US 12,280,290 B2
Exercise system with a variable resistance unit
Harold Wilson, Holland, MI (US); Nezar Akeel, Rochester, MI (US); and Armando Cali, Macomb, MI (US)
Assigned to MAXPRO Fitness LLC, Rochester, MI (US)
Filed by Harold Wilson, Holland, MI (US); Nezar Akeel, Rochester, MI (US); and Armando Cali, Macomb, MI (US)
Filed on Aug. 5, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/817,895.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/248,068, filed on Sep. 24, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/157,193, filed on Aug. 6, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0173331 A1, Jun. 8, 2023
Int. Cl. A63B 21/00 (2006.01)
CPC A63B 21/4029 (2015.10) [A63B 21/00058 (2013.01); A63B 21/153 (2013.01); A63B 21/4034 (2015.10); A63B 2220/833 (2013.01); A63B 2225/09 (2013.01)] 23 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A bench system comprising:
a configurable bench unit, said bench unit defining an upward facing body support surface supported on a base, wherein said base comprises bench legs extending downwardly below said body support surface for support on a floor surface, at least one said bench leg defining a respective downward opening channel, which opens downwardly toward said floor surface;
a resistance unit comprising at least one resistance module including a coil storage spool configured to wrap and unwrap a pull cord about a sideward module axis with said pull cord emanating from said resistance module in a pulling direction away from said module axis and said resistance unit further including an elongated base plate extending from said resistance module in a plate direction extending sidewardly along said module axis, said pull cord terminating at an outer end with a connector connectable to one of a handle or other exercise implements, wherein said pull cord has a length sufficient to allow pull strokes with a length suitable for performing multiple exercises by a user, said resistance module at least generating resistance to extension of said pull cord;
said resistance unit being removably fixable to said bench unit in a vertically-confined position allowing said pull cord to be extended and retracted by a user and being separable from said bench unit for the performance of exercises separate from said bench unit, wherein said channel fits on top of said base plate from above with said channel confining said base plate vertically from above to prevent upward movement of said base plate relative to said bench unit while said base plate is confined vertically from below by said floor surface when said bench unit is positioned on said floor surface; and
said bench unit being configurable in at least one bench configuration comprising one of a flat configuration for supporting said user flat on their back on said body support surface, a seated configuration for supporting said user in a seated position on said body support surface, an incline configuration wherein said user's upper body is oriented in an incline with their head above their hips on said body support surface, a decline configuration wherein said user's upper body is oriented with their hips above their head on said body support surface, and a sliding seat configuration wherein said body support surface of said bench unit comprises a back section and a seat section which is slidable horizontally toward and away from said back section, wherein said base plate of said resistance unit fits removably into said channel from below so as to be vertically confined such that an upward lifting force is generated by said user pulling said pull cord and a counterforce acting against said lifting force is generated by the user's body acting on top of said body support surface so that said resistance unit is restrained upwardly by said channel engaged therewith and downwardly solely by said floor surface on which said bench unit is positioned.