Patent Application
20240245948
The present invention relates to a portable exercise apparatus to support a user's weight in various positions and at various angles while performing different types of exercises. More specifically, the present invention includes a main body member having a spherical base, a shaft, and a telescoping member having a padded upper surface.
Many different types of devices are used to support a person's weight, or provide for a person to be in the proper position for different types of exercises and weight lifting workouts. Weightlifting benches are typically padded supports that have a rack at one end for holding barbell type weights. Many weightlifting benches also include adjustable inclines, so that a user may adjust their position while lifting weights or performing other exercises.
However, most of those types of weightlifting devices are stationary in nature, and are not mobile or portable. Additionally, there is a need for a more versatile exercise apparatus that a user may lean on to partially support the user's weight in a variety of angled positions. Different types of weight-supporting devices have been developed for various purposes. The following documents illustrate examples of these types of devices, and each of these documents are hereby incorporated by reference herein, in their entireties:
U.S. Pat. No. 4,498,204
A support system is disclosed which is primarily intended to provide a sturdy and convenient means to be manually grasped by a handicapped or infirm person while raising or lowering themselves, moving from place to place, or simply to provide support in a given position. The basic component of the system is a vertical pole made up of at least two hollow, elongated rods, one of which is telescoped axially into the other. Bottom and top plates on opposite ends of the pole provide parallel, non-slip surfaces for frictional engagement between floor and ceiling, or other horizontal surfaces, with the top plate preferably having a surface much larger than that of the bottom plate. The upper and lower telescoping rods are joined by two distinct connecting means; one such connecting means movable between engaged and disengaged positions wherein relative axial, sliding movement of the two rods is, respectively, prevented and permitted to bring the pole assembly quickly to the approximate desired length, while the other is a threaded connection for making finer length adjustments and frictionally engaging the pole at a desired location. Horizontal bars and/or manual grip rings may be positioned at any desired height, supported by frictional clamp-type support means on two or more of such pole assemblies.
U.S. Pat. No. 10,391,011
A support pole including a support member including a longitudinal axis, a floor mount on a first end of the support member, a ceiling mount on a second end opposite the first end of the support member; and at least one handle coupled to the support member. The handle is positionable 360 degrees about the support member and along the longitudinal axis between the first end and the second end.
US Patent Application Pub. No. 2018/0252038
A portable step device is disclosed herein. The portable step device includes a step support surface with a top-side, the step support surface further having a surface-covering affixed to the top-side. The device also features a support rod having a length, a step-end, a base-end, a front-side and a back-side, where the support rod is fixed to the bottom-side of the step support surface and configured to elevate the step support surface away from a terrain. In addition, the device includes a base support surface having a support-rod side and a ground-side to provide stability for bracing the support rod and the step support surface on the terrain.
The present invention is directed to an exercise device that is configured to partially support the weight of a user who leans on the device, wherein the device may be tilted at various angles during physical workouts and exercise. In one embodiment, the present invention includes a main body member having a spherical base, a shaft, and a telescoping member having an upper surface that preferably includes a cushion or padding. The spherical base allows the device to tilt at any desired angle, so that a person may use the device like a kickstand while performing various exercises, particularly including arm and shoulder exercises, and the like. The user may place the device at the desired angle, and position the cushioned upper surface so that it is in contact with the user's chest or torso, for example. The user may use the device to partially support his or her weight while leaning at a diagonal angle, in order to perform various upper body exercises.
The exercise device preferably includes a spherical base and a hollow shaft extending radially away from the base. The telescoping member is inserted into the hollow shaft, and the telescoping member may define a series of holes along one side thereof. The hollow shaft may also define a hole for receiving a locking pin or the like, so that the telescoping member may be adjusted lengthwise. To adjust the height or length of the device, a user simply moves the telescoping member inwardly or outwardly from the shaft, lines up the desired hole in the telescoping member with the hole in the side of the shaft, and inserts the locking pin. In one embodiment, the locking pin is built into a spring-loaded locking mechanism, so that the locking pin is attached to a knob, which may be pulled outwardly away from the shaft in order to adjust the height of the telescoping member with respect to the shaft. Once the holes are lined up in the desired position, a user may release the knob, and the spring-loaded locking pin is forced by the spring through the holes to secure the telescoping member in the desired position.
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description and accompanying drawings where:
As shown in
In one embodiment, the locking pin is part of a spring-loaded locking mechanism 24 including a housing 26, a spring-loaded locking pin, and a knob 28. In this embodiment, a user may simply pull the knob 28 away from the housing 26, thereby releasing the locking pin, and then may move the telescoping member 16 either inwardly or outwardly with respect to the hollow shaft 14, as shown in
Optionally, one or more handle members 30 may be attached to a side of the shaft 14. It is also contemplated that the cushion 20 attached to the surface plate 18 may be removable therefrom, in some embodiments, for purposes of cleaning or replacement.
In use, the exercise device 10 partially supports the weight of a user who leans on the device, so that the device may be tilted at various angles during physical workouts and exercise. Taller users may wish to extend the telescoping member 16 further out and away from the hollow shaft 14 to accommodate their height. A user may position the device so that it is tilted at an angle, and then position the surface plate and cushion against their chest or torso, so that the user's body is positioned at a generally diagonal angle, as shown in
The spherical base 12 and the hollow shaft member 14 may be integrally formed as a monolithic unit, or may be assembled, welded, or attached together in any suitable manner. Similarly, the telescoping member 16 and surface plate 18 may be integrally formed as a monolithic unit, or may be assembled, welded, or attached together in any suitable manner. The cushion 20 may be removably attached to the surface plate 18 in any suitable manner, including, by way of example, snaps, snap-fit mechanisms, screws, bolts, hook and loop fastening material, or the cushion 20 may be permanently attached to the surface plate 18.
Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein. All features disclosed in this specification may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.
