US 7,597,654 B2
Apparatus and methods for moveable exercise benches
A. Buell Ish, III, Redmond, Wash. (US); and W. Douglas MacLean, Issaquah, Wash. (US)
Assigned to Vectra Fitness, Inc., Redmond, Wash. (US)
Filed on Oct. 24, 2007, as Appl. No. 11/923,119.
Application 11/923119 is a division of application No. 10/913136, filed on Aug. 05, 2004, granted, now 7,303,514.
Prior Publication US 2008/0045387 A1, Feb. 21, 2008
Int. Cl. A63B 21/00 (2006.01); A63B 21/062 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 482—133  [482/99] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
11. A method of exercising using an exercise machine, comprising:
providing an exercise machine positioned on a support surface, the exercise machine including: a load; and
a support frame having a guide beam extending along the support surface;
providing a moveable support configured to support a user during an exercise and to moveably engage the guide beam of the support frame, wherein providing a moveable support includes providing a moveable support having a bench support assembly, a first portion coupled to the bench support assembly, and a second portion pivotably coupled to the bench support assembly;
providing a first exercising station proximate a first end of the moveable support and operatively coupled by a force-transferring assembly to the load, the force-transferring assembly having at least one cable operatively coupled to the moveable support;
providing a second exercise station proximate a second end portion of the moveable support, the force-transferring assembly being operatively configured to transmit an exercising force exerted by the user on either the first or second exercise stations to the load;
applying the exercising force on at least one of the first and second exercise stations;
simultaneously with the application of the exercising force, applying a reactive force to the moveable support that tends to move the moveable support; and
simultaneously with the application of the exercising force, applying a counteracting force on the moveable support using the at least one cable of the force-transferring assembly that at least partially counteracts the reactive force.