Low joint strain fitness system

Abstract

An exercise device is provided using, for example, handles, connected to cords that increase in tension as the handles are pulled. The tension may be provided using elasticity of the cords or by an actuator, for example powered by an electric motor. Pulleys allow adequate extension while remaining compact enough to fit in a standard height room and allowing accessibility to components. Upper and forward pulleys may be used. The upper pulleys may be displaced from potential obstacles, including the forward pulleys.

1 . An exercise apparatus for use in exercises by a user, the exercise apparatus comprising:
 one or more overhead pulleys arranged to be connected to a support structure; and   one or more overhead user interfacing elements each connected to a respective overhead elastic pulley cord carried by a respective overhead pulley of the one or more overhead pulleys, the respective overhead elastic pulley cord being elastic such that in use of the exercise apparatus displacement of each of the one or more overhead user interfacing elements away from the respective overhead pulley increases the tension of the respective overhead elastic pulley cord, each of the one or more overhead user interfacing elements being biased in use of the exercise apparatus towards the respective overhead pulley by tension of the respective overhead elastic pulley cord, the respective overhead elastic pulley cord having a respective overhead cord distal end distal from the one or more overhead user interfacing elements and fixed against movement of the respective overhead cord distal end toward the respective overhead pulley,   the one or more overhead pulleys being arranged to be supported in use of the exercise apparatus in an overhead pulley position displaced horizontally 16″ or more, 17″ or more, 18″ or more, 19″ or more, 20″ or more, 21″ or more, 22″ or more, 23″ or more, 24″ or more, 25″ or more, 26″ or more, 27″ or more, 28″ or more, or 29″ or more from a vertical plane through the respective overhead cord distal end of the respective overhead elastic pulley cord.   
     
     
         2 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1  in which for each of the one or more overhead user interfacing elements, displacement from halfway to the floor, from a docked position, to all the way to the floor increases the tension of the respective overhead elastic pulley cord by at least 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90% or 100%. 
     
     
         10 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 9  in which the rate at which displacement of each of the overhead user interfacing elements increases the tension of the respective overhead elastic pulley cord increases with displacement from halfway to the floor to all the way to the floor. 
     
     
         11 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1  in which the respective overhead elastic pulley cord of each of the one or more overhead user interfacing elements is fixed to the support structure at the respective overhead cord distal end. 
     
     
         14 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1  in which the one or more overhead user interfacing elements are handles. 
     
     
         22 - 31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising, for each of the one or more overhead user interfacing elements, one or more further respective overhead elastic pulley cords, in which each of the one or more overhead user interfacing elements is configured to be connected in use of the exercise apparatus to the respective overhead elastic pulley cord and to the one or more further respective overhead elastic pulley cords. 
     
     
         33 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 32  in which, for each of the one or more overhead user interfacing elements, there are three or more further respective overhead elastic pulley cords. 
     
     
         34 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 32  in which, for each of the one or more overhead user interfacing elements, there are two or more further respective overhead elastic pulley cords. 
     
     
         35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 32  in which the respective overhead elastic pulley cord and the one or more further respective overhead elastic pulley cords have different lengths. 
     
     
         37 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 32  in which the respective overhead elastic pulley cord and the one or more further respective overhead elastic pulley cords have different k-values. 
     
     
         38 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 32  in which in use of the exercise apparatus each of the one or more overhead user interfacing elements is configured to be connected to the respective overhead elastic pulley cord and to the one or more respective further overhead elastic pulley cords by a respective overhead carabiner. 
     
     
         39 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 38  in which in use of the exercise apparatus each of the one or more overhead user interfacing elements is connected to a respective overhead carabiner attachment point of the respective overhead carabiner, the respective overhead elastic pulley cord and the one or more respective further overhead elastic pulley cords comprising loops to receive the respective overhead carabiner. 
     
