Exercise machine

Abstract

An exercise machine includes manually grasped and displaced levers and includes bracket assemblies adjustable to permit the levers to engage the levers and enable each lever individually and independently to be manually pulled or pushed. An elastic operably associated with each bracket provides resistance and returns each bracket to a stored at rest position after a manual displacement force on the bracket is released.

1 . An exercise machine comprising
 (a) a frame;   (b) a seat mounted on the frame;   (c) a lever assembly mounted on said frame and including
 (i) a base, 
 (ii) at least one lever mounted on said base and having a distal end with a handle and a proximate end pivotally connected to said base, 
 (iii) a stop member fixedly mounted on said base, 
 (iv) a first bracket having a distal end with a first engagement member extending outwardly therefrom and a proximate end pivotally mounted on said base and movable between at least two operative positions,
 a first normal operative position with said first engagement member contacting said stop member, and 
 a second displaced operative position with said first engagement member spaced apart from said stop member, 
 
 (v) a second bracket having a distal end with a second engagement member extending outwardly therefrom and a proximate end pivotally mounted on said base and movable between at least two operative positions,
 a first normal operative position with said second engagement member contacting said stop member, and 
 a second displaced operative position with said second engagement member spaced apart from said stop member; 
 
 (vi) an elastic member engaging and extending between said first and second engagement members; 
 (vii) a slide operatively associated with said lever and movable between at least two operative positions,
 a first operative position engaging said proximate end of said first bracket such that displacing said distal end pivotally displaces said first bracket to move said first engagement member away from said stop and distends said elastic member to generate a force pulling said second member against said stop, and 
 a second operative position engaging said proximate end of said second bracket such that displacing said distal end pivotally displaces said second bracket to move said second engagement member away from stop and distends said elastic member to generate a force pulling said first member against said stop. 
 
   
   
   
       2 . A method for performing an exercise, comprising the steps of
 (a) providing an exercise machine including
 (i) a frame; 
 (ii) a seat mounted on the frame; 
 (iii) a lever assembly mounted on said frame and including
 a base, 
 at least one lever mounted on said base and having a distal end with a handle and a proximate end pivotally connected to said base, 
 a stop member fixedly mounted on said base, 
 a first bracket having a distal end with a first engagement member extending outwardly therefrom and a proximate end pivotally mounted on said base and movable between at least two operative positions,
 a first normal operative position with said first engagement member contacting said stop member, and 
 a second displaced operative position with said first engagement member spaced apart from said stop member, 
 
 a second bracket having a distal end with a second engagement member extending outwardly therefrom and a proximate end pivotally mounted on said base and movable between at least two operative positions,
 a first normal operative position with said second engagement member contacting said stop member, and 
 a second displaced operative position with said second engagement member spaced apart from said stop member; 
 
 an elastic member engaging and extending between said first and second engagement members; 
 a slide operatively associated with said lever and movable between at least two operative positions,
 a first operative position engaging said proximate end of said first bracket such that displacing said distal end pivotally displaces said first bracket to move said first engagement member away from said stop and distends said elastic member to generate a force pulling said second member against said stop, and 
 a second operative position engaging said proximate end of said second bracket such that displacing said distal end pivotally displaces said second bracket to move said second engagement member away from stop and distends said elastic member to generate a force pulling said first member against said stop; 
 
 
   (b) moving said slide to said first operative position; and,   (c) pulling said distal end of said lever to pivotally displaces said first bracket to move said first engagement member away from said stop and distend said elastic member to generate a force pulling said second member against said stop.   
   
   
       3 . The exercise machine of  claim 1  including a second lever assembly mounted on said frame and including
 (i) a base,   (ii) at least one lever mounted on said base and having a distal end with a handle and a proximate end pivotally connected to said base,   (iii) a second stop member fixedly mounted on said base,   (iv) a third bracket having a distal end with a third engagement member extending outwardly therefrom and a proximate end pivotally mounted on said base and movable between at least two operative positions,
 a first normal operative position with said third engagement member contacting said second stop member, and 
 a second displaced operative position with said third engagement member spaced apart from said second stop member, 
   (v) a fourth bracket having a distal end with a fourth engagement member extending outwardly therefrom and a proximate end pivotally mounted on said base and movable between at least two operative positions,
 a first normal operative position with said fourth engagement member contacting said second stop member, and 
 a second displaced operative position with said fourth engagement member spaced apart from said second stop member; and, 
   (vi) an elastic member engaging and extending between said first and second engagement members.