable weights mounted to the frame and operably engaged to the arm. A second handle and arm may be provided for the other hand so that the user may exercise both halves of his body. The handles may be connected to the arms by means of an intermediate link, thereby allowing for variations in user arm size and range of motion.

[0011] In accord with another aspect of the invention, a method is provided for exercising with an apparatus having an arm pivotally mounted to a frame proximate a user support. A user selects a resistance for exercise and sits on the user support. The user grasps a handle mounted to the arm and displaces the handle laterally through an arc having its center proximate the user's shoulder. The user overcomes resistance to the lateral movement of the handle. The user may grasp a second handle with his other hand to exercise both halves of his body.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0012] 

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a rear deltoid exercise machine of the present invention, in a rest position, with weight plates removed;

Figure 2 is a side elevation view of the exercise machine of Figure 1;

Figure 3A is top plan view of the exercise machine of Figure 1 in the rest position;

Figure 3B is top plan view of the exercise machine of Figure 1 in the pulled back position;

Figure 4 is rear elevational view of the exercise machine of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is an exploded view of one of the arms of the exercise machine of Figure 1;

Figure 6A is a cut-away perspective view of the exercise machine of Figure 1 with the user support, the arms and part of the lever removed; and

Figure 6B is a perspective view of the cable routing of the exercise machine of Figure 1.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

[0013] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the rear deltoid exercise machine of this invention in the rest position. A seat 20 is mounted to a rear leg 12 of a frame 10. The seat 20 is adapted to be positioned at various heights along a slot 14 in the leg 12, as is conventional in the art, to provide a comfortable position for users of varying stature. Other locking mechanisms known in the art could be employed as well. A chest pad 22 is mounted on the leg 12 above the seat 20 by a chest pad rod 24. Preferably, the leg 12 angles away from the seat 20 in an upward direction such that the chest pad 22 is disposed forward of the seat 20. The chest pad rod 24 may be of an adjustable length, such as by means of a telescoping rod 24 held in position by a detent pin 26, as is shown in Figure 1. The adjustable-length chest pad rod 24 allows users of varying stature to be positioned at different distances from the machine, thereby accommodating for different arm lengths. The seat 20 and chest pad 22 comprise a user support adapted to maintain the user in a comfortable position for exercising. As discussed more fully below, the user exercises by displacing handles 70 from a rest position directly in front of the user. The handles 70 are operably engaged, in a manner described below, to removable weight plates (not shown) such that the weight plates must be lifted to displace the handles.

[0014] A lever 30 is pivotally mounted at a first end to the rear leg 12 of the frame 10. The lever 30 is mounted to the frame by a rod and bearings, as is conventional in the art, and extends toward the front of the exercise machine. Posts 32 are mounted to the second end of the lever 30. The posts 32 extend outward from lever 30 and are angled slightly upward. During a training exercise or rehabilitation program, the posts 32 support removable weights (not shown) in order to provide resistance to the user. Spacers 34 are mounted to the posts 32 to maintain the weights away from the lever 30 in a conventional manner.

[0015] A bumper pad 19 is mounted to the frame on a stand 18 below the lever 30. The bumper pad 19 and stand 18 support the lever 30 when in a rest position.

[0016] Input arms 40 are pivotally mounted to the rear leg 12 above the lever 30, in front of the chest pad 22. The arms 40 are mounted to the frame in a similar manner as the lever 30, except the arms 40 are disposed to rotate through an essentially horizontal plane, whereas the lever 30 is disposed to rotate through a vertical plane. Referring to Figure 2, the arms 40 are preferably disposed at approximately the same height as the chest pad 22 so that when a user is positioned on the seat 20, and the seat 20 is properly adjusted so that the user's chest is positioned against the chest pad 22, the user's arms extend forward, directly above the arms 40.

[0017] As best seen in Figures 3A and 3B, stop flanges 44 are mounted to the rear leg 12 of the frame 10 and extend forward adjacent the arms 40. Rubber bumpers 46 are positioned on the ends of the flanges 44 adjacent the arms 40. As the arms 40 are brought together, such as in the rest position, the bumpers 46 engage the arms 40, preventing the flanges 44 from scratching the arms 40. In the rest position, the flanges 44 operate to limit the lateral range of motion of the arms 40 and to define a starting position. The flanges also prevent the arms 40, and thus the handles 70, from swinging too close together and possibly hitting each other.

[0018] With reference to Figure 4, the input arms 40 are mounted to the frame 10 so as to pivot about axes A-A and B-B, which are located proximate the chest pad 22. Axes A-A and B-B are preferably spaced apart approximately the same distance as an average person's shoulder width. A distance of about 11 inches has been found to be suitable. As indicated above, the arms rotate through essentially horizontal planes, thus, the axes A-A and B-B are preferably oriented approximately vertical. This orientation helps to isolate the user's rear deltoids as the arms 40 are rotated rearward.

