Exercise machine employing one or more flexible tension bands

Abstract

An exercise machine employing tension bands includes a pair of exercise arms rotatably mounted on frame members. Connectors are located on the exercise arms and on frame members vertically above and below the rotatable mount. Tension band(s) is (are) connected to vertically spaced-apart connectors, whereby rotation of the exercise arms in upward or downward directions stretches the flexible tension band(s) to create a force opposing rotation of the exercise arms. Connectors above and below the rotatable mount of the exercise arms can be C-rings for receiving a tension band(s) thereon. Exercise arm-engaging members are below rotatable mounts of the exercise arms and include a roll at a distal end for supporting the exercise arms. Rotatable brackets are attached to the exercise arms for retaining hand-gripping members. Side arms rotatable on frame members include telescopic sections including a connector adjacent an outer end for retaining a flexible tension band thereon.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An exercise machine employing one or more flexible tension bands, said exercise machine including:
 a. A pair of exercise arms rotatably mounted on frame members vertically above a surface supporting the exercise machine, said pair or exercise arms being rotatably mounted on a rotatable mount on said frame members for upward and downward rotational motion, said pair of exercise arms being horizontally spaced-apart and each including a member to be engaged by opposed hands of an individual located between said pair of exercise arms,   b. At least one first connector connected to each of said pair of exercise arms, and at least one second connector vertically spaced-apart from said first connector and being connected to a machine member vertically below the rotatable mount of each exercise arm, and further including at least one third connector connected to a moveable frame member for being moveable to positions above and below the rotatable mount of each exercise arm, and   c. One or more flexible tension bands being configured to be connected to said at least one first and second, vertically spaced-apart connectors, whereby when said one or more flexible tension bands is (are) connected to said at least one first and second, vertically spaced-apart connectors rotation of the exercise arms in an upward direction stretches said one or more flexible tension bands creating a tension force opposing the upward direction of rotation of the exercise arms, one or more flexible tension bands being configured to be connected to said at least one first connector and to said at least one third connector when said at least one third connector is in a position vertically above the rotational mount of a corresponding exercise arm, whereby when said one or more flexible tension bands is (are) connected to said at least one first connector on an exercise arm and also to said at least one third connector when said at least one third connector is in a position vertically above the rotational mount of said exercise arm rotation of the exercise arm in a downward direction stretches said one or more flexible tensions bands creating a tension force opposing the downward direction of rotation of the exercise arms.   
     
     
         2 . The exercise machine of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one second connector and said at least one third connector is a loop. 
     
     
         3 . The exercise machine of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one second connector and said at least one third connector is a C-ring including a peripheral wall including a gap through which one or more tension bands can be inserted for retention therein by said peripheral wall, said peripheral wall being capable of retaining attachment members included on the ends of one or more tensions bands. 
     
     
         4 . The exercise machine of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one second connector is a closed D-ring having a peripheral wall to which attachment members included on the ends of one or more tension bands can be secured, and at least one second connector is a C-ring including a peripheral wall including a gap through which one or more tension bands can be inserted for retention therein by said peripheral wall, said peripheral wall being capable of retaining attachment members included on the ends of one or more tensions bands. 
     
     
         5 . The exercise machine of  claim 1 , further including a platform between the horizontally spaced-apart exercise arms and below the rotatable mount of the exercise arms to support an individual engaging members of said opposed arms during exercising, the weight of said individual aiding in stabilizing the exercise machine, said platform including spaced-apart frame members underlying spaced-apart exercise arms to which a plurality of second connectors are attached, at least some of said plurality of second connectors attached to said frame members being a C-ring, each of said C-rings including a peripheral wall and a gap therein, whereby one or more tension bands can be inserted through the gap for retention therein by said peripheral wall, and said peripheral wall being capable of retaining attachment members attached to ends of one or more tensions bands. 
     
     
         6 . The exercise machine of  claim 1 , including a plurality of first connectors on each exercise arm and a plurality of second connectors on frame members underlying each exercise arm, the number of first connectors on each exercise arm being different than the number of second connectors on the frame members underlying each exercise arm. 
     
     
         7 . The exercise machine of  claim 1 , including a plurality of first connectors on each exercise arm and a plurality of second connectors on frame members underlying each exercise arm, the number of first connectors on each exercise arm being different than the number of second connectors on the frame members underlying each exercise arm, one or more of said second connectors being C-rings, each of said C-rings including a peripheral wall and a gap therein, whereby one or more tension bands can be inserted through the gap for retention therein by said peripheral wall, and said peripheral wall being capable of retaining attachment members attached to ends of one or more tensions bands. 
     
     
         8 . The exercise machine of  claim 1 , an exercise arm-engaging member secured to a frame member vertically below the rotational mount of each exercise arm and in vertical alignment with each exercise arm, said exercise arm-engaging member having a distal end with a roll thereon for engaging the exercise arm in a desired position for commencing an exercise. 
     
     
         9 . The exercise machine of  claim 1 , an exercise arm-engaging member secured to a frame member vertically below the rotational mount of each exercise arm and in vertical alignment with each exercise arm, said exercise arm-engaging member including telescoping sections, an outer telescoping section being movable within an inner telescoping member and having a distal end with a roll thereon for engaging the exercise arm, and a locking member for retaining said outer telescoping section against movement relative to said inner telescoping member when said roll engages the exercise arm in a desired position for commencing an exercise. 
     
