Patent Application
20240424338
The present invention relates generally to an exercise apparatus and more particularly to a full exercise apparatus for enabling users thereof to exercise upper and lower body muscle groups by way of a resistance unit designed to impart continual, but adjustable resistance during a single back and forth movement for training opposed muscle groups in a safe and effective manner.
The prior art teaches a wide variety of exercise apparatuses and machines to provide resistance training for various muscle groups. Resistance training is any exercise that causes the muscles to contract against an external resistance with the expectation of increases in strength, tone, mass, and/or endurance. The external resistance can derive from free weights, one's own body weight, elastomeric materials, or any other object that causes the muscles to contract against a force in an opposite direction. Resistance training works by causing microscopic damage or tears to the muscle cells, which in turn are quickly repaired by the body to help the muscles regenerate and grow stronger.
The benefits of resistance exercise are well documented, and ongoing research continues to support the notion that resistance exercises are an important activity for people to be engaged in. Long ago in hunter-gatherer societies, the muscles of people were subjected to exercise by everyday survival activities, including building shelters, hunting, farming, and all the other manual chores necessary to live. In present day, however, people have engineered inactivity into their lives with labor-saving devices to the extent that musculature rarely needs to be pushed very hard. People today generally spend more and more time in front of their computers and televisions than they do outdoors raking leaves, playing touch football, baseball, soccer, hiking, or participating in any other recreational activities. Research shows that physical inactivity is a leading preventable cause of death.
Few pieces of equipment designed for resistance training exist that enable opposed muscle group training in a single back and forth movement, leaving individuals to use complex machinery, free weights, and other exercise equipment, which makes performing the exercises uncomfortable, a hassle or unsafe. Exercise equipment used to perform resistance training can be bulky and difficult to store and transport. Such equipment also does not enable a user to perform exercises for all muscles groups, including chest, back, arms, core, and leg muscle groups. For the foregoing reasons, the prior art perceives a need for an apparatus that is lightweight, compact, and specifically designed for resistance training of all muscle groups without the need for additional pieces of equipment, for frequent and convenient use at home or wherever the user may be.
The presently disclosed subject matter provides a SITFIT™ brand full body exercise apparatus having certain key features, including adjustable two-directional resistance designed so as to provide users with heightened safety during exercise activities. In some embodiments, the resistance provided by the full body exercise apparatus according to the present disclosure is two directional in one back and forth movement. In other words, the user experiences resistance in a first direction and during the return movement the user further experiences resistance thereby exercising opposing muscle groups. For example, during a forward movement, the user may experience resistance applied against chest and triceps muscle groups, and in the return movement, the user may experience resistance applied against back and biceps muscle groups.
This arrangement differs from one directional resistance as is often the case with free weights, springs, elastic bands, and the like. Such resistance training equipment forces the user into negative or eccentric resistance training whereby a load is carried in the return or muscle-lengthening phase. The presently disclosed exercise apparatus imparts resistance only during imparted forced movement against a friction-based resistance unit. By providing two-directional friction-based resistance, the exercise apparatus according to the present disclosure improves efficiency of a user's exercise routine by exercising multiple muscle groups in a single back and forth movement in a safe manner by eliminating eccentric training.
In other words, the exercise apparatus according to the present disclosure provides a safe environment for those wishing to avoid eccentric training otherwise experienced with the use of free weights, springs, elastic bands, and the like. In this regard, resistance is only experienced during friction-based movement of the exercise apparatus. Resistance ceases once movement ceases thereby increasing the safety of the exercise apparatus. This is particularly beneficial for elderly users who generally have relatively weaker muscle strength. The exercise apparatus will not exert any resistance force to the user when there is no motion. Thus, one can stop the exercise moment at any position along the path of movement without worrying about “returning” resistance force as is the case with free weights, springs, and bands.
There is thus firstly provided in accordance with an embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter a full body exercise apparatus for providing resistance training to a user. In some embodiments, the full body exercise apparatus comprises a pedestal assembly, a seat assembly, a resistance unit, and a pair of laterally opposed arm assembles. The pedestal assembly comprises a basal frame and a pair of laterally opposed legs. The basal frame is configured to extend in an apparatus support plane, and the laterally opposed legs are attached to the basal frame at laterally opposed portions thereof so as to extend orthogonally relative to the apparatus support plane when in a use configuration.
