Patent Application
20060122043
This invention relates to exercise apparatus.
The invention provides exercise apparatus which includes a structure which, in use, rests on the floor and at least one resistance device which is engaged with the structure and which is actuable against a reaction force generated by the mass of a user on the structure.
The structure may be of any appropriate shape or size and be made from any appropriate material e.g. moulded from a suitable plastics material.
In a preferred form of the invention the structure includes opposed first and second ends and at least first and second resistance devices which are engaged at spaced locations with the structure at least at the first end.
Preferably the first and second resistance devices are also engaged at spaced locations with the structure at the second end.
The structure may include opposed third and fourth ends which are positioned between the first and second ends.
The structure may be in the nature of a continuous sheet or it may include one or more openings through which at least part of the floor is visible. The latter feature may be adopted for aesthetic or material-saving reasons.
As used herein the phrase “floor” includes any underlying support, e.g. the ground, a conventional floor or the like, upon which the exercise apparatus rests.
In one form of the invention the structure comprises a framework formed from a plurality of interengaged frame members. The structure, in this example, may be of generally rectangular outline, viewed in plan, with the first and second ends being formed respectively by first and second frame members and the third and fourth ends being formed respectively by third and fourth frame members. The first and second resistance devices may respectively extend alongside and adjacent at least the third and fourth frame members.
A central opening may optionally be formed between the first, second, third and fourth frame members.
In a different form of the invention the structure is formed at least by first and second frame sections which, preferably, are pivotally movable relatively to each other between a first, operative, position at which both frame sections lie on the floor and a second, storage or transport, position at which one frame section is superimposed on the other frame section.
The frame sections may for example be attached to each other by means of suitable hinges or hinge material or the like.
Each frame section may be of any suitable shape. In one example each frame member is in the nature of a U with adjacent first limbs of each respective frame section forming a first end of the structure and adjacent second limbs of each respective frame section forming a second end of the structure. The third and fourth ends of the structure may be defined by respective bases of the U-shaped frame sections.
Each resistance device may be of any appropriate type. It is preferred however for each resistance device to be made from an extensible member such as a spring or elastic band. In the latter case each elastic band may pass over one or more pulleys.
Each extensible member may be accommodated at least partly in a suitable formation formed in or on a respective frame section. Preferably the arrangement is such that when the frame sections are folded into the second, storage or transport position the various resistance devices are enclosed, at least partly, inside the superimposed frame sections.
The invention further extends to an exercise arrangement which includes exercise apparatus of the aforementioned kind and a user support device on top of the structure which provides support for a user who is working on the or each resistance device and which transmits a reaction force, generated by the user's mass, to the structure so that it remains on the floor or ground.
In a preferred form of the invention the user support device is movable with a substantially rocking motion as a user acts on the resistance device or devices.
Depending on the force levels which are generated by a user the support device can be moved by the user relatively to the exercise apparatus so as to counter any tendency of the exercise apparatus to lift off the ground during use thereof.
The user support device may be of any appropriate kind but preferably is an inflatable device.
The exercise apparatus and the user support device may be shaped and dimensioned so that part of a lower surface of the user support device rests on the floor and part on an upper surface portion of the exercise apparatus. This feature is by no means essential and may be adopted for aesthetic, constructional or material-saving reasons only.
The invention is further described by way of examples with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
The frame structure 12 has first and second frame members 22 and 24 respectively and third and fourth frame members 26 and 28 respectively.
The frame members 22 and 24 respectively define first and second ends of the frame structure and are spaced apart and are parallel to each other. Similarly the frame members 26 and 28 define third and fourth ends of the frame structure. These frame members are also spaced apart and are parallel to each other and extend between the frame members 22 and 24. A central opening 30 is formed between the encircling frame members through which an underlying ground or floor support is visible.
Each resistance device 14 to 20 comprises a respective rubber band 34. The construction of only the resistance device 14 is described herein for the resistance devices are substantially similar to each other.
The elastic band 34 of the device 14 is anchored at one end 36 to a suitable attachment component 38 which is fixed to the frame member 22 at a respective end thereof. The band 34 extends to a pulley 40 fixed to one end of the frame member 24 directly opposing the attachment component 38. The band then returns to a pulley 42 which is mounted to the attachment component 38 and terminates in a lug or similar mechanism 44 to which is attached a handle 48 which can be gripped by a user. The handle is shown detached from the lug but normally is secured thereto.
The various frame members are interengaged through the use of suitable T-connectors 50. The frame members can be permanently engaged with the T-connectors or can be releasably engaged therewith to enable the frame structure to be disassembled into a compact mode (not shown) for storage and transport purposes.
