This invention relates to an exercise device and, more particularly, to an exercise device utilizing resistance and gravity to work the muscles of the user, particularly those of the upper and lower body.
Generally, exercise devices provide a framework for individuals to strengthen and stretch various muscle groups. Devices that assist users in targeting their abdominal muscle groups have been especially popular over the past few decades. One difficulty associated with marketing an exercise device—especially one targeted at abdominal muscles—is that a device that provides only one or two possible exercise movements can quickly become unused by the purchaser. One reason for this is that the user develops muscle memory: after a few weeks of training with a single exercise movement, the user's muscles targeted by that particular exercise become stronger and are better able to perform that movement. As a result, the user feels that the exercise movement is no longer strenuous enough. The user is likely, at that point, to discontinue use of the exercise device.
Many exercise devices, therefore, lack the features and functionality to continually challenge users' fitness. For example, to the extent that most devices employ resistance forces to increase the difficulty of an exercise movement, that resistance cannot be readily varied to adapt to the strength of the user. Also, most devices facilitate only a single exercise movement, which, as described above, quickly becomes boring. Finally, many known devices are relatively bulky, heavy and difficult to store in small storage areas.
Accordingly, a need has developed for a low-cost, portable exercise device that provides easily variable resistance for one or more exercises. What is also needed is an exercise device that facilitates a number of beneficial exercise movements that target multiple muscle groups and/or a muscle group in a variety of useful ways. Further, there is a need for such exercise devices to be easy to manufacture, assemble, use, and store in a small space, as well as that they be safe to use.
It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide an exercise device that provides easily variable resistance for one or more exercises.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an exercise device that facilitates a number of exercise movements.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an exercise device that is easy to manufacture, assemble, use, and store in a small space, as well as that they be safe to use.
According to a first embodiment of the present invention, an exercise device is provided that comprises: a track comprising a first end and a second end; a track carriage disposed on and movable along the track; a resistance system selectively engageable with the track carriage to provide variable resistance to movement of the track carriage along the track; and a platform adapted to support a user of the device, rotatably secured to the carriage such that the platform rotates relative to the track carriage about an axis that is perpendicular to the track.
In some embodiments, the resistance system comprises at least one elastic member; and the elastic member provides resistance against movement of the track carriage away from the first end of the track. In some embodiments, the device further comprises at least one first handle adjacent the second end of the track. In some embodiments, the device further comprises a foot pad adjacent the first end of the track, wherein the foot pad includes at least one surface oriented perpendicular to the track.
In some embodiments, the device further comprises a vertical support comprising a plurality of support positions each adapted to support the second end of the track for varying the height of the second end of the track relative to the first end of the track; and a hinge pivotably connected to the second end of the track, the hinge comprising: a pin for engaging at least one of the plurality of support positions; and a lock for engaging the track to inhibit movement of the hinge relative to the track.
In some embodiments, the track carriage further comprises at least one second handle that extends in a direction approximately perpendicular to the track. In some embodiments, the device further comprises a support bar comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is pivotably connected to a bottom portion of the vertical support and a second end is pivotably connected to an underside of the track. In some embodiments, the platform rotates 360° about the axis.
According to a second embodiment of the present invention, an exercise device is provided that comprises: a track comprising a first end and a second end; a track carriage disposed on and movable along the track; a resistance system selectively engageable with the track carriage to provide variable resistance to movement of the track carriage along the track; a platform adapted to support a user of the device secured to the track carriage; and at least one handle adjacent the second end of the track.
In some embodiments, the resistance system comprises at least one elastic member; and the elastic member provides resistance against movement of the track carriage away from the first end of the track. In some embodiments, the device further comprises two handles adjacent the second end of the track; and at least one arm support pad adjacent to the handles; where each handle extends in a direction approximately perpendicular to the track.
In some embodiments, the device further comprises: a vertical support comprising a plurality of support positions each adapted to support the second end of the track for varying the height of the second end of the track relative to the first end of the track; a hinge pivotably connected to the second end of the track, the hinge comprising: a pin for engaging at least one of the plurality of support positions; and a lock for engaging the track to inhibit movement of the hinge relative to the track.
In some embodiments, the platform is rotatably secured to the carriage such that the platform rotates relative to the carriage about an axis that is perpendicular to the track; and the track carriage further comprises at least one second handle that extends in a direction approximately perpendicular to the track.
According to a third embodiment of the present invention, an exercise device is provided that comprises: a track comprising a first end and a second end; a track carriage disposed on and movable along the track; a resistance system selectively engageable with the track carriage to provide variable resistance to movement of the track carriage along the track; a platform adapted to support a user of the device secured to the track carriage; and a foot pad adjacent the first end of the track, wherein the foot pad includes at least one surface oriented perpendicular to the track.