The seat assembly is attached to the upper portions of the laterally opposed legs. The resistance unit comprises laterally opposed rotational shaft ends and a rotational axis extending in parallel relation to the apparatus support plane configured to resist rotation about the rotational axis in two rotational directions. Each arm assembly is attached to a rotational shaft end at a first arm end of an arm attachment portion. The arm attachment portions extend radially from the rotational axis and comprise a handle at a second arm end. The pair of laterally opposed arm assemblies direct force imparted from a user at the handles into the resistance unit. The resistance unit resists rotation about the rotational axis in the two rotational directions for providing two-way resistance training to the user for training opposed muscle groups in a single back and forth movement.
In some embodiments, rotational resistance about the rotational axis in two rotational directions is continuous during movement of at least one arm assembly for eliminating eccentric training during said movement for enhancing safety to the user. In some embodiments, the seat assembly is pivotally attached to the laterally opposed legs for enabling the user to variously orient the seat assembly for exercising alternative muscle groups. In some embodiments, the resistance unit comprises a rotational shaft portion, a stationary shaft portion, and a resistance assembly. The rotational shaft portion is rotational relative to the stationary shaft portion for resisting rotation about the rotational axis in the two rotational directions.
In some embodiments, the resistance unit comprises a stacked disc arrangement, the stacked disc arrangement comprising a series of friction discs, a series of stationary discs, and a series of rotating discs. Each disc within the stacked disc arrangement extends radially outward from the rotational axis. In some embodiments, the friction discs extend intermediate the stationary discs and the rotational discs for imparting friction thereto during rotation of the rotatable shaft portion about the rotational axis. The imparted friction provides continuous resistance during rotation about the rotational axis in the two rotational directions. In some embodiments, the exercise apparatus comprises a resistance adjustment mechanism configured to selectively increase or decrease friction intermediate the stationary discs and the rotational discs.
In some embodiments, the resistance adjustment mechanism is characterized by a resistance adjustment nut and at least one disc spring. The resistance adjustment nut is configured for enabling a user to manually rotate said nut about the rotational axis for resiliently actuating and relaxing the at least one disc spring for selectively increasing or decreasing friction intermediate the stationary discs and the rotational discs. In some embodiments, the laterally opposed legs are pivotally attached to the basal frame at laterally opposed portions thereof so as to extend parallel to the apparatus support plane when reoriented in a stowage configuration. In some embodiments, the pedestal assembly comprises laterally opposed frame portions and laterally opposed pedestal support legs. The pedestal support legs are extendable relative to the laterally opposed frame portions so as to extend therefrom when in the use configuration and retract relative thereto when in the stowage configuration.
There is further provided in accordance with another embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter a full body exercise apparatus for providing adjustable two-directional resistance training to a user. The full body exercise apparatus may be said to essentially comprise a pedestal assembly, a seat assembly, an adjustable resistance unit, a pair of laterally opposed arm assemblies. The pedestal assembly comprises a basal frame and a pair of laterally opposed legs. The basal frame s configured to extend in an apparatus support plane, and the laterally opposed legs are attached to the basal frame at laterally opposed portions thereof so as to extend orthogonally relative to the apparatus support plane.
The seat assembly is attached to upper portions of the laterally opposed legs, and in some embodiments is pivotally attached thereto for enabling the user to variously orient the seat assembly for exercising alternative muscle groups. The adjustable resistance unit comprises laterally opposed rotational shaft ends and a rotational axis extending in parallel relation to the apparatus support plane configured to adjustably resist rotation about the rotational axis in two rotational directions. Each arm assembly is attached to a rotational shaft end and comprises a handle at an arm end. The pair of laterally opposed arm assemblies direct force imparted from a user at the handles into the resistance unit. The resistance unit in turn resists rotation about the rotational axis in two rotational directions for providing adjustable two-directional resistance training to the user. In some embodiments, rotational resistance about the rotational axis in two rotational directions is continuous during movement of at least one arm assembly for eliminating eccentric training during said movement and enhancing safety to the user.
In some embodiments, the resistance unit comprises a rotational shaft portion, a stationary shaft portion, and a resistance assembly, the rotational shaft portion being rotational relative to the stationary shaft portion for resisting rotation about the rotational axis in the two rotational directions. In some embodiments, the resistance unit comprises a stacked disc arrangement, the stacked disc arrangement comprising a series of friction discs, a series of stationary discs, and a series of rotating discs. Each disc within the stacked disc arrangement extends radially outward from the rotational axis. In some embodiments, the friction discs extend intermediate the stationary discs and the rotational discs for imparting friction thereto during rotation of the rotatable shaft portion about the rotational axis.
