Patent Application
20150141219
The present disclosure relates to apparatus, systems, and methods for providing configurable and storable exercise equipment that allows a person to perform a variety of exercises.
Exercise has always been an important element of human health and happiness. As lifestyles have become both busier and more sedentary, it is often a challenge for people to find the time to properly exercise. The proliferation and variety of fitness centers (e.g., gyms) and home exercise equipment is evidence that many attempts have been made to address this issue. However, many gyms have limited space and resources with which to provide exercise opportunities for their clients. Home exercise space and resources may be even more limited. Furthermore, home exercise equipment is typically not used under the supervision of health professionals, and presents additional risks if it is not sufficiently safe and easy to use. Many prior art exercise devices for use at fitness centers or at home are costly, difficult to use, large, and support only a single or small number of exercises.
The present disclosure relates to exercise equipment that includes a base platform having an upper surface with at least one socket for attaching at least one vertical pole, at least one vertical pole having a configurable length, at least one fastener for attaching a resistance band, and a horizontal bar for mounting to the at least one vertical pole. The at least one vertical pole may be configured to support the horizontal bar above the base platform. The base platform of the exercise equipment may include at least one compartment configured to store other portions of the exercise equipment.
In some embodiments, the base platform may include a hinge that allows the top surface of the base platform to pivot into an opened position for allowing access to the compartments. In some embodiments, the base platform may include at least one drawer that includes one of the compartments. In some embodiments, one of compartments may include a groove shaped to secure at least one of the vertical poles or the horizontal bar.
In some embodiments, the base platform of the exercise equipment may include edge surfaces between the upper surface and a lower surface of the base platform. At least one of the edge surfaces may angle downward from the upper surface to the lower surface of the base platform. In some embodiments, the angle may be approximately forty-five degrees.
In some embodiments, the base platform of the exercise equipment may be made of a plastic. In some of these embodiments, the plastic may be a high-density polymer. In some of these embodiments, the high-density polymer may be a high-density polyethylene.
In some embodiments, the base platform of the exercise equipment may be approximately five feet wide and approximately three feet long. In other embodiments, the base platform may be approximately four feet wide and approximately two feet long.
In some embodiments, friction pads may be attached underneath the base platform of the exercise equipment.
In some embodiments, the fastener may be secured to an edge surface of the base platform. In other embodiments, the fastener may be secured to the upper surface of the base platform. In some embodiments, the fastener may be a carabiner. In other embodiments, the fastener may be a hook.
In some embodiments, the vertical pole may include a telescopic extension mechanism. In some embodiments, the vertical pole may include a bottom portion and a top portion. The top portion may be configured to slide relative to the bottom portion. In these and other embodiments, the bottom portion and the top portion may be securable together using a pin. In some of these embodiments, the pin may be depressed with a spring plunger for configuring the length of the vertical pole. In some embodiments, the bottom portion and the top portion of the vertical pole may be securable together using a screw for tightening.
In some embodiments, the horizontal bar may include an outer foam padding. In some embodiments, the horizontal bar may be securable to the vertical pole by a structure having a greater diameter than the horizontal bar so that the horizontal bar may be non-rigidly coupled to the vertical pole.
In some embodiments, the exercise equipment may include at least one resistance band attachable to a fastener. In some of these embodiments, one of the compartments of the base platform may be configured to store the resistance band.
In some embodiments, the exercise equipment may include an inflatable. In some of these embodiments, the compartments of the base platform may be configured to store the inflatable.
In some embodiments, the exercise equipment may include a friction-reducing sheet. In some of these embodiments, the friction-reducing sheet may be made of Plexiglas.
This disclosure relates to exercise equipment including a base platform and other components rising up from the base platform. Some embodiments of this disclosure may be assembled to include a horizontal crossbar supported by two vertical support poles rising up from the base platform. These and other embodiments may also be disassembled, with components including the crossbar and support poles configured to be detached and stored inside of the base platform. The base platform may open with a hinge to reveal a compartment shaped to fit these and other components. These embodiments are therefore versatile in that they support a variety of exercises that may be performed in the assembled configurations, but also compact in that they require no more storage space than that used by the base platform alone.
Some embodiments of this disclosure include additional components. In some embodiments, one or more resistance bands may be attached to the base platform. In these and other embodiments, a friction-reducing sheet may also be included. This sheet may be placed next to the base platform so that a person exercising can perform exercises that are facilitated by more easily being able to slide his or her hands or feet across the sheet. Other components included in some embodiments are inflatables such as yoga balls or seats for placement on top of or near the base platform. These and the other components described herein may also be stored inside of the base platform when not assembled or in use.
A variety of exercises are possible using equipment according to embodiments of this disclosure. For example, exercises that may use the base platform and friction-reducing sheet as support for an exercising person's hands and feet while the person is in a horizontal position include plank jacks, jack knifes, and push-ups (including, for example, push-up slides, push-ups with alternating arm front raises, and push-ups with alternating hip extensions). Friction reducing gloves or booties can be worn by the person exercising to further reduce the friction when their hands or feet slide across the friction-reducing sheet. Exercises that may use the base platform, or an inflatable placed on top of the base platform, as back support in combination with the resistance bands include seat-up overhead extensions and seat-up chest presses. Exercises that may use the resistance bands while the exercising person is seated on the base platform, or seated on an inflatable placed on top of the base platform, include bicep curls and seated rows. Exercises that may use the resistance bands while the exercising person is seated on an inflatable such as a yoga ball or seat placed on top of the base platform include incline presses, front raises, and shoulder presses. Exercises that may use the base platform as a standing platform in combination with resistance bands include hip abductor exercises, hip extensor exercises, rear delt-rows, “good mornings,” bent-over rowing, standing upright rowing, squat and shoulder presses, lateral “monster” side-to-side steps, bent over tricep extensions, and standing shoulder presses. Exercises using the base platform as a standing platform in combination with the crossbar attached to resistance bands include stationary lunges and standing double bicep curls. Exercises that use the base platform as a jumping platform include jump boxes and jump taps. Other exercises known to those of ordinary skill in the art may also be performed using the equipment.
