Patent Application
20230347202
The present invention is directed to core strengthening exercise equipment and routines, and in particular, an apparatus and method that greatly improve the benefits of an exercise commonly referred to as a plank.
Core strengthening exercises have become widely accepted as an important exercise regimen. Such exercises strengthen core muscles, including abdominal muscles, back muscles and the muscles around the pelvis. The core muscles keep people upright, balanced, and mobile. Strong core muscles lead to better balance and stability, making it easier to do many physical activities. Thus, strong core muscles are important to achieve and maintain.
A particularly good core exercise is commonly referred to as a “plank.” A plank is a simple, but effective bodyweight core exercise that help build stability and strength throughout the entire body, but in particular, it can strengthen the spine, rhomboids and trapezius, and abdominal muscles, which can result in better posture and bone alignment.
Although planks are effective promoting skeletal and muscle health, they typically are static, i.e., the user typically does not move during the plank, or if they do, it is a very limited movement, for example the lifting of a leg momentarily. Thus, although the benefits of planks are significant, the generally static nature of the exercise naturally limits its potential benefits.
Thus, the present invention is directed to equipment, and a method, specifically designed to facilitate dynamic plank exercises that can greatly enhance the quality and benefits of ordinary planks.
In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, apparatus for facilitating a dynamic plank exercise comprises a generally horizontally disposed structure, a plurality of legs supporting, at their upper ends, the structure, rollers disposed on lower ends of the plurality of legs and adapted to rest upon a floor surface, the rollers allowing the legs, and the structure, to be translated relative to the floor surface, and a pair straps vertically suspended from the structure, the straps adapted to support the users' legs, whereby, the users may place their legs in the straps and perform exercises with the users' arms supported by the floor surface, wherein the users are able to translate their legs relative to their arms as the structure is translated on the floor surface. The rollers provide substantially 360 degrees of movement, such that the users can draw their knees forward and backward to perform a back-and-forth motion while their legs are in the straps and their arms are supported by the floor surface, and can rotate their legs relative to their arms to perform a side-to-side motion while their legs are in the straps and their arms are supported by the floor surface.
The structure may be a horizontally disposed platform, and four legs may support the structure. A strap support may also be provided, wherein the straps are supported by the structure by the strap support which, in turn, is adjustably supported by the structure, such that the vertical position of the straps relative to the floor surface can be adjusted. The apparatus can further comprise a vertical shaft attached to and extending below the structure, and wherein the strap support is adjustably supported on the vertical shaft. The vertical shaft can be provided with a plurality of holes or detents, and the strap support is provided with a pin adapted to be positioned in one of the plurality of holes or detents in the vertical shaft to provide vertical adjustment of the straps relative to the floor surface. Additionally, the vertical position of the vertical shaft can be adjusted relative to the structure.
A method for facilitating a plank exercise in accordance with a second aspect of the invention comprises providing a pair of straps supported above, but moveable relative to, a floor surface, supporting a user's legs in a pair of straps, supporting the user's arms on the floor surface to thereby facilitate a plank position, and moving the user's legs from side-to-side and back and forth relative to the user's arms, to thereby facilitate a dynamic plank. The method may further comprise adjusting the vertical position of the pair of straps.
These and other objects and aspects of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the following drawings.
With reference to the figures, the dynamic plank apparatus 10 of the present invention includes four legs 12a-12d upon which is mounted a structure, for example, a rectangular platform 14, the upper ends of the legs positioned at the corners of the platform. The lower ends of each of the legs are provided with rollers 16a-16d providing substantially 360 degrees of movement such that the apparatus 10 is freely moveable in any direction. Although axially mounted, rotatable wheels are shown in the figures, ball and socket or other types of rollers may be used, as long as they provide the necessary degrees of freedom of movement, as described below. The lower portions of legs 12a-12d preferably are interconnected, as shown, by a stabilizing frame 18 to stabilize the apparatus and avoid undue flexure thereof.
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The dynamic plank method enabled through the use of the dynamic plank apparatus will be described with reference to
The flexibility to dynamically move their legs in this manner adds a new dimension to users' exercise routine, by enhancing the quality and benefits of ordinary planks.
It will be understood that various changes in the details and arrangements of the apparatus and method which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention may be made by those skilled in the art within the principle and scope of the invention as expressed in the following claims.
