This disclosure relates generally to exercise devices, and more specifically it relates to an exercise device that is configured to transform between different configurations to be usable for various different exercises to provide a fully body workout when in use, and to also collapse into a flattened configuration to be easily stored in a small storage space of a home or apartment.
Exercise is necessary for people of all ages, and should include both cardiovascular exercises for conditioning of the heart, and strength training for the arm muscles, leg muscles, the core region, not limited to just the abdominal muscles, etc. Such exercises are particularly critical as a person ages, in order to reduce the greater tendency to lose muscle mass and the corresponding loss of motor function.
Many people do not have the time to regularly drive to, and work out at, a public or private fitness/health facility, and many people do not have the extra funds in his/her monthly budget for that repetitive expense, which is particularly true for the elderly. Moreover, many people with a very limited budget do not have an expansive home or apartment within which to store and utilize an assortment of different pieces of home exercise equipment.
There are a number of devices that were designed to exercise the abs (see e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,137,934 to Paramater; U.S. Pat. No. 5,776,039 to Perez; U.S. Pat. No. 5,746,688 to Prager; U.S. Pat. No. 5,577,987 to Brown; U.S. Pat. No. 6,254,517 to Kennedy; U.S. Pat. No. 7,381,171 to Chen; U.S. Pat. No. 9,238,157 to Chuang; U.S. Pat. No. 8,790,227 to Meister; U.S. Pat. No. 5,702,334 to Lee; U.S. Pat. No. 6,117,057 to Olschansky; U.S. Pat. No. 5,779,607 to Harris: U.S. Pat. No. 6,206,809 to Habing; U.S. Pat. No. 7,074,165 to Hodge; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,699,162 to chen).
Some such devices may also incorporate and utilize resistance members as part of the apparatus and associated exercises (see e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,314,697 to Brumfield; U.S. Pat. No. 5,100,131 to Fong; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,665,041 to Hsieh).
There are also some devices that enable multi-purpose exercising, however they tend to be large stationary pieces of equipment (see e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,830,365).
Thus, there is an unmet need for a multi-function exercise device that can provide a total body workout, and which may transform into a compact condition for storage in a modestly sized apartment when not in use. Such a multi-function exercise device is disclosed herein, and provides improvements upon prior art exercise devices.
It is an object of the invention to provide a multi-function exercise device capable of transforming to provide a total body workout.
It is another object of the invention to provide a multi-function exercise device with an adaptive workout bar built into the device to allow for abdominal exercises and a multitude of additional exercises.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a multi-function exercise device with elastic bands or springs to provide increased resistance for a user while doing a multitude of different exercises.
It is another object of the invention to provide a multi-function exercise device with an adaptive workout bar configured to transform by telescoping to be used a separate workout bar.
It is also an object of the invention to provide a multi-function exercise device with an adaptive workout bar that may be usable for abdominal exercises and that may transform into a flat workout bar usable for additional exercises.
It is another object of the invention to provide a multi-function exercise device that may fold flat to reduce its overall size and allow for storage in a smaller volume of space that is utilized while exercising with the device.
It is also an object of the invention to provide a multi-function exercise device that may use crisscrossing resistance bands connected from inside portion to an outside portion of the device to prevent the device from getting stuck in down position.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a multi-function exercise device that may use resistance bands or springs to provide assistance in lifting the user's legs while performing abdominal exercises.
It is also an object of the invention to provide a multi-function exercise device that that may transform from a folded flat position and lock in an exercise position.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a multi-function exercise device that may have an arm bar and leg bar with attached adjustable resistance bands for user to perform different exercises.
It is also an object of the invention to provide a multi-function exercise device that provides assistance in doing leg lifts, leg curls, leg raises, leg pull-ins, crunches and other exercises.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a multi-function exercise device that may provide adjustable resistance levels.
It is also an object of the invention to provide a multi-function exercise device that may have a foam neck rest and rubber base grips to prevent slipping.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a multi-function exercise device that may have resistance bands attached to a telescoping bar, which bands can be wound around the bar for storage and unwound when utilized for exercising.
