HK1173406B - Glute exercise machine with rocking user support - Google Patents

Abstract

A glute exercise machine has a stationary main frame, a pivotally mounted upper torso support, a knee support, and an exercise arm having a foot support for engaging a user's foot and configured for rotation from a start position by user engaging the knee support with one leg and the exercise arm with the other leg. A connecting linkage translates movement of the exercise arms into rocking movement of the upper torso support. A load is linked to one of the moving parts to provide exercise resistance.

Description

Hip exerciser with swinging user support

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to exercise machines and more particularly to hip exercise machines.

Background

In hip muscle exercise, a user in a kneeling position pushes one leg back and up to exercise the hip muscles. Hip exercise machines that allow a user to separate the hip muscles and increase the exercise resistance to leg movement are known. In one type of hip exercise machine, a user holds his upper limbs on a stationary upper torso support, kneels with one knee on a stationary knee support, and engages a foot pad or the like on the exercise arm with the other foot. The foot is then pushed outward and upward to actuate the exercise arm and perform the hip exercise.

Because the user is in a fixed position on the user support during hip exercise, the upper torso cannot move as the legs are kicked back and up, which can cause pressure on the back muscles and failure to produce optimal gluteal contraction.

Disclosure of Invention

In one embodiment the hip exercise machine has a main frame, an upper torso support movably mounted relative to the main frame and configured to support an upper torso of a user, a knee support configured to support a right or left knee of the user, the upper torso support and the knee support together supporting the user in a hip exercise position, an exercise arm mounted with the pedals and movably mounted relative to the main frame, the pedals configured to engage with the feet of one leg of the user during a hip exercise while the other leg is engaged with the knee support, a connecting link to translate movement of the exercise arm during the hip exercise into swinging movement of the upper torso support, and a load to resist movement of at least one of the exercise arm, the connecting link, or the user support. In one embodiment, the knee support is rotatably mounted on the frame for rotation about a longitudinal axis between the left and right knee support positions.

The combined movement of the user support and exercise arm provides a more comfortable and natural feeling exercise motion that constantly adjusts the position of the user during exercise to reduce the pressure on the muscles. The upper torso support is designed to rock downward as the legs rotate upward and rearward to reduce pressure on the back muscles. The swinging of the user support during exercise also makes the exercise more enjoyable to the exerciser.

Drawings

The details of the present invention, both as to its structure and operation, can best be understood in reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a hip exercise machine according to one embodiment, the hip exercise machine being in a starting position for a hip exercise;

figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the exercise machine in the starting position shown in figure 1;

figure 3 is a top view of the exercise machine of figures 1 and 2;

figure 4 is a front view of the exercise machine of figures 1-3;

FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view of the exercise machine of FIGS. 1-4, showing the left and right support positions of the knee support;

figure 6 is a side perspective view of the exercise machine of figures 1-5;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the exercise machine of FIGS. 1-6 in a starting position;

figure 8 is a side view of the exercise apparatus of figures 1-7 in an end position for a hip exercise;

FIG. 9 is a side view showing the two positions of FIGS. 7 and 8 superimposed, showing the movement trajectories of the various movable components of the exercise machine during exercise;

FIG. 10 is a side view of the exercise machine in the starting position shown in FIG. 7, but with the exerciser positioned on the exercise machine and ready to perform a hip exercise;

FIG. 11 is a side view of the exercise machine and exerciser with the exerciser supported on the exercise machine in the hip exercise end position shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 12 shows the same superimposed side views as in the two positions of FIGS. 9 and 10, with the exerciser on the exercise machine and exercising the buttocks;

figure 13A is a side view of the exercise arm assembly and weight block of the exercise machine of figures 1-12 with other portions of the exercise machine removed, showing a cable and pulley connection between the exercise arm assembly and weight block;

FIG. 13B is a rear view similar to FIG. 13A, also showing the cable and pulley connection.

Detailed Description

Certain embodiments disclosed herein provide a hip exercise machine with an oscillating user support. The user support and the exercise arm are moved during an exercise using a connecting rod that translates movement of the exercise arm into oscillation of the user support so as to adjust the position of the user relative to the footrests on the exercise arm during the exercise.

After reading this description it will become apparent to one skilled in the art how to implement the invention in various alternative embodiments and alternative applications. While various embodiments of the present invention will be described herein, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation.

