Patent Application
20240207669
The present invention relates generally to an exercise apparatus, and more particularly, to an exercise apparatus that is attachable to another device or a structure.
Given the persistent global COVID-19 pandemic, many individuals rely on exercise equipment at home rather than at public facilities such as a local fitness center or gym to maintain their physical fitness and overall health. According to Fortune Business Insights (https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/home-fitness-equipment-market-105118), the global market size for home fitness equipment in 2020 exceeded $10 billion. Taking COVID-19 into account, the growth in this market is expected to reach unprecedented levels approaching nearly $15 billion in 2028.
Exercise devices or machines for physical exercise and fitness range from simple dumbbells or jump rope to complex, software-implemented electromechanical devices such as treadmills or elliptical trainers that can cost thousands of dollars. In the case of dumbbells or jump rope, or even some treadmills or elliptical trainers, the workouts that can be performed using such devices are not as diverse as may be desired and are thus somewhat limited. Therefore, it is difficult to achieve and maintain complete physical fitness for all or most parts of the body using such devices. In addition, the complex electromechanical exercise machines are often bulky and heavy, making their portability impractical. Even in relatively large fitness center settings, these exercising machines can present a cluttered atmosphere, which is not conducive to group exercise sessions that facilitate a wide variety of workouts in a more spacious atmosphere.
Additionally, for certain exercises such as Nordic hamstring curls, a helper would be needed during the workout when an apparatus is not used. In the case of Nordic hamstring curls, the exerciser's motion may force the helper to view the exerciser's crotch or rear area repeatedly at a very close distance, thereby creating a potentially uncomfortable and/or unpleasant situation. Also, when the person performing the exercise is a large individual or a strong athlete, the helper may experience physical discomfort during the performance of the task.
Multi-function physical exercisers that are portable are already known. For example, one known portable exercise device is disclosed for use in conjunction with furniture having a support member, wherein an exerciser body has a first end and a second end, the first end adapted to be hooked to the support member and the second end adapted to be placed on a floor and a bar positioned between the first and second ends to secure a user during exercise. The exerciser is disclosed as being useful in strengthening the abdominal area and toning in conjunction with a supporting component, which can be a bed frame. In particular, the user can perform crunching exercises on the abdominal muscles such as upper and lower rectus abdominus, the internal and external abdominal obliques or the transverse abdominus. The user can also exercise the stomach, back, neck, quadriceps, and calves.
Another prior device is disclosed as a stand-up abdominal/back muscle exercise device, which may include a base, a knee support, and an ankle support. Additionally, the stand-up abdominal/back muscle exercise device is described as including a steady post. The ankle support may include a t-bar, a telescoping inner horizontal support shaft, a telescoping inner vertical support shaft, and an ankle padding. The knee support may include a telescoping upright post, a knee support inner shaft, a knee radial pivot lock bracket, a knee cushion, and an upper leg support rest.
Additionally, another prior device is an exercise bench that has a main support frame with a floor engaging member at one end and a folding front leg assembly at the other end, which can be locked in a deployed position or a folded position. A user engaging foot stabilizer is pivotally associated with the front leg, and a thigh support is adjustably mounted on the front leg assembly or main support frame for engaging the thighs of a user when performing exercises while supported on the bench. The thigh support may be separate from or form part of a seat pad mounted on the frame. The bench is described as adjustable between positions for performing abdominal crunch or lower back exercises and adjustable in both positions to allow different users to perform exercises effectively.
Furthermore, a company doing business as Sorinex (Lexington, South Carolina, USA) sells an exercise device identified as “Removable Thigh Pad Attachment” (https://www.sorinex.com/collections/weightlifting-attachments/products/removable-thigh-pad-attachment). The product is described as follows: “Easily attach this space saving removable design to your rack or Functional Cable Column for Nordic hamstring curls, single leg squats, or combine with The Bulldog™ Pad and Strength Bands for a lat pull variation. Made of American steel, and two 16″ roller pads upholstered in Double Stitched Premium Naugahyde Leather.” Its configuration, construction, and design, however, limit its versatility in terms of being able to be attached easily to a permanent structure such as a wall, its ability to attach exercise or resistance bands directly, and its ability to facilitate a much wider variety of workouts.
Thus, despite the existence of such prior exercising devices, there remains a need in the art for a versatile exercise apparatus that can be used to perform a number of different exercise workouts including, but not limited to, nordic hamstring curls, single leg squats, lateral pulls, sit ups, push-ups, etc. There also remains a need in the art to provide an exercise apparatus that is small and compact, portable, and can be in used in conjunction with other exercise devices.
The present invention is directed to an exercise apparatus or device that is small and compact, and, therefore, may be conveniently portable and easily transportable. The exercise apparatus can be removably attached to another apparatus or device (e.g., another exercising machine) or can be attached securely to any suitable structure, such as to stud(s) in a wall, to concrete, or to a secured stand-alone pole or rack beam.
In one exemplary embodiment, the exercise apparatus of the present invention may comprise:
at least two bar members attached transversely to the support member,
In another aspect, the bar members may each be attached at approximately a respective central portion thereof to the support member. When it is in use, the exercise apparatus may be oriented and secured such that the support member is substantially vertical relative to the floor, while the at least two spaced-apart bar members are substantially horizontal relative to the floor.
