Exercise arm apparatus for exercise machine

Abstract

An exercise apparatus has a support frame and an exercise arm assembly pivotally linked to the support frame for swinging movement in at least one fixed arc about a first pivot axis, the exercise arm assembly including at least one rigid, elongate exercise arm. A flexible handle assembly is secured to the exercise arm, the handle assembly having a hand grip for gripping by a user, and a flexible line secured to the hand grip at one end and adjustably secured to the exercise arm to vary the extension of the line from the exercise arm. Upper body exercises are performed by moving the hand grip portion in different paths as permitted by the flexible line.

1 . An exercise apparatus, comprising: 
 a support frame;    an exercise arm assembly pivotally linked to the support frame for swinging movement in at least one fixed arc about a first pivot axis, the exercise arm assembly comprising at least one rigid, elongate exercise arm and at least one flexible handle assembly secured to the exercise arm;    the handle assembly having a hand grip portion for gripping by a user, and a flexible line securing the hand grip portion to the respective exercise arm; and    a second, rigid handle associated with the exercise arm for selective gripping by a user.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said hand grip portion is triangular, having an apex, a pair of arms extending from the apex, and a base connecting the arms, the base comprising a cylindrical, resilient hand grip member, and the hand grip portion being secured to said line at said apex.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a pair of flexible handle assemblies are secured to the exercise arm for gripping by the user's left and right hands, respectively, and a pair of second rigid handles are associated with the exercise arm for selective gripping by the user's left and right hands, respectively.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the exercise arm assembly comprises a pair of rigid, elongate exercise arms, a first flexible handle assembly secured to one of said exercise arms and a second flexible handle assembly secured to the other of said exercise arms.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , including an exercise resistance linked to said exercise arm assembly for providing an exercise resistance, said exercise arm assembly being unidirectional and providing exercise resistance on rotation in one direction about said pivot axis.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , including an exercise resistance linked to said exercise arm assembly for providing an exercise resistance, said exercise arm assembly being bi-directional and providing exercise resistance on rotation in both directions about said pivot axis.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each exercise arm has at least one guide device for said line and one locating device for said line, the line extending from said handle portion around said guide device and at least up to said locating device, at least one of said devices being adjustable to vary the extension of said line from said guide device up to said hand grip portion in order to vary a spacing between said exercise arm and hand grip portion.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 7 , including a slide member adjustably mounted on said exercise arm and a releasable lock member for releasably securing said slide member in a selected position, one of said devices being secured to said slide member.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said locating device comprises an anchor for an end of said line.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said exercise arms each have an outer free end, said anchor is located on said slide device, and said line has an end secured to said anchor, said guide members being provided at the outer ends of the respective exercise arms.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said guide member is mounted on said slide device, and said anchor is provided at a fixed location on said exercise arm, said line having an end secured to said anchor.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said exercise arm has two spaced guide members around which said line extends, one of said guide members being mounted on said slide device.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein each exercise arm comprises a one-piece elongate member of fixed length.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein each exercise arm comprises a first, tubular member pivoted to said frame, a second member telescopically engaging said tubular member and extending outwardly from said tubular member, and a releasable locking device for releasably securing said second member at a selected extension relative to said first member.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said line has opposite ends and first and second hand grip portions are secured to the respective opposite ends of said line, said line extending from said first hand grip portion, around said guide and locating devices, and up to said second hand grip portion.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said guide and locating devices both comprise pulleys.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 15 , including an additional guide device spaced from said guide and locating devices at an outer end of said exercise arm, said line extending in a path around said guide and locating devices and around said additional device.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein said guide devices and said locating device all comprise pulleys.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said exercise arms are separate and move independently.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said exercise arms are connected together and move in unison about said first pivot axis.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said support frame has a base and an upright strut projecting upwardly from said base.  
   
   
       22 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein said exercise arm assembly is pivotally connected to said base.  
   
   
       23 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein said exercise arm assembly is pivotally connected to an intermediate location on said upright strut.  
   
   
       24 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein said support frame has a top strut at an upper end of said upright strut, said exercise arm assembly being pivotally suspended from said top strut.  
   
   
       25 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , including an exercise resistance linked to the exercise arm assembly.  
   