It is also an object of the invention to provide a multi-function exercise device that may include male and female resistance band connection interfaces.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a multi-function exercise device that may provide an arm bar to connect to an abdominal device using straps or other connection apparatus.
It is also an object of the invention to provide a multi-function exercise device that may have a workout bar usable for different exercises that easily attaches and detaches from a device used for abdominal exercises.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a multi-function exercise device that may use removable resistance bands to allow for folding the device into a flattened condition.
It is also an object of the invention to provide a multi-function exercise device that may use guided telescoping bars on an arm bar to allow for easy transformation to flat bar. Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings.
This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.
An exercise device having an attached adaptive exercise bar, a straight adaptive exercise bar used for additional exercises with separate resistance bands, and a means for folding the exercise device flat.
The exercise device is a metal or plastic structure made from steel, ABS plastics or similar material. The function is to assist a user in doing a multitude of exercises that may form a total body workout. Resistance bands connected to the steel or plastic structures provide both resistance and assistance to the user. One side of the exercise device is connected to the adaptive exercise bar. The steel or plastic structures are connected by various conventional connection mechanisms.
The exercise device permits a multitude of exercises to be performed, as shown in
Design of the device may be different than shown in
An adaptive exercise bar may be a metal structure made from steel or similar material having a first end and second end. The adaptive exercise bar may connect to the leg bar using any suitable general connection apparatus. The adaptive exercise bar structure may in one embodiment include a main bar and two telescoping internal bars made of metal or similar material to allow it to transform into a longer straight bar. Telescoping bar may be attached to the main bar using general connection and locking methods. The function is to allow the main bar with two telescoping bars to be connected to the leg bar of the exercise device for one set of exercises (e.g., abdominal exercises) and also function as a separate exercise device for a second set of exercises.
An adaptive exercise bar may function as an arm bar and separate flat exercise bar. Adaptive exercise bar disconnects from abdominal exercise device to create new resistance band device. Telescoping bars contract and expand from within adaptive exercise bar to form longer flat bar. Telescoping bars will snap into position using retracting button or similar method. Resistance bands can be unraveled or separately attached to telescoping bar to allow for a multitude of additional exercises. Resistance bands may also wrap around telescoping bars to allow for variable resistance. Foot straps allow user to place feet inside and keep resistance bands stationary while holding adaptive exercise bar in hands.
Design of device may be different as shown in
A folding mechanism is a metal structure made from steel or similar material. The function is to allow arm bar to fold down and become parallel with leg bar. Hinge mechanism is connected to arm bar and stationary metal object for connecting both arm bar and leg bar.
A folding mechanism to allow abdominal exercise device to fold flat for easy storage. Hinge mechanism allows arm bar to fold down and become parallel to leg bar. Using a pin or similar locking mechanism, arm bar remains locked in stationary position and is ready for use. Removing pin from locking mechanism allows device to fold flat for storage.
Design of device may be different as shown in
Resistance band connection interface is a plastic structure having two interconnecting pieces. Female connector may be attached to telescoping bar and allow for easy connection of male connector. Male connector and female connector may connect using general connection methods such as a snap on, snap off feature. The function is to allow for easy attachment and detachment of the resistance bands. Resistance band may be directly connected to male connector. Arm Bar connector may be attached to telescoping bar using general connection methods. The function of Arm bar connector is to allow for easy placement of telescoping bar into abdominal exercise device.
A Resistance Band Connection Interface to allow for attaching and detaching resistance bands. Male connector may house resistance band strap and attach directly to female connecter on telescoping bar. Male connector and female connector may connect by clip or similar method. Male connector may detach easily from female connector by simple press release or similar method. Male connector may slide over or within telescoping bar. Arm bar connector allows for easy attachment to Abdominal Exercise Device.