[0019] Referring now to Figure 5, one of the arms 40 is shown in an exploded view. A generally U-shaped bracket 50 is mounted to each arm 40 at the end distal from the chest pad 22. Two flanges 52 are mounted to each bracket 50 at its center. A link 60 is mounted between these flanges 52 so as to pivot about an axis C-C which is parallel to the axes A-A and B-B.

[0020] The link 60 is approximately 3 inches long and has a bearing tube 62, 64 mounted at each end. One bearing tube 62 is mounted to pivot about a pivot pin 56 supported by the flanges 52 as described above. Rubber bumpers 66 mounted to the link at about its midpoint. These bumpers 66 collide with the legs 54 of the bracket 50 thereby limiting the rotation of the link 60 about axis C-C.

[0021] The second bearing tube 64 supports a handle assembly 70. The handle assembly 70 includes a generally U-shaped bracket 72 having a grip 74 connected between its ends. A mounting post 76 is fixed to the bracket 72 and is mounted through the second bearing tube 64 to rotate about an axis D-D which is parallel to axis C-C. Preferably, the grip 74 is mounted to bracket 72 so as to rotate about its axis. Further, the mounting post 76 is preferably mounted to the bracket 72 such that the inner side of the grip 74 (i.e., the side disposed closest to the lateral center of the machine) is angled down slightly, for example at approximately 10° from horizontal. This arrangement helps isolate the rear deltoid muscles.

[0022] The second bearing tube 64 also includes a slot 65 extending partially around its perimeter at the middle. A lock pin 78 is inserted into this slot 65 and through a hole 77 in the mounting post 76. The pin 78 is longer than the inner diameter of the second bearing tube 64 so that the pin 78 extends into the slot 65 and thereby limits the rotation of the handle assembly 70.

[0023] A cam 42 is mounted to the bottom of each arm 40 proximate the mounting point of the arm 40 to the frame 10. The cams 42 have variable profiles, thus offering variable resistance to the user, as described below.

[0024] A cable 80 is mounted at either end to the cams 42 at their outer ends. As shown in Figures 6A and 6B, the cable 80 extends from the cams 42 on both arms towards the horizontal center of the machine where two pulleys 82 are mounted coaxially in a horizontal orientation. The cams 42 are mounted at two different heights, each corresponding to the height of one of the pulleys 82, so that the cable is directed from each cam 42 to one of the pulleys 82.

[0025] After being journaled over the pulleys 82, the cable is directed on both sides towards the front of the machine. Two pulleys 84 are mounted on either side of the top portion of a front leg 16 of the frame in a position to receive the cable 80 and redirect it down towards the lever 30. Cable guides 86 may be appropriately mounted proximate the pulleys 82 and 84 in order to maintain the cable engaged to the pulleys 82 and 84.

[0026] The middle section of the cable is wrapped around a pulley 36 mounted to the end of the lever 30, thereby engaging the arms 40 to the lever 30. As best seen in Figure 2, the pulley 36 is mounted to the lever so as to pivot about an axis which is parallel to the lever pivot axis. This maintains the pulley 36 in proper alignment with the cable 80 as the arms 40 are rotated and the lever 30 is raised from its at rest position.

[0027] In operation, a user selects the desired resistance by placing conventional weight plates on the posts 32. The user adjusts the seat 20 so that his chest aligns with the chest pad 22 by sliding the seat 20 along slot 14. The chest pad 22 is then adjusted by disengaging the detent pin 26 and sliding the chest pad 24 so that the user's arms reach the handles 70 when fully extended with his chest against the chest pad 22. The user then grasps handles 70 and rotates the arms 40 towards the rear of the machine. As arms 40 rotate rearward, cable 80 is driven by cams 42 around pulleys 82, 84, 36, thereby causing the lever 30 to be displaced upward along with the removable weights, if any, mounted on the posts 32. Because the cams 42 have variable profiles, the mechanical advantage of the arms 40 over the lever 30 varies through the range of motion, thereby offering the user a variable resistance exercise.

[0028] It should be apparent from the above description that at the beginning of the exercise, the arms of the user are straight. As the user moves arms 40 away from the rest position (shown in Figure 3A), because of the location of the arm pivot axes A-A, B-B, the user is forced to initiate the rotation of the arms 40 using the rear deltoids with some assistance from the triceps. As the arms 40 are rotated rearward toward the pulled back position (shown in Figure 3B), the user's arms are maintained in a substantially horizontal plane and the elbows are bent, thereby isolating the rear deltoid muscles. The user's elbows are maintained at approximately shoulder height throughout the motion and at the end of the arm 40 rotation, the user's elbows are flexed approximately 90°. The coupling of the handle assembly 70 to the arm 40 by way of link 60 compensates for differences in user arm length and range of motion. Also, because the arms 40 are connected to the lever 30 by cable 80 journaled around pulley 36, the arms 40 move independently, thereby forcing the user to apply equal force to both handles 70 in order to move the arms 40 evenly when overcoming the selected resistance.

