Pulley Apparatus for Resistance Exercises

Abstract

The present invention is a pulley apparatus for resistance exercises comprising: a housing with an upper end, a lower end, an interior channel extending through the housing, and an exterior surface; a weight stack movable within the housing; and a pulley system comprising in the interior: at least two upper pulleys attached to the upper end of the housing, and at least one lower pulley attached to the weight stack; and on the exterior surface: at least two swivel pulleys attached to the upper end of the housing, and first and second outer pulleys, the first outer pulley located below the swivel pulleys and the second outer pulley located below the first outer pulley; and a pulley rope received by the upper pulleys, the lower pulleys, the swivel pulleys and the outer pulleys such that a first end of the pulley rope is secured to one of the outer pulleys and a second end of the pulley rope is received lastly by the other outer pulley, whereby force exerted on the second end of the pulley rope moves the weight stack. The pulley apparatus may also contain an upper and lower housing that may be disassembled and may be joined to form a combined housing.

1 . A pulley apparatus for resistance exercises comprising:
 a housing with an upper end, a lower end, an interior channel extending through the housing, and an exterior surface,   a weight stack movable within the housing, and   a pulley system comprising in the interior
 (i) at least two upper pulleys attached to the upper end of the housing, 
 (j) at least one lower pulley attached to the weight stack, 
 and on the exterior surface 
 (k) at least two swivel pulleys attached to the upper end of the housing, 
 (l) first and second outer pulleys, the first outer pulley located below the swivel pulleys and the second outer pulley located below the first outer pulley, and 
   a pulley rope received by the upper pulleys, the lower pulleys, the swivel pulleys and the outer pulleys such that a first end of the pulley rope is secured to one of the outer pulleys and a second end of the pulley rope is received lastly by the other outer pulley, whereby force exerted on the second end of the pulley rope moves the weight stack.   
     
     
         2 . The pulley apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the weight stack is comprised of individual weights and additionally includes a weight selection means to adjust the amount of resistance by increments of the individual weights. 
     
     
         3 . The pulley apparatus of  claim 2 , which additionally includes one or more weight alignment rods in the channel of the housing and holes in the individual weights, whereby the weight alignment rods pass through the holes in the individual weights. 
     
     
         4 . The pulley apparatus of  claim 3 , which additionally includes a top plate that is secured to the upper end of the housing and a bottom plate that is secured to the lower end of the housing, and wherein the weight alignment rods are secured to the top plate and bottom plate. 
     
     
         5 . The pulley apparatus of  claim 4 , which additionally includes a guide rail on the exterior surface of the housing and outer pulley positioning devices, wherein the outer pulleys are affixed to the pulley positioning devices, and the pulley positioning devices are capable of being moved along the guide rail or fixed in position on the guide rail. 
     
     
         6 . A pulley apparatus for resistance exercises comprising:
 an upper housing detachably connected to a lower housing that forms a combined housing with an upper end, a lower end, an interior channel extending through the combined housing, and an exterior surface,   a weight stack movable within the housing, and   a pulley system comprising in the interior
 (m) at least two upper pulleys attached to the upper end of the housing, 
 (n) at least one lower pulley attached to the weight stack, 
 and on the exterior surface 
 (o) at least two swivel pulleys attached to the upper end of the housing, 
 (p) first and second outer pulleys, the first outer pulley located below the swivel pulleys and the second outer pulley located below the first outer pulley, and 
   a pulley rope received by the upper pulleys, the lower pulleys, the swivel pulleys and the outer pulleys such that a first end of the pulley rope is secured to one of the outer pulleys and a second end of the pulley rope is received lastly by the other outer pulley, whereby force exerted on the second end of the pulley rope moves the weight stack.   
     
     
         7 . The pulley apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the weight stack is comprised of individual weights and additionally includes a weight selection means to adjust the amount of resistance by increments of the individual weights. 
     
     
         8 . The pulley apparatus of  claim 7 , which additionally includes grooves in the individual weights and one or more weight alignment rods in the upper housing and an equal number of weight alignment rods in the lower housing, whereby in the combined housing, the weight alignment rods are aligned and glide along the grooves in the individual weights. 
     
     
         9 . The pulley apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the weight alignment rods in the upper housing are secured to the interior of the upper housing and the weight alignment rods of the lower housing are secured to the interior of the lower housing. 
     
     
         10 . The pulley apparatus of  claim 8 , which additionally includes a guide rail on the exterior surface of the lower housing and outer pulley positioning devices, wherein the outer pulleys are affixed to the pulley positioning devices, and the pulley positioning devices are capable of being moved along the guide rail or fixed in position on the guide rail. 
     
     
         11 . The pulley apparatus of  claims 1  and  6 , which additionally includes a base. 
     
     
         12 . The pulley apparatus of  claims 1  and  6 , which additionally includes mounting attachments on the housing whereby the pulley apparatus may be secured to a surface.