Exercise devices

Abstract

The invention relates to an exercise apparatus comprising an arm arrangement and resistance means. The arm arrangement comprises an arm ( 2 ) mounted on a carriage ( 4, 40 ), which carriage ( 4, 40 ) is mounted on guidance means ( 5, 8 ) for translational movement along a path. The resistance means is arranged to resist movement of the arm ( 2 ) relative to the carriage so that, in use, a user can move the arm ( 2 ) relative to the carriage ( 4,40 ) in order to work against the resistance means. The guidance means is a linear guidance means for guiding the carriage ( 4,40 ) along a substantially linear path. In use, the carriage ( 4,40 ) is moveable, guided by the guidance means, in two directions as the user works against the resistance means, said movement of the carriage ( 4,40 ) is substantially unresisted.

1 . An exercise apparatus comprising an arm arrangement and resistance means, the arm arrangement comprising an arm mounted on a carriage, which carriage is mounted on guidance means for translational movement along a path, and the resistance means being arranged to resist movement of the arm relative to the carriage so that, in use, a user can move the arm relative to the carriage in order to work against the resistance means, wherein the guidance means is a linear guidance means for guiding the carriage along a substantially linear path and, in use, the carriage is movable, guided by the guidance means, in two directions as the user works against the resistance means, said movement of the carriage being substantially unresisted and the arm is movable relative to the carriage through a position in which the arm is substantially parallel with the substantially linear path along which the carriage may move as the user works against the resistance means. 
   
   
       2 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the arm is pivotally mounted on the carriage. 
   
   
       3 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the resistance means is arranged to resist pivotal movement of the arm relative to the carriage. 
   
   
       4 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein a portion of the resistance means is disposed between the arm and the carriage. 
   
   
       5 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the guidance means is a mechanical guidance means. 
   
   
       6 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the guidance means is a rail. 
   
   
       7 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 6  wherein the rail is pivotally mountable to a support to allow a user to change the orientation of the rail. 
   
   
       8 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 7  wherein the rail is fixable in one or a plurality of user selected positions. 
   
   
       9 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein, in use, the guidance means is pivotable by a user as he/she works against the resistance means. 
   
   
       10 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 6  wherein the carriage is fixable with respect to the rail in one or a plurality of user selected positions. 
   
   
       11 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 6  wherein the rail comprises a pair of spaced upstanding portions and the carriage comprises at least one pair of wheels, each wheel of the pair of wheels being arranged to grip a respective upstanding portion. 
   
   
       12 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 11  wherein the upstanding portions are disposed on opposite sides of the rail and the wheels of the carriage and the upstanding portions are substantially co-planar. 
   
   
       13 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein each wheel comprises a V shaped groove around the wheel circumference. 
   
   
       14 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 1  arranged such that, in use, the only contact between a user and the exercise device is via the arm. 
   
   
       15 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the linear guidance means is a straight-line linkage. 
   
   
       16 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 15  wherein the carriage is pivotally mounted on the straight-line linkage. 
   
   
       17 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the resistance means is arranged to resist movement of the arm relative to the carriage independently of any movement of the carriage guided by the guidance means. 
   
   
       18 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the resistance means comprises a piston and cylinder arrangement. 
   
   
       19 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 1  in which the resistance means comprises a pneumatic arrangement. 
   
   
       20 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 18  wherein the piston and cylinder arrangement forms two chambers, a respective chamber being located on either side of the piston. 
   
   
       21 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 20  wherein the resistance means comprises a pneumatic arrangement, the pneumatic arrangement comprising an air source connected via a pneumatic circuit to at least one chamber of the piston and cylinder arrangement. 
   
   
       22 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 21  wherein the pneumatic circuit comprises a first valve arranged to allow a user to select whether the air source is connected to one of or both of the chambers. 
   
   
       23 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 21  wherein the pneumatic circuit comprises a second valve to allow a user to select to which of the two chambers the air source is connected. 
   
   
       24 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 22  wherein the first valve is arranged so that when in a first position, the air source is connected to one of the two chambers and the other chamber is connected to a vent for regulating air flow in to and out of the other chamber. 
   
   
       25 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 1  comprising weight compensation means arranged to compensate for the weight of the arm. 
   
   
       26 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 18  wherein the piston and cylinder arrangement comprises a double acting cylinder. 
   
   
       27 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 19  wherein the piston of the piston and cylinder arrangement comprises a piston rod, the piston rod passing through only one chamber of the piston and cylinder arrangement and the exercise apparatus comprising an additional cylinder to compensate for the area of the piston occupied by the rod. 
   
