Various aspects of the present invention relate generally to exercise devices and more particularly to modular reconfigurable exercise systems.
Many people need to exercise to enhance or maintain physical fitness and overall wellness. For example, a back hyperextension is an exercise that works a person's back, mostly the lower back. Another exercise is a sissy squat where the person squats such that the knees remain over the toes as the person leans backwards. A further exercise are Nordic curls, where a person kneels and leans forward at the waist and returns back to a vertical kneeling position. Hip thrusters are an exercise where a person lies down (sometimes on an inclined plane) and thrusts their hips, sometimes with a weighted barbell.
According to aspects of the present invention, a system for constructing exercise devices comprises a support frame, a first stanchion, a second stanchion, a knee-pad attachment, a thigh-pad attachment, a roller-pad attachment, and a foot-plate attachment. The system can be assembled in different configurations to allow a user to perform different exercises such as back hyperextensions, sissy squats, Nordic curls, and hip thrusters.
According to aspects of the present disclosure, a modular system is provided to allow a user to perform several different exercises using the same system by moving portions of the equipment around in different configurations. Therefore, the system allows for a smaller footprint (i.e., takes up a relatively small amount of space) than traditional equipment for performing the same exercises. Further, as the system can be disassembled for storage, the system can be stored in a flat configuration. Moreover, the system can be assembled to fit body measurements of different people, depending who the user is.
Disassembled System
Turning now to
The support frame 102 includes a central support 120 that runs lengthwise along the support frame 102. The central support 120 includes a set of holes 122 that are centrally located on the center support 120. However, more holes or less 122 may be used and the holes may continue a longer or shorter length of the central support 120. Further, sides of the central support 120 include holes (see
The support frame 102 further includes two end supports 124, 126, where one end support is at each end of the central support 120 and generally perpendicular to the central support 120. In several embodiments, the first end support 124 includes foot blocks 128, where a user may place their feet during certain exercises. In various embodiments, the first end support 124 includes wheels 130, so a user may easily transport the support frame 102 and any attachments coupled to the support frame 102. In numerous embodiments, the second end support 126 includes foot blocks 128, where a user may place their feet during certain exercises. In many embodiments, the second end support 126 includes a handle 132, so a user may easily lift the support frame 120 for transport on the wheels 130.
As shown in
The first stanchion 104 includes a channel 136 and a column 138, where the channel 136 is sized to fit around the central support 120. Moreover, the column 138 includes holes 140 for coupling other attachments to the first stanchion 104, and the channel 136 includes holes as well to couple the first stanchion 104 to the support frame 102 via the holes on the side of the central support 120. A coupler pin 142 fits in the holes in the channel 136 to couple the first stanchion 104 to the support frame 102.
The second stanchion 106 includes a channel 146 and a column 148, where the channel 146 is sized to fit around the central support 120. Moreover, the column 148 includes holes 150 for coupling other attachments to the second stanchion 106, and the channel 146 includes holes as well to couple the second stanchion 106 to the support frame 102 via the holes on the side of the central support 120. As shown in
In
The knee-pad attachment 108 includes a first pad 156 and a second pad 158 coupled together by a bar 160 with a removable coupler 162 for coupling the knee-pad attachment 108 to the central support 120 via the holes 122 of the central support 120. To couple the knee-pad attachment 108 to the central frame 120, the knee-pad attachment 108 is placed underneath the central frame 120 such that the removable coupler 162 can be placed in the holes of the central support 120 to secure the knee-pad attachment 108.