In another aspect, the exercise apparatus may be configured to secure an elastic resistance band to allow additional exercises or workouts. For example, one or more of the spaced-apart bar members may be provided with a suitable attachment structure, such as a hook or closed loop element, to engage a first end of a clip or ring that may be engaged at its second end to the elastic resistance band. Alternatively, the clip or ring engaged at its second end to the elastic resistance band may be secured at its first end to a suitable attachment structure, such as a hook or closed loop, provided in the support member.
The exercise apparatus allows for a diverse workouts regimen that includes but not limited to, Nordic hamstring curls, single leg squats, and lat pulls. Because of its compact size and shape, the exercising apparatus is suitable for use in both a home setting and even in a large fitness center setting where multiple exercise machines can be installed for group workout sessions without cluttering the area.
In another aspect, one or more of the bar members are padded with a cushioning material on one or both sides of the support member.
In another aspect, one or more of the bar members are padded with a cushioning material circumferentially along at least a major portion of the length of either side of each bar member with respect to the support member.
In another aspect, the bar members may each be attached at approximately a respective central portion thereof to the support member.
In another aspect, the support member may be provided with two or more openings along its length for use in attaching or fastening the at least two bar members at a spaced-apart configuration.
In another aspect, the support member may be provided with multiple openings along the entire length thereof.
In another aspect, the support member may be made of rigid steel and the at least two bar members may be made of rigid steel. The at least two bar members may be attached to the support member with bolts or screws. Alternatively, the at least two bar members may be attached to the support member by a curve-shaped bracket that may be secured to the support member.
In another aspect, one or more of the at least two bar members may be provided with an attachment element for securing a ring or clip that may be engaged to an elastic resistance band. The attachment element on one or more of the at least two bar members may comprise a hook or closed loop.
In another aspect, an opening on the support member may be engaged with a ring or clip that may be engaged to an elastic band.
In another aspect, the support member is secured to one or more studs in a wall, an exercise rack, another exercise device, a concrete wall, or a stand-alone post.
The preferred embodiments of the invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings provided to illustrate and not to limit the invention, where like designations denote like elements, and in which:
Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, which is defined by the claims. For purposes of description herein, the terms “top”, “bottom”, “upper”, “lower”, “left”, “rear”, “right”, “front”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary, or the following detailed description. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.
Shown throughout the figures, the present invention is directed toward an exercise apparatus or device that can be removably attached to another apparatus or device (e.g., another exercising machine) or can be attached securely to any suitable structure, such as to stud(s) in a wall, to concrete, or to a secured stand-alone pole or rack beam (e.g., upright standalone exercise rig).
With reference to
The support member 102 and the bar members 104 and 106 may be made of a suitable material that can provide sufficient rigidity and strength to withstand the forces to which they will be subjected repeated vigorous workouts. Such materials may include but are not limited to rigid, high strength metallic materials.
The particular cross-sectional shapes of the support member 102 are not particularly limited but should be configured to facilitate a sufficiently attachment to another apparatus or other structural member and to each of the bar members 104 and 106. Structural members include but are not limited to a stud in a wall, concrete, or a fixed pole, such as a rack (e.g., pole or rack 122 shown in
The at least two bar members 104 and 106 of the exercise device 100 may be arranged along the support member 102 in a spaced-apart, substantially parallel configuration with respect to each other. Attaching the at least two bar members 104 and 106 to the support member may include but is not limited to threaded screws, nuts and bolts/washers, welding, etc. The at least two bar members 104 and 106 are attached transversely to the support member 102 (e.g., substantially perpendicularly). The at least two bar members 104 and 106 can have any suitable cross-sectional shape, but a cylindrical shape as shown in
In one exemplary configuration, the series of openings 120 in the support member 102 may be used to facilitate adjustability of the spacing between the bar members 104 and 106 depending on which openings 120, if any, are used for their attachment. The spacing between the two bar members 104 and 106 may be adjusted such that, for example, a person's ankles and feet can be comfortably engaged to the exercise apparatus 100 during the performance of a workout such as Nordic hamstring curls, as depicted in
In one exemplary embodiment, the length of the support member 102 and the at least two bar members 104 and 106 may each be approximately 16 inches. The outer diameters and lengths of the padded portions on each side of the bar members 104 and 106 relative to the support member 102 as a center (i.e., the outer diameter and length of each of the cushioning materials 108, 110, 112, and 114) may be approximately 4 inches and 7 inches, respectively. The foregoing dimensions should be understood to be exemplary and not limiting.
Referring now to
The exercise device 100 is compact in size and shape, suitable for use in both a home setting and even in a large fitness center setting where multiple exercise machines can be installed for group workout sessions without cluttering the area. The exercise device 100 is also portable and easy to mount. As seen on
Since many modifications, variations, and changes in detail can be made to the described preferred embodiments of the invention, it is intended that all matters in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claim(s) and their legal equivalents.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 63/435,160 filed on Dec. 23, 2022, which is incorporated herein in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63435160 | Dec 2022 | US |
