US3438627A - Weight-lifting device - Google Patents

Description

April 15, 1969 LA LANNE 3,438,627

WEIGHT-LIFTING DEVICE Filed July 25, 1966 April 15, 1969 J. LA LANNE WEIGHT-LIFTING DEVICE SheetLofZ Filed July 25 1966 JM L w United States Patent Ofice 3,438,627 Patented Apr. 15, 1969 3,438,627 WEIGHT-LIFTING DEVICE Jack La Lanne, Hollywood, Calif assignor to Fitness King, Inc., Hollywood, Calif. Filed July 25, 1966, Ser. No. 567,617 Int. Cl. A63b 21/06 US. Cl. 272-81 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A weight lifting device having adjustable weights connected to one end of a cable and a handgrip connected to the other end of the cable. The cable is trained over various pulleys. The pulley nearest the handgrip is vertically and angularly adjustable so that a pulling force on the handgrip can be applied from any desired angular direction.

This invention relates in general to a device for human physical conditioning. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a compact multi-purpose variable positioning tension device especially suitable for selectively conditioning the muscles of the human anatomy.

As a result of the present emphasis on physical fitness, devices suitable for assisting in physical conditioning are becoming frequent household implements. Devices such as this are exemplified by what is commonly referred to as a lat machine, which is employed to strengthen the latissimus dorsi muscles. This type of device is operated by applying tension in a generally downward direction to a handle at one end of a cable passing over a pulley secured overhead. By varying the weights attached to the other end of the cable, different amounts of tension must be applied to raise the various weights, thereby exercising the users muscles.

However, weight-lifting devices such as this are limited to the unidirectional application of force and have the obvious disadvantage of only being suitable for assisting in the exercise of one set or group of human muscles. Consequently, it has heretofore been necessary to employ a plurality of separate devices each capable of assisting in the development of a particular group of human muscles.

It is a principal object of this invention to provide a single weight-lifting unit for exercising a large variety of muscles throughout the human anatomy.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a unique means for vertically lifting selected weights wherein by proper positioning of sheave means, the application of force may be accomplished while the user is in any of numerous physical exercising positions.

Another object of this invention is to provide a means for quickly and easily modifying the amount of weight attached to the weight lifting device in order to adjust the device to the individual needs of the user.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a weight-lifting device wherein the directional application of pulling force by the user can be modified to cause various muscles and parts of the users body to be exercised.

Another object of this invention is to provide a compact device which is easy to erect and which can be operated by the user in a minimum of floor space.

These objects of the invention will be better understood and others will become apparent when reference is made to the following disclosure, especially in view of the attached drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation, partially in section, of the prefer-red embodiment of the invention as illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial sectional view of a portion of the structure shown in FIG. 2 taken along the line 3--3 and illustrating certain novel components in further detail;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the weight means taken along the line 4-4 of FIG.2

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view illustrating the operation of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1 employed with the application of tension in a downward-outward direction;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view illustrating the operation of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1 employed with the application of tension in an upward direction; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 2.

Broadly stated, the present invention is directed to a device which is adapted to assist in the physical conditioning of selected muscles of the human anatomy. This is accomplished by the user seeking exercise through the controlled application of manual force to vertically raise certain predetermined weights. The unique aspect of this device, more particularly disclosed hereinafter, is that the manual force need not be applied in a direction which corresponds to the vertical displacement of the weights.

In accordance with the invention, the device is designed so that an individual using the weight-lifting device can, after making certain simple and rapid adjustments of the device, apply tension as desired either downwardly, upwardly, or, with respect to the generally upright plane of the device, outwardly at an angle between the downward and upward direction, by grasping the handle at one end of the cable and contracting the appropriate muscles. In this manner, by simple manipulations of the weightlifting apparatus of this invention, the resulting vertical movement of selected weights which is produced by the application of tension to the end of the cable provides the desired muscle toning and conditioning. Thus, the conditioning of many unrelated muscles throughout the human anatomy is possible with the device of this invention.