In some embodiments, the full body exercise apparatus comprises a resistance adjustment mechanism configured to selectively increase or decrease friction intermediate the stationary discs and the rotational discs. In some embodiments, the resistance adjustment mechanism is characterized by a resistance adjustment nut and at least one disc spring. The resistance adjustment nut is configured for enabling a user to manually rotate said nut about the rotational axis for resiliently actuating and relaxing the at least one disc spring for selectively increasing or decreasing friction intermediate the stationary discs and the rotational discs. In some embodiments, the laterally opposed legs are pivotally attached to the basal frame at laterally opposed portions thereof so as to extend parallel to the apparatus support plane when reoriented into a stowage configuration. In some embodiments, the pedestal assembly comprises laterally opposed frame portions and laterally opposed pedestal support legs. The pedestal support legs are extendable relative to the laterally opposed frame portions so as to extend therefrom when in the use configuration and retract relative thereto when in the stowage configuration.
There is further provided in accordance with another embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter an exercise apparatus for providing two-directional resistance training to a user. The exercise apparatus may be said to essentially comprise a pedestal assembly, a seat assembly, an adjustable resistance unit, a pair of laterally opposed arm assemblies. The pedestal assembly comprises a basal frame and a pair of laterally opposed legs. The basal frame s configured to extend in an apparatus support plane. The laterally opposed legs are attached to the basal frame at laterally opposed portions thereof so as to extend orthogonally relative to the apparatus support plane.
The seat assembly is attached to the laterally opposed legs. The resistance unit is adjustable and comprises laterally opposed rotational shaft ends and a rotational axis extending in parallel relation to the apparatus support plane configured to adjustably resist rotation about the rotational axis in two rotational directions. The pair of laterally opposed arm assemblies are attached to rotational shaft ends and comprise a handle at an arm end. The pair of laterally opposed arm assemblies direct force imparted from a user at the handles into the resistance unit, and the resistance unit resists rotation about the rotational axis in two rotational directions for providing adjustable two-directional resistance training to the user.
In some embodiments, the adjustable resistance unit comprises a rotational shaft portion, a stationary shaft portion, and a resistance assembly. The rotational shaft portion is rotational relative to the stationary shaft portion for resisting rotation about the rotational axis by way of the resistance assembly. In some embodiments, the resistance unit comprises a stacked disc arrangement, the stacked disc arrangement comprising a series of friction discs, a series of stationary discs, and a series of rotating discs. In some embodiments, the friction discs extend intermediate the stationary discs and the rotational discs for imparting friction thereto during rotation of the rotatable shaft portion about the rotational axis.
In some embodiments, the exercise apparatus comprises a manually adjustable resistance adjustment mechanism configured to selectively increase or decrease resistance at the resistance unit. In some embodiments, the resistance adjustment mechanism is characterized by a resistance adjustment nut and at least one disc spring. The resistance adjustment nut is configured to enable a user to manually rotate said nut about the rotational axis for resiliently actuating and relaxing at least one disc spring for selectively increasing or decreasing friction within the resistance unit for selectively increasing or decreasing resistance at the resistance unit. In some embodiments, the exercise apparatus is collapsible into a stowage configuration.
There is further provided in accordance with another embodiment of the presently disclosed subject matter an exercise apparatus for providing movement-based resistance training to a user for enhancing safety during exercise routines. The exercise apparatus may be said to essentially comprise a pedestal assembly, a seat assembly, a resistance unit, and a pair of laterally opposed arm assemblies. The pedestal assembly comprises a basal frame and a pair of laterally opposed legs. The basal frame is configured to extend in an apparatus support plane, and the laterally opposed legs are attached to the basal frame at laterally opposed portions thereof so as to extend orthogonally relative to the apparatus support plane.
The seat assembly being is to the laterally opposed legs. The resistance unit comprises laterally opposed rotational shaft ends and a rotational axis extending in parallel relation to the apparatus support plane configured to resist rotation about the rotational axis during rotational movement thereof. Each arm assembly is attached to a rotational shaft end and comprises a handle at an arm end. The pair of laterally opposed arm assemblies direct force imparted from a user at the handles into the resistance unit, which resistance unit resisting rotation about the rotational axis for providing resistance training to the user during movement of at least one of the arm assemblies.
