Climbing exercise machine
An exercise machine creates a simulated continuous resisted climbing motion. The machine includes a floor- or ground-contacting base frame and two or more substantially vertically oriented uprights, wherein at least one upright is rigidly connected to the base frame. The machine further includes two handles and two foot pedals, each handle and each foot pedal being movably engaged with an upright for linear reciprocating motion along the upright. The handles and foot pedals are interconnected so that they move concurrently. An adjustable resistance mechanism may be operatively connected to the interconnection of the handles and foot pedals to provide adjustable resistance for the simulated continuous climbing motion.
1 . A climbing exercise machine, comprising:
a base support frame configured to contact a floor or ground surface;
a first elongate upright having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is rigidly connected to the base support frame;
a second elongate upright having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is rigidly connected to the base support frame;
an elongate crossbar having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the elongate crossbar is rigidly connected to the first elongate upright and the second end of the elongate crossbar is rigidly connected to the second elongate upright;
a first movable and adjustable handle and a first movable and adjustable foot pedal, vertically spaced apart from each other and each being engaged with the first elongate upright to enable reciprocating linear movement along the first elongate upright;
a second movable and adjustable handle and a second movable and adjustable foot pedal, vertically spaced apart from each other and each being engaged with the second elongate upright to enable reciprocating linear movement along the second elongate upright; and
a linkage assembly, interconnecting the handles and the foot pedals, comprising a belt, a pulley, and a rail, wherein the rail comprises a central structural core and a bracket, wherein the bracket affixes the pulley and the pulley secures the belt,
wherein the interconnection provided by the linkage assembly enables reciprocating concurrent movement of the first handle, the first foot pedal, the second handle, and the second foot pedal to simulate a climbing motion for a user.
2 . The climbing exercise machine of claim 1 , wherein the linkage assembly further comprises at least two self-lubricating slides, wherein the at least two self-lubricating slides are interconnected by the belt.
3 . The climbing exercise machine of claim 2 , wherein the at least two self-lubricating slides are operatively engaged with the rail.
4 . The climbing exercise machine of claim 1 , wherein the bracket has at least one of an axis, a diameter, or a width greater than a corresponding axis, diameter, or width of the central structural core of the rail to prevent at least one self-lubricating slide from traveling beyond an upper end of the central structural core.
5 . The climbing exercise machine of claim 1 , wherein the bracket comprises iron or steel.
6 . The climbing exercise machine of claim 1 , wherein movement of one handle or foot pedal causes concurrent motion of all other handles and foot pedals.
7 . The climbing exercise machine of claim 6 , wherein the concurrent motion of the handles and the foot pedals simulates a contralateral climbing motion.
8 . The climbing exercise machine of claim 6 , wherein the concurrent motion of the handles and the foot pedals simulates an ipsilateral climbing motion.
9 . The climbing exercise machine of claim 1 , wherein the first end of the first elongate upright is rigidly connected to the base support frame at a first obtuse angle relative to the floor or ground surface and the first end of the second elongate upright is rigidly connected to the base support frame at a second obtuse angle relative to the floor or ground surface, wherein at least one of the first obtuse angle and the second obtuse angle is adjustable.
10 . The climbing exercise machine of claim 1 , wherein a horizontal distance between the first and second elongate uprights is adjustable.
11 . The climbing exercise machine of claim 1 , wherein the base support frame has the general shape of three sides of a rectangle.
12 . The climbing exercise machine of claim 1 , wherein each of the at least two self-lubricating slides is connected to one of the first handle, the first foot pedal, the second handle, and the second foot pedal.
13 . The climbing exercise machine of claim 1 , further comprising an electronic device or system enabling the user to perceive digital content while using the climbing exercise machine.
14 . The climbing exercise machine of claim 13 , wherein the electronic device or system comprises a tablet computer mounted on a mounting apparatus of the climbing exercise machine.
15 . The climbing exercise machine of claim 14 , wherein the electronic device or system further comprises at least one sensor, disposed within or on a surface of the climbing exercise machine and configured to transmit data pertaining to a function of the climbing exercise machine to the tablet computer.
16 . The climbing exercise machine of claim 15 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises at least two sensors.
17 . The climbing exercise machine of claim 14 , wherein the mounting apparatus is adjustable such that the user can adjust at least one of an angle of the tablet computer relative to the first and second elongate uprights and a height of the tablet computer above the floor or ground surface.
18 . The climbing exercise machine of claim 14 , wherein the tablet computer is configured to allow the user to input data corresponding to the workout preferences of the user and display to the user data corresponding to exercise performance and experience of the user.
19 . The climbing exercise machine of claim 1 , wherein locations of the first movable handle and the first movable foot pedal relative to each other are adjustable prior to operation of the climbing exercise machine and locations of the second movable handle and the second movable foot pedal relative to each other are adjustable prior to operation of the climbing exercise machine.
20 . The climbing exercise machine of claim 1 , further comprising an adjustable resistance mechanism, interconnected with the first movable handle, the first movable foot pedal, the second movable handle, and the second movable foot pedal to provide resistance to motion of the first movable handle, the first movable foot pedal, the second movable handle, and the second movable foot pedal.