US20070161471A1

US20070161471A1 - Exercise apparatus and method with articulating arms

Info

Publication number: US20070161471A1
Application number: US11/479,488
Authority: US
Inventors: Kenneth Carter
Original assignee: TUFFSTUFF FITNESS EQUIPMENT Inc
Current assignee: TUFFSTUFF FITNESS EQUIPMENT Inc
Priority date: 2006-01-12
Filing date: 2006-06-30
Publication date: 2007-07-12

Abstract

An exercise apparatus and a method with articulating arms involving an exercise machine (1) which includes a cam (30) coupled to a multi-directional hinge located between the distal portions of a yoke (10) and an extension arm (22). The cam (30) maintains resistance through a range of motion of exercises. The multi-directional hinge has a swivel portion (12) that allows the extension arm (22) to pivot on a horizontal plane such that the exerciser may perform a pectoral fly exercise or a lateral raise exercise and a hinge bracket (14) that allows the extension arm (22) to pivot in a vertical plane as well.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This document is a continuation-in-part application which is related to, and claims priority from, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/330,783, entitled “Versatile Exercise Machine,” and filed on Jan. 12, 2006.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to exercise machines. More particularly, the present invention relates to an exercise machine providing a number of distinct exercise movements which are performable on the same machine without having to attach or remove additional hardware elements. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to an exercise machine which minimizes a loss of resistance through a range of motion of the distinct exercise movements being performed.

BACKGROUND ART

Over the past several years, people have become more interested in maintaining good physical health by deliberately engaging in exercise and other physical activities. Weightlifting is but one of the many types of exercise that people choose in order to maintain fitness. Swimming, running, rowing, aerobic activity, as well as other forms of exercise are also used in order to maintain physical fitness and to provide some aerobic challenge to a person's physiological system so that they may maintain better health. The link between physical activity and physical health is well recognized.
Weightlifting is often a preferred form of physical activity, because particular muscle groups, which may have importance for specific sports or the like, can be targeted and developed. Consequently, through weightlifting, an individual can focus actively on the biceps, triceps, calves, thighs, gluteals, abdominals, etc. In so doing, the individual may not only engage in an aerobic activity, but also engage in an activity that specifically strengthens a chosen muscle or group of muscles.
A significant number of exercise machines are available which allow the individual to target particular muscles of the upper body, including the pectorals, the biceps, the triceps, the shoulders, the latissimus dorsi, and other back muscles. Combination machines also exist in the current art which allow for the individual to exercise more than one muscle group, e.g., Chu (U.S. Pat. No. 6,234,941). Nevertheless, the machine described in Chu is very limited in its scope of exercises available to any individual, especially upper body exercises.
Thus, a need is seen to exist for an exercise machine that allows for a wide variety of upper body exercises to be accomplished by the individual without the need to attach or remove parts from the machine and without the loss of resistance through the range of motion of the exercises.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is an exercise machine that comprises a unique hinge construction between the distal, or top, portions of a yoke and the extension arms, which terminate in handles. The present machine further comprises a support frame, a seat, cables, pulleys, and a weight stack. The multi-directional hinge and the cam having an elongated arc shape, however, are unique elements of the present invention. The present invention also involves a method of providing exercise by way of the exercise machine.
