Patent Grant
12161911
The present invention relates to a new and improved exercise apparatus. In particular, the present invention relates to an exercise apparatus that is manually operated and targets the gluteal muscle group by providing optimal positioning and support of the user's buttocks and feet during the exercise.
The three main muscles of the human gluteal group, the gluteus maximus, medius, and minimus (the “glutes”) make up the buttocks and one of the largest muscle groups in the human body. The glutes are the physical foundation that allows humans to stand upright and maintain the trunk in an erect posture. The glutes allow the body to regain an erect position after stooping and also collectively act as a rotator of the legs. Further, the glutes power human's bipedal locomotion, from walking to running, jumping or moving laterally. In addition, a well-formed buttocks is typically viewed as an integral part of an attractive appearance.
Despite the importance of the glutes, many people have underdeveloped glutes. Modern lifestyles often involve large amounts of sitting, which effectively shuts down the glutes. Thus, numerous exercises, including squats and lunges, have been developed to target the gluteal muscles. These exercises, which traditionally rely upon the carrying of a barbell on the shoulders of the individual, require some level of dexterity and balance, as well as strength to lift the barbell into position. It may be uncomfortable for the user to support and maintain the weights in the proper position. For effective exercise, proper form is required. Exercise devices, such as a power cage or an upright frame known as a Smith machine, can be used to perform squats, and allow the weights to travel vertically along a predetermined path, preventing the barbell from moving forwards, backwards or sideways.
Proper from is particularly important for squat exercises. To optimally load the glutes in a squat exercise, a forward motion of the trunk must be counterbalanced with backward motion of the hips, and, at the same time, the spine must be stabilized. This requires bodily awareness, coordination, stability, and balance. However, unless an individual has been specifically trained for the proper motion, the squat will often be performed wrongly, for example, in a quad-dominant fashion that can stress the knees and back without actually improving the glutes.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,375,607 (“the '607 patent”), which is to the assignee of the subject application and which is incorporated by reference in its entirety, describes an exercise apparatus that can be used to properly exercise the glutes and methods for properly exercising the glutes. The apparatus described in the '607 patent includes uprights having handles, a buttocks support assembly, and foot ramps that are configured to support part of the user's feet during the exercise. In the exercises described therein, a user is positioned such that the user's buttocks is in contact with the pad and the user holds onto the handles, with the buttocks support assembly being in an initial, generally horizontal position, such that the gluteal muscles are in the state of initial tension to maintain the contact with the pad. During the exercise, the user is made to move with the buttocks assembly pivoting downwardly to a lower position in a slow controlled motion by controlled action of the gluteal group, and then the buttocks assembly is returned to the starting position by a controlled gluteal group action, with the user's arms remaining in a fully extended position throughout a full range of exercise motion. The apparatus and method described in the '607 patent provide an effective exercise for the gluteal muscles.
U.S. Pat. No. 11,117,017 (“the '017 patent”), which is to the assignee of the subject application and which is incorporated by reference in its entirety, describes another type of apparatus that can be used to exercise the glutes and methods for exercising the glutes. The apparatus described in the '017 patent includes uprights having handles, a buttocks support assembly, and a foot ramp that is configured to support part of the user's feet during the exercise. The apparatus also includes a weight stack that is operatively connected buttocks support assembly. During exercise, the weight stack provides a resistive force motion of the buttocks assembly downwardly and an assistive force in motion of the buttocks support assembly upward. The apparatus described in the '017 patent is generally suitable for commercial-type use, such as in a gym.
Embodiments of the invention descried herein provide for improvements to the exercise described in the '607 and '017 patents. The exercises described herein even further targets the gluteal muscles through positioning and support of the user's buttocks and feet on the exercise apparatus.