   
       28 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 21  wherein the piston and cylinder arrangement comprises a piston rod, the piston rod passing through both chambers formed by the piston and cylinder. 
   
   
       29 . An exercise device arm arrangement comprising at least one arm, mounted on a carriage which carriage is mounted on guidance means for translational movement. 
   
   
       30 - 32 . (canceled) 
   
   
       33 . An exercise apparatus comprising an arm arrangement and resistance means, the arm arrangement comprising an arm mounted on a carriage, which carriage is mounted on a rail for translational movement along the rail, and the resistance means being arranged to resist movement of the arm relative to the carriage so that, in use, a user can move the arm relative to the carriage in order to work against the resistance means wherein the carriage is movable along the rail along a substantially linear path and the arm is movable through a position in which the arm is substantially parallel with the substantially linear path along which the carriage is movable. 
   
   
       34 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 33  arranged such that, in use, the only effective contact between a user and the carriage is via the arm. 
   
   
       35 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 3  wherein the carriage is pivotally mounted on the straight-line linkage for rotation about an axis, which axis is perpendicular to the axis about which the arm is pivotally mounted and perpendicular to the substantially linear path along which the carriage may be guided by the linear guidance means. 
   
   
       36 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein means for slowing the carriage is provided for slowing the carriage in a portion of its path towards at least one end of the path of the carriage. 
   
   
       37 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 1  comprising a damper for slowing the carriage in a portion of its path towards at least one end of the path of the carriage. 
   
   
       38 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 1  comprising a spring for slowing the carriage in a portion of its path towards at least one end of the path of the carriage. 
   
   
       39 . A method of exercising using an exercise apparatus according to  claim 1 . 
   
   
       40 . A method of exercising according to  claim 39  comprising the step of using the exercise apparatus in such a manner that the only effective contact between the user and the carriage is via the arm of the exercising apparatus. 
   
   
       41 . An exercise apparatus comprising an arm arrangement and a resistance device, the arm arrangement comprising an arm mounted on a carriage, which carriage is mounted on a guide for translational movement along a path, and the resistance device being arranged so that, in use, a user can move the arm relative to the carriage in order to work against the resistance device, wherein the guide is a linear guide for guiding the carriage along a substantially linear path and, in use, the carriage is movable, guided by the guide, in two directions as the user works against the resistance device, said movement of the carriage being substantially unresisted and wherein the arm is movable through a position in which the arm is substantially parallel with the substantially linear path along which the carriage is movable. 
   
   
       42 . A method of using an exercise apparatus, the exercise apparatus comprising an arm arrangement and a resistance device, the arm arrangement comprising an arm mounted on a carriage, which carriage is mounted on a guide for translational movement along a path, and the resistance device being arranged so that, in use, a user can move the arm relative to the carriage in order to work against the resistance device, wherein the guide is a linear guide for guiding the carriage along a substantially linear path and, in use, the carriage is moveable, guided by the guide, in two directions as the user works against the resistance device, said movement of the carriage being substantially unresisted and wherein the method comprises the step of using the exercise apparatus in such a manner that the only effective contact between the user and the carriage is via the arm of the exercising apparatus wherein the arm is movable relative to the carriage through a position in which the arm is substantially parallel with the substantially linear path along which the carriage is movable. 
   
   
       43 . An exercise apparatus comprising an arm arrangement and resistance means, the arm arrangement comprising an arm mounted on a carriage, which carriage is mounted on guidance means for translational movement along a path, and the resistance means being arranged to resist movement of the arm relative to the carriage so that, in use, a user can move the arm relative to the carriage in order to work against the resistance means, wherein the guidance means is a linkage system arranged to constrain movement of the carriage to a substantially vertical plane and to keep the horizontal attitude of the carriage substantially constant as the carriage is moved along the path and, in use, the carriage is movable, guided by the guidance means, in two directions as the user works against the resistance means, said movement of the carriage being substantially unresisted and the arm is movable relative to the carriage through a position in which the arm is substantially horizontal. 
   
   
       44 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 43  wherein the guidance means is pivotally mountable to a support for rotation about a substantially vertical axis such that, in use, the guidance means can be rotated about said axis. 
   
   
       45 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 43  wherein the carriage is pivotally mounted on the guidance means for rotation about a substantially vertical axis such that, in use, as a user works against the resistance means, the carriage can be rotated about said axis. 
   
   
       46 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 15  wherein the straight-line linkage is a Chebyschev mechanism. 
   
   
       47 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 15  wherein the straight-line linkage is a Hoeken mechanism.