Method of Using an Exercise Device Having an Adjustable Incline

Abstract

An exercise device includes a vertical support member or tower; an adjustable incline having a first end and a second end, the first end of the adjustable incline adjustably supported by, and vertically movable with respect to, the vertical support member for adjusting the incline of the adjustable incline; a user support platform movably attached to the adjustable incline; first and second pulleys coupled to the adjustable incline; one or more cables extendable through first and second pulleys and coupled to the user support platform for movement of the support platform along the adjustable incline through cable movement; and a non-motorized lift assist mechanism coupled to the adjustable incline and configured to impart a force on the adjustable incline to assist a user in adjusting the incline of the adjustable incline. A selected sequence of exercises is performed by a user in two or more different exercise positions engaging the adjustable incline.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of performing a predetermined sequence of different exercises in two or more different exercise positions on an adjustable inclinable exercise device including a vertical tower, an adjustable incline having a first end and a second end and adjustably supported at the first end by the vertical tower for adjusting the incline of the adjustable incline, and a user support platform for engagement by the user movably attached to the adjustable incline and configured for movement along the incline, comprising:
 selecting a predetermined exercise sequence from a plurality of predetermined exercise sequences;   a user positioning the adjustable incline of the adjustably inclinable exercise device at a selected inclination based on a selected exercise resistance level;   the user engaging the user support platform movable along the adjustable incline in a selected first body position of the selected exercise sequence and performing a selected sequence of at least two different exercises in the selected first body position according to the selected exercise sequence; and   the user moving their body according to selected transitions from the first body position to engage the user support platform in successive different body positions and performing at least one different exercise in each different body position until the selected, predetermined exercise sequence is complete;   wherein the body positions on the adjustable incline are selected from the group consisting of upright supine, seated forward, seated backward, seated lateral, inverted supine, upright prone, upright side lying, kneeling lateral, kneeling backward, inverted prone, and base standing positions.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transition from the first body position to a second body position in the exercise sequence is between supine and seated positions on the user support platform, and at least some of the exercises include moving the user support platform along the adjustable incline. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one predetermined exercise sequence includes transitions from upright prone or supine positions to seated positions and from seated positions to upright prone or supine positions. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one predetermined exercise sequence includes a transition from a seated forward to a seated backward position. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one predetermined exercise sequence includes a transition between seated and kneeling positions. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one predetermined exercise sequence includes a transition from a seated to an inverted supine position. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one predetermined exercise sequence includes a transition from an inverted supine to an upright prone or supine position. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one predetermined exercise sequence includes a transition from a base stand position to a kneeling position. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first exercise position is an upright supine position and the first exercise sequence comprises squat exercises in which the user engages a foot stand to push the user support platform along the incline and arm exercises in which the user engages handles secured via a cable and pulley mechanism to an upper end of the user support platform. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the exercise sequence in the upright supine position comprises squat exercises, arm pullover exercises in which the user support platform is pulled up the incline, and triceps press exercises in which the user support platform is lowered down the incline. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the exercise sequence in the upright supine position comprises squat exercises, LAT pulldown exercises, arm pullover exercises, arm pullover with crunch exercises, and triceps press exercises. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising a user moving their body into a second exercise position engaging the user support platform in a seated forward position following the first exercise position a seated forward position and the user performing a series of exercises in the second exercise position comprising chest press and unilateral chest press exercises. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising the user moving their body into a third body position according to a predetermined third transition of the selected exercise sequence after completion of exercises in the second exercise position, and performing a selected series of exercises in the third body position. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the third body position is a seated backward position or a seated or kneeling lateral position. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the third body position is a seated backward position and the selected series of exercises in the third body position comprises rowing and biceps curl exercises. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the third body position is a seated or kneeling lateral position on one side followed by a seated or kneeling lateral position on the opposite side, and the selected series of exercises in the third body position comprises torso rotation, chest fly, and biceps curl exercises on each side. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising selecting the predetermined sequence of different exercises and body position transitions from one of the following five tables: 
       
         
           
                 
                 
                 
                 
               
                   TABLE 1 
                 
                     
                 
                   Transition 
                   Body Position 
                   Exercise sequence 
                   Cables 
                 
                     
                 
                   Start 
                   Upright supine 
                   Bilateral squat, unilateral 
                   Without 
                 
                     
                     
                   squat, toe out squat 
                   cables 
                 
                   None 
                   Upright supine 
                   LAT pull down, arm 
                   With cables 
                 
                     
                     
                   pullover, arm pullover 
                 
                     
                     
                   with crunch, triceps 
                 
                     
                     
                   press. 
                 