Fig. 1-13B illustrate one embodiment of a hip exercise machine 10 configured for exercising a user's gluteus muscles. The hip exercise machine 10 has a stationary main frame 12 that engages the ground, a rotatably mounted user support or upper torso support 14, a rotatably mounted knee support 15, and a rotatably mounted exercise arm or user engagement device 16. The connecting link 18(connectinglinkage) includes a drive link 100, the drive link 100 relating movement of the exercise arm 16 to movement of the upper torso support 14. As shown in fig. 13A and 13B, cable and pulley connection 20 associates drive rod 100 of the connecting rod with adjustable weight 22, weight 22 being in housing 24 on one side of hip exercise machine 10, with the remainder of the hip exercise machine removed in fig. 13A and 13B to expose the cable and pulley connection. Thus, movement of the exercise arm and drive link is resisted by the selected weight in the weight stack 22 to provide resistance to rotation of the exercise arm during hip exercise. In addition a weight or other exercise resistance may be connected directly to the exercise arm or upper torso support.

As best shown in fig. 1, 2 and 6, the main frame 12 has a pair of front uprights 25, 26, parallel bottom side struts 27, 28 extending rearwardly from the respective uprights 25, 26, vertical struts 29 extending upwardly from a location adjacent the rear ends of the bottom struts or tubes 27, and a cross bar 30 extending between the side struts 27, 28 and spaced from the rear of the front uprights 25, 26. A laterally extending rear bottom strut or cable guide tube 31 extends from the side strut 28 and is connected to the counterweight housing 24 via a bracket 32, and a cable guide tube or connecting strut 33 extends from the crossbar 30 to the rear strut or guide tube 31. The front upright 25 is higher than the front upright 26, the front upright 25 being rotatably connected at its upper end to the exercise arm 84, while the upper torso support 14 is rotatably supported on the shorter front upright 26, as described in more detail below. The counterweight housing 24 is secured to the main frame via a bottom post 31 and a support arm 34, the support arm 34 extending from the vertical post 29 to a cable guide tube 35 of the rear upright or housing, as best shown in fig. 6. The cushion 36 on the guide tube 33 (see fig. 6) and the cushion 75 on the side strut 28 (see fig. 8) define a rest position for the exercise arm 16 and the drive link 100 and for the upper torso support, as described in more detail below. Ground engaging support feet 38 are provided at the lower ends of the vertical struts 29 and the front struts 25, 26, as well as at the ends of the side struts 28.

The knee support 15 includes a knee pad 40, the knee pad 40 being rotatably mounted via a four-bar pivot connection 42 to the rear end of the side strut 28 of the main frame for side-to-side rotation between left and right support positions shown in dashed outline in FIG. 5. The four bar pivot connection 42 includes a pivot base or first pivot bracket 44 fixed to the strut 28, a second pivot bracket 45 fixed to the floor of the knee pad 40, and parallel pivot links 46, 48, each of which is pivoted at one end to the bracket 44 and at the other end to the bracket 45. A thick cushion pad 50 made of rubber or the like is fixed to the inner surface of the pivot link 46 and engages with the inner surface of the pivot link 48 in the right or left end position shown in fig. 5 to stop the knee pad in position. This allows the user to easily rotate the knee pad back and forth between left and right knee support positions without having to position (index) or pin the knee pad. Once rotationally adjusted, the links 46, 48 will clamp the cushion 50 stopping the knee pad in the correct position, holding the knee pad in place with gravity only. Figure 5 shows the left position of the knee support in solid outline with the components of the knee support in that position identified by the letter a following the reference number, and figure 5 shows the right position of the knee support in dashed outline with the components of the knee support in that position identified by the letter B following the reference number. The distance between the left position 40A and the right position 40B of the knee pad is about 8.3 inches.

Figures 1, 2, 4 and 6 fully illustrate the upper torso support or support assembly 14 which includes a support frame 52 and a pair of inwardly inclined side support plates 55, the side support plates 55 being mounted at either end of a cross bar 54 of the support frame 52, and each side support plate 55 being provided with a respective arm support pad 56. A pair of stabilizing handles 58 are positioned in front of the respective arm support pads and are mounted on support arms 59 extending forwardly from the crossbar 54. A pivot post or pivot mount 60 extends downwardly from the center of the cross bar 54 and is pivotally mounted to the front uprights 26 of the main frame via a first pair of pivot links 61 and to a cross bar 62 via a second pair of pivot links 64, the cross bar 62 extending transversely from the lower end of the drive link 100. The upper end of drive link 100 is rotatably connected to the front end of exercise arm 16. The drive link 100, cross bar 62 and pivot link 64 collectively comprise a connecting link between the exercise arm 16 and the upper torso support 14, as described in more detail below.

