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, rigidly connected to the base support frame at an obtuse angle relative to the floor or ground surface;
a second elongate upright, horizontally spaced apart from and parallel to the first upright and rigidly connected to the base support frame at an obtuse angle relative to the floor or ground surface;
a first movable handle and a first movable foot pedal, vertically spaced apart from each other and each being slidably engaged with the first upright to enable reciprocating linear movement along the first upright;
a second movable handle and a second movable foot pedal, vertically spaced apart from each other and each being slidably engaged with the second upright to enable reciprocating linear movement along the second upright;
an adjustable resistance mechanism, mounted on a stationary portion of the machine; and
a linkage assembly, interconnecting and synchronizing the first movable handle, the first movable foot pedal, the second movable handle, the second movable foot pedal, and the adjustable resistance mechanism,
wherein the interconnection and synchronization provided by the linkage assembly enables reciprocating concurrent movement of the first handle, the first foot pedal, the second handle, the second foot pedal, and the adjustable resistance mechanism to simulate a resisted continuous climbing motion for a user, and
wherein the linkage assembly comprises multiple flexible components, each guided by pulleys.
2 . 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.
3 . The climbing exercise machine of claim 2 , wherein the concurrent motion of the handles and foot pedals simulates a contralateral climbing motion.
4 . The climbing exercise machine of claim 2 , wherein the concurrent motion of the handles and foot pedals simulates an ipsilateral climbing motion.
5 . The climbing exercise machine of claim 1 , wherein the locations of the first handle and the first foot pedal relative to each other are adjustable prior to operation of the machine and the locations of the second handle and the second foot pedal relative to each other are adjustable prior to operation of the machine.
6 . The climbing exercise machine of claim 1 , wherein at least one foot pedal is reconfigurable between a secured configuration and an unsecured configuration, wherein in the secured configuration an angle of a foot pedal relative to a corresponding foot pedal support axle is fixed and in the unsecured configuration the foot pedal may articulate about the corresponding foot pedal support axle.
7 . The climbing exercise machine of claim 1 , further comprising an electronic device or system enabling a user to perceive digital content while using the climbing exercise machine.
8 . The climbing exercise machine of claim 7 , wherein the electronic device or system comprises a tablet computer mounted on a mounting apparatus of the climbing exercise machine.
9 . The climbing exercise machine of claim 8 , 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 the function of the climbing exercise machine to the tablet computer.
10 . The climbing exercise machine of claim 8 , wherein the mounting apparatus is adjustable such that a user can adjust at least one of an angle of the tablet computer relative to the uprights and a height of the tablet computer above the floor or ground surface.
11 . 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 second end, wherein the first end is rigidly connected to the base support frame at an obtuse angle relative to the floor or ground surface;
an elongate or V-shaped crossbar having a first end and a second end, wherein a central portion of the crossbar is rigidly connected to the second end of the first upright to form a T or Y shape;
a second elongate upright having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is rigidly connected to the first end of the crossbar such that the first upright and the second upright are in substantially parallel planes on opposing vertical sides of the crossbar;
a third elongate upright having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is rigidly connected to the second end of the crossbar such that the first upright and the third upright are in substantially parallel planes on opposing vertical sides of the crossbar;
first and second movable foot pedals, operatively engaged with opposing lateral sides of the first upright to enable reciprocating linear movement along the first upright;
a first movable handle, operatively engaged with the second upright to enable reciprocating linear movement along the second upright;
a second movable handle, operatively engaged with the third upright to enable reciprocating linear movement along the third upright;
an adjustable resistance mechanism, mounted on a stationary portion of the machine; and
a linkage assembly, interconnecting and synchronizing the first movable handle, the first movable foot pedal, the second movable handle, the second movable foot pedal, and the adjustable resistance mechanism,
wherein the interconnection and synchronization provided by the linkage assembly enables reciprocating concurrent movement of the first handle, the first foot pedal, the second handle, the second foot pedal, and the adjustable resistance mechanism to simulate a resisted continuous climbing motion for a user, and
wherein the linkage assembly comprises multiple flexible components, each guided by pulleys.
12 . The climbing exercise machine of claim 11 , wherein movement of one handle or foot pedal causes concurrent motion of all other handles and foot pedals.
13 . The climbing exercise machine of claim 12 , wherein the concurrent motion of the handles and foot pedals simulates a contralateral climbing motion.
14 . The climbing exercise machine of claim 12 , wherein the concurrent motion of the handles and foot pedals simulates an ipsilateral climbing motion.
15 . The climbing exercise machine of claim 11 , wherein the locations of the first handle and the first foot pedal relative to each other are adjustable prior to operation of the machine and the locations of the second handle and the second foot pedal relative to each other are adjustable prior to operation of the machine.
16 . The climbing exercise machine of claim 11 , wherein at least one foot pedal is reconfigurable between a secured configuration and an unsecured configuration, wherein in the secured configuration an angle of a foot pedal relative to a corresponding foot pedal support axle is fixed and in the unsecured configuration the foot pedal may articulate about the corresponding foot pedal support axle.
17 . The climbing exercise machine of claim 11 , further comprising an electronic device or system enabling a user to perceive digital content while using the climbing exercise machine.
18 . The climbing exercise machine of claim 17 , wherein the electronic device or system comprises a tablet computer mounted on a mounting apparatus of the climbing exercise machine.
19 . The climbing exercise machine of claim 18 , 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 the function of the climbing exercise machine to the tablet computer.
20 . The climbing exercise machine of claim 18 , wherein the mounting apparatus is adjustable such that a user can adjust at least one of an angle of the tablet computer relative to the uprights and a height of the tablet computer above the floor or ground surface.