The multi-directional hinge of the present invention comprises a structure for swiveling that includes a swivel connected to the top portion of each side of the yoke, thereby allowing the extension arms to pivot or rotate, on a horizontal plane in line with the direction of the swivel. This pivotability allows the exerciser to perform a pectoral fly exercise and facilitates a lateral raise exercise.
The multi-directional hinge of the present invention further comprises a structure for vertically pivoting that includes a hinge bracket pivotably attached to each of the swivels such that the extension arms may pivot along a vertical plane. This vertical pivotability is not mutually exclusive of the horizontal pivotability provided by the swivel; and the combination of the two allows the exerciser to perform exercises at alternative angles, if desired, i.e., nearly infinite degrees of freedom. For example, a lateral raise exercise would require the use of the swiveling structure to rotate the extension arms outward relative to the machine; and the vertically pivoting structure would allow the exerciser to move the arms up and down at a lateral position.
The multi-directional hinge of the present invention further comprises one or more fastening members that simultaneously connect the extension arms to the hinge brackets, but allow the extension arms to be rotated along their long axes such that the exerciser can adopt differing hand grips for variation in the exercises mentioned herein.
An additional unique feature of the present invention is the construction of the cam, which comprises at least one shape, such as an apostrophe, a comma, a paisley, a lituus, a semi-ellipse, a semi-ogive, an involute of a circle, a nephroid, a logarithmic curve, a parabola, a hyperbola, an epicycloid, an exponential curve, a cardioid, a cochleoid, an a cycloid, a spiral of Archimedes, a folium of Descarte, a lemniscate of Bernoulli, a limaçon of Pascal, an oval of Cassini, a strophoid, and a witch of Agnesi, whereby an elongated arc is formed, rather than being substantially circular in shape, thereby imparting the advantage of preventing resistance loss through a range of motion. The cam also comprises a side channel or a groove disposed along its perimeter for accommodating a cable, the cable being operatively coupled to the resisting structure.
An object of the present invention is to provide an exercise machine, wherein an exerciser can engage in a variety of exercise movements on the same machine. A further object of the present invention is to provide an exercise machine, wherein an exerciser can engage in a variety of exercise movements on the same machine without having to attach or remove parts of the machine. Another object of the present invention is to provide a unique outrigger device having a hinge element, wherein the arms of an exercise machine are capable of pivoting in both a horizontal direction and a vertical direction, i.e., the arms are articulating, wherein an exerciser can engage in a variety of exercise movements on the same machine. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an outrigger device having a unique hinge element as well as the unique cam configuration, wherein the arms of an exercise machine are capable of pivoting in both horizontal and vertical directions, i.e., also articulating arms, wherein the exerciser can engage in a variety of exercise movements on the same machine without having to attach or remove parts of that machine.
In addition, an object of the present invention is to provide an outrigger device having a unique hinge element construction, wherein the top portion of the yoke of the exercise machine comprises a horizontal swivel upon which a hinge being pivotable along a vertical plane is affixed. A further object of the present invention is to provide a cam that allows the exerciser to perform the exercises facilitated by an outrigger device having the unique hinge element without a loss of resistance through the range of motion of the respective exercises permitted by the exercise machine. These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the modes for carrying out the invention and the accompanying drawing(s), described, infra.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING(S)