One end of the crossbar 62 is rotatably engaged in a pivot sleeve 63 at the lower end of the drive rod, as best shown in fig. 4 and 6. Pivot link 64 is spaced below pivot link 61 and is parallel to pivot link 61, pivot links 61, 64 together forming a parallel four bar pivot linkage that controls movement of the upper torso support between the starting position of figure 7 and the lower end position of figure 8. Each of the first pair of parallel pivot links 61 is pivoted at its first end to the pivot mount 60 via a pivot pin between the first ends of the pivot links and extending through a pivot sleeve 65 fixed to the pivot mount 60, defining a first user support pivot axis 66 (see fig. 7 and 8). The second end of pivot link 61 is rotatably mounted at the upper end of main frame upright 26 via a pivot pin secured between the second ends of link 61 and extending through a pivot sleeve 68 secured to the upper end of upright 26, defining a second user support pivot axis 69. A second pair of parallel pivot links 64 extend forwardly from the cross bar 62 and the links 64 are pivoted to the upright 26 at a location spaced below the first link 61 via pivot pins extending through pivot sleeves 70 for rotation about a third user support pivot axis 71. The forward end of the pivot link 64 is pivotally connected to the lower end of the pivot mount 60 for rotation about a fourth pivot axis 73 via a pivot pin at the lower end of the pivot mount 60 that extends through the pivot sleeve 72. The rearward end of pivot link 64 is also rotatably connected to the lower end of drive link 100 for rotation about pivot axis 74, pivot axis 74 being defined by the rotatable engagement of the end of rod 62 in pivot sleeve 63, as shown in fig. 2, 4, 7 and 8. The pivot links 61 and 64 constitute a four bar pivot linkage that controls movement of the upper torso support relative to the main frame when the exercise arm is actuated, as will be discussed in detail below. Cushion 36 on main frame post 33 engages pivot sleeve 63 to form the rest position of drive link 100 and exercise arm in the exercise start position of fig. 1-7, as best shown in fig. 2, 4 and 6. A second cushion 75 on side strut 28 engages a web 76 extending between pivot links 64 (see fig. 2 and 3) to form a stop position for the upper torso support.

Exercise arm or exercise arm assembly 16 has a first arm portion 84 rotatably mounted at its front end to the upper ends of main frame uprights 25 and 29 for rotation about pivot axis 82, and a second arm portion 85 adjustably secured to the rear end of first arm portion 84. In the starting position of fig. 1, 2 and 7, the first arm portion 84 extends generally rearwardly from the pivot 82, and the second arm portion 85 has a pivot sleeve 79 pivoted to a pivot bracket 83 at a rear end of the first arm portion 84 for rotation about an adjustment axis 86 (see fig. 7). The first arm portion 84 has a pivot sleeve 81 at its front end. A pivot pin (not shown in the drawings) extends from the pivot bracket 77 to the upper end of the front upright 25, the pivot bracket 77 being secured to the upper end of the frame upright 29 by a sleeve 81. The second arm portion 85 is secured at a selected angular position relative to the first arm portion 84 by a pull pin 87, the pull pin 87 extending through a selected positioning aperture 89, the positioning aperture 89 being in a movable range plate or ROM plate 88 secured to the first arm portion 84. A footrest 90 is fixed to the lower end of the second arm portion 85, and has a pair of safety rollers 92 gripping the footrest, the safety rollers 92 being fixed to the footrest 90 via spacers 93. The foot engagement pad 91 is provided on the footrest 90. The ROM adjustment mechanism allows the user to adjust the starting position of the footrest to accommodate the size of the user. An upper end of drive link 100 is pivotally connected to the exercise arm at a location spaced rearwardly from pivot 84. As shown in fig. 1 and 2, pivot bracket 94 at the upper end of drive link 100 is pivotally connected to pivot plate 95 depending downwardly from exercise arm portion 84 for rotation about pivot axis 96 at the upper portion of the drive link. When the exercise arm is in the starting position of fig. 1, 2, 6 and 7, the user engages the footrests in a position accessible to the user when the user is moved onto the hip exercise machine. The configuration of the exercise arm, upper torso support and connecting bar is such that: the user's manipulation of the exercise arm during exercise causes the upper torso support mounted on the four bar pivot linkage to move about the four bar pivot linkage.