                   Move to seated 
                   Seated forward 
                   Chest press, unilateral 
                   With cables 
                 
                   forward 
                     
                   chest press, chest stretch. 
                 
                   Move to seated 
                   Seated 
                   Seated row, unilateral 
                   With cables 
                 
                   backward 
                   backward 
                   seated row, biceps curl, 
                 
                     
                     
                   unilateral biceps curl. 
                 
                   Move to seated 
                   Seated lateral 
                   Torso rotation 
                   With cables 
                 
                   lateral, 1 st  side 
                 
                   Move to seated 
                   Seated lateral 
                   Torso rotation 
                   With cables 
                 
                   lateral, 2 nd  side 
                 
                   Move to 
                   Inverted 
                   Abdominal crunch, 
                   With cables 
                 
                   inverted 
                   Supine 
                   Abdominal crunch with 
                 
                   supine 
                     
                   rotation, hamstring curl 
                 
                   Move to 
                   Upright prone 
                   Pull-up 
                   With cables 
                 
                   upright 
                 
                   prone 
                 
                   Move to 
                   Upright Supine 
                   Stretching/Cool down 
                   Without 
                 
                   upright 
                     
                     
                   cables 
                 
                   supine 
                 
                     
                 
             
                
                
                
                
               
               
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
               
            
           
         
         
           
                 
                 
                 
                 
               
                   TABLE 2 
                 
                     
                 
                     
                     
                     
                   With or without 
                 
                   Transition 
                   Body Position 
                   Exercise sequence 
                   cables 
                 
                     
                 
                   Start 
                   Upright supine 
                   Bilateral squat, 
                   Without cables 
                 
                     
                     
                   unilateral squat, toe out 
                 
                     
                     
                   squat, bilateral plyometric 
                 
                     
                     
                   squat, unilateral plyometric 
                 
                     
                     
                   squat 
                 
                   Move to upright side 
                   Upright side 
                   Side lying squat 
                   Without cables 
                 
                   lying, first side 
                   lying 
                 
                   Move to upright side 
                   Upright side 
                   Side lying squat 
                   Without cables 
                 
                   lying, second side 
                   lying 
                 
                   Move to upright 
                   Upright supine 
                   Toe out squat in bridge 
                   Without cables 
                 
                   supine 
                 
                   No position change 
                   Upright supine 
                   LAT pull down, arm 
                   With cables 
                 
                     
                     
                   pullover, arm pullover 
                 
                     
                     
                   with crunch and 
                 
                     
                     
                   multiple leg variations, 
                 
                     
                     
                   triceps press, 
                 
                     
                     
                   alternating triceps press 
                 
                   Move to seated 
                   Seated forward 
                   Chest press, chest press 
                   With cables 
                 
                   forward 
                     
                   with center, low, 
                 
                     
                     
                   center, high variations, 
                 
                     
                     
                   chest press. 
                 
                   Transition to 
                   Seated or 
                   Torso rotation, torso 
                   With cables 
                 
                   seated/kneeling 
                   kneeling lateral 
                   rotation with variations, 
                 
                   lateral, first side 
                     
                   chest fly, biceps curl 
                 
                   Transition to 
                   Seated or 
                   Torso rotation, torso 
                   With cables 
                 
                   seated/kneeling 
                   kneeling lateral 
                   rotation with variations, 
                 
                   lateral, second side 
                     
                   chest fly, biceps curl 
                 
                   Move to seated 
                   Seated 
                   Seated row, unilateral 
                   With cables 
                 
                   backward 
                   backward 
                   seated row, high elbow 
                 
                     
                     
                   row, biceps curl, 
                 
                     
                     
                   alternating biceps curl, 
                 
                     
                     
                   biceps curl, hip 
                 
                     
                     
                   abduction. 
                 