As shown in
The thigh-pad attachment 110 includes a pad 164 coupled to a column 166 that includes a removable coupler 168 for coupling the thigh-pad attachment 110 to one of the stanchions 104, 106. In
The roller-pad attachment 112 includes two roller pads 170, 172 separated by a bar 174 that includes a removable coupler 176 that allows the roller-pad attachment 112 to be coupled to the support frame 102 or a stanchion 104, 106, as discussed above. In
The foot-plate attachment 114 includes a foot plate 180 and arms 182 that allow the foot-plate attachment 114 to be coupled to the first or second end support 124, 126 via two couplers 184. Moreover, the foot plate 180 may include a textured surface, a non-slip surface, or a slip-resistant surface. Further, the foot-plate attachment 114 includes resistance-band holders 186 that allow a user to place a resistance band (192,
Moreover, the foot-plate attachment includes targeted resistance-band coupling points 188 so the resistance band(s) may be used for curls and other exercises using the multi-purpose bar 116 as one piece together or as two separate pieces 116a, 116b. These curls and other exercises may be performed while the user is standing on the foot plate 180.
As shown in
Similar to the support frame 102 of the first version, the support frame 102 of the second version a central support 120 that runs lengthwise along the support frame 102. The central support 120 includes a set of holes 122 that are centrally located on the center support 120. However, more holes or less 122 may be used and the holes may continue a longer or shorter length of the central support 120. Further, sides of the central support 120 include holes. Again, there may be different number of holes on the sides of the central support 120, and the holes may run a shorter or longer distance on the length of the central support 120.
The support frame 102 further includes two end supports 124, 126, where one end support is at each end of the central support 120 and generally perpendicular to the central support 120. In various embodiments, the first end support 124 includes wheels 130, so a user may easily transport the support frame 102 and any attachments coupled to the support frame 102. In numerous embodiments, the second end support 126 includes foot blocks 128, where a user may place their feet during certain exercises. In many embodiments, the second end support 126 includes a handle 132, so a user may easily lift the support frame 120 for transport on the wheels 130. The support frame 102 of
Similar to the embodiment of
The second stanchion 106 includes a channel 146 and a column 148, where the channel 146 is sized to fit around the central support 120. Moreover, the column 148 includes holes 150 for coupling other attachments to the second stanchion 106, and the channel 146 includes holes as well to couple the second stanchion 106 to the support frame 102 via the holes on the side of the central support 120. As shown in
The knee-pad attachment 108 of
The thigh-pad attachment 110 includes a pad 164 coupled to a channel 167 that includes a coupler 168 for coupling the thigh-pad attachment 110 to one of the stanchions 104, 106. The coupler 168 of
The roller-pad attachment 112 includes two roller pads 170, 172 separated by a bar 174 that includes an integral coupler 176 that allows the roller-pad attachment 112 to be coupled to the support frame 102 or a stanchion 104, 106, as discussed above.
The system 100 of
The system 100 and embodiments thereof described above may be used for many different exercises including (but not limited to) back hyperextensions, sissy squats, Nordic curls, sit-ups, and hip thrusters, where the hip thrusters may be performed in a way that is not currently available on existing machines.
Assembled System for Back Hyperextensions
Turning now to
In some embodiments, the multi-purpose bar 116 is coupled to the thigh-pad attachment 110 or the first stanchion, where the first part of the multi-purpose bar 116a is on one side of the stanchion 104 and the second part of the multi-purpose bar 116b is on the other side of the stanchion 104.
Assembled System for Sissy Squats
Turning now to
Assembled System for Nordic Curls
Turning now to
Assembled System for Hip Thrusters
Turning now to
Assembled System for Multi-Purpose Bar
Assembled System for Sit Ups
Miscellaneous
The assembly instructions in reference to Figures above may be performed in any order for a specific exercise. For example, the instructions include coupling the attachment(s) to the stanchion(s) before coupling the stanchion(s) to the support frame. However, in any of those cases, the stanchion(s) may be coupled to the support frame first and then the attachment(s) may be coupled to the stanchion(s). Further, the any of the different attachments of each embodiment of the system 100 may be used with other embodiments of the system 100, as applicable. For example, the knee-pad attachment of
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Aspects of the disclosure were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/162,048, filed Mar. 17, 2021, entitled “MODULAR EXERCISE SYSTEM”, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
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