According to one aspect of the invention, an exercise apparatus comprises a base including at least one beam extending in a direction X and at least one upright beam connected to the base and extending upward of the base in a direction Y that is perpendicular to the direction X, with the upright beam including at least one handle area configured to be held by a user and the upright beam being positioned at a front side of the apparatus. A buttocks support assembly is positioned rearward of the upright beam, the buttocks support assembly being pivotal with respect to the at least one upright beam between a first position and a second position, with the first position being farther from the base in the direction Y than the second position is from the base in the direct Y. A foot ramp structure is positioned rearward of the upright beam, with the foot ramp structure including at least one foot support surface having a surface area sufficient to support substantially all of the user's feet in a position that is elevated off the ground.
According to another aspect of the invention, an exercise apparatus comprises a base including at least one beam extending in a direction X and at least one upright beam connected to the base and extending upward of the base in a direction Y that is perpendicular to the direction X, the upright beam including at least one handle area configured to be held by a user, with the upright beam being positioned at a front side of the apparatus. A buttocks support assembly is positioned rearward of the upright beam, the buttocks support assembly being pivotal with respect to the at least one upright beam between a first position and a second position, with the first position being farther from the base in the direction Y than the second position is from the base in the direction Y, and the buttocks support assembly including a surface configured to support the buttocks of the user. The apparatus also includes a foot ramp structure positioned rearward of the upright beam, the foot ramp structure including at least one foot support surface configured to support the user's feet. The apparatus is configured such that when the buttocks support assembly is in the first position, a distance in the direction X from a center of the surface of the buttocks support surface to a center of the foot support surface is about 30 cm to about 60 cm, and a distance in the direction Y from the center of the surface of the buttocks support surface to a center of the foot support surface is about 80 cm to about 90 cm.
According to another aspect, an exercise apparatus includes a base including at least one beam extending in a direction X. At least one upright beam is connected to the base and extends upward of the base in a direction Y that is perpendicular to the direction X, with the upright beam including at least one handle area configured to be held by a user, and with the upright beam being positioned at a front side of the apparatus. A buttocks support assembly is positioned rearward of the upright beam, the buttocks support assembly being pivotal with respect to the at least one upright handle between a first position and a second position, with the first position being farther from the base in the direction Y than the second position is from the base in the direction Y. A linking rod connects the base and the buttocks support assembly. A foot ramp structure is positioned rearward of the upright beam, with the foot ramp structure including at least one foot support surface having a surface area of at least about 500 cm2 to support the user's feet in a position that is elevated off the ground. The at least one foot support surface is formed at an angle of about 10° to about 35° relative to the ground.
According to yet another embodiment of the invention, an exercise apparatus is provided for a squat exercise. The apparatus includes a base including at least one beam, And at least one upright beam connected to the base and extending upward of the base, with the upright beam including at least one handle area configured to be held by a user, and the upright beam being positioned at a front side of the apparatus. A buttocks support assembly is positioned rearward of the upright beam, with the buttocks support assembly being pivotal with respect to the at least one upright handle between a first position and a second position, and with the first position being higher than the second position. The apparatus also includes a weight support beam operatively connected to the buttocks support assembly, the weight support beam being configured to support one or more weights. A foot ramp structure is positioned between the upright beam and the buttocks support assembly, with the foot ramp structure including at least one foot support surface having a surface area sufficient to support substantially all of the user's feet in a position that is elevated off the ground
A fuller understanding of embodiments of the present invention will be achieved upon consideration of the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment of the invention, when reviewed in conjunction with the annexed figures wherein:
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to an exercise apparatus of the general type in which the user is supported by the apparatus to perform a squatting maneuver, with the device allowing control over both the squatting maneuver and return of the user to the upright position.
As seen in drawings, and particularly
A pair of upright beams 20 extend upwardly from the base beams 14 and terminate at their upper ends in a pair of handles 22. The handles 22 may be provided with a cushioned covering, as known in the art, to provide a comfortable surface for the user's hands. The handles 22 may also be adjustable in height to accommodate users of varying heights. The upright beams 20 may be pivotally connected to the base beams 14 to allow them to be folded downwardly to a storage position, as will be discussed below. Those skilled in the art will recognize that other configurations of the base beams 14, upright beams 20 and handles 22 are possible, such as a single base beam, single upright beam and single handle structure.