For better understanding of the present invention, the reference numbers refer to the same or equivalent parts of the present invention throughout the several figures of the Drawing(s). However, a structure may also be identified herein by two reference numbers with the understanding that many of the parts of the machine have parallel structures on the left and right side of the machine.
FIG. 1 is a back perspective view of the front portion of an exercise machine, in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the front portion of an exercise machine, in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the front portion of an exercise machine, in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the top portion of a yoke of an exercise machine, wherein the yoke is coupled to an arm, in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a front perspective of an exercise machine, in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of an exercise machine, in accordance with the present invention.

MODE(S) FOR CARRYING-OUT THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates, in a back perspective view, a front portion of an exercise machine 1, in accordance with the present invention. An exerciser of the exercise machine 1 is capable of performing a number of exercises, including a lateral raise exercise for the deltoids, a pectoral fly exercise for the pectoral muscles, and a bench press for the pectoral muscles, without attaching or removing parts of the machine 1. In addition, these exercises can be performed at variable angles, where desirable, due to the unique pivotability of the extension arms 20, 21 of the exercise machine 1, which are capable of pivoting in a vertical plane, rotating in a horizontal plane about swivels 12, 13, and rotating about their long axes, as shown by the broken arrows in FIG. 1.
FIGS. 1 and 3 depict the front portion of an exercise machine 1 having a front vertical support frame element 2 and a front horizontal frame support element 3 as well as a seat pad 4 and a back pad 5 to provide comfort for the exerciser while operating the machine 1. Below the seat pad 4 and adjacent to the side edges of front horizontal frame support element 3, are two yoke pivoting structures, each comprising a respective yoke receiving element 44, 45 and a respective vertical attachment shaft 28, 29 being operatively connected to a respective cam 30, 37, the cams 30, 37 having respective side channels or perimeter grooves 40, 41 along a portion of the cam perimeter that serves to guide respective cables 31, 36 from the yoke pivoting structure to the weight stack (not shown) via a system of pulleys 32, 33 (FIG. 2; other pulleys not shown) which are at least partially housed within the pulley brackets 33, 34. While the figures show the yoke pivoting structures being operatively mounted below the seat, by example only, the yoke pivoting structures may also be operatively mounted at a location such as at the seat and above the seat for pivotal movement of the left and right yokes.
The cams 30, 37 each comprise at least one shape, such as an apostrophe, a comma, a paisley, a lituus, a semi-ellipse, a semi-ogive, an involute of a circle, a nephroid, a logarithmic curve, a parabola, a hyperbola, an epicycloid, an exponential curve, a cardioid, a cochleoid, an a cycloid, a spiral of Archimedes, a folium of Descarte, a lemniscate of Bernoulli, a limaçon of Pascal, an oval of Cassini, a strophoid, and a witch of Agnesi (FIGS. 1, 5, and 6), forming an elongated arc, rather than being substantially circular in shape, and further comprise respective side channels or perimeter grooves 40, 41. One advantage of the cams 30, 37, over the prior art, is that, unlike similar exercise machines in the prior art, the cams 30, 37 maintain resistance through a range of motion of the exercises facilitated by the present invention. In the prior art, the resistance towards the end of the range of motion is approximately 60% less than that at the beginning of the range of motion. In the present invention, the cams 30, 37 function to maintain a relatively constant resistance through the first approximately 30% segment of the range of motion; and then the resistance gradually increases over the second approximately 70% segment of the range of motion. The respective elongated arc shape of the cams 30, 37 imparts their functional properties, such as providing an increasing moment arm, as measured from the vertical attachment shafts 28, 29 to a location along the perimeter of the respective cams 30, 37, e.g., the tangent point found by the cable 31 on the cam 30 in the perimeter groove 40, from the beginning of the range of motion to the end of the range of motion.
The above-referenced yoke pivoting structures function to rotate the left and right yokes 6, 7 about the vertical attachment shafts 28, 29 along a substantially horizontal plane; and the pulleys 32, 33, together with their respective pulley brackets 34, 35, are capable of swiveling on the pulley swivels 38, 39 (FIG. 2, reference number 32), the pulley swivels 38, 39 being operatively connected to the left and right sides of front horizontal support frame element 3 located proximally to the junction of front vertical support frame element 2 and front horizontal support frame element 3. The vertical attachment shafts 28, 29 are operatively connected to front horizontal support frame element 3 by molding, welding, or other similar techniques. While the vertical attachment shafts 28 are shown in the figures to be operatively connected to the front horizontal support frame element 3, by example only, the vertical attachment shafts 28 may be mounted to any other portion of the support frame for facilitating a variety of exercises, e.g., the vertical support frame element 2.