                   Move to inverted 
                   Inverted supine 
                   Crunch without and 
                   With cables 
                 
                   supine 
                     
                   with rotation, 
                 
                     
                     
                   hamstring curl 
                 
                   Move to upright 
                   Upright prone 
                   Pull up 
                   With cables 
                 
                   prone 
                 
                   Move to upright 
                   Upright supine 
                   Stretch, cool down 
                 
                   supine 
                 
                     
                 
             
                
                
                
                
                
               
               
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
               
            
           
         
         
           
                 
                 
                 
                 
               
                   TABLE 3 
                 
                     
                 
                     
                     
                     
                   With or 
                 
                     
                     
                     
                   without 
                 
                   Transition 
                   Body Position 
                   Exercise sequence 
                   cables 
                 
                     
                 
                   Start 
                   Upright supine 
                   Bilateral squat, 
                   Without 
                 
                     
                     
                   unilateral squat, bridge 
                   cables 
                 
                     
                     
                   squat 
                 
                   No position 
                   Upright supine 
                   LAT pull down, arm 
                   With cables 
                 
                   change 
                     
                   pullover, arm pullover 
                 
                     
                     
                   with crunch, triceps 
                 
                     
                     
                   press. 
                 
                   Move to seated 
                   Seated forward 
                   Chest press. 
                   With cables 
                 
                   forward 
                 
                   Move to seated 
                   Seated 
                   Seated row, unilateral 
                   With cables 
                 
                   backward 
                   backward 
                   seated row 
                 
                   Move to seated 
                   Seated lateral 
                   Seated torso rotation 
                   With cables 
                 
                   lateral (first side) 
                     
                   (first side) 
                 
                   Move to seated 
                   Seated 
                   Seated biceps curl, hip 
                   With cables 
                 
                   backward 
                   backward 
                   abduction 
                 
                   Move to seated 
                   Seated lateral 
                   Seated torso rotation 
                   With cables 
                 
                   lateral 
                     
                   (second side) 
                 
                   (second side) 
                 
                   Move to inverted 
                   Inverted supine 
                   Hamstring curl, bent 
                   With cables 
                 
                   supine 
                     
                   leg incline crunch 
                 
                   Move to upright 
                   Upright prone 
                   Pull up 
                   With cables 
                 
                   prone 
                 
                     
                     
                   Stretch, cool down 
                 
                     
                 
             
                
                
                
                
                
                
               
               
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
               
            
           
         
         
           
                 
                 
                 
                 
               
                   TABLE 4 
                 
                     
                 
                     
                   Body 
                     
                     
                 
                   Transition 
                   Position 
                   Exercise sequence 
                   Cables 
                 
                     
                 
                   Start 
                   Base stand 
                   Lunges facing tower, 
                   Without 
                 
                     
                     
                   facing forward, facing 
                   cables 
                 
                     
                     
                   lateral. 
                 
                   Move to kneeling 
                   Kneeling 
                   Torso rotation 
                   With cables 
                 
                   lateral, first side. 
                   lateral 
                 
                   Move to kneeling 
                   Kneeling 
                   Torso rotation 
                   With cables 
                 
                   lateral, second side. 
                   lateral 
                 
                   Move to kneeling 
                   Kneeling 
                   Kneeling high elbow row 
                   With cables 
                 
                   backward 
                   backward 
                 
                   Move to kneeling 
                   Kneeling 
                   Inverted tuck, single leg 
                   With cables 
                 
                   inverted 
                   inverted 
                   inverted tuck 
                 
                   Move to kneeling 
                   Kneeling 
                   Horizontal shoulder 
                   With cables 
                 
                   lateral 
                   lateral 
                   abduction, torso rotation 
                 