As shown in more detail in fig. 13A and 13B, drive rod 100 is associated to an adjustable weight in a weight 22 by a pulley and cable connection 20. The cable connection 20 is omitted in the remaining figures for clarity. As shown in fig. 13A, cable 110 is attached to a fixed point 112 on main frame strut 33 (see fig. 6) and extends from the fixed point, around pulley 114 mounted at the lower end of drive link 100, and then around pulley 115 on strut 33. Having passed around the pulley 115, the cable 110 extends through the end of the strut 33 and into the cable guide tube 31 and around the pulley within the tube 31 and is then directed under the counterweight. The cable is then wound around a lower pulley 116 located at the lower end of the vertical guide or rear upright 35 of the counterweight housing to guide the cable upwardly. The cable 110 extends upward from the lower pulley 116 to the upper pulley 118 and is then directed downward to the top of the counterweight. It should be understood that one or more cables may be disposed in the cable path from the linkage 100 to the top end of the counterweight 22, as best shown in fig. 13B. Thus, resistance to movement of the drive link 100 and resistance to movement of the exercise arm 16 connected to the upper end of the drive link 100 is provided by the selected amount of weight in the weight 22, and the user can adjust the amount of exercise resistance as desired.

Figures 7 to 12 show the operation of the exercise machine for performing hip exercises in more detail, and figures 10 to 12 show the user 125 positioned on the exercise machine and performing the exercises. Fig. 7 and 10 show the starting positions, fig. 8 and 11 show one possible end position of the hip exercise, while fig. 9 and 12 show the starting and end positions superimposed, with the end position of the movable part (and the user in fig. 12) shown in dashed outline. In fig. 9 and 12, reference numerals followed by the letter a correspond to the starting positions of the respective movable members, and reference numerals followed by the letter B correspond to the exercise ending positions of the respective movable members. The actual end position is not fixed and varies with the user depending on the length of the legs and the amount of stretch used when performing the hip exercise. Thus, figures 8, 9, 11 and 12 show one possible end position for hip exercise, the amount of movement of the upper torso support also varying depending on how far the user has moved the exercise arm while performing the hip exercise. The starting or stopping positions of the exercise arms and upper torso support are determined by the pivot mounts, links, and the engagement of sleeves 63 and connecting plates 76 with cushions 36 and 75, thereby defining the starting or stopping positions of the exercise arms, links and upper torso support.

At the start of the exercise, the exercise arms and upper torso support are in the positions shown in figures 1-7 and 10, and are shown in solid outline in figures 9 and 12. To perform hip exercises, the user first adjusts the footrest positions so that their feet can reach the pedals while kneeling on the knee support pad 40. This is accomplished by pulling the pull pin 87 out of the positioning hole in the ROM plate 88, pivoting the arm portion 85 about the pivot 86 until the desired position is reached, and then releasing the pull pin 87 to lock the arm portion 85 in the selected position. The user then assumes a kneeling position with one knee/shin on the knee support pad 40 and holds their upper limbs on the upper torso support pad 56 while grasping the stabilizing handles 58 for balance, as shown in fig. 10. The non-kneeled leg is then lifted up and backwards to place the foot 126 between the safety roller 92 gripping the foot and the foot pad 91 of the footrest 90 so that the foot can be pressed against the footrest. The user can now start performing hip exercises. In fig. 10 and 12, the user has placed the knee support 15 in a left position and the left knee and shin 128 on the support pad 40 while engaging the right foot 126 with the foot rest 90.

When the user is in the exercise ready position of fig. 10, the feet 126 press against the pedals and are raised to rotate the exercise arms upward about the pivot axis 82. When the exercise arm is pivoted upwardly, the drive link 100 will lift upwardly and force the upper torso support 14 to move. As drive link 100 moves upward, the rear end of pivot link 64 also lifts upward and the front end of link 64 then pivots downward about pivot axis 71, pulling pivot mount 60 and crossbar 54 of the upper torso frame downward. Pivot link 61, which is parallel to link 64, is then rotated about pivot axis 69. This moves the upper torso support 56 downwardly and slightly forwardly from the starting position shown in figures 7 and 10 to the end position shown in figures 8 and 11. The corresponding end positions are shown in dashed outline in fig. 9 and 12. As shown in fig. 9 and 12, the upper limb support pad of the upper torso support moves from a start position 56A to an end position 56B during exercise, and the position 56B rotates downward and slightly forward from the position 56A while maintaining the user's lowered upper limb in substantially the same direction.