In some embodiments, the resistance unit comprises a stacked disc arrangement, which stacked disc arrangement comprises a series of friction discs, a series of stationary discs, and a series of rotating discs. In some embodiments, the friction discs extend intermediate the stationary discs and the rotational discs for imparting friction thereto during rotation of the rotatable shaft portion about the rotational axis. In some embodiments, resistance at the resistance unit is provided by a resistance adjustment mechanism configured to selectively increase or decrease friction-based resistance at the resistance unit. In some embodiments, the resistance adjustment mechanism is characterized by a resistance adjustment nut and at least one disc spring. The resistance adjustment nut is configured for enabling a user to manually rotate said nut about the rotational axis for resiliently actuating and relaxing at least one disc spring for selectively increasing or decreasing friction within the resistance unit for selectively increasing or decreasing resistance at the resistance unit. In some embodiments, the exercise apparatus is collapsible into a stowage configuration.
Other features and objectives of the presently disclosed subject matter will become more evident from a consideration of the following brief descriptions of patent drawings.
Referring now to the drawings with more specificity, the presently disclosed subject matter provides a full body exercise apparatus 10 for providing resistance training to a user. The full body exercise apparatus 10 may be provide to users under the brand SITFIT™. The SITFIT™ full body exercise apparatus 10 is configured for a user to sit thereupon in a first use configuration as generally depicted in
More particularly, the full body exercise apparatus 10 essentially comprises a pedestal assembly 11, a seat assembly 12, a pair of arm assemblies 13, and resistance unit 26. The pedestal assembly 11 comprises a basal frame 14 and a pair of laterally opposed seat support legs 15. The basal frame 14 has an upper frame surface 16 configured to anteriorly support a user's feet when the user is seated upon a seat 17 of the seat assembly 12 or to support a user's feet when standing thereupon. The basal frame 14 is configured to extend in an apparatus support plane 100 as supported by a support surface 101 when in a use configuration as generally depicted in
Referencing
A pair of laterally opposed pedestal support legs 22 are telescopically received in laterally opposed frame portions 23 of the basal frame 14. The pedestal support legs 22 are telescopically extendable relative to the laterally opposed frame portions 23 so as to extend therefrom when in the use configuration to posteriorly support the full body exercise apparatus 10 and retract relative to the laterally opposed frame portions 23 when the user elects to knock down the full body exercise apparatus 10 into the stowage configuration. Each of the laterally opposed pedestal support legs 22 further preferably comprise a leg foot as at 25.
The leg feet 25 are configured to cooperate with the frame feet 24 for interfacing intermediate the legs 22 and the support surface 101 and maintain the apparatus support plane 100 in parallel relation to the support surface 101. The leg feet 25 comprise a relatively greater thickness as compared to the frame feet 24 in view of the reduced thickness and telescopic engagement of the legs 22 relative to the frame portions 23. The leg feet 25 also provide a high friction interface and are preferably formed from a resilient material to resiliently engage the support surface 101 for stabilizing the full body exercise apparatus 10 when in the use configuration in some embodiments.
The seat assembly 12 comprises a seat 17 and is pivotally attached to apertured upper leg ends 27 of the legs 15. Referencing
The resistance unit 26 comprises laterally opposed rotational shaft ends 31 and a rotational axis 104 extending in parallel relation to the apparatus support plane 100 configured to resist rotation in both rotational directions 106 relative to the rotational axis 104. This provides two-way resistance or dual resistance training in a single back and forth movement. This resistance is continuous during the single back and forth movement and derived from adjustable levels of friction at the resistance unit 26. Comparatively referencing
As prefaced above, the full body exercise apparatus 10 provides adjustable two-directional resistance by way of the resistance unit 26, and is designed so as to provide users with heightened safety during exercise activities. The resistance provided by the full body exercise apparatus 10 according to the present disclosure is two directional as at 106 in one back and forth movement. In other words, the user experiences resistance as at vector 107 when forced as at vector 108 in a first direction and during the return forced movement 109 further experiences resistance 107 thereby exercising opposing muscle groups. For example, during a forward movement as at vector 108, the user may experience resistance 107 applied against chest and triceps muscle groups, and in the return movement as at vector 109, the user may experience resistance 107 applied against back and biceps muscle groups.
This arrangement differs from one directional resistance as is often the case with free weights, springs, elastic bands, and the like, all of which involve eccentric or negative resistance training. An eccentric (lengthening) muscle contraction occurs when a force applied to the muscle exceeds the momentary force produced by the muscle itself, resulting in the forced lengthening of the muscle-tendon system while contracting. Some users may experience difficultly with eccentric resistance training, and the fully body exercise apparatus 10 eliminates this. The fully body exercise apparatus 10 eliminates eccentric training by incorporating continual friction-based resistance provided by the resistance unit 26. By providing two-directional continual resistance 107, the full body exercise apparatus 10 improves efficiency and safety of a user's exercise routine by exercising multiple muscle groups in a single back and forth movement.