The upright beams 20 provide a mounting for the forward end of buttocks pad support arm 24, which likewise may be pivotally connected to the upright beams 20 by a transverse rod 26. The arm 24 supports at its distal end buttock pad surface 28 which, when the arm is in an upper, generally horizontal, position, defines an acute angle with respect to the horizontal. The angle may be on the order of 45 degrees. The support arm 24 may be of a telescoping construction, the overall length of which may be maintained by locking knob assembly 30 which, in accordance with known methods, can apply retaining pressure against the inner telescoping element and/or pass a pin through a chosen one of a plurality of spaced holes in the inner element aligned with the knob assembly.
A linkage system 32 including at least one rod connects the base 12 and the pad support arm 24. In depicted embodiment of the invention, the linkage system 32 includes a biasing element, such as damper. The biasing element provides an opposing force against downward motion of the buttocks pad 28 and support arm 24, as well as a returning force to drive the pad and support arm upward from a lowered position. The damper may be adjustable to control the force level. As depicted, the damper may be a shock absorber-like unit, providing a resistance to compression of the damper piston into the damper body and providing a restoring force directed to extension of the piston to the extended position. In some embodiments, a dial structure may be included to allow a user to change the resistance to compression provided by the damper. Also, the adjustment may be performed, for example, by varying the connection position of the damper along the base through selective mounting in a chosen one of the spaced holes 34 in u-shaped retainer 36. As the angle of the damper with respect to the vertical increases, the degree of compression effected by the travel of piston rod 38 lessens over the range of support arm motion, with a corresponding lessening in the amount of force needed for the compression.
The base beams 14 also support a pair of foot ramps 40 that project outwardly and upwardly from the beams 14, with the foot ramps 40 positioned rearward the upright beams 20. The foot ramps 40 will be described in detail below. It should be noted that while the depicted exercise apparatus 10 includes two foot ramps 40 on opposite sides of the apparatus 10, in other embodiments a single foot ramp structure could be provide, with the single structure providing surface areas on the two sides of the apparatus 10 for the users feet to be placed. An example of singular foot ramp structure will also be described below.
As detailed in
As discussed above, the '607 patent describes an apparatus and method that provide for an effective exercise of the gluteal muscles. The apparatuses and methods described herein provide for even more effective exercises through different positioning of the user during a squatting exercise. This positioning is enabled, in part, through the configuration and placement of the foot ramps relative to the rest of the apparatus as described herein, with the foot ramps supporting the user's feet at positions that are elevated off of the ground.
The foot support surface area of the foot ramps and elevated foot positioning afforded by the foot ramps provide several benefits. For example, the foot ramps present a surface area for different foot positioning and foot angles (e.g, with toes pointed inward or outward). Having a broader surface area enables more comprehensive foot positioning options and enables users of different body proportions more options to find a foot position that suites herself or himself. Changes in foot positioning allows squats to be performed with the apparatus that target specific aspects of hip and glute development via relatively wider or narrow stances. For example, wider stances can involve more hip adduction/inner thigh strengthening. Changes in foot angle also allow for more variability in hip joint rotation, which thereby gives access to different neuromuscular motor patterns for more fully developed hip and gluteal strengthening. Moreover, by allowing for different foot positions, more advanced squatting exercises can be performed.