The vertical attachment shafts 28, 29 are eccentrically disposed through, and operatively coupled to, the respective cams 30, 37 at a location below the yoke receiving elements 44, 45, as shown, for example, in FIG. 5. The yoke receiving elements 44, 45 each comprise a blind bore that is substantially cylindrical in cross-sectional shape and of sufficient diameter to receive the left and right horizontal yoke portions 8, 9 which are also substantially cylindrical in cross-section and of lesser diameter than the yoke receiving elements 44, 45. The entirety of the left and right yokes 6, 7 and the extension arms 20, 21 are substantially cylindrical in cross-sectional shape.
FIG. 3 illustrates, in a front elevational view, the front portion of an exercise machine 1, in accordance with the present invention. FIGS. 1 and 3 also depict the construction of the yokes 6, 7 and the extension arms 20, 21 on the exercise machine 1. The left and right horizontal yoke portions 8, 9 extend horizontally in a lateral direction from the vertical attachment shafts 28, 29; and the yoke receiving elements 44, 45 are disposed in relation to the seat pad 4 at a lateral position which may be approximately even with, or slightly below, the elevation of the seat pad 4. At this lateral position along the yokes 6, 7, the left and right horizontal yoke portions 8, 9 curve in a generally vertical direction and become the left and right vertical yoke portions 10, 11 which elevate to a height approximately equal to that of the top or upper portion of the back pad 5. The respective top portions 12, 13 of the left and right vertical yoke portions 10, 11 may taper slightly inwardly toward the back pad 5. The height of the seat pad 4 may also be adjustable.
The respective top portions 12, 13 of the left and right vertical yoke portions 10, 11 are substantially the same in cross-sectional shape and diameter as those of the left and right vertical yoke portions 10, 11. The portions 12, 13 comprise a swiveling structure, including a swivel, wherein the swiveling structure allows the extension arms 20, 21 to rotate on a horizontal plane either away from, or towards, the exerciser (as shown by the dashed arrows around the top portion 13 of right vertical yoke portion 11), thereby allowing for a pectoral fly exercise or a lateral raise exercise. The swiveling structures are affixed to the top portions 12, 13 of the left and right vertical yoke portions 10, 11 by a universal joint or a related structure which allows a first element to swivel about a second element, the second element being fixed.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a yoke top portion with respect to the exercise machine 1, wherein the yoke is coupled to an arm, in accordance with the present invention. Shown also in FIG. 1, but particularly in FIG. 4, is a vertically pivoting structure comprising the hinge brackets 14, 15 being pivotably attached, through a hole 48 as well as through a corresponding hole disposed on the opposite side hinge bracket, to the side of the respective top portions 12, 13 of the left and right vertical yoke portions 10, 11, thereby allowing the attached extension arms 20, 21 to pivot along a substantially vertical plane. This pivoting movement of the extension arms 20, 21 allows the exerciser to perform an overhead press exercise and also facilitates the performance of a lateral raise exercise when used in conjunction with the swiveling structure.
The hinge brackets 14, 15 each have a hole (not shown) formed on a face, through which the proximal ends 22, 23 of the extension arms 20, 21 pass, and are secured in place by the fastening members 18, 19. The fastening members 18, 19 are fastened to the inner portion of the hinge brackets 14, 15; and the fastening donuts 16, 17 are disposed on the outer portion of the hinge brackets 14, 15.
The extension arms 20, 21 are fastened to the hinge brackets 14, 15 in a manner so as to allow the extension arms 20, 21 to rotate about their long axes extending from the proximal ends 22, 23 to the distal ends 24, 25 of the extension arms 20, 21. This third aspect of the unique pivotability of the extension arms 20, 21 allows the exerciser to vary the position of the handles 26, 27 so as to adopt differing handgrips for various exercises, which, in turn, offers variation in how a particular muscle group is worked by a particular exercise.
FIG. 2 illustrates, in a top plan view, the front portion of an exercise machine 1, in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 2 (as shown by the dashed arrows from the left and right horizontal yoke portions 8, 9) shows at least some of the potential movements that can be accomplished by an exerciser of the exercise machine 1. First, with the machine in the position, as shown in the top plan view of FIG. 2, an exerciser can grasp the handles 26, 27 and extend the exerciser's arms forward to move the left and right horizontal yoke portions 8, 9 forward and to effectuate a chest or bench press exercise movement. The exerciser may also rotate the extension arms 20, 21 to perform a chest press exercise at a different hand angle (see dashed arrows adjacent to reference numbers 24 and 25).
FIG. 2, as shown by the dashed arrows about the top surfaces 12 a, 13 a of the yokes, also shows that the extension arms 20, 21 are capable of swiveling, or rotating on a horizontal plane so that the exerciser can effectuate a pectoral fly movement by grasping the handles 26, 27 and pulling the extension arms 20, 21 inwardly toward the seat pad 4. Although not specifically shown in FIG. 2, the extension arms 20, 21 also pivot in a vertical plane by the hinge brackets 14, 15. As such, the extension arms 20, 21 articulate.