The adjustable resistance band method is a plastic structure having a first end and second end. Resistance bands will connect to first end through adjustable notches. Resistance bands will connect to second end and be stationary. The function is to allow both resistance and assistance to user. User can use notches to adjust tension between arm bar and leg bar to allow for adjustable difficulty levels. Resistance bands are connected to arm bar and leg bar using various conventional connection mechanisms.
An Adjustable Resistance Band Method may allow for multiple levels of resistance. Notches allow resistance bands to be adjusted up and down for different tension levels. Notches may be molded into arm bar or leg bar. Resistance Band may be connected to one end without using notches and allow for simple disconnection to allow for folding device flat.
The adaptive exercise bar is connected to the abdominal device as illustrated in
The adaptive exercise bar is part of the complete abdominal exercise device as illustrated in
The folding mechanism is the connection means between arm bar and leg bar as illustrated in
The resistance band connection interface is part of the adaptive exercise bar as shown in
Alternatively, abdominal device may use springs to assist user in exercises instead of resistance bands.
User starts by placing legs on leg bar and holding arm bar and adaptive exercise bar as shown in
For additional exercises, user will remove Adaptive exercise bar from the exercise device as shown in
To fold the device, the user removes pin from locking mechanism and pushes arm bar down towards leg bar. When user is ready to use device again, arm bar folds up and is locked back into place by sticking pin in locking mechanism. Alternatively, user may simply release resistance band from leg bar to allow device to fold.
The description of the various example embodiments is explained in conjunction with appended drawings, in which:
As used throughout this specification, the word “may” is used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning having the potential to), rather than a mandatory sense (i.e., meaning must), as more than one embodiment of the invention may be disclosed herein. Similarly, the words “include”, “including”, and “includes” mean including but not limited to.
The phrases “at least one”, “one or more”, and “and/or” may be open-ended expressions that are both conjunctive and disjunctive in operation. For example, each of the expressions “at least one of A, B and C”, “one or more of A, B, and C”, and “A, B, and/or C” herein means all of the following possible combinations: A alone; or B alone; or C alone; or A and B together; or A and C together; or B and C together; or A, B and C together.
Also, the disclosures of all patents, published patent applications, and non-patent literature cited within this document are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference. However, it is noted that citing herein of any patents, published patent applications, and non-patent literature is not an admission as to any of those references constituting prior art with respect to the disclosed and/or claimed apparatus/method.
Furthermore, any reference made throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection therewith is included in at least that one particular embodiment. Thus, the appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Therefore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics of any particular aspect of an embodiment disclosed herein may be combined in any suitable manner with any of the other embodiments disclosed herein.
Additionally, any approximating language, as used herein throughout the specification and claims, may be applied to modify any quantitative or qualitative representation that could permissibly vary without resulting in a change in the basic function to which it is related. Accordingly, a value modified by a term such as “about” is not to be limited to the precise value specified, and may include values that differ from the specified value in accordance with applicable case law. Also, in at least some instances, a numerical difference provided by the approximating language may correspond to the precision of an instrument that may be used for measuring the value. A numerical difference provided by the approximating language may also correspond to a manufacturing tolerance associated with production of the aspect/feature being quantified. Furthermore, a numerical difference provided by the approximating language may also correspond to an overall tolerance for the aspect/feature that may be derived from variations resulting from a stack up (i.e., the sum) of a multiplicity of such individual tolerances.
Any use of a friction fit (i.e., an interface fit) between two mating parts described herein indicates that the opening (e.g., a hole) is smaller than the part received therein (e.g., a shaft), which may be a slight interference in one embodiment in the range of 0.0001 inches to 0.0003 inches, or an interference of 0.0003 inches to 0.0007 inches in another embodiment, or an interference of 0.0007 inches to 0.0010 inches in yet another embodiment, or a combination of such ranges. Other values for the interference may also be used in different configurations (see e.g., “Press Fit Engineering and Design Calculator,” available at: www.engineersedge.com/calculators/machine-design/press-fit/press-fit-calculator.htm).
