Total body strengthening and toning workstation and method of using same

Abstract

A stand-alone exercise apparatus includes a seat to support a user in a position thereon, and upper and lower body exercising assemblies which are configured for activation either sequentially of simultaneously to permit the concurrent exercising movement of his or her upper body area and lower body leg muscles, respectively, without necessitating that the user stop exercising when switching from upper body exercises to lower body exercises. The lower body exercising assembly includes a lower frame assembly which is operable to provide resistance exercise to the user's leg muscles, and which includes a selectively reciprocally movable pedal, platform or bar which is coupled to a suitable resistance mechanism and which is engageable by the user's feet and/or legs as they are moved together in unified movement to effect leg extensions or curls. The upper body exercising assembly includes one or more reciprocally movable frame members, hand pulleys or swing arms coupled to a resistance mechanism, and which are engageable by the user's hands and/or arms. The resistance mechanisms used to provide the selected resistance to the upper and lower exercising assemblies are operable independently from each other, and enable the user to select the degree of resistance to each of the upper and lower body exercising assemblies separately.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60 / 630,208, filed Nov. 24, 2004, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 119(e).SCOPE OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to an exercise apparatus for providing a toning exercise movement, and more particularly an exercise apparatus which is operable by a user to simultaneously achieve toning exercise of the user's arms, legs and abdominal muscles, while the user's feet are moved in unified movement to effect either leg extensions and / or leg curls. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] The use of weight stacks as adjustable resistance mechanisms in health club exercise machines is well known. Typically, weight stacks consist of a number of 2 to 10 kg steel plates which are slidably mounted so as to be selectively raised and lowered within a support frame. A release pin is used to couple a selected number of weight plates to a lift rod, which in turn is connected by a cab...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0016] The applicant has appreciated that concurrent resistance exercise of both upper arm and lower leg muscle groups advantageously also effects toning exercise of the user's bridging abdominal muscles. Abdominal muscle exercises are furthermore enhanced and optimized when the lower body leg muscles are exercised by effecting leg extensions or leg presses, with the user's legs moved together in unified movement.

[0017] The applicant has appreciated that the invention is operable to provide toning exercise, as contrasted with isolation weight training exercise which is used primarily to increase muscular bulk. In this regard, the individual weight stacks used to provide resistance may be made comparatively lighter than those found on conventional exercise machines adapted to achieve isolated muscle exercise. Most preferably, the weight stack assembly is configured to provide a greater weight resistance to the lower body exercising assembly which is actuable by the user's legs, than compared with the weight

Problems solved by technology

Conventional commercial exercise machines suffer a disadvantage in that typically, they are configured to work only a single specific set of muscles in isolation, with a view to developing strength and building muscle tissue bulk in the specific muscle group.

The exercising of single muscle groups by such equipment, while beneficial to individuals who wish to add muscular bulk in strength training exercises, is less desirable to users who wish to achieve overall improved muscle toning within a limited time.

In addition, conventional exercise equipment does not lend itself to the benefits of fuller body exercises, which encourage muscle coordination and the development of core muscles, such as abdominal muscles, an

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