US007101326B2

(12) United States Patent

(10) Patent N0.:

(45) Date of Patent:

Gerschefske et a].

(54)

STORABLE EXERCISE APPARATUS FOR

PROFESSIONAL AND HOME USE

(56)

US 7,101,326 B2
*Sep. 5,2006

References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

(75) Inventors: Kevin Gerschefske, Spring?eld, MO

679,784 A

(US); Juliu Horvath, New York, NY

(US); San-Ping Lee, Nun-Tou Hsien

2,267,376 A
3,501,140 A *

(TW); Marj olein Brugman,

Cambridge, MA (US)
CH

577327 A

Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this

patent is extended or adjusted under 35

7/1976

OTHER PUBLICATIONS

This patent is subject to a terminal dis

claimer.

Wendy Marston, Grace Under Pressure, Newsweek, Sep. 11,

2000, pp. 78-79.

(Continued)

(21) Appl. No.: 10/743,255

Filed:

(Continued)

U.S.C. 154(b) by 153 days.

(22)

Eichorn .................... .. 482/130

(Continued)

MO (US)
Notice:

3/1970

FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS

(73) Assignee: Stamina Products, Inc., Spring?eld,

(*)

8/1901 Ryan
12/1941 Malm

Primary Examiner4Gregory L. Huson

Assistant ExamineriVictor K. HWang

Dec. 23, 2003

(74) Attorney, Agent, or FirmiPillsbury Winthrop ShaW

(65)

Prior Publication Data

US 2004/0214697 A1

Pittman, LLP

Oct. 28, 2004

(57)

ABSTRACT

Related US. Application Data

(63)

Continuation of application No. 09/910,942, ?led on

1111. 24, 2001, noW Pat. NO. 6,669,609.

(30)

Foreign Application Priority Data

Jan. 18, 2001

(51)

(TW)

(2006.01)
(2006.01)

US. Cl. .................... ..

pivotal and load-transmitting connections With the toWer

482/129; 482/130; 482/138;

482/ 142

(58)

Field of Classi?cation Search ................ ..

pull lines against the bias of the spring system. The grips for
the pull lines are mounted at the top of the toWer and
generate signi?cant tipping force on the toWer When the
apparatus is in use. To prevent tipping, the bench frame has

Int. Cl.

A63B 21/04
A63B 21/055

(52)

............................ .. 90201007 U

A storable exercise apparatus for home use. The apparatus

includes an upright toWer, a base structure, a bench frame,
and a bench attached to the bench frame. A set of ?exible
pull lines coupled to a resilient spring system are carried
Within the toWer structure. The user exercises by pulling the

482/92,

482/121*123,125,126,129,130,133,138,
482/142, 102, 103, 127; D21/693, 690, 676
See application ?le for complete search history.

structure; the toWer is stabilized by the Weight of the user on

the bench. The bench may be placed in either a raised or

lowered position, and can be stored by collapsing and

pivoting it so that it abuts the toWer vertically.

2 Claims, 27 Drawing Sheets

US 7,101,326 B2
Page 2
US. PATENT DOCUMENTS
3,709,487 A *

5,487,714 A
5,522,784 A

1/1973 Walker ..................... .. 482/133

3,851,874 A * 12/1974 Wilkin

Sullivan et 91-

5,674,167 A

10/1997 Piaget et 31

5,842,961 A

12/1998 Davis

4257590 A

3/1981

4,369,966 A

1/1983 Silberman et a1.

6,015,369 A

5,941,807 A *

4,634,127 A
4,635,926 A
4,691,918 A

V1987 Rockwell
1/1987 MinkOW
9/1987 Rockwell

6,142,919 A
6,159,133 A
6,228,004 B1

8/1999 Cassidy 6161. ........... .. 482/146

1/2000 Rasmussen

11/2000 Jorgensen
12/2000 Shugg
5/2001 Steinbach 6161.

4,718,659 A *

V1988

6,585,626 B1*

7/2003

4,721,303 A *

1/1988

6,595,905 B1*

7/2003 McBride

4747594 A

5/1988

6,669,609 B1*

4,804,179 A
4,811,946 A

2/1989
3/ 1989

4,826,157 A

5/1989 Fitzpatrick

4,830,363
4,850,586
4,907,798
4,921,242
5,090,694

5/1989
7/1989
3/1990
5/1990
2/1992

A
A
A
A
A

5,141,480 A

'

1/1996 Ferrari
6/1996 Grant

12/2003

McBride ................... .. 482/130

.482/130

Gerschefske e161. ..... .. 482/123

FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS

Kennedy
Horvath
Burchatz
Watterson
Pauls et al.

8/1992 LenIlOX et a1~

EP
FR
GB

507509
2234017
2 257 921 A

10/1992
10975
1/1993

OTHER PUBLICATIONS

Gyrolonic Expansion System videotape.

5,263,916 A *

11/1993 Bobich ..................... .. 482/124

BOW?eX Motivator; OWnerS Manual &FitneSSGuide,BOW?eX,

5,324,243
5,328,428
5,403,253
5,403,257
5,419,749
5,431,617
5,468,205

6/1994
7/1994
4/1995
4/1995
5/1995
7/1995
11/1995

Inc, 1997
BoW?eX Ultimate: OWners Manual & Fitness Guide, BoW?eX,
Inc, 2001
BoW?eX Power Pro: OWners Manual & Fitness Guide, BoW?eX,
Inc, 1997

A
A
A
A
A
A
A

Wilkinson
Huang
Gaylord
Lehtonen
Morgenstein
Rattray, Jr.
McFall et a1.

* cited by examiner

U.S. Patent

Sep. 5, 2006

Sheet 2 0f 27

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US 7,101,326 B2

U.S. Patent

Sep. 5, 2006

Sheet 4 0f 27

US 7,101,326 B2

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U.S. Patent

Sep. 5, 2006

Sheet 5 0f 27

US 7,101,326 B2

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U.S. Patent

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US 7,101,326 B2

U.S. Patent

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US 7,101,326 B2

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U.S. Patent

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U.S. Patent

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U.S. Patent

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US 7,101,326 B2

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US 7,101,326 B2

U.S. Patent

Sep. 5, 2006

Sheet 12 0f 27

US 7,101,326 B2

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U.S. Patent

Sep. 5, 2006

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US 7,101,326 B2

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U.S. Patent

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US 7,101,326 B2

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U.S. Patent

Sep. 5, 2006

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US 7,101,326 B2

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U.S. Patent

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Sheet 18 0f 27

US 7,101,326 B2