FIG. 5 illustrates, in a front perspective view, the exercise machine 1 in its entirety, including the frame support elements 50, 51, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59 a, 59 b, by example only and in accordance with the present invention. The arrangement of the various frame support elements 50, 51, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59 a, 59 b, the pulleys 61, 62 (others not shown), and the weight stack 60 is shown by example only. The connectivity of the various frame support members may be by a technique such as welding, bolting, or other structure, unless otherwise indicated.
The lower horizontal floor element 50 is a substantially T-shaped metallic bar that rests on the floor. A first axis of the lower horizontal floor element 50 receives the lower ends of the weight stack retaining elements 59 a, 59 b, which are tubular elements oriented in a vertical direction and upon which the weight stack 60 is positioned. Under force from the pulley 61, the weight stack 60 slides up and down weight stack retaining elements 59 a, 59 b as the exerciser operates the machine 1 in its various capacities and exerts force upon the cables 31, 36 which then transfer the force to the pulley 61. A second axis of the lower horizontal floor element 50 runs generally perpendicular to the first axis of the lower horizontal floor element 50 and terminates approximately underneath the front horizontal frame support element 3. An additional lower frame support element 52, substantially similar in “front-to-back” location as that of the lower horizontal floor element 50 relative to the exercise machine 1, is elevated slightly from the ground and contacts the ground at its distal ends. Affixed to the additional lower frame support element 52, closer to the periphery of exercise machine 1, is the vertical frame element 56.
As shown in FIG. 5, as substantially parallel to the lower horizontal frame element 50, is the upper horizontal frame element 58, which comprises relatively thick metal and is substantially T-shaped. The shorter axis of the upper horizontal floor element 58 receives the upper ends of weight stack retaining elements 59 a, 59 b; and the opposite the ends weight stack retaining elements 59 a, 59 b are received by the shorter axis of the lower horizontal floor element 50. The portion 57 of the longer axis of the upper horizontal floor element 58 is distal to the weight stack retaining elements 59 a, 59 b and is affixed to the vertical frame element 56.
The rear lower horizontal support frame element 51 is a generally flat, rectangular, and relatively thick, horizontally disposed metallic strip at the rear of exercise machine 1, wherein the extreme lateral portions of the metallic strip curve in a downward direction, and wherein the ends of the metallic strip contact the floor. FIG. 5 shows the right hand portion of the rear lower horizontal support frame element 51.
FIG. 6 shows a front elevational view of an exercise machine 1, in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 6 further shows the left hand portion of the rear horizontal support frame element 51. Affixed to the central portion of the rear lower horizontal support frame element 51 is the rear frame element 53, which comprises a vertical portion 54 rising from the central portion of the rear lower horizontal support frame element 51. the rear frame element 53 also comprises a generally horizontal portion 55 that, at an elevation approximately equivalent to upper horizontal frame element 58, curves towards the front of exercise machine 1 in a slightly vertical orientation relative to the floor while remaining substantially perpendicular to the rear lower horizontal frame element 51. In a preferred embodiment of exercise machine 1, a grasping element such as an overhead bar 64 or other similar grasping device can be operatively connected to the forward end of the generally horizontal portion 55 of the rear frame member 53 by a cable terminating in a closable or similar structure, and to the pulley 63. The bar 64 or other similar grasping element allows the exerciser to perform exercises on the triceps or latissimus dorsi muscle groups by directing a downward force upon the pulley 63 and a cable (not shown), which then transfers the force to the weight stack 60. When the bar 64 is not in use, it can be laid to rest on the grasping element support member 65 which consists of at least one tine. The configuration of the grasping element support member 65 may be varied to accommodate grasping elements other than the bar 64.
Information as herein shown and described in detail is fully capable of attaining the above-described object of the invention, the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, and is, thus, representative of the subject matter which is broadly contemplated by the present invention. The scope of the present invention fully encompasses other embodiments which may become obvious to those skilled in the art, and is to be limited, accordingly, by nothing other than the appended claims, wherein reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly so stated, but rather “one or more.” All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the above-described preferred embodiment and additional embodiments that are known to those of ordinary skill in the art are hereby expressly incorporated by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the present claims.
Moreover, no requirement exists for a device or method to address each and every problem sought to be resolved by the present invention, for such to be encompassed by the present claims. Furthermore, no element, component, or method step in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element, component, or method step is explicitly recited in the claims. However, various changes and modifications in form, material, and fabrication material detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventions as set forth in the appended claims should be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. No claim herein is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112, sixth paragraph, unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for.”