The manner in which the exercise apparatus 10 is used is similar to the manner in which the apparatus shown in
The limbs 66 and 66A, and 68 and 68A, have relatively flat, planar upper surfaces. Upper edge surfaces of the bases 70 and 70A, on the other hand, are curved outwardly substantially the form of inverted channel sections.
As is shown in dotted outline in
The resistance devices 14A and 14B include two elastic bands designated 34A and 34B respectively. The band 34A extends around the pulley 84 and is connected to a handle, not shown, similar to the handle 48 shown in
The frame sections 62 and 64 are shaped and dimensioned so that a central opening 106 is formed between the frame sections. The ground or floor on which the exercise apparatus rests is visible through this opening.
FIGS. 6 to 9 are perspective, side, plan and end views respectively of the exercise apparatus 58 illustrating how it is used together with a user support device 110. In combination the exercise apparatus 58 and the user support device 110 are referred to herein as an “exercise arrangement”.
The user support device 110 may be of any appropriate kind but in a preferred form of the invention the user support device is made from an inflatable material. The user support device is preferably of the kind described in the specification of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/639,525 and the content of that specification is hereby wholly incorporated into this specification.
The user support device, in this example, includes a lower convex ground engaging surface 112 and an upper surface 114 formed by a convex end 116, a concave seat region 118 and a relatively large convex back supporting region 120. The upper surface 114 further includes a plurality of pockets, defined by inflatable sections of material, which extend over the end 116 and the back region 120.
The apparatus 58 and the support device 110 are shaped and dimensioned so that, as is shown particularly in
It is possible for a user, not shown, to make use of the support device 110 in a manner which has been described in the specification of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/639,525 without making active use of the exercise apparatus 60. The benefit in this regard is that as the user goes through an exercise routine which may cause the user support device to move to and fro, the stability of the user support device is enhanced by virtue of the fact that, at least to some extent, it is guided for movement by the underlying exercise apparatus on which it rests.
A primary objective, however, with the exercise arrangement of the invention (the combined exercise apparatus and the user support device) is that a user on the support device is able to work on the resistance devices 14A and 14B while seated or otherwise resting on the user support device. Thus, for example, with the exercise arrangement in the
If the support device 110 is turned around, when viewed in plan, by 180°, then the end 116 is adjacent the limbs 68 and 68A. The user can then effectively lie on the upper support surface 114 with the back passing over the region 120, grip the handles 48 and do bench press movements or arm curls with the arms starting at positions below then torso and then extending upwardly.
In each of the aforementioned exercise modes the user support device transfers the user's mass and a force which is dependent on the forces exerted by the actuated resistance bands, to the underlying exercise apparatus. The exercise apparatus is of a rigid construction but the user support device is resiliently compressible and is in the nature of a cushion. The support device thus acts as an effective interface between the user and the exercise apparatus providing contoured and body-engaging support for the user.
In use of the exercise arrangement there is a natural tendency for the user support device to move to and fro relatively to the exercise apparatus as the force which is exerted by the user varies and as the orientation of the user's body varies. As the user support device rests freely on the exercise apparatus but otherwise is constrained to some extent to move in a particular direction by the outwardly bulging edge formations 70 and 70A, which act as guide formations, the aforementioned type of relative movement is readily accommodated and allowed for but in a manner which ensures that the user is at all times given firm, comfortable and effective support.
Another factor is that the position of the user support device can be moved relatively to the exercise apparatus to take account of the forces which are generated by the user. If these forces are high there could be a tendency for the exercise apparatus to be lifted thereby. This can be countered by moving the support device closer to the pulleys at which the handles 48 are located for the effective moment (force x distance) exerted on the exercise device is then reduced.
Various other modes of use of the exercise apparatus, not described herein, will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
The resistance forces generated by the resistance bands can be varied by changing the band material or its dimensions or by increasing or reducing the number of bands which are connected to the respective handles.
The resistance bands can also be configured in different ways. For example handles can be attached to opposed ends of a single band, or a number of bands which are in parallel to each other. In this arrangement both arms then act on one resistance device, as opposed to the situation which has been described wherein each arm acts on a separate resistance device.
When the exercise apparatus 58 is not in use it can be folded into a compact form as shown in
As previously mentioned the exercise apparatus 10 can be used essentially in the same way as the apparatus 58. The use of the apparatus 10 is therefore not further described herein.
The shape of the exercise apparatus can be varied in any appropriate way taking into account constructional and operational requirements, costs, aesthetic factors and other aspects. Thus it is to be understood that the exercise apparatus is not restricted, in shape, to the examples illustrated herein.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004/9766 | Dec 2004 | ZA | national |
