US-20260124492-A1 - EXERCISE MACHINES FOR WEIGHT TRAINING

US20260124492A1US 20260124492 A1US20260124492 A1US 20260124492A1US-20260124492-A1

Abstract

An exercise machine comprising a resistance mechanism, a supporting frame, and a movable member which is movable relative to the supporting frame into and between a rest position and an extended position during performance of an exercise motion by a user. Movement of the movable member towards the extended position is resisted by the resistance mechanism. A stop device stops the movable member in the rest position, the stop device having an engagement member which engages and is able to translate along a stop surface on the supporting frame when the movable member is moved into the rest position.

Inventors

Jeremy L. Fink
John R. Lindemeier

Assignees

LIFE FITNESS, LLC

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20260107

Claims (20)

1 . An exercise machine comprising: a supporting frame; a movable member that is movable along an arc relative to the supporting frame into a rest position and an extended position during performance of an exercise motion; a resistance mechanism configured to resist movement of the movable member; a stop device including an engagement member and a stop surface that engage to stop the movable member in the rest position; and a selector mechanism that facilitates adjustment of the rest position while the engagement member and the stop surface remain engaged.
2 . The exercise machine according to claim 1 , wherein the selector mechanism facilitates said adjustment of the rest position without engaging the resistance mechanism.
3 . The exercise machine according to claim 1 , wherein the engagement member is configured to translate along the stop surface during an adjustment of the rest position via the selector mechanism.
4 . The exercise machine according to claim 1 , wherein the engagement member includes a roller that is rollable along the stop surface during an adjustment of the rest position via the selector mechanism.
5 . The exercise machine according to claim 1 , wherein the stop surface is configured as a conveyor mechanism configured to convey the engagement member during an adjustment of the rest position via the selector mechanism.
6 . The exercise machine according to claim 1 , wherein the stop surface is planar.
7 . The exercise machine according to claim 1 , wherein the stop surface is convex.
8 . The exercise machine according to claim 1 , wherein the engagement member is coupled to the movable member, and the stop surface is coupled to the supporting frame.
9 . The exercise machine according to claim 1 , wherein the resistance mechanism includes a pulley cable and further wherein the stop device is configured to maintain a substantially constant tension in the pulley cable during an adjustment of the rest position via the selector mechanism.
10 . The exercise machine according to claim 9 , wherein the stop surface has a curvature configured to maintain said substantially constant tension.
11 . The exercise machine according to claim 1 , further comprising a spring assist mechanism configured to assist movement of the movable member via the selector mechanism.
12 . The exercise machine according to claim 1 , wherein the movable member includes a seat and the supporting frame includes at least one curved rail along which the seat is movable into and between the rest position and the extended position.
13 . An exercise machine comprising: a curved rail; a seat that is movable along the curved rail into a rest position and an extended position during performance of an exercise motion; a resistance mechanism configured to resist movement of the seat along the curved rail; a stop device configured to stop the seat in the rest position; and a selector mechanism that facilitates adjustment of the rest position relative to the curved rail while the seat is in the rest position.
14 . The exercise machine according to claim 13 , wherein the selector mechanism facilitates said adjustment of the rest position without engaging the resistance mechanism.
15 . The exercise machine according to claim 13 , wherein the stop device includes an engagement member and a stop surface that engage to stop the seat in the rest position.
16 . The exercise machine according to claim 15 , wherein the engagement member is configured to translate along the stop surface during an adjustment of the rest position via the selector mechanism.
17 . The exercise machine according to claim 13 , wherein the curved rail is one of a pair of curved rails that support the seat.
18 . The exercise machine according to claim 17 , wherein the pair of curved rails are not parallel to each other and further comprising self-aligning rollers configured to facilitate rolling of the seat along the pair of curved rails.
19 . The exercise machine according to claim 13 , wherein the selector mechanism includes a selector bar and a selector actuator assembly configured to selectively couple the selector bar to the seat in each of a series of positions corresponding to a plurality of locations of the rest position.
20 . The exercise machine according to claim 18 , wherein the stop device includes an engagement member and a stop surface that engage to stop the seat in the rest position, and wherein one of the engagement member and the stop surface is coupled to the selector bar.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/454,153, filed Aug. 23, 2023, which application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/449,353, filed Mar. 2, 2023, both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. FIELD The present disclosure relates to exercise equipment, and more particularly to exercise machines for weight training, for example for performing a leg press exercise motion or other type of exercise motion. BACKGROUND The following U.S. patents are incorporated herein by reference. U.S. Pat. No. 5,554,086 discloses a compact attachment for a multi-station exercise machine which couples to a low pull station and therefore utilizes the weight stack or other resistance mechanism of the exercise machine. The attachment is designed for performing leg press and other lower limb exercises. The attachment has a frame on which a pair of foot pads are mounted. A seat for the operator of the attachment is suspended from the frame by a pair of parallel pivoting arms so that the seat remains in a relatively constant attitude throughout the exercise stroke. The invention may be alternatively embodied as a stand-alone device utilizing free weights as a means for providing exercise resistance. U.S. Pat. No. 7,727,128 discloses a leg press exercise machine that provides translational and rotational motion of the user support structure by translating the user support structure along two intersecting non-orthogonal linear paths. A front portion of the user support structure travels along an inclining linear path and a rear portion of the user support structure travels along a declining linear path. The translation of the user support structure along the inclining and declining linear paths results in the user support structure exhibiting a rotational motion, defining an arcuate path. U.S. Pat. No. 10,786,705 discloses an exercise machine for leg strengthening, the exercise machine having a stationary frame, and a thigh support member and an ankle support member coupled to the frame and configured to support a user's thigh and ankle, respectively, during a hamstring curl exercise motion. The thigh support member and the ankle support member are each movable with respect to the stationary frame during the hamstring curl exercise motion, thus facilitating contraction and extension of both of a hamstring and glute of the user during the hamstring curl exercise motion. SUMMARY This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts that are further described herein below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter. In non-limiting examples disclosed herein, an exercise machine has a resistance mechanism, a supporting frame, and a movable member which is movable relative to the supporting frame into and between a rest position and an extended position during performance of an exercise motion by a user. Movement of the movable member towards the extended position is resisted by the resistance mechanism. A stop device stops the movable member in the rest position, the stop device having an engagement member which engages and is able to translate along a stop surface on the supporting frame when the movable member is moved into the rest position. In non-limiting examples disclosed herein, an exercise machine is for performing a leg press exercise motion. The exercise machine comprises a resistance mechanism, a supporting frame, and a seat on which a user can sit during performance of said leg press exercise motion. The seat is movable along a curved path relative to the supporting frame into and between a rest position and an extended position during performance of said leg press exercise motion. Movement of the seat towards the extended position is resisted by the resistance mechanism. A stop device stops the seat when the seat is moved into the rest position, the stop device having an engagement member which engages and is able to translate along a stop surface on the supporting frame. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present disclosure includes the following Figures. FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a first non-limiting example of an exercise machine according to the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a side view of the exercise machine of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the exercise machine of FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of a partial section of the exercise machine of FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the selector mechanism and seat assembly of the exercise machine of FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the selector mechanism with the stop device and stop surface. FIG. 7 is a view of section 7-7, taken in FIG. 1, with seat assembly in the rest position. FIG. 8 is a