Base platform 102 provides a platform on which a person exercising can perform exercises. The person exercising can stand, jump, run, and otherwise be supported by base platform 102. In some embodiments, base platform 102 may be made of plastic such as a high-density polymer (e.g., high-density polyethylene). In these and other embodiments, an important aspect of the base platform is that it be firm enough to support a person exercising but have some flexibility to reduce stress on the legs and knees of that person. To further reduce the risk of injury to a person exercising, base platform 102 may be sloped or curved at the edges so that the upper portion of the base platform gradually lowers to the ground.
Extending upwards from base platform 102 are crossbar support poles 104a and 104b. Each support pole 104a and 104b is removable and designed to attach at base platform support pole attachment sockets 106a and 106b, respectively. In some embodiments, the bottom of support pole 104a and 104b may be threaded and each base platform support pole attachment socket 106a and 106b shaped so that the corresponding support pole may be screwed into the socket. The height of each support pole 104a and 104b may be adjusted using support pole extension mechanisms 108a and 108b, respectively. In some embodiments, support pole extension mechanisms 108a and 108b may be a pin with a spring plunger. In these embodiments, support poles 104a and 104b each comprise two telescopic parts, an upper part sliding within or outside of a lower part. Each of these parts may have vertically spaced holes shaped so that the pin may lock the upper part into the lower part at various heights. When the spring plunger is depressed, the upper part may slide up and down with respect to the lower part so that the height of the support pole may be adjusted.
Each support pole 104a and 104b further comprises support pole crossbar attachment points 110a and 110b, respectively. If each support pole 104a and 104b is adjusted to be approximately the same height, a crossbar 112 may be attached at these points. Each attachment point 110a and 110b is shaped so that crossbar 112 may be secured at the point. In some embodiments, each attachment point 110a and 110b may be a circular structure with a hollow center shaped so that the crossbar 112 may be inserted through the center. Once so inserted, the crossbar 112 may be prevented from sliding horizontally by the attachment of crossbar end caps 114a and 114b. In other embodiments, the attachment points 110a and 110b may be designed to constrict the crossbar once inserted so that it is secured. In these embodiments, end caps 114a and 114b may not be needed. Crossbar 112 may have an adjustable length to that it can be made shorter than the space between the attachment points 110a and 110b to allow for insertion between the poles, and then lengthened so that it then reaches and is securable to attachment points 110a and 110b.
In some embodiments, crossbar 112 may comprise an inner plastic or metal tube with an outer layer of foam or other padded material. In these embodiments, the inner material provides a strong structure while the outer material reduces the shock from impact with the legs or knees of a person exercising. The inner material may be solid or hollow. An important aspect of exercise equipment 100 is that crossbar 112 not be so rigid as to pose a significant risk of injuring a person exercising, even if that person's legs or knees make repeated and rapid contact with the crossbar 112. This functionality may be provided by the inner and outer materials of the crossbar 112, by the flexibility of the support poles 104a and 104b, by the flexibility of the attachment of crossbar 112 to the support poles, or by a combination of these factors.
Also attached to base platform 102 are resistance bands 116a and 116b. Each resistance band 116a and 116b is made of a flexible material that provides resistance when stretched. Therefore, although resistance bands are depicted in a vertical position in
Each resistance band 116a and 116b may be detachable from base platform 102 and, in these and other embodiments, may be attached to base platform 102 at resistance band attachment points 120a and 120b. In some embodiments, resistance band attachment points 120a and 120b may comprise hooks and each resistance band 116a and 116b may comprise a loop at one end shaped to fit over a hook. In other embodiments, resistance band attachment points 120a and 120b may comprise carabiners and each resistance band 116a and 116b may comprise a loop at one end shaped to fit within a carabiner. In these embodiments, the resistance bands 116a and 116b may be quickly attached or released by depressing a spring-loaded gate of a carabiner and inserting or removing the loop of the corresponding resistance band. Although
Also attached to base platform 102 are a first footstop 122 and a second footstop 124. Footstops 122 and 124 provide a place against which an exercising person's feet can be placed for increased leverage during exercises. For example, by the use of a footstop, a person exercising may be able to remain balanced on base platform 102 while exerting additional pull on resistance bands 116a or 116b. In some embodiments, footstops 122 and 124 may be removable from base platform 102 so that more flat space is available on base platform 102 for exercises not requiring the leverage made possible by footstops 122 and 124. In these and other embodiments, footstops 122 and 124 may include pegs extending downward that are shaped to be inserted into corresponding holes in base platform 102. Other methods of reversibly attaching footstops 122 and 124 known to those of ordinary skill in the art may also be used. In some embodiments, a different number and configuration of footstops may be used. For example, some embodiments may include only one footstop and other embodiments may include three or more footstops. Base platform 102 may also include attachment points allowing a single footstop to be attached in multiple places. This allows a person exercising to easily re-configure the position of footstops when switching between exercises that benefit from different footstop positions.
Although the disclosed subject matter has been described and illustrated in the foregoing exemplary embodiments, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example, and that numerous changes in the details of implementation of the disclosed subject matter may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosed subject matter, which is limited only by the claims which follow.