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention industrially applies to exercise machines. More particularly, the present invention industrially applies to an exercise machine providing a number of distinct exercise movements which are performable on the same machine without having to attach or remove additional hardware elements. Even more particularly, the present invention industrially applies to an exercise machine which minimizes a loss of resistance through a range of motion of the distinct exercise movements being performed.

Claims

1. An exercise machine comprising:

a support frame;

a seat being operatively connected to the support frame for accommodating an exerciser;

left and right yokes, each yoke being mechanically coupled to the support frame by a vertical attachment shaft;

means for pivoting a yoke, the yoke pivoting means being operatively mounted at a location selected from a group consisting essentially of below the seat, at the seat, and above the seat, for pivotal movement of the left and right yokes;

at least one cam being operatively connected to the yoke pivoting means, each the at least one cam containing a perimeter groove for guiding a cable from the yoke pivoting means to a weight stack via at least one pulley, whereby the at least one cam maintains a relatively constant weight resistance through a range of motion of an exercise; and

articulating left and right extension arms each being pivotably connected to a corresponding upper portion of the left and right yokes by means for swiveling and means for vertically pivoting, the left and right extension arms being pivotable along at least one plane selected from a group consisting essentially of a substantially horizontal plane and a substantially vertical plane, the left and right extension arms each having a distal end, and the distal end forming a handle portion,

the exercise machine being engaged by the exerciser for performing, under the resistance, a variety of movements at a variety of angles.

2. A machine, as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one cam comprises an elongated arc configuration for maintaining resistance through a range of motion.

3. A machine, as recited in claim 2, wherein the elongated arc configuration comprises at least one feature selected from a group consisting essentially of an apostrophe, a comma, a paisley, a lituus, a semi-ellipse, a semi-ogive, an involute of a circle, a nephroid, a logarithmic curve, a parabola, a hyperbola, an epicycloid, an exponential curve, a cardioid, a cochleoid, an a cycloid, a spiral of Archimedes, a folium of Descarte, a lemniscate of Bernoulli, a limaçon of Pascal, an oval of Cassini, a strophoid, and a witch of Agnesi.

4. A machine, as recited in claim 1, wherein the cable is operatively coupled to a resisting structure.

5. A machine, as recited in claim 4, wherein the resisting structure comprises the weight stack.

6. A machine, as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one cam maintains the resistance through a first approximately 30% segment of a range of motion.

7. A machine, as recited in claim 1, wherein the resistance gradually increases over a second approximately 70% segment of the range of motion.

8. A machine, as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one cam comprises an increasing moment arm from a beginning of the range of motion to an end of the range of motion.

9. A machine, as recited in claim 8,

wherein the increasing moment arm is measured from the vertical attachment shaft to a location along the perimeter groove, and

wherein the location comprises a tangent point formed by the cable in the perimeter groove.

10. An exercise machine comprising:

a support frame;

the exercise machine being engaged by the exerciser for performing, under the resistance, a variety of movements at a variety of angles,

wherein the at least one cam comprises an elongated arc configuration for maintaining resistance through a range of motion,

wherein the elongated arc configuration comprises at least one feature selected from a group consisting essentially of an apostrophe, a comma, a paisley, a lituus, a semi-ellipse, a semi-ogive, an involute of a circle, a nephroid, a logarithmic curve, a parabola, a hyperbola, an epicycloid, an exponential curve, a cardioid, a cochleoid, an a cycloid, a spiral of Archimedes, a folium of Descarte, a lemniscate of Bernoulli, a limaçon of Pascal, an oval of Cassini, a strophoid, and a witch of Agnesi,

wherein the cable is operatively coupled to a resisting structure,

wherein the resisting structure comprises the weight stack,

wherein the at least one cam maintains the resistance through a first approximately 30% segment of a range of motion,

wherein the resistance gradually increases over a second approximately 70% segment of the range of motion,

wherein the at least one cam comprises an increasing moment arm from a beginning of the range of motion to an end of the range of motion,

