Rower Accessory System for Exercise Machine

Abstract

An accessory system configured to be coupled to an exercise machine that enables the exercise machine to be used for other exercises. In some embodiments, a rowing accessory system may be operatively coupled to an exercise machine to enable the user to perform rowing exercises and the like. In some embodiments, a support accessory system may be operatively coupled to an exercise machine to enable the user to perform exercises with the exercise machine in an inclined use configuration, a rocking use configuration, or an inclined-and-rocking use configuration.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A rowing accessory system configured to be coupled to an exercise machine, the rowing accessory system comprising:
 a front support configured to support a front end of the exercise machine above a support surface;   a rear support configured to support a rear end of the exercise machine above the support surface, the rear support including a strut having a lower end configured to be positioned proximate the support surface and extending upwardly to an upper end;   a secondary carriage support including an intermediate support disposed between the front support and the rear support, the secondary carriage support including at least one secondary rail extending between the intermediate support and the rear support and suspended above the support surface;   a secondary carriage operatively coupled to the at least one secondary rail and configured to be slidably moveable along the at least one secondary rail;   at least one biasing member operatively coupled between the secondary carriage and the front support, the at least one biasing member configured to provide a biasing force on the secondary carriage that biases the secondary carriage toward the front support;   a user interface positioned proximate the upper end of the strut; and   a force transfer assembly operatively coupled between the user interface and the secondary carriage such that an exercising force applied to the user interface exerts a pulling force on the secondary carriage that tends to move the secondary carriage along the at least one secondary rail toward the rear support in opposition to the biasing force of the at least one biasing member.   
     
     
         2 . The rowing accessory system of  claim 1 , wherein the force transfer assembly comprises a cable and pulley assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The rowing accessory system of  claim 1 , wherein the force transfer assembly comprises:
 a cable and pulley assembly including a cable having a first end attached to the rear support and extending to a first pulley coupled to the secondary carriage, the cable operatively engaging the first pulley and extending back from the first pulley to a second pulley attached to the rear support proximate the lower end of the strut, the cable operatively engaging the second pulley and extending upwardly from the second pulley to operatively engage a third pulley attached proximate the upper end of the strut,   and wherein the user interface is operatively coupled to a second end of the cable proximate the third pulley.   
     
     
         4 . The rowing accessory system of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary carriage includes a carriage body having at least one guide member configured to slidably engage the at least one secondary rail. 
     
     
         5 . The rowing accessory system of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary carriage includes a carriage body having at least one roller configured to rollably engage a lower portion of the exercise machine during movement of the secondary carriage on the at least one secondary rail. 
     
     
         6 . The rowing accessory system of  claim 1 , wherein the secondary carriage is configured to be slidably moveable along the at least one secondary rail in a rearward direction toward the rear support when the pulling force is greater than the biasing force of the at least one biasing member, and is configured to be slidably moveable along the at least one secondary rail in a forward direction toward the front support when the biasing force of the at least one biasing member is greater than the pulling force. 
     
     
         7 . The rowing accessory system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one secondary rail comprises two secondary rails laterally spaced apart on opposing sides of a centerline of the accessory system. 
     
     
         8 . A rowing accessory system configured to be coupled to an exercise machine having a rail and a slidable carriage operatively coupled to the rail, the rowing accessory system comprising:
 a front support configured to support the exercise machine proximate a front end and to support the rail above a support surface;   a rear support configured to support the exercise machine proximate a rear end and to support the rail above the support surface, the rear support including a strut having a lower end configured to be positioned below the rail and extending upwardly to an upper end configured to be positioned above the rail;   a secondary carriage support including an intermediate support disposed between the front support and the rear support, the secondary carriage support including at least one secondary rail extending between the intermediate support and the rear support and suspended above the support surface;   a secondary carriage operatively coupled to the at least one secondary rail and configured to be slidably moveable along the at least one secondary rail and configured to be disposed between the rail of the exercise machine and the support surface;   at least one biasing member operatively coupled between the secondary carriage and the front support, the at least one biasing member configured to provide a biasing force on the secondary carriage that biases the secondary carriage toward the front support;   a user interface positioned proximate the upper end of the strut; and   a force transfer assembly operatively coupled between the user interface and the secondary carriage such that an exercising force applied to the user interface exerts a pulling force on the secondary carriage that tends to move the secondary carriage along the at least one secondary rail toward the rear support in opposition to the biasing force of the at least one biasing member.   
     
     
         9 . The rowing accessory system of  claim 8 , wherein the force transfer assembly comprises a cable and pulley assembly including a cable having a first end attached to the rear support and extending to a first pulley coupled to the secondary carriage, the cable operatively engaging the first pulley and extending back from the first pulley to a second pulley attached to the rear support proximate the lower end of the strut, the cable operatively engaging the second pulley and extending upwardly from the second pulley to operatively engage a third pulley attached proximate the upper end of the strut, the user interface being operatively coupled to a second end of the cable proximate the third pulley. 
     