In the controlled movement illustrated in fig. 10-12, the resistance or load created by the adjustable weight 22 is overcome by the leg to lift the exercise arm 16 to engage and exercise the gluteus maximus and gluteus medius. While a slight downward and forward rotation of the upper torso, as shown in figures 11 and 12, will relieve pressure on the thorax and lumbar vertebrae that would otherwise be caused by upward leg rotation if the upper torso were held in the same position throughout the exercise. This body movement also challenges the body's core muscles to stabilize them. After completing one hip exercise, the user moves the legs and exercise arms back toward the starting position and again exercises for the desired number of repetitions. After the desired number of repetitions of the hip exercise is completed with the right leg as in fig. 10-12, the user may leave the hip exercise machine, then turn the knee support to the right position of fig. 5, then return himself to the position opposite to the position of fig. 10 to engage the right knee and shin with the support pad 40, engage the left foot between the safety roller 92 and the footrest 90 of the foot support, and repeat the exercise with the other knee and leg.

As mentioned above, the four bar pivot connection mechanism supporting the upper torso support 14 controls movement of the upper torso support during exercise and is configured to define a slight downward and forward motion of the upper torso support. Fig. 10-12 illustrate movement of the upper torso support or user support 14 between a starting position, shown in solid lines in fig. 12, and an end position, such as the exemplary end position shown in fig. 11 and shown in phantom lines in fig. 12.

In the above embodiments, the movement of the user engagement device or exercise arm is translated into a swinging motion of the user support to make the exercise more enjoyable to the user. In addition, the correlation between the movement of the exercise arm and the movement of the user support is designed so that the movement of the user support follows the movement of the exercise arm and holds the user in a more aligned manner during exercise, which provides better gluteal exercise while reducing potential pressure on the ribcage and back lumbar, also driving the user's core body muscles during exercise. When the user performs a hip exercise, the user engaging end of the exercise arm is pushed up and back along with the user's feet, and the user support or upper torso support is rocked slightly downward and forward. This provides a more comfortable and better feeling exercise to improve the user's exercise effect.

It should be understood that all of the various components used in the above embodiments may be combined and interchanged with one another and still be encompassed by the essence of the above embodiments. The exercise arm may be mounted on the main frame, user support or linkage. The foot pad and gripping roller may be replaced with a lower leg or ankle engaging device. The connecting rod can be made adjustable and the connecting rod can be replaced by a cable. The cables may be replaced with belts, ropes, chains, etc., and the pulleys may be replaced with sprockets. The upper torso engaging pad may be fixed or adjustable relative to the support frame.

The exercise resistance may be associated with any movable component (user support, user-engaged device or connecting rod). The exercise resistance may be a weight as in the embodiments described above, or may be any other type of resistance known in the art, such as a weight plate, an elastic band, or pneumatic, electromagnetic, or hydraulic resistance. The hip exercise machine may be a stand-alone machine or part of a multi-station exercise machine.

The previous description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles described herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. It is therefore to be understood that the description and drawings herein represent a presently preferred embodiment of the invention and are therefore representative of the subject matter which is broadly contemplated by the present invention. It is also to be understood that the scope of the present invention fully encompasses other embodiments that may become obvious to those skilled in the art and that the scope of the present invention is accordingly limited by nothing other than the appended claims.

Claims (22)

1. A hip exercise machine comprising:

a stationary main frame having a front end and a rear end;

a user support assembly located on the main frame and configured to support a user in a hip exercise position, the user support assembly including an upper torso support and a knee support;

the upper torso support is movably mounted relative to the main frame and configured to support an upper torso of a user in a hip exercise position;

a pivot assembly rotatably mounting the upper torso support on the main frame;

the knee support is configured to support a user's right or left knee when supporting the upper torso on the upper torso support;

an exercise arm assembly movably mounted relative to the main frame and having a foot engaging portion adapted to engage the foot of one leg of a user during a hip exercise while the other leg is supported on the knee support and the user is supported in a hip exercise position on the user support assembly;

a connecting bar that translates movement of the exercise arm assembly into swinging movement of the upper torso support during a hip exercise; and

a load resisting movement of at least one of the exercise arm assembly, the upper torso support, and the connecting bar.