Referring now to the drawings wherein similar characters of reference represent corresponding parts in each of the several views, there is shown a generally multi-purpose Weight-lifting device constructed, for example, of stainless steel or a similar suitable high strength material. The device is generally com-posed of frame assembly A including a plurality of upright supporting members, variable weight assembly B and an adjustable positioning assembly C.

The frame assembly A includes a base support 2, preferably secured to the floor (not shown) and having at the rear thereof (see FIGS. 5 and 6) spaced track members 3 and 5. Positioned near the front of base support 2 is guide rail 7 which, along with track members 3 and 5, is preferably of rectangular tubular construction to be described in greater detail infra.

Variable weight assembly B includes: -a plurality of uniformly-shaped weights 9, preferably of substantially rectangular cross section and having a pair of slots 11 and 11' formed in opposite surfaces thereof and corresponding in configuration to the overlapping portions of track members 3 and 5. Thus, weights 9 will be guided during vertical movement by those portions of track member 3 and aligned with slots 11 and 11.

The weights 9 are each formed with corresponding vertical openings 13 passing completely through the vertically aligned units. A substantially horizontal bore 15 is formed through a side of each weight 9 and intersects opening 13 so that key 17, when fully inserted, will pass through and beyond vertical opening 13.

Cable attachment core member 18, having a series of aligned parallel apertures 19 disposed normally to the longitudinal axis of member 18, is attached to first end 22 of cable 23 in a conventional manner (not shown). As most clearly illustrated in FIG. 2, when core member 18 is positioned within vertical openings 13 and key 17 inserted into one side of bore 15 in weight 9', through aperture 19 in a core member 21 and through the other side of bore 15 in weight 9, core member 18 will be secured to the particular weight. Thereafter, when sufiicient tension is applied to second end 24 of cable 23 in opposition to the static load of weight 9 and additional weights 9 positioned above weight 9', the force causes the combined weights to be raised.

It is preferred that each bore 15 extend substantially completely through the respective weight 9 or at least for a sufficient distance beyond the vetrical opening 13 so that when key 17 is inserted therein, it will contact and support weights 9 from both sides of core member 18.

Core member 18 need only have one horizontal aperture 19 provided that the aperture is located near the lower-most end of member 18. However, for purposes of convenience and expedience when attaching one or more weights to core member 18, a plurality of apertures 19 are illustrated, each being aligned to correspond with the respective horizontal recess 15 in each weight 9.

Cable 23 is passed upwardly between track members 3 and 5 of frame assembly A and over sheaves 25 and 27 positioned respectievly near the back and front of upper support plate 29. It is particularly advantageous to dispose sheave 25 so that cable 23 is substantially parallel to both track members 3 and 5 to insure a minimum of frictional resistance to vertical movement when weights 9 are caused to be raised along members 3 and 5. It will also be apparent that only one sheave need be employed. Furthermore, sheaves 23 and/or 25 could be mounted overhead in, for example, the ceiling. However, in this particular embodiment, a frame supporting a pair of sheaves is illustrated as being preferred.

Cable 23 is caused to pass over sheave 27 and continue in a downward direction, substantially parallel with guide rail 7. Cable 23 is then caused to pass over sheave 31 of adjustable positioning assembly C. The cable 23 is terminated at its second end 24 in attachment with handle 33 suitable for manual gripping.

Guide rail 7 contains a series of vertically spaced recesses 35 arranged to cooperate with adjustable positioning assembly C in a manner to be described in greater detail hereinafter with reference to FIG. 3. Guide rail 7, as illustrated, is rectangular and hollow with recesses 35 extending completely therethrough.