   
       26 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein the exercise resistance is directly mounted on the exercise arm.  
   
   
       27 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 25 , including a linkage mechanism linking the exercise arm assembly to the exercise resistance.  
   
   
       28 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the linkage mechanism comprises a multi-bar linkage.  
   
   
       29 . An exercise apparatus, comprising: 
 a support frame;    an exercise arm assembly pivotally linked to the support frame for swinging movement in at least one fixed arc about a first pivot axis, the exercise arm assembly comprising at least one rigid, elongate exercise arm and at least one flexible handle assembly secured to the exercise arm;    the handle assembly having a hand grip portion for gripping by a user, and a flexible connecting portion securing the hand grip portion to the respective exercise arm;    the exercise arm assembly further comprising a rigid, elongate handle arm having a first end pivotally attached to said exercise arm and a second end forming a hand grip for selective gripping by a user, and a clip for releasably retaining said rigid handle arm against said exercise arm when not in use.    
   
   
       30 . An exercise apparatus, comprising: 
 a support frame;    an exercise arm assembly pivotally linked to the support frame for swinging movement in at least one fixed arc about a first pivot axis, the exercise arm assembly comprising first and second rigid, elongate exercise arms, a first flexible handle assembly secured to the first exercise arm and a second flexible handle assembly secured to the second exercise arm;    each handle assembly having a hand grip portion for gripping by a user, and a flexible connecting portion securing the hand grip portion to the respective exercise arm; and    a first rigid handle secured to the first exercise arm and a second rigid handle secured to the second exercise arm, the rigid hand grips being configured for selective gripping by a user in place of the first and second flexible handle assemblies when performing different types of exercises.    
   
   
       31 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein each rigid handle projects generally inwardly from the respective exercise arm towards the other rigid handle.  
   
   
       32 . An exercise apparatus, comprising: 
 a support frame;    an exercise arm assembly pivotally linked to the support frame for swinging movement in at least one fixed arc about a first pivot axis, the exercise arm assembly comprising at least one rigid, elongate exercise arm and at least one flexible handle assembly associated with the exercise arm;    the handle assembly having a hand grip portion for gripping by a user, and a flexible line securing the hand grip portion to the respective exercise arm; and    a ROM adjustment device having a first part pivotally linked to the support frame for rotation about the first pivot axis, and a second part on said rigid exercise arm, one part of the adjustment device having a series of spaced holes extending along an arc and the other part comprising a connecting pin for releasably connecting the rigid exercise arm at a selected orientation relative to said first part;    whereby said exercise arm and first part of said adjustment device are rotatable together about said first pivot axis.    
   
   
       33 . An exercise apparatus, comprising: 
 a support frame;    an exercise arm assembly pivotally linked to the support frame for swinging movement in at least one fixed arc about a first pivot axis, the exercise arm assembly comprising first and second separate, rigid, elongate exercise arms which are movable independently, a first flexible handle assembly associated with the first exercise arm and a second flexible handle assembly associated with the second exercise arm;    each handle assembly having a hand grip portion for gripping by a user, and a flexible connecting portion securing the hand grip portion to the respective exercise arm; and    the exercise arm assembly being bi-directional and providing exercise resistance on rotation in both directions about said pivot axis.    
   
   
       34 . The apparatus of  claim 33 , further comprising a rigid handle secured to each exercise arm for selective gripping by a user.  
   
   
       35 . An exercise apparatus, comprising: 
 a support frame;    an exercise arm assembly pivotally linked to the support frame for swinging movement in at least one fixed arc about a first pivot axis, the exercise arm assembly comprising at least one rigid, elongate exercise arm, a rigid elongated handle arm having a first end pivotally attached to said exercise arm, and at least one flexible handle assembly;    the handle assembly having a hand grip portion for gripping by a user, and an elongated flexible connecting portion secured to the hand grip portion;    the elongated flexible connecting portion being adjustably associated with the exercise arm assembly to vary an extension of said connecting portion from said exercise arm assembly, whereby variation of the length of the flexible connecting portion allows a user to perform different types of exercise using the same exercise arm assembly.    
   
   
       36 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 35 , wherein a pair of flexible handle assemblies are associated with the exercise arm assembly for gripping by the user's right and left hands, respectively.