     
         40 - 123 . (canceled) 
     
     
         124 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 13  in which the respective overhead cord distal end is fixed at a height that is 16″ or more, 17″ or more, 18″ or more, 19″ or more, 20″ or more, 21″ or more, 22″ or more, 23″ or more, 24″ or more, 25″ or more, 26″ or more, 27″ or more, 28″ or more, 29″ or more vertically lower than the one or more overhead pulleys. 
     
     
         125 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 one or more forward pulleys arranged to be connected to the support structure, the overhead pulley position being displaced horizontally 16″ or more, 17″ or more, 18″ or more, 19″ or more, 20″ or more, 21″ or more, 22″ or more, 23″ or more, 24″ or more, 25″ or more, 26″ or more, 27″ or more, 28″ or more, or 29″ or more from the one or more forward pulleys; the one or more forward pulleys being 16″ or more, 17″ or more, 18″ or more, 19″ or more, 20″ or more, 21″ or more, 22″ or more, 23″ or more, 24″ or more, 25″ or more, 26″ or more, 27″ or more, 28″ or more, or 29″ or more vertically lower than the overhead pulleys; and 
 one or more forward user interfacing elements each connected to a respective forward elastic pulley cord carried by a respective forward pulley of the one or more forward pulleys and the respective forward elastic pulley cord being elastic such that in use of the exercise apparatus displacement of each of the one or more forward user interfacing elements away from the respective forward pulley increases the tension of the respective forward elastic pulley cord, the respective forward elastic pulley cord having a respective forward cord distal end distal from the one or more forward user interfacing elements and fixed against movement of the respective forward cord distal end toward the respective forward pulley, each of the one or more forward user interfacing elements being biased in use of the exercise apparatus towards the respective forward pulley by tension of the respective forward pulley cord. 
 
     
     
         126 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 125  in which the respective forward cord distal end of the respective forward elastic pulley cord of each of the one or more forward user interfacing elements is fixed against movement of the respective forward cord distal end toward the respective forward pulley at the one or more overhead pulleys. 
     
     
         127 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 126  in which the respective forward elastic pulley cord of each of the one or more forward user interfacing elements is the respective overhead elastic pulley cord of a corresponding one of the one or more overhead user interfacing elements, the respective forward elastic pulley cord being fixed against movement of the respective forward cord distal end toward the respective forward pulley by interaction of the corresponding one of the one or more overhead user interfacing elements with the respective overhead pulley carrying the respective overhead elastic pulley cord, and the respective overhead elastic pulley cord being fixed against movement of the respective overhead cord distal end toward the respective overhead pulley by interaction of the corresponding one of the one or more forward user interfacing elements with the respective forward pulley carrying the respective forward elastic pulley cord. 
     
     
         128 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 125  in which the respective overhead cord distal end of each of the one or more overhead user interfacing elements is fixed against movement of the respective overhead cord distal end toward the respective overhead pulley at the one or more forward pulleys. 
     
     
         129 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 125  further comprising, for each of the one or more forward user interfacing elements, one or more further respective forward elastic pulley cords, in which each of the one or more forward user interfacing elements is configured to be connected in use of the exercise apparatus to the respective forward elastic pulley cord and to the one or more further respective forward elastic pulley cords, each of the one or more forward user interfacing elements being configured to be connected to the respective forward elastic pulley cord and to the one or more respective further forward elastic pulley cords by a respective forward carabiner. 
     
     
         130 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 129  in which in use of the exercise apparatus each of the one or more forward user interfacing elements is connected to a respective forward carabiner attachment point of the respective forward carabiner, the respective forward elastic pulley cord and the one or more respective further forward elastic pulley cords comprising loops to receive the respective forward carabiner. 
     
     
         131 . The exercise apparatus of  claim 125  in which the respective forward cord distal end of the respective forward elastic pulley cord of each of the one or more forward user interfacing elements is fixed against movement of the respective forward cord distal end toward the respective forward pulley by the respective forward elastic pulley cord being fixed to the support structure.