11. A method of providing exercise by way of an exercise machine, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a support frame;

providing a seat being operatively connected to the support frame for accommodating an exerciser;

providing left and right yokes, each yoke being mechanically coupled to the support frame by a vertical attachment shaft;

providing means for pivoting a yoke, the yoke pivoting means being operatively mounted at a location selected from a group consisting essentially of below the seat, at the seat, and above the seat, for pivotal movement of the left and right yokes;

providing at least one cam being operatively connected to the yoke pivoting means, each the at least one cam containing a perimeter groove for guiding a cable from the yoke pivoting means to a weight stack via at least one pulley, whereby the at least one cam maintains a relatively constant weight resistance through a range of motion of an exercise; and

providing articulating left and right extension arms each being pivotably connected to a corresponding upper portion of the left and right yokes by means for swiveling and means for vertically pivoting, the left and right extension arms being pivotable along at least one plane selected from a group consisting essentially of a substantially horizontal plane and a substantially vertical plane, the left and right extension arms each having distal end, and the distal end forming a handle portion,

12. A method, as recited in claim 11, wherein the at least one cam providing step comprises providing an elongated arc configuration for maintaining resistance through a range of motion.

13. A method, as recited in claim 12, wherein the elongated arc configuration providing step comprises providing at least one feature selected from a group consisting essentially of an apostrophe, a comma, a paisley, a lituus, a semi-ellipse, a semi-ogive, an involute of a circle, a nephroid, a logarithmic curve, a parabola, a hyperbola, an epicycloid, an exponential curve, a cardioid, a cochleoid, an a cycloid, a spiral of Archimedes, a folium of Descarte, a lemniscate of Bernoulli, a limaçon of Pascal, an oval of Cassini, a strophoid, and a witch of Agnesi.

14. A method, as recited in claim 11, wherein the at least one cam providing step comprises operatively coupling the cable is to a resisting structure.

15. A method, as recited in claim 14, wherein the at least one cam providing step comprises providing the resisting structure with the weight stack.

16. A method, as recited in claim 11, wherein the at least one cam providing step comprises providing the at least one cam which maintains the resistance through a first approximately 30% segment of a range of motion.

17. A method, as recited in claim 11, wherein the at least one cam providing step comprises providing the at least one cam which facilitates the resistance being gradually increased over a second approximately 70% segment of the range of motion.

18. A method, as recited in claim 11, wherein the at least one cam providing step comprises providing an increasing moment arm from a beginning of the range of motion to an end of the range of motion.

19. A method, as recited in claim 18,

wherein the at least one cam providing step comprises providing the increasing moment arm being measured from the vertical attachment shaft to a location along the perimeter groove, and

wherein the at least one cam providing step comprises defining the location as a tangent point formed by the cable in the perimeter groove.

20. A method, as recited in claim 11,

wherein the at least one cam providing step comprises providing an elongated arc configuration for maintaining resistance loss through a range of motion,

wherein the elongated arc configuration providing step comprises providing at least one feature selected from a group consisting essentially of an apostrophe, a comma, a paisley, a lituus, a semi-ellipse, a semi-ogive, an involute of a circle, a nephroid, a logarithmic curve, a parabola, a hyperbola, an epicycloid, an exponential curve, a cardioid, a cochleoid, an a cycloid, a spiral of Archimedes, a folium of Descarte, a lemniscate of Bernoulli, a limaçon of Pascal, an oval of Cassini, a strophoid, and a witch of Agnesi,

wherein the at least one cam providing step comprises operatively coupling the cable is to a resisting structure,

wherein the at least one cam providing step comprises providing the resisting structure with the weight stack,

wherein the at least one cam providing step comprises providing the at least one cam which maintains the resistance through a first approximately 30% segment of a range of motion,

wherein the at least one cam providing step comprises providing the at least one cam which facilitates the resistance being gradually increased over a second approximately 70% segment of the range of motion,

wherein the at least one cam providing step comprises providing an increasing moment arm from a beginning of the range of motion to an end of the range of motion, wherein the at least one cam providing step comprises providing the increasing moment arm being measured from the vertical attachment shaft to a location along the perimeter groove, and