As yet another benefit, the elevated angle of the foot ramps relative to the buttocks support pad of the apparatus makes it easier for the user to keep their body weight in their heels and thereby correct a natural tendency for a user to pull her or his weight forward into their toes during a squatting exercise. In other words, the positioning of the user on an apparatus with foot ramps according to embodiments of the invention shifts the user's weight back into the heels and thereby helps load the glutes during a squatting exercise. In addition, the positioning of the user on an apparatus with foot ramps frees up neurological energy by helping the user to find the right heel pressure without having to dorsiflex their ankles (i.e. pull the top of feet upward). That is, the positioning and angle of the foot ramps naturally positions the user to push through their heels the better heel pressure enables a snore direct connection to the posterior chain of muscles, and, thus, better glute activation.
The squatting motion that is induced by the apparatus as shown in
In order to align the user in a position that will achieve benefits such as those described above, in embodiments of the invention the exercise apparatus 10 is configured with particular ranges of distances in the horizontal X direction and vertical Y direction between the pad surface 28 and the foot ramps 40. In this regard, a distance X1 is a distance from a center C28 of the pad surface 28 to the center C40 of each of the foot support surfaces of the foot ramps 40 as measured in the horizontal direction, and a distance Y1 is a distance from a center C28 of the pad surface 28 to the center C40 of each of the foot support surfaces of the foot ramps 40 as measured in the vertical direction. Note, as the center of the pad surface 28 is not positioned directly over the centers C40 of each of the foot ramps in the vertical direction and the center of the pad surface 28 not directly aligned horizontally with each of the foot ramps, as can be seen in
When the buttocks support assembly is in an uppermost position as shown in
As shown in
In more specific embodiments of the invention, the angle α may be between about 13° to about 25°. In still more specific embodiments, the angle α is about 15° to about 20°. In a particular embodiment the angle is about 18°.
As shown in
In embodiments of the invention, the foot support surface 402 is sized such that substantially all of an adult user's foot may set on the foot support surface 402. For example, the surface may be sized to have a length L of at least about 20 cm and a width of at least about 15 cm to thereby provide a surface area of at least about 300 cm2 to accommodate substantially all (if not all) of an adult user's foot. As another example, the surface may be sized to provide a surface area of at least about 500 cm2 to accommodate most all adult users' feet. In a particular embodiment, the foot support surface 402 has a length of about 27 cm and a width of about 19 cm to thereby provide a surface area of about 513 cm2. Those skilled in the art will appreciate how the length L and width W dimensions of the foot support surface 402 may be varied to accommodate a vast majority of adult user's feet.
The exercise apparatus 1000 includes a base 1012 with four beams 1013, 1014, 1015, and 1016. Slip-resistant floor pads 1017 are positioned on the beams 1013, 1014, 1015, and 1016. A U-shaped upright beam 1020 extends upwardly from the beam 1013, and a pair of handles 1022 extend upwardly from the beam 1020. The handles 1022 may be provided with a cushioned covering to provide a comfortable surface for the user's hands. The handles 1022 may also be adjustable in height to accommodate users of varying heights. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, in alternative embodiments the handles may be positioned and configured differently than as shown in the depicted embodiment. For example, in another embodiment, a horizontal handle bar is provided for the user to grip.
Another upright beam 1023 extends upwardly from the beam 1013. The upright beam 1023 supports an axle 1019, and a support arm 1024 is pivotable about the axle 1019. The arm 1024 supports at its distal end the buttock pad surface 1028. The support arm 1024 may be telescoping, and may be maintained, for example, by a locking knob as in the above-described embodiments.
The exercise apparatus 1000 includes a positioning cam 1018 that is connected to the support arm 1024 and the upright beam 1023. A plurality of openings 1039A-1039E are formed through the positioning cam 1018. An opening 1031 in the support arm 1024 may be positioned to align with one of the openings 1039A-1039E, and this alignment may be fixed by using a locking pin 1032 that extends through the opening 1031 and the aligned one of the openings 1039A-1039E. An initial angle of the arm 1024 and the pad 1028 with respect to the horizontal (ground) can be adjusted by selecting the one of the openings 1039A-1039E to align with the opening 1031. Thus, the pad 1028 may be adjusted to accommodate users of different heights and leg/torso proportions.
