Exercise bench and method

Abstract

An exercise bench having a locking system for locking a portion of the bench adapted for receiving a portion of the body of a user thereon in a desired position is provided. The locking system has a locking member, an engagement member associated with the bench for engaging the locking member to lock the portion of the bench in the desired position, an actuator associated with the locking member for disengagement of the locking member from engagement with the engagement member, the actuator being associated with the portion of the bench such that the location of the actuator with respect to the portion of the bench is maintained when the portion of the bench is rotated about a common axis.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A locking system for locking a portion of an exercise bench adapted for receiving a portion of the body of a user thereon in a desired position comprising: 
 a locking member;    an engagement member associated with the bench which engages the locking member to lock the portion of the bench in the desired position; and    an actuator associated with the locking member to allow disengagement of the locking member from engagement with the engagement member, the actuator being associated with the portion of the bench such that the location of the actuator with respect to the portion of the bench is maintained when the portion of the bench is rotated about a common axis.    
     
     
         2 . The locking system of  claim 1  wherein the actuator is mounted on the portion of the bench.  
     
     
         3 . The locking system of  claim 1  wherein the actuator is spaced apart from the locking member.  
     
     
         4 . The locking system of  claim 1  wherein a linkage associates the actuator and the locking member for transmitting a force applied on the actuator to the locking member to disengage the locking member from the engagement member.  
     
     
         5 . The locking system of  claim 4  wherein the actuator comprises a cable tensioning member and the linkage comprises a cable.  
     
     
         6 . The locking system of  claim 1  wherein the locking member is mounted directly on the portion of the bench.  
     
     
         7 . The locking system of  claim 1  further comprising a housing including a first hole extending between a first side and a second side of the housing, the locking member being positioned in the hole, and a spring member positioned in the hole between the first side of the housing and the locking member for urging the locking member in a direction from the first side of the housing toward the second side of the housing.  
     
     
         8 . The locking system of  claim 7  further comprising a locking member retention mechanism which retains the locking member in the first hole, the locking member retention mechanism including: 
 a pair of shoulders formed on the locking member;  
 a second hole formed in the housing and intersecting the first hole; and  
 a locking member retention pin received in the second hole for engaging one of the pair of shoulders on the locking member.  
 
     
     
         9 . The locking system of  claim 1  wherein the engagement member is mounted on a third portion of the bench that is rotatably connected to the first portion of the bench.  
     
     
         10 . The locking system of  claim 9  wherein the locking member is mounted on the first portion of the bench.  
     
     
         11 . The locking system of  claim 1  wherein the locking member is movable along a surface of the engagement member when locking member is disengaged from the engagement member.  
     
     
         12 . The locking system of  claim 2  wherein the portion of the bench has a first end proximate the pre-determined axis and a second end opposite the first end and distal the pre-determined axis, and the actuator is positioned proximate the second end of the portion of the bench.  
     
     
         13 . The locking system of  claim 1  wherein the portion of the bench includes a first side having a pad adapted to receive a user thereon and a second side opposite the first side, the actuator being positioned along the second side of the portion of the bench.  
     
     
         14 . A torso support apparatus for an exercise bench comprising a torso member for supporting the torso of a user thereon and a torso member support structure connected to the torso member that allows the torso support apparatus to be maintained in a pre-determined position, the support structure being connected to the torso bearing surface such that the torso bearing surface and the support structure are not movable with respect to each other when they are both rotated about a common axis.  
     
     
         15 . The torso support apparatus of  claim 14  further comprising a locking member adapted to engage an engagement member positioned on the bench to lock the torso support apparatus in a desired position.  
     
     
         16 . The torso support apparatus of  claim 15  further comprising a mechanism to urge the locking member into engagement with the engagement member.  
     
     
         17 . The torso support apparatus of  claim 16  further comprising: 
 an actuator associated with and spaced apart from the locking member in a position closer to the torso support apparatus than to the locking member; and  
 a linkage connecting the actuator and the locking mechanism for transmitting a force applied on the actuator to the locking mechanism to disengage the locking member from the engagement member.  
 
     
     
         18 . The torso support apparatus of  claim 15  further comprising: 
 an actuator spaced apart from the locking member in a position closer to the torso support apparatus than to the locking member; and  
 a linkage connecting the actuator and the locking member for transmitting a force applied on the actuator to the locking member to disengage the locking member from the engagement member.  
 
     
     
         19 . A method for repositioning a portion of an exercise bench from a first position to a second position comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing a locking member connectable to the bench;    b) providing an engagement member connectable to the bench which engages with the locking member for locking the portion of the bench into the first position;    c) providing an actuator associated with the locking member for disengagement of the locking member from engagement with the engagement member, the actuator being associated with the portion of the bench such that the location of the actuator with respect to the portion of the bench is maintained when the portion of the bench is rotated about a pre-determined axis;    d) applying a force to the actuator to disengage the locking member from the engagement member in the first position; and    e) moving the portion of the bench to the second position.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the step of providing an actuator associated with the locking member further comprises the step of providing a cable connecting the actuator and the locking member.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising the step of applying a force to the locking member to engage the locking member with the engagement member when the first portion of the bench is in the second position.  
     
     
         22 . A method for manufacturing an exercise bench comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing a locking member connectable to the bench;    b) providing an engagement member connectable to the bench for engagement with the locking member to lock a portion of the bench into a pre-determined position; and    c) providing an actuator associated with the locking member for disengaging the locking member from engagement with the engagement member, the actuator being associated with the portion of the bench such that the location of the actuator with respect to the portion of the bench is maintained when the portion of the bench is rotated about a pre-determined axis.    
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the step of providing an actuator associated with and spaced art from the locking member further comprises the step of providing a cable connecting the actuator and the locking member.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22  further comprising the step of urging the locking member into engagement with the engagement member.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the step of providing an actuator further comprises the step of positioning the actuator on the portion of the bench.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the step of positioning the actuator on the portion of the bench further comprises positioning the actuator on the first portion of the bench so as to enable grasping of the actuator by a first hand of a user for disengaging the locking member from engagement with the engagement member and for repositioning the first portion of the bench from the pre-determined position to a second position with the first hand while grasping the actuator.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the step of positioning the actuator on the portion of the bench further comprises positioning the actuator on the portion of the bench so as to enable positioning of the portion of the bench in the desired position through grasping of the actuator when the locking member is disengaged from engagement with the engagement member.