SQUAT PRO PRESS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates in general to an exercise machine, in particular, to an exercise machine that has a leg squat component and a military style arm press component.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are currently limitations in the availability of weight machines in gyms that allows a person to have a challenging leg, core and upper body workout in one exercise, while ensuring that all exercises are done in a way that is safe and ergonomically correct.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention addresses the above noted issues by combining a lower body motion with a upper body motion, where the user must also engage their core to complete the exercise. The present invention provides for an efficient, and challenging workout, as the entire body is engaged. By combining the lower body, upper body and core, a user is able to have a stable, efficient and challenging workout.

Further the present invention also allows a user to isolate lower body exercises from upper body exercises and vice versa, and further allows a user to train either side of the body in isolation, thereby allowing targeted training in the event one side of the body is weaker than the other.

In one embodiment, the present invention is an exercise machine, the exercise machine including a frame having a leg squat component and a military press component, the frame having an angled base plate that serves to support the leg squat component and the military press component; the squat component comprising two pivotally movable squat members, each squat member having a distal end pivotally attached to the angled base plate; the military press component comprising two movable press members, each of the two press members being independently and pivotally attached to the corresponding distal ends of the movable squat members for allowing a user to press their arms either in unison or individually.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following figures illustrate various aspects and preferred and alternative embodiments of the invention.

Fig. 1 illustrates a rear view of a machine according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a rear side view of a machine according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a front view of a machine according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a side view of a machine according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is enlarged view of the pivot points of a machine according to one embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Definitions

All numerical designations, including ranges, are approximations which are varied ( + ) or ( - ) by increments of 1.0 or 0.1 , as appropriate, or alternatively by a variation of +/- 15 %, or alternatively 10%, or alternatively 5% or alternatively 2%. It is to be understood, although not always explicitly stated, that all numerical designations are preceded by the term“about”. It also is to be understood, although not always explicitly stated, that the reagents described herein are merely exemplary and that equivalents of such are known in the art. As used in the specification and claims, the singular form “a”, “an” and“the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. For example, the term“a polypeptide” includes a plurality of polypeptides, including mixtures thereof.

As used herein, the term“comprising” is intended to mean that the compositions and methods include the recited elements, but do not exclude others. “Consisting essentially of” when used to define compositions and methods, shall mean excluding other elements of any essential significance to the combination for the intended use. Thus, a composition consisting essentially of the elements as defined herein would not exclude trace contaminants from the isolation and purification method and pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, such as phosphate buffered saline, preservatives and the like. “Consisting of” shall mean excluding more than trace elements of other ingredients and substantial method steps for administering the compositions of this invention. Embodiments defined by each of these transition terms are within the scope of this invention. “Front” refers to the side of the exercise machine of the present invention in which a subject stands to use the machine. “Rear” refers to the side of the exercise machine opposite to the front.

Overview

The present invention relates to an exercise machine that has a leg squat component and a military style arm press component. The exercise machine comprises of a frame part and movable parts.

Frames (Figs. 1 to 5)

The exercise machine 100 includes a base frame 101 that provides stability to the machine 100. The base frame 101 includes a transverse central support member 104, a support member in the front side 102 that extends orthogonally towards the front side of the machine 100 from a middle point of the central support member 104, and side supports 103a,b in the rear side of the base frame 100, that extend orthogonally from the opposite ends of the central support member 104 towards the rear side of the machine 100. The rear side supports 103a,b are straight and parallel to each other on a horizontal plane (i.e. the plane of the floor). The central 104, front side 102 and rear side 103a, b supports engage with the floor.

The central support member 104 has two vertical (i.e. orthogonally to the floor) support beams 106a,b. The two parallel vertical support beams 106a,b are joined to one another by the central support member 104 at the bottom and by a transverse member 107 at the top. The central support member 104, the two vertical support members 106a,b and the transverse member 107 form a vertical frame 108 of the machine 100. Weight support members 109 may extend from either or both of the vertical support member 106a,b to store weights that are not being used. Weight support members 109 may be removably connected to corresponding holes on the vertical support members 106a,b or may be welded directly to the vertical support members 106a, b.

A first stopper 110 is formed by two arms 111 a,b each extending from a central portion of corresponding vertical support beams 106a,b towards the front of the machine 100, and a horizontal arm 112 joining the two front ends of the two arms 111 a, b. For extra strength the stopper 110 may optionally also include a central vertical support arm 105 extending between the front side support 102 and the horizontal arm 112. The stopper 110 may serve to rest the movable members of the machine 100.