In some embodiments, the foot pad is removably secured adjacent the first end of the track using at least one post. In some embodiments, the resistance system comprises at least one elastic member; and the elastic member provides resistance against movement of the track carriage away from the first end of the track.
In some embodiments, the device further comprises: a strut connected to the first end of the track by at least one strut hinge; and a knee pad removably connected to the strut. In some embodiments, the strut is connected to the first end of the track by two strut hinges. In some embodiments, the track carriage further comprises at least one handle.
In some embodiments, the device further comprises: a vertical support comprising a plurality of support positions each adapted to support the second end of the track for varying the height of the second end of the track relative to the first end of the track; a hinge pivotably connected to the second end of the track, the hinge comprising: a pin for engaging at least one of the plurality of support positions; and a lock for engaging the track to inhibit movement of the hinge relative to the track.
According to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, a kit to facilitate exercising is provided, which comprises: an exercise device, comprising: a track comprising a first end and a second end; at least one first handle adjacent to the second end of the track; a track carriage disposed on and movable along the track; a resistance system selectively engageable with the track carriage to provide variable resistance to movement of the track carriage along the track; wherein the resistance system comprises at least one elastic member and wherein the elastic member provides resistance against movement of the track carriage away from the first end of the track; a platform adapted to support a user of the device, rotatably secured to the track carriage such that the platform rotates relative to the track carriage about an axis that is perpendicular to the track; at least one second handle secured to the track carriage that extends in a direction approximately perpendicular to the track; a vertical support comprising a plurality of support positions each adapted to support the second end of the track for varying the height of the second end of the track relative to the first end of the track; and a strut connected to the first end of the track by at least one strut hinge. The kit also comprises a foot pad, removably securable to the exercise device adjacent to the first end of the track; and a knee pad, removably securable to the strut.
Embodiments of the present invention include devices that permit a user to perform multiple exercises. Examples of features that help achieve this are the track carrier that includes both a platform adapted to support a user as well as at least one handle, another handle adjacent the second end of the track, the resistance system that provides variable resistance, and the ability to vary the elevation of the second end of the track. Some embodiments of the present invention permit users to vary both the amount of elastic band resistance and the amount of gravity resistance in order to vary the overall difficulty of an exercise.
Additional features and functions of embodiments of the present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the following drawings.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the figures.
A resistance system 30 is connected to the track 12 and track carriage 14, and provides unidirectional, selectively variable resistance to the track carriage. In most embodiments, the resistance system includes at least one elongated elastic member, one end of which may be releasably attached to the track carriage to increase the resistance force of the resistance system. Further, at least one pulley near one end of the track is provided for directing the elongated elastic members of the resistance system toward the track carriage.
In other embodiments, the resistance system takes other forms that provide unidirectional, selectively variable resistance. For example, in lieu of elastic members, friction rollers, hydraulic devices, compression springs, etc. are employed in other embodiments to provide resistance against the movement of the track carriage in one direction and facilitate a return movement of the track carriage in the other direction. Such other devices allow the user to regulate the amount of resistance applied to the track carriage.
The resistance system provides variable tension to allow users of differing strength capabilities to use the exercise device. For example, the resistance system compensates for users having weak abdominal muscle groups by exerting a force opposite to the direction of the forward movement of the track carriage for some of the exercises as described below. The intensity of the exercise can be varied by changing the resistance of the resistance system. For certain exercises, then, greater resistance decreases the difficulty of the exercise. For other exercises, as described below, the resistance system provides additional difficulty.
The platform 19 is adapted to support a user of the device 10. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the platform 19 includes padding 39 on its lower surface for acting as a seat or for supporting the knees of a user, as described below. Further, the platform 19, in some embodiments, includes a knee stop 41, which provides a surface for the user's knees or hips to bear against during certain exercises (described below).
As shown in
By increasing the amount of resistance applied to the carriage 14, the first exercise shown in
Adjacent to the first end 11 of the track 12, are one or more handles 190 that are adapted to be gripped by a user of the device 10. The handles 190 are shown in
Contrary to the first exercise described above with reference to
A modification to the second exercise is shown in
In some embodiments of the present invention, a detachable platform may be affixed to the first end of the track in order to allow a user to exercise his or her leg muscles. As shown in
For the third exercise movement, the resistance system functions to increase the difficulty of the movement, as in the second exercise described above. By increasing the resistance acting on the carriage 14, either by attaching elastic members or by increasing the elevation of the second end 13, the difficulty of performing the movement also increases. This permits a user to continue to strengthen his or her muscles even after months of use of the device.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and variations can be made in the above-described embodiments of the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover such modifications and variations provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
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