                     
                     
                   with angle variations 
                 
                   Move to seated 
                   Seated 
                   Static equilibrium chest 
                   With cables 
                 
                   forward 
                   forward 
                   press 
                 
                   Move to prone 
                   Prone 
                   Push up 
                   With cables 
                 
                   Move to upright 
                   Upright 
                   Bridge squat 
                   With cables 
                 
                   supine 
                   Supine 
                 
                   Move to squatting 
                   Squatting 
                   Skiing 
                   With cables 
                 
                     
                     
                   Stretching/Cool down 
                   Without 
                 
                     
                     
                     
                   cables 
                 
                     
                 
             
                
                
                
                
                
               
               
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
               
            
           
         
         
           
                 
                 
                 
                 
               
                   TABLE 5 
                 
                     
                 
                   Transition 
                   Body Position 
                   Exercise sequence 
                   Cables 
                 
                     
                 
                   Start 
                   Upright supine 
                   Bilateral squat, unilateral 
                   Without 
                 
                     
                     
                   squat, bilateral heel raise, 
                   cables 
                 
                     
                     
                   unilateral heel raise, toes 
                 
                     
                     
                   out squat, plyometric 
                 
                     
                     
                   skiing. 
                 
                   Move to seated 
                   Seated 
                   Seated row, biceps curl, 
                   With cables 
                 
                   backward 
                   backward 
                   reverse fly, seated 
                 
                     
                     
                   shoulder extension 
                 
                     
                     
                   Cardio routine 
                 
                   Move to 
                   Upright prone 
                   Pull-up 
                   With cables 
                 
                   upright prone 
                 
                   Move to 
                   Inverted supine 
                   Hamstring curl, bent leg 
                   With cables 
                 
                   inverted supine 
                     
                   incline crunch 
                 
                     
                     
                   Cardio routine 
                 
                   Move to seated 
                   Seated forward 
                   Chest press, static chest 
                   With cables 
                 
                   forward 
                     
                   press. 
                 
                   Move to seated 
                   Seated lateral 
                   Torso rotation 
                   With cables 
                 
                   lateral, 1 st  side 
                 
                   Move to seated 
                   Seated lateral 
                   Torso rotation 
                   With cables 
                 
                   lateral, 2 nd  side 
                 
                   Move to seated 
                   Seated lateral 
                   Horizontal shoulder 
                   With cables 
                 
                   lateral, 1 st  side 
                     
                   abduction 
                 
                   Move to seated 
                   Seated lateral 
                   Horizontal shoulder 
                   With cables 
                 
                   lateral, 2 nd  side 
                     
                   abduction 
                 
                     
                     
                   Cardio routine 
                 
                   Move to 
                   Upright Supine 
                   Pullover crunch, triceps 
                   With cables 
                 
                   upright supine 
                     
                   press down, cross body 
                 
                     
                     
                   pullover crunch 
                 
                     
                   Upright Supine 
                   Stretching/Cool down 
                   Without 
                 
                     
                     
                     
                   cables 
                 
                     
                 
             
                
                
                
                
               
               
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
               
            
           
         
         the user positioning their body on the user support platform in the first body position from the selected table, performing the first exercise series from the selected table, moving their body between the selected sequence of body positions in the selected table at each transition following the first exercise series and performing the selected series of exercises in each new body position following the respective transitions before moving to the next body position until the selected sequence of body positions and exercises in the selected table is completed. 
       
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the exercise device includes one or more cables extendable through first and second pulleys and releasably coupled to the user support platform for movement of the support platform along the adjustable incline through cable movement, and at least one transition further comprising the user coupling or uncoupling the cables from the user support platform prior to engagement of the user support platform in the next body position. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the predetermined exercise sequences further comprise exercises using accessories attached to the adjustable incline device, and at least one transition further comprises the user attaching a selected accessory to the adjustable incline device, the accessories being selected from the group consisting of at least a press bar, a toe bar, retractable dip bars, a grip pull-up bar, a squat handle bar, a weight bar, and a foot stand.