A weight support bar 1040 extends from a front end of the support arm 1024. The support bar 1040 extends from opposite sides of the support arm 1024 such that the disc weights 1042 may be placed on both sides of the support arm 1024. By providing the weights 1042 on both sides of the support arm 1024, less stress is imparted on bar and less stress is imparted on rotation bearings as compared to a configuration in which the weights are placed on one side of the support arm 1024.
When the support arm 1024 and buttocks support pad 1028 are in a first position shown in
The configuration of the apparatus 1000 allows users to easily enter and initially position themselves in the apparatus. That is, as shown in
The exercise apparatus 1000 also includes a foot ramp structure 1040, which may have the configurations of the foot ramp structures in the above-described embodiments. For example, the foot ramp structure 1040 may be configured to have the same angles relative to the ground, the same foot support surface area, and the same positioning relative to the buttocks support pad 1028 as in the above-described embodiments. As also in the above-described embodiments, the foot ramp structure 1040 is sized and configured such that the entire foot of a user is supported by the structure. While the foot ramp structure 1040 depicted in
As compared to the exercise apparatus described in the '017 patent, the exercise apparatus 1000 is a simpler machine. For example, unlike the exercise apparatus described in the '017 patent, the exercise apparatus 1000 does not include a pulley system and all movements are achieved with rotation bearings. Also, the weights 1042 used with the exercise apparatus 1000 may be easily modified and/or exchanged, whereas the apparatus described in the '017 patent may need to be disassembled if it is necessary to exchange the weights used therein. The elevated position of the weights in the embodiments described herein may also be provided for a smoother movement in conjunction with the rotation bearings.
The exercise apparatus 1200 also includes a foot ramp structure 1240, which may have the configurations of the foot ramp structures in the above-described embodiments. For example, the foot ramp structure 1240 may be configured to have the same angles relative to the ground, the same foot support surface area, and the same positioning relative to the buttocks support pad 1228 as in the above-described embodiments. As also in the above-described embodiments, the foot ramp structure 1240 is sized and configured such that the entire foot of a user is supported by the structure. While the foot ramp structure 1240 depicted in
Instead of a weight support bar as in the above-described apparatus 1000, the apparatus 1200 includes a linkage system 1230. As with linkage systems in the above-described embodiments, the linkage system 1032 includes a biasing element, such as damper. The biasing element provides an opposing force against downward motion of the buttocks pad 1028 and support arm 1024, as well as a returning force to drive the pad 1028 and support arm 1024 upward from a lowered position. The damper may be adjustable to control the force level. In some embodiments, a dial structure may be included to allow a user to change the resistance to compression provided by the damper.
As with the configuration of the apparatus 1000, the configuration of the apparatus 1200 allows users to easily enter and initially position themselves in the apparatus. That is, as shown in
Yet another embodiment of the invention includes the combination of features of the apparatus 1000 and the apparatus 1200. In this embodiment, the apparatus includes a weight support bar configured to support disc weights, as in the apparatus 1000, and the apparatus includes a linkage system with a biasing element, as in the apparatus 1200. The apparatus in this embodiment also includes the same configuration of a base, upright beams, a support arm, a buttocks support pad, handles, and a foot ramp, as in the apparatuses 1000 and 1200.
While various example embodiments of the invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example, and not limitation. It is apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s) that various changes in form and detail can be made therein. Thus, the invention should not be limited by any of the above-described example embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.
This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 17/826,440, filed May 27, 2022 and entitled “EXERCISE APPARATUS,” which claims the benefit of, and priority to, U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/337,850, filed May 3, 2022 and entitled “EXERCISE APPARATUS,” and U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/293,603, filed on Dec. 23, 2021 and entitled “EXERCISE APPARATUS,” the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth herein in their entireties.
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| Child | 18421154 | US |