2. The hip exercise machine of claim 1, further comprising a knee support pivot mount rotatably mounting the knee support on the main frame for side-to-side rotation between left and right knee support positions.

3. The hip exercise machine of claim 2, wherein the knee support includes a gravity stop mechanism defining the left knee support position and the right knee support position between which the user can freely rotate the knee support.

4. The hip exercise machine of claim 3, wherein the knee support pivot mount comprises a four bar pivot connection between the knee support and the main frame, the four bar pivot connection having a first parallel pivot link and a second parallel pivot link, the first parallel pivot link and the second parallel pivot link each being pivotally connected to the main frame for rotation about a first pair of parallel pivot axes and each being pivotally connected to the knee support for rotation about a second pair of parallel pivot axes that are parallel to the first pair of parallel pivot axes.

5. The hip exercise machine of claim 4, wherein the gravity stop mechanism includes a stop member attached to and between the first parallel pivot link and the second parallel pivot link, the stop member configured to engage with the second parallel pivot link and act as a stop in the left knee support position and the right knee support position.

6. The hip exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the upper torso support includes a support frame, a left arm support pad on the support frame configured to support a left arm of the user, and a right arm support pad on the support frame configured to support a right arm of the user.

7. The hip exerciser of claim 6, wherein the upper torso support further comprises left and right handles positioned in front of the left and right arm support pads, respectively, and configured to be grasped by a user during hip exercise.

8. The hip exerciser of claim 1, wherein the upper torso support is configured to move downward and forward during hip exercise.

9. The hip exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the exercise arm assembly has a first arm portion pivotally connected to the main frame at a first location spaced above the user support assembly and a second arm portion depending generally downwardly from the first arm portion, the second arm portion mounting the foot engaging portion.

10. The hip exercise machine of claim 9, wherein the second arm portion is rotatably secured to the first arm portion at a location spaced rearwardly from the first location, and the exercise arm assembly further comprises a range of motion adjustment mechanism configured to secure the second arm portion at a selected orientation relative to the first arm portion, wherein a starting position of the foot engaging portion is adjustable to accommodate users having different leg lengths.

11. The hip exerciser of claim 1, wherein the linkage includes a drive bar rotatably coupled to the exercise arm assembly and the upper torso support, wherein movement of the exercise arm assembly in an exercise trajectory corresponding to a hip exercise simultaneously moves the upper torso support in a predetermined trajectory.

12. The hip exercise machine of claim 11, wherein the drive link has an upper end rotatably connected to the exercise arm assembly and a lower end rotatably connected to the upper torso support.

13. The hip exercise machine of claim 12, further comprising a pivot link between the upper torso support and the lower end portion of the drive link.

14. The hip exercise machine of claim 11, further comprising a four bar pivot connection between the upper torso support, the main frame, and the connecting bar.

15. The hip exercise machine of claim 12, wherein the connecting bar further comprises a cross bar rotatably connected to a lower end portion of the drive bar and extending transversely from the drive bar.

16. The hip exercise machine of claim 15, further comprising a pivot assembly rotatably connecting the upper torso support to the main frame and cross bar.

17. The hip exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the connecting bar comprises a multi-part connecting bar.

18. The hip exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the upper torso support has at least one user engaging portion configured to engage an upper limb of a user, the pivot assembly configured to move the upper torso support downward and forward in response to movement of the exercise arm assembly during a hip exercise while maintaining the user engaging portions at the same orientation relative to the main frame.

19. The hip exercise machine of claim 18, wherein the pivot assembly includes a four-bar linkage including at least one first link pivoted to the upper torso support for rotation about a first pivot axis and pivoted to the main frame for rotation about a second pivot axis spaced rearwardly from the first pivot axis, and at least one second link pivoted to the upper torso support for rotation about a third pivot axis spaced rearwardly from the first pivot axis and pivoted to the connecting link for rotation about a fourth pivot axis spaced rearwardly from the third pivot axis.

20. The hip exercise machine of claim 19, wherein the second link is pivotally coupled to the main frame for rotation about a fifth pivot axis located at a position between the third and fourth pivot axes.

21. The hip exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the connecting bar is connected to the load.

22. The hip exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the load comprises an adjustable weight.