     
         10 . The rowing accessory system of  claim 8 , wherein the secondary carriage includes a carriage body having at least one guide member configured to slidably engage the at least one secondary rail during movement of the secondary carriage on the at least one secondary rail. 
     
     
         11 . The rowing accessory system of  claim 8 , wherein the secondary carriage includes a carriage body having at least one roller configured to rollably engage the rail of the exercise machine during movement of the secondary carriage on the at least one secondary rail. 
     
     
         12 . The rowing accessory system of  claim 8 , wherein the secondary carriage is configured to be slidably moveable along the at least one secondary rail in a rearward direction toward the rear support when the pulling force is greater than the biasing force of the at least one biasing member, and is configured to be slidably moveable along the at least one secondary rail in a forward direction toward the front support when the biasing force of the at least one biasing member is greater than the pulling force. 
     
     
         13 . The rowing accessory system of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one secondary rail comprises two secondary rails laterally spaced apart on opposing sides of a centerline of the accessory system, and wherein the secondary carriage includes a carriage body having a pair of guide members, each guide member being configured to slidably engage one of the secondary rails during movement of the secondary carriage. 
     
     
         14 . The rowing accessory system of  claim 8 , further comprising a pedal assembly operatively coupled to the rear support, the pedal assembly including a pair of pedals laterally spaced apart on opposing sides of a centerline of the accessory system, each pedal being configured to be engaged with a foot of a user. 
     
     
         15 . The rowing accessory system of  claim 14 , wherein each pedal is configured to be rotatable between an upright position for engagement with the foot of the user during a first use configuration, and a downward position in which the pedal is below the upper portion of the rail in a second use configuration. 
     
     
         16 . The rowing accessory system of  claim 8 , wherein the exercise machine further includes at least one platform proximate at least one of the front end or the rear end of the rail, and wherein at least one of the front support or the rear support of the accessory system includes at least one platform foot configured to be engaged with the at least one platform of the exercise machine, the at least one platform foot being configured to at least partially support the at least one platform of the exercise machine above the support surface. 
     
     
         17 . An exercise machine, comprising:
 a frame that includes a rail and a slidable carriage moveable along the rail;   a rowing accessory system including:
 a front support supporting a front end of the rail above a support surface; 
 a rear support supporting a rear end of the rail above the support surface, the rear support including a strut having a lower end positioned below the rail and extending upwardly to an upper end positioned above the rail; 
 a secondary carriage support including an intermediate support disposed between the front support and the rear support, the secondary carriage support including at least one secondary rail extending between the intermediate support and the rear support and suspended above the support surface; 
 a secondary carriage operatively coupled to the at least one secondary rail and configured to be slidably moveable along the at least one secondary rail and disposed between the rail of the exercise machine and the support surface; 
 at least one biasing member operatively coupled between the secondary carriage and the front support, the at least one biasing member providing a biasing force on the secondary carriage that biases the secondary carriage toward the front support; 
 a user interface positioned proximate the upper end of the strut; and 
 a force transfer assembly operatively coupled between the user interface and the secondary carriage such that an exercising force applied to the user interface exerts a pulling force on the secondary carriage that tends to move the secondary carriage along the at least one secondary rail toward the rear support in opposition to the biasing force of the at least one biasing member. 
   
     
     
         18 . The exercise machine of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a support accessory system including:
 a pad member having an upper surface configured to be fittingly engaged with a portion of the exercise machine, and a lower surface opposite the upper surface; and 
 a support foot that is selectively couplable to the lower surface of the pad member, the support foot including a head portion having an engagement surface that is engageable with the support surface, the engagement surface being symmetrically curved along a length thereof in a first cross-sectional plane, wherein the engagement surface enables the exercise machine to rock about a rotation axis that is perpendicular to the first cross-sectional plane when the support foot is coupled to the pad member in a rocking use configuration, and prevents the exercise machine from rocking about the rotation axis when the support foot is coupled to the pad member in a stable use configuration. 
   
     
     
         19 . The exercise machine of  claim 18 , wherein the engagement surface is also angled across a width thereof in a second cross-sectional plane that is orthogonal to the first cross-sectional plane. 
     
     
         20 . The exercise machine of  claim 18 , wherein the lower surface of the pad member includes at least one stable recess disposed therein and at least one rocker recess disposed therein, and wherein the support foot further includes at least one projection that projects outwardly from the head portion opposite from the engagement surface, the at least one projection being selectively couplable with the at least one stable recess to support the exercise machine in the stable use configuration, and the at least one projection being selectively couplable with the at least one rocker recess to support the exercise machine in the rocking use configuration.