The instant invention relates to exercise apparatus for exercising the adductor muscles of the legs and more particularly to an adductor exercise apparatus having means for adjusting the angular starting position of the leg receiving members.
Exercise machines, and more particularly, adductor exercise machines, have heretofore been known in the art. In this connection, the U.S. Patents to Scott No. 4,022,463; DeNiro No. 4,892,304; Dela Rosa No. 4,877,239; and Goodman No. 5,026,049 represent the closest prior art to the subject invention of which the applicant is aware.
The patent to Scott discloses an exercise apparatus for exercising the adductor muscles of the legs, however it does not disclose any means for adjusting the starting position of the leg receiving means. The patent to DeNiro discloses an exercise apparatus including a plurality of movable parts which are adjusted by means of pin and hole mechanisms. The patent to Dela Rosa discloses a stretching apparatus having an elongated threaded adjusting shaft in the form of a worm gear for adjusting the degree of split of the leg receiving elements. The patent to Goodman shows leg receiving pads which are adjustable to accommodate different size persons.
The instant invention provides an adductor exercise apparatus which includes an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the angular starting positions of the leg receiving assemblies. More specifically, the adductor exercise apparatus includes a base, two support legs which extend outwardly from opposite sides of the base, a seat on the base, and two leg receiving assemblies for receiving the legs of a user seated on the seat. The leg assemblies are pivotably mounted to the base so that they are pivotably movable between a spread apart position and a parallel, together position. The leg assemblies include a pad assembly including two pads which respectively engage with the thigh and calf portions of the user's leg. The calf pad is slidably movable with respect to the thigh pad. The apparatus further includes a cabled weight assembly for normally urging the leg assemblies toward the spread apart position. The adjustment mechanism consists of a pair of movable adjustment arms each having a first end which engages the corresponding leg receiving assembly, and a second end which is slidably received and secured in a sleeve assembly mounted on the support leg adjacent to the respective leg receiving assembly. The arms are slidably adjustable in the sleeve assemblies to a plurality of predetermined longitudinal positions. In this manner, as the leg receiving assemblies are urged toward their normal spread apart position, the leg receiving assemblies engage with the projecting ends of the adjustment arms to position the leg receiving assemblies in corresponding angular starting positions. The cabled weight assembly includes stacked weight members and a cable system which extends around a series of pulleys for translating pivoting movement of the leg receiving assemblies into vertical movement of the weight members. The weight members are lifted by an elongated weight bar which is attached to the cable system.
Accordingly, it is an object of the instant invention to provide an exercise apparatus for exercising the adductor muscles of the leg.
It is another object to provide an adductor exercise apparatus having an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the angular starting positions of the leg receiving assemblies.
It is yet another object to provide an adductor exercise apparatus including leg receiving means having two separate pads for engaging with the thigh and calf portions of the user's leg.
It is still another object to provide an adductor exercise apparatus having a cabled weight assembly and an elongated weight bar for lifting the weight members of the weight assembly.
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention shall become apparent as the description thereof proceeds when considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.