[0029] It should be noted that, while the present invention has been described in the context of an exercise machine using a cable 80 operably connecting the arms 40 to a lever 30 supporting removable weights, other means for providing resistance to movement of the arms 40 may be substituted and still practice the present invention. For example, other tether means, such as chains, belts and ropes may be used in place of the cable 80. Further, other weighting means may be substituted for the removable weights. One acceptable substitute which is well known in the art is an incremental weight stack.

[0030] Although the present invention has been described in detail with particular reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that variations and modifications within the scope of the invention will, given the benefit of this disclosure, occur to those having ordinary skill in the art.

Claims

1. An apparatus for exercising the muscles of a user comprising:

a frame having a front end, a rear end and a lateral center;

a user support mounted to the frame;

an arm pivotally mounted to the frame, said arm having an axis of rotation proximate the user support;

a handle pivotally mounted to the arm distal to the user support; and

means for resisting displacement of the arm.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said user support comprises:

a seat mounted to the rear end of the frame; and

a chest pad mounted to the frame and disposed in front of and above the seat, wherein said axis of rotation is proximate the chest pad.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said arm is mounted to said frame at approximately the same height as said chest pad.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said arm is a first arm, said handle is a first handle and said axis of rotation is a first axis of rotation, said apparatus further comprising:

a second arm pivotally mounted to the frame, said second arm having a second axis of rotation proximate the user support; and

a second handle pivotally mounted to the second arm distal to the user support.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said first and second axes of rotation are parallel.

6. An apparatus for exercising the muscles of a user comprising:

a frame having a front end and a rear end;

a chest pad mounted to the rear end of the frame;

an arm pivotally mounted to the frame proximate the chest pad;

a link pivotally mounted to the arm distal to the chest pad;

a handle pivotally mounted to the link; and means for resisting displacement of the arm.

7. The apparatus of claims 1 or 6 wherein said resistance means comprises a tether assembly operably connecting the arm to a weighting means.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising a variable profile cam mounted to said arm, wherein said tether assembly is fixed at one end of said cam.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said arm has a first axis of rotation, said link has a second axis of rotation and said handle has a third axis of rotation, wherein said first, second and third axes are parallel.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said second and third axes of rotation are disposed approximately 13 inches apart.

11. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said arm is a first arm, said link is a first link and said handle is a first handle, said apparatus further comprising:

an second arm pivotally mounted to the frame proximate the chest pad;

a second link pivotally mounted to the second arm distal to the chest pad; and

a second handle pivotally mounted to the second link.

12. An apparatus for exercising the muscles of a user comprising:

a frame having a front end and a rear end;

a chest pad mounted to the rear end of the frame;

a first arm pivotally mounted to the frame, said first arm having a first axis of rotation proximate the chest pad;

a first handle pivotally mounted to the first arm distal to the chest pad;

an second arm pivotally mounted to the frame, said second arm having a second axis of rotation proximate the chest pad;

a second handle pivotally mounted to the second arm distal to the chest pad; and

means for resisting displacement of the arms.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said first and second axes are approximately vertical.

14. The apparatus of claim 4, claim 12 or claim 13 wherein said first and second axes of rotation are disposed approximately eleven inches apart.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said resistance means comprises a tether assembly operably connecting the first and second arms to a weighting means.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising:

a first variable profile cam mounted to said first arm; and

a second variable profile cam mounted to said second arm, wherein said tether assembly is fixed at a first end to said first cam and fixed at a second end to said second cam.

17. The apparatus of claim 7 or claim 16 wherein said weighting means comprises:

a lever pivotally mounted to the frame and operably connected to the tether assembly; and

at least one post mounted to the lever, said at least one post being adapted to support a removable weight.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising a pulley mounted to the lever, wherein said tether assembly is journaled around said pulley.

19. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising:

a first link pivotally mounted to the first arm and pivotally mounted to the first handle; and

a second link pivotally mounted to the second arm and pivotally mounted to the second handle.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said first and second links are approximately three inches long.

21. The apparatus of claim 4 or claim 11 or claim 12 wherein said first and second handles are angled down towards the lateral center of the frame.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said first and second handles are angled down at approximately 10° from horizontal towards the lateral center of the frame.

23. An apparatus for exercising the muscles of a user comprising:

a frame;

means for supporting a user;

means for engaging the user's limb such that displacement of the user's limb causes displacement of the engagement means;

means for mounting the engagement means to the frame for rotation about at an axis, said axis being proximate the user support means; and

means for resisting displacement of the arm.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said engagement means includes means to accommodate variations in user arm size and range of motion.

25. A method for exercising muscles of a user with an apparatus having a user support mounted to a frame, an arm pivotally mounted to the frame at a point proximate the frame, a handle mounted to the arm and a resistance mechanism operably engaged to the handle, the method comprising:

grasping the handle;

displacing the arm laterally;

overcoming the resistance provided by the resistance mechanism.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising the step of selecting a resistance to the movement of the handle.

Drawing