Weight training apparatus

Abstract

A weight training apparatus using hydraulics or pneumatics for applying positive and negative resistance closer to a user's maximum capacity throughout a lift is provided. The apparatus allows for weight training without weights. The apparatus may provide a more effective and safer mechanism for training than conventional techniques. An aerobic apparatus using hydraulics or pneumatics for a more realistic feel is also provided. Methods of using the devices are also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A weight training apparatus comprising:
 a motor configured to apply a first rotational force;   a pump including a pump inlet and a pump outlet, the pump configured to be driven by the first rotational force;   a reservoir having a reservoir inlet and a reservoir outlet, the reservoir outlet in fluid communication with the pump inlet;   a housing defining an internal cavity and having a longitudinal axis, the internal cavity configured to communicate with the pump outlet and the reservoir inlet through a fluid pathway; and   a piston at least partially occupying the internal cavity and configured to move within the housing in a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction from a first position to a second position along the longitudinal axis, the piston includes a piston shaft, a piston head having a first piston surface and a second piston surface opposite the first piston surface and a linkage configured for communication with a user, the piston head separating a blind end of the internal cavity distal to the piston shaft and a head end of the internal cavity proximal to the piston shaft,   wherein the fluid pathway is configurable to inhibit movement of the piston in the first direction along the longitudinal axis at a first fluid pressure thereby resisting movement of the linkage when a first user force is applied to the piston in the first direction through the linkage and the fluid pathway is configurable to apply a second fluid pressure to one of the first piston surface or the second piston surface to move the piston in the second direction along the longitudinal axis thereby moving the linkage.   
     
     
         2 . The weight training apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the fluid pathway is configured to inhibit movement of the piston in the second direction at a third fluid pressure thereby inhibiting movement of the linkage and the pump is configurable to apply a fourth fluid pressure to the other of the first piston surface and the second piston surface to move the piston in the first direction thereby moving the linkage. 
     
     
         3 . The weight training apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a first switch engaging a first positive resistance mode when the piston is at the first position and engaging a first negative resistance mode when the piston is at the second position, the first positive resistance mode configured to reduce a first fluid flow from the pump to one of the blind end or the head end of the internal cavity and the first negative resistance mode configured to apply the second fluid pressure. 
     
     
         4 . The weight training apparatus of  claim 3  further comprising a user control configured to engage a reverse mode, wherein the first switch engages a second negative resistance mode when the piston is at the first position and engages a second positive resistance mode when the piston is at the second position, the second negative resistance mode configured to apply a third fluid pressure to the other of the first piston surface or the second piston surface to move the piston in the first direction and the second positive resistance mode configured to reduce a second fluid flow from the pump to the other of the blind end or the head end opposite the first positive resistance mode. 
     
     
         5 . The weight training apparatus of  claim 3  further comprising one or more valves between the pump outlet, the reservoir inlet, and the internal cavity wherein the first switch is configured to control the valves to engage the first negative resistance mode and the first positive resistance mode. 
     
     
         6 . The weight training apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the first positive resistance mode is configured to stop the first fluid flow from the pump to the internal cavity. 
     
     
         7 . The weight training apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a flow controller between the internal cavity and the reservoir inlet, the flow controller configured to regulate a second fluid flow from the internal cavity to the reservoir inlet thereby controlling a first speed of the piston in the first direction when the first user force is applied to the piston in the first direction through the linkage. 
     
     
         8 . The weight training apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a first flow controller and a second flow controller, wherein the first flow controller is configured to regulate a second fluid flow from one of the blind end or the head end to the reservoir inlet thereby controlling a first speed of the piston in the first direction when the first user force is applied to the piston in the first direction through the linkage and the second flow controller is configured to regulate a third fluid flow from the other of the blind end or the head end to the reservoir inlet thereby controlling a second speed of the piston in the second direction when a second user force is applied to the piston in the second direction through the linkage. 
     
     
         9 . The weight training apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a kill switch wherein the kill switch engages an operative mode when activated and engages an inoperative mode when not activated, the operative mode configured to permit a fluid flow from the pump outlet to the internal cavity and the inoperative mode configured to restrict the fluid flow from the pump outlet to the internal cavity. 
     
     
         10 . The weight training apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the linkage is configured to form a handle to be grasped by a user. 
     
     
         11 . The weight training apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the linkage connects one or more weight training machines. 
     
     
         12 . The weight training apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the first position or the second position corresponds to a start position of the machine and the start position is adjustable by the user. 
     
     
         13 . The weight training apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the one or more weight training machines includes a chest press machine, a peck deck fly machine, a lat pulldown machine, a leg press machine, a leg extension machine, a seated curl machine, a calf raise machine, a shoulder press machine, an incline press machine, seated row machine, a bench press machine, a power lift machine, military press machine, an abdominal crunch machine, a high row machine, a hack squat machine, a preacher curl machine, a squat machine or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The weight training apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the one or more weight training machines includes a bench press machine, military press machine, squat machine, leg press machine or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The weight training apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the reservoir includes a fluid release and air is used as a fluid. 
     
     
         16 . The weight training apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising one or more sensors configured to collect data during an exercise and a dashboard having a non-transitory medium having computer-readable instructions stored thereon that are configured to be executed by a processor, the computer-readable instructions including communicating information and/or the data from the dashboard to the user. 
     
     
         17 . A weight training method comprising:
 a) restricting a first fluid flow from an internal cavity defined by a housing that is partially occupied by a piston having a first piston surface to inhibit movement of the piston in a first direction along a longitudinal axis of the housing while the piston is experiencing a force in the first direction by a weightlifter; and   b) applying a first fluid pressure to the first piston surface to move the piston in a second direction along the longitudinal axis of the housing and opposite the first direction while the piston is experiencing resistance against the movement in the second direction by the weightlifter.   
     
     
         18 . The weight training method of  claim 17  wherein steps a) and b) are repeated a plurality of times followed by a resting step to form a set. 
     
     
         19 . The weight training method of  claim 18  further comprising performing 1 to 4 additional sets. 
     
     
         20 . The weight training method of  claim 19  wherein steps a) and b) are repeated 1 to 20 times.