     
         10 . The exercise machine of  claim 1 , an exercise arm-engaging member secured to a frame member vertically below the rotational mount of each exercise arm and in vertical alignment with each exercise arm, said exercise arm-engaging member including telescoping sections, an outer telescoping section being movable within an inner telescoping member and having a distal end with a roll thereon for engaging the exercise arm, a locking member for retaining said outer telescoping section against movement relative to said inner telescoping member when said roll engages the exercise arm in a desired position for commencing an exercise, said roll being rotatably mounted to said inner telescoping member. 
     
     
         11 . The exercise machine of  claim 1 , including a bracket rotatably mounted adjacent the distal end of each exercise arm and including an opening in a distal end thereof, a hand-engaging member including a stem received with said opening in said distal end of said bracket and a locking member extending through an opening in said bracket for engagement with said stem for locking said hand-engaging member against movement in said bracket. 
     
     
         12 . The exercise machine of  claim 1 , including a bracket rotatably mounted adjacent the distal end of each exercise arm and including an opening in a distal end thereof, a hand-engaging member including a stem received with said opening in said distal end of said bracket, said stem including a plurality of opening spaced-along said stem, and a locking member extending through an opening and including an inner end for being received within a desire opening in said stem for locking said hand-engaging member against movement in said bracket. 
     
     
         13 . The exercise machine of  claim 2 , further including an exercise arm-engaging member secured to a frame member vertically below the rotational mount of each exercise arm and in vertical alignment with each exercise arm, said exercise arm-engaging member including telescoping sections, an outer telescoping section being movable within an inner telescoping member and having a distal end with a roll thereon for engaging the exercise arm, and a locking member for retaining said outer telescoping section against movement relative to said inner telescoping member when said roll engages the exercise arm in a desired position for commencing an exercise. 
     
     
         14 . The exercise machine of  claim 3 , further including an exercise arm-engaging member secured to a frame member vertically below the rotational mount of each exercise arm and in vertical alignment with each exercise arm, said exercise arm-engaging member including telescoping sections, an outer telescoping section being movable within an inner telescoping member and having a distal end with a roll thereon for engaging the exercise arm, and a locking member for retaining said outer telescoping section against movement relative to said inner telescoping member when said roll engages the exercise arm in a desired position for commencing an exercise. 
     
     
         15 . The exercise machine of  claim 5 , further including an exercise arm-engaging member secured to a frame member vertically below the rotational mount of each exercise arm and in vertical alignment with each exercise arm, said exercise arm-engaging member including telescoping sections, an outer telescoping section being movable within an inner telescoping member and having a distal end with a roll thereon for engaging the exercise arm, and a locking member for retaining said outer telescoping section against movement relative to said inner telescoping member when said roll engages the exercise arm in a desired position for commencing an exercise. 
     
     
         16 . The exercise machine of  claim 11 , including a bracket rotatably mounted adjacent the distal end of each exercise arm and including an opening in a distal end thereof, a hand-engaging member including a stem received with said opening in said distal end of said bracket and a locking member extending through an opening in said bracket for engagement with said stem for locking said hand-engaging member against movement in said bracket. 
     
     
         17 . The exercise machine of  claim 12 , including a bracket rotatably mounted adjacent the distal end of each exercise arm and including an opening in a distal end thereof, a hand-engaging member including a stem received with said opening in said distal end of said bracket and a locking member extending through an opening in said bracket for engagement with said stem for locking said hand-engaging member against movement in said bracket. 
     
     
         18 . The exercise machine of  claim 13 , including a bracket rotatably mounted adjacent the distal end of each exercise arm and including an opening in a distal end thereof, a hand-engaging member including a stem received with said opening in said distal end of said bracket and a locking member extending through an opening in said bracket for engagement with said stem for locking said hand-engaging member against movement in said bracket. 
     
     
         19 . The exercise machine of  claim 1 , further including side arms rotatably mounted to upwardly extending, transversely spaced-apart frame members for rotation between uppermost and lowermost positions and being configured to be locked in different rotational positions, each of said side arms including said at least one third connector adjacent an outer end thereof, each of the side arms being configured to be locked in a position in which said at least one third connector attached adjacent an outer end thereof is spaced vertically above a respective exercise arm, said at least one third connector being a C-ring including a peripheral wall including a gap through which one or more tension bands can be inserted for retention therein by said peripheral wall, said peripheral wall being capable of retaining attachment members included on the ends of one or more tensions bands. 
     
     
         20 . The exercise machine of  claim 1 , further including side arms rotatably mounted to upwardly extending, transversely spaced-apart frame members for rotation between uppermost and lowermost positions and being configured to be locked in different positions, each of said side arms including said at least one third connector adjacent an outer end thereof, each of the side arms including telescopic inner and outer sections, said outer sections being rotatably mounted to the upwardly extending, transversely spaced-apart frame members and said inner sections including said at least one third connector adjacent an outer end thereof, said telescopic inner and outer sections permitting adjustment of the spacing between the rotatable connection of each outer section of a respective side arm to a respective frame member and the at least one third connector adjacent an outer end of the telescopic inner section of said respective side arm, and adjustment of the spacing between said at least one third connector and said first connector, said at least one third connector being a C-ring including a peripheral wall including a gap through which one or more tension bands can be inserted for retention therein by said peripheral wall, said peripheral wall being capable of retaining attachment members included on the ends of one or more tensions bands.