Multi-press exerciser

Abstract

An upper body exerciser has an exercise arm that may be operated either by rigid handles fixed on the arm or by handles attached to the arm by flexible cables. The exerciser comprises a support frame, an exercise arm assembly pivotally linked to the support frame operable with at least one rigid handle and at least one flexible handle assembly, the flexible handle assembly having a hand grip portion and a flexible connecting portion attached to the exercise arm. The exercise arm assembly may include means for adjusting a starting position of the exercise arm. The exerciser may include an adjustable back rest and may have additional exercise stations, such as leg extension/leg curl, high pulley, low pulley and mid pulley.

1 . An exercise apparatus, comprising: 
 a support frame;    an exercise arm assembly pivotally coupled to the support frame, the exercise arm assembly comprising a starting position adjustment, an exercise arm with a rigid handle, and at least one flexible handle assembly, the flexible handle assembly having a hand grip portion and a flexible connecting portion securing the grip portion to the exercise arm.    
   
   
       2 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a seat and an adjustable back support.  
   
   
       3 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the exercise arm assembly comprises first and second rigid, elongate exercise arms, and first and second flexible handle assemblies attached to respective ones of said exercise arms.  
   
   
       4 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the starting position adjustment comprises an exercise arm adjustment sector pivotally coupled to the support frame for swinging movement in at least one fixed arc about a first pivot axis and wherein the exercise arm is pivotally coupled to the exercise arm adjustment sector for swinging movement in at least one fixed arc about a second pivot axis.  
   
   
       5 . An exercise apparatus, comprising: 
 a support frame;    an exercise arm assembly pivotally coupled to the support frame for swinging movement in at least one fixed arc about a first pivot axis and in at least one fixed arc about a second pivot axis, the exercise arm assembly having at least one exercise arm and at least one flexible handle assembly secured to the exercise arm;    the handle assembly having a hand grip portion and a flexible connecting portion securing the hand grip portion to the exercise arm.    
   
   
       6 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 5  further comprising a seat and an adjustable back support.  
   
   
       7 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 5  further comprising at least one rigid handle attached to the exercise arm.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the exercise arm assembly comprises first and second rigid exercise arms, and first and second flexible handle assemblies attached to respective ones of said exercise arms.  
   
   
       9 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 8  further comprising first and second rigid handles attached to respective ones of the exercise arms.  
   
   
       10 . An exercise apparatus comprising: 
 a support frame;    a combined press and pec fly exercise station on the support frame;    an exercise arm assembly operable from the press and pec fly exercise station, the exercise arm assembly comprising a starting position adjustment, at least one rigid exercise arm with a rigid handle, and at least one flexible handle assembly having a grip portion and a flexible connecting portion securing the grip portion to the exercise arm such that the flexible handle assembly can be used for inward pressing and pec fly motion.    
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  further comprising a seat and an adjustable back support.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the press and pec fly exercise station further comprises a row exercise station.  
   
   
       13 . An exercise apparatus comprising: 
 a support frame;    a combined press and pec fly exercise station on the support frame;    an exercise arm assembly operable from the press and pec fly exercise station, the exercise arm assembly comprising a starting position adjustment, an exercise arm and at least one fixed handle rigidly fixed to the exercise arm to prevent lateral motion of the fixed handle;    a flexible handle assembly having a grip portion and a flexible connecting portion securing the grip portion to the exercise arm such that the grip portion is free to move in both lateral and vertical directions relative to the exercise arm.    
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  further comprising a seat and an adjustable back support.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the press and pec fly exercise station further comprises a row exercise station from which the exercise arm is operable with the fixed handle.  
   
   
       16 . An exercise apparatus comprising the combination of: 
 an exercise station having a seat and an adjustable back support;    an exercise arm assembly comprising at least one rigid handle and a starting position adjustment;    a flexible handle assembly having a grip portion and a flexible connecting portion securing the grip portion to the exercise arm assembly at a connection point such that the grip portion has six degrees of freedom of movement about the connection point.    
   
   
       17 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the rigid handle on the exercise arm assembly is operable for standard presses, incline presses, shoulder presses and row exercises and the flexible handle assembly is operable for free motion presses, incline presses, shoulder presses and inward motion fly exercises.  
   
   
       18 . A method of exercising wherein an operator adjusts a starting position of a rigid press arm for press exercises and for row exercises, and when adjusted for row exercises the user can use flexible cable handles attached to the press arm for free motion press and fly exercises.