Attached to the top ends of the two vertical support beams 106a,b there is an angled base plate 113 that serves to support all of the moveable members of the exercise machine 100.

Movable Parts (Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5) Squat

Two pivotally moveable squat members 130a,b to which resistance plate holders may be attached, are pivotally attached to the base plate 113. Each of the two parallel squat arms 130a,b is independently and pivotally attached to the base plate 113 from its distal end and move pivotally in an axis to the frame 101. Shoulder pads 132a,b are attached to the proximal (i.e. front) end of each arm 130a,b. The squat arms may further include hand grips 131a,b extending to the sides of the arms 130a,b.

A short bar 133a,b extends upwardly from the distal end of each squat member 130a,b. Attached to each short bar 133a,b is a small base plate 134a,b. Small base plate 134a,b sever to pivotally receive the press members 140a, b to be described below. As illustrated in Fig. 5, a vertical axis (illustrated by dashed line A), normal to the floor, passes through the pivot points of a squat member bar and the pivot point of the press member.

Press Two pivotally moveable press members 140a,b to which resistance plate holders

141 a,b may be attached, are each pivotally attached to the distal end of each of the two arms 130a,b, above the base plate 113. Each of the two press members 140a,b is independently and pivotally attached to the distal end of corresponding squat arms 130a,b from their distal end and move pivotally in an axis to the frame 101 just like the squat arms 130a,b. The press arms further include hand grips 142a,b extending to the sides of the arms 140a,b.

A stopper bar 139a,b may extend from a surface of each squat member 130a,b that faces the floor. These bars 139a,b serve to rest the movable parts (squat members 130a,b and the press members 14a,b) of the machine 100 onto the stopper arms 111 a, b of first stopper 110. The bars 139a,b may, in one embodiment, extend telescopically to adjust the height of the movable parts of the machine 100. A relatively short bar 150a,b may extend upwardly close to a proximal end of bars 130a,b. Bars 150a,b serve to stop the press members 140a,b from contacting squat members 130a,b and maintain the squat members separate at all times from contacting the press members. To use the machine, an individual would walk up to the machine 100 and stand under the shoulder pads. The individual would then squat downwards in a squat motion, and when rising, can raise both arms in a military press motion. The individual could also choose to lift one arm at a time when coming up from a squat, or could simply use the arm feature in isolation without first doing a squat. An individual performs a squat exercise by initially pressing against the shoulder pads 132a,b upwardly with their shoulders thereby lifting the squat bars 130a,b, as well as the press bars 140a,b up and out of frame 110 by standing erect with the moveable parts on the user’s front and both feet flat on a floor with the feet spaced shoulder width apart, or with the feet resting on an angled ramp. The user then bends the knees and hips to lower the squat bars 130a,b. The shoulder pads can be used in unison, or independently. When rising, to complete the squat, the individual has the option of also lifting the press bars with his/her arms. The press bars can be used in unison or independently (lift with one arm and not with the other). Of course, the individual may elect to only use the press portion of the machine 100, or the squat portion of the machine 100. The user may perform the squat exercise and/or military press facing the base plate 113, or in reverse.

Thus, it should be understood that although the present invention has been specifically disclosed by preferred embodiments and optional features, modification, improvement and variation of the inventions embodied therein herein disclosed may be resorted to by those skilled in the art, and that such modifications, improvements and variations are considered to be within the scope of this invention. The invention has been described broadly and generically herein. Each of the narrower species and subgeneric groupings falling within the generic disclosure also form part of the invention. This includes the generic description of the invention with a proviso or negative limitation removing any subject matter from the genus, regardless of whether or not the excise d material is specifically recited herein. In addition, where features or aspects of the invention are described in terms of

Markush groups, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention is also thereby described in terms of any individual member or subgroup of members of the Markush group.

All publications, patent applications, patents, and other references mentioned herein are expressly incorporated by reference in their entirety, to the same extent as if each were incorporated by reference individually. In case of conflict, the present specification, including definitions, will control.

It is to be understood that while the invention has been described in conjunction with the above embodiments, that the foregoing description and examples are intended to illustrate and not limit the scope of the invention. Other aspects, advantages and modifications within the scope of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.