In other words, the full body exercise apparatus 10 provides a safe environment for those wishing to avoid return forces otherwise experienced with the use of free weights, springs, elastic bands, and the like. In this regard, resistance 107 is only experienced during movement of the full body exercise apparatus 10. Resistance 107 ceases once movement ceases thereby increasing the safety of the full body exercise apparatus 10. This is particularly beneficial for elderly users who generally have relatively weaker muscle strength who may experience some difficulty with such return forces. The full body exercise apparatus 10 does not exert any resistance force to the user when there is no motion. Thus, one can stop the exercise moment at any position along the path of movement without worrying about “returning” resistance force 107 as is the case with free weights, springs, and bands.
The resistance assembly 34 comprises a stacked disc arrangement in some embodiments. The stacked disc arrangement comprises a series of friction discs 37, a series of stationary discs 38, and a series of rotating discs 39. Each disc 37, 38, and 39 within the stacked disc arrangement extends radially outward from the rotational axis 104. The friction discs 37 extend intermediate the stationary discs 38 and the rotational discs 39 for imparting friction thereto during rotation of the rotatable shaft portion 32 about the rotational axis 104 for creating resistance to rotation 106 about the rotational axis 104.
The resistance unit 26 further comprises a resistance adjustment mechanism configured to selectively increase or decrease friction intermediate the stationary discs 38 and the rotational discs 39 thereby providing adjustable resistance levels. More particularly, the resistance unit 26 comprises a resistance adjustment nut 40 and at least one, but preferably two stacked disc springs 41 in some embodiments. The resistance adjustment nut 40 is configured for enabling a user to manually rotate the resistance adjustment nut 40 about the rotational axis 104 for resiliently actuating and relaxing the disc springs 41 for selectively increasing or decreasing friction intermediate the stationary discs 38 and the rotational discs 39.
In some embodiments, the rotational discs 39 comprise an inner disc periphery 42 configured to mate with at least one flat key 43 cooperable with the rotatable shaft portion 32 for imparting rotational motion thereto during resistance training. The flat keys 43 engage the rotational discs 39 by way of apertures 46 formed in the rotational shaft portion 32. The stationary discs 38 comprise an outer disc periphery44 configured to mate with internal surfacing of a resistance unit housing 45 of the resistance assembly 34. The resistance unit housing 45 is attached to the stationary shaft portion 33. The outer disc peripheries 44 prevent rotation of the stationary discs 38 about the rotational axis 104 during resistance training.
Each arm assembly 13 is attached to a rotational shaft end 31 at a first arm end 47 of an arm attachment portion 48. The first arm ends 47 comprise attachment members 51 that are telescopically received in the rotational shaft ends 31. A set of locking pins 52 extend through apertures 53 formed in the rotational shaft ends 31 and attachment members 51. The arm attachment portions 48 extend radially from the rotational axis 104 in the use configuration and comprise a handle 49 at a second arm end 50. The handles 49 collinearly extend along a handle axis 105 when in the use configuration, which handle axis 105 is parallel to the rotational axis 104.
The second arm ends 50 are extendable relative to the arm attachment portions 48 in some embodiments. In this regard, the arm assemblies 13 may further preferably comprise telescopic arm portions 54 telescopically extendable to and from the arm attachment portions 48. The telescopic arm portions 54 may each comprise a spring-biased pin 55 that mates with apertures 56 formed in the arm attachment portions 48. The laterally opposed arm assemblies 13 direct force imparted from a user at the handles 49 into the resistance unit 26. The handles 49 and telescopic arm portions 54 are reversible relative to the arm attachment portions 48 such that the handles 49 may extend outwardly relative to the seat assembly 12 or inwardly relative to the seat assembly 12. In the stowage configuration, the handles 49 extend inwardly so as to provide a more compact stowage configuration.
While the above descriptions contain much specificity, this specificity should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the presently disclosed subject matter, but rather as an exemplification thereof. Accordingly, although the full body exercise apparatus has been described by reference to certain preferred embodiments, it is not intended that the novel arrangement be limited thereby, but that modifications thereof are intended to be included as falling within the broad scope and spirit of the foregoing disclosures and the appended drawings.