Referring in particular to FIG. 3, adjustable positioning assembly C comprises a base member 37 of tubular configuration and designed for slidably engaging a portion of rectangular guide rail 7. Locking device 39, integrally combined with base member 37, comprises an arm 40 pivotally mounted at about its center by pin 41. Spring 43 biases arm 41 so that when lug 45 is inserted through opening 47 in the base member 37 and into a vertically spaced recess 35 in guide rail 7, base member 37 is locked in the desired position on guide rail 7. By applying pressure to arm 40 in opposition to spring 43 it will be seen that lug 45 can be raised from its position within recess 35. By retaining this pressure on arm 40, assembly C can be moved vertically either upwardly or downwardly to another desired position by the individual user operating the device. Then, by aligning opening 47 with another recess 37 and releasing the pressure being applied to arm 40, assembly C is secured to a second position on guide rail 7. This is particularly illustrated by the two positions of assembly C shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

Through this variation in the position of adjustable positioning assembly C along guide rail 7, the direction from which force must be applied to lift weights 9 is modified. Thus, through the application of sufficient tension, whatever weights 9, secured to core member 18 with key 17, are caused to be vertically displaced and thereby produce selective conditioning of whichever muscles of the human anatomy are being employed to produce the tension.

In a further preferred embodiment, sheave 31 is pivotally attached to base member 37 through vertically disposed pivotal means 48. Thus, as will be seen most clearly in FIG. 7, the force applied to the handle 33 need not lie in a single plane normal to the general configuration of the unit but may have a horizontal component which varies through an angle up to about A bench and/or various other weight-lifting apparatus (not shown) can also be utilized with the device described herein to assist the user in assuming other positions during the operation of the device. Furthermore, it will be apparent to one skilled in this art that the instant device may be secured to a floor, walls and/or ceiling as desired to assist in maintaining the device in a rigid upright position.

Although one embodiment of the invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be practiced within the spirit of the invention as limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a compact weight-lifting device for exercising the human body, including a frame formed of a plurality of vertically-disposed members, cable means, first cable guide means fixedly mounted at an elevated position on said frame for supporting said cable means, weight means mounted for slidable vertical displacement along the upright length of at least one of said vertically-disposed members of said frame, means for attaching said weight means to a first end of said cable means below said first cable guide means, means at the second end of said cable means for manually gripping said cable means, second cable guide means on said frame for supporting said cable means between said gripping means and said first guide means, the improvement comprising means for adjustably locking said second guide means at selected positions below said first guide means along another of said vertically-disposed members, said another verticallydisposed member having vertically-aligned apertures spaced along substantially all of its upright length, said adjustable locating means being characterized by a base member slidably enclosing a portion of said another vertically-disposed member, an arm pivotally mounted on said another member, a spring-biased means at one end of said arm and a lug at the other end of said arm, said lug adapted to cooperate with one of said verticallyspaced apertures to releasably attach said adjustable locating means to said other member, wherein the angular direction from which a pulling force can be applied to said second end of said cable means can be modified to best accomplish the exercise desired.

2. A weight-lifting device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said weight means are mounted for slidable, vertical displacement along the upright length of a pair of vertically-disposed members of said frame.

3. A weight-lifting device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said weight means comprise a plurality of vertically-stacked weight means, each having a vertically.

disposed aperture adapted for receiving said weightattaching means.

4. A weight-lifting device in accordance with claim 3 further including a key means adapted to be simultaneously positioned within both a substantially horizontallydisposed passage in the lowermost of selected of said weight means and a corresponding axially aligned substantially horizontally-disposed opening in said weightattaching means, thereby rigidly aflixing said weight means to said weight-attaching means so that when said weight-attaching means is vertically displaced, the selected of said weight means will be similarly displaced.

RICHARD WILLIAM 6 References Cited 7 UNITED STATES PATENTS 11/1912 Reach 272-63 4/1954 Blickman 272-81 XR 3/1961 Morris 272-81 12/1963 Zinkin 2728l XR C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

R. BROWNE, Assistant Examiner.

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