Any described use of a clearance fit indicates that the opening (e.g., a hole) is larger than the part received therein (e.g., a shaft), enabling the two parts to move (e.g. to slide and/or rotate) when assembled, where the gap between the opening and the part may depend upon the size of the part and the type of clearance fit—i.e., loose running, free running, easy running, close running, and sliding (e.g., for a 0.1250 inch shaft diameter the opening may be 0.1285 inches for a close running fit, and may be 0.1360 inches for a free running fit; for a 0.5000 inch diameter shaft the opening may be 0.5156 inches for a close running fit and may be 0.5312 inches for a free running fit). Other clearance amounts are used for other clearance types. See “Engineering Fit” at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engineering_fit; and “Three General Types of Fit,” available at www.mmto.org/dclark/Reports/Encoder%20Upgrade/fittolerences%20%5BRead-Only%5D.pdf.
The terms “rigid,” and “flexible,” and “resilient” may be used herein to distinguish characteristics of portions of certain features of the exercise device. Use of the term “rigid” indicates that the described element is devoid of flexibility such that it does not readily lose its overall shape when a force is applied by hand. Use of the term “flexible” indicates that the described element is capable of repeated bending such that it may be bent into different shapes and does not retain a general shape, but instead readily deforms when force is applied. Use of the term “resilient” indicates that the described element has such flexible features and also has a tendency to return to its initial general shape without permanent deformation once a force that causes such flexure is removed. Use of the term “semi-rigid” indicates that the described element may have some degree of flexibility or resiliency.
It is further noted that any use herein of relative terms such as “top,” “bottom,” “upper,” “lower,” “vertical,” and “horizontal” are merely intended to be descriptive for the reader, and may be based on the depiction of those features within the figures for one particular position of the apparatus, and such terms are not intended to limit the orientation with which the disclosed apparatus may be utilized.
A first embodiment of a multi-function exercise device 10 as disclosed herein is shown in
The u-shaped member is shown resting on the ground in
A corresponding pair of arms 17A and 17B may be pivotally coupled to second ends of the first leg 12A and second leg 12B, respectively. At least a portion of the arm bar 11, the arms 17A and 17B, and the u-shaped frame may be made of any suitable rigid material, including not limited to a metal (e.g., steel, aluminum, etc.), wood, a plastic (e.g., ABS—Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene), a composite material, e.g., polypropylene 30% glass fiber, etc. A bottom portion of the arms 17A and 17B may be rounded to permit easier pivoting of the device on the floor/ground during certain exercises (see e.g.,
A post 14 may protrude from a portion of each of arms 17A and 17B to act as a stop to inhibit pivotal movement of the arms in one direction so that they may be at least at an acute angle to the first and second legs 12A and 12B. In one embodiment the acute angle may be in the range of 36-54 degrees, and in another embodiment the acute angle may be in the range of 39-51 degrees, and in yet another embodiment the acute angle may be in the range of 42-48 degrees. In other embodiments other ranges may alternatively be used. The post 14 may serve as a kick back safety mechanism, which may prevent the arm bar 11 during a particular exercise (see e.g.,
Additionally, or alternatively, a pin 34 (see
A portion of each of the arms 17A and 17B being proximate to, or at its distal end may be formed with a recess (e.g., recess 12Ar and recess 12Br in
In another embodiment, to provide for releasable coupling of the arm bar 11 to the arms 17A and 17B, the recesses may be formed to be slightly smaller than the corresponding cylindrical portions of the arm bar 11, for the arm bar to be received therein in a friction fit. In yet another embodiment, the beginning of each of the recesses 12Ar and 12Br (i.e., each of the sides of that openings) may be formed with a small protrusion, which protrusion may be an elastic material that the arm bar 11 may compress in order to snap into the recess, to be releasably retained (i.e., “latched”) in that retained position. In another embodiment, as shown in
The pair of resistance members used for the multi-function exercise device 10 may be any member capable of opposing relative motion between the arm bar 11 and the leg bar 12, by resisting the rotation of the arms 17A/17B relative to the legs 12A/12B. In one embodiment, each of the resistance members may be a damper (see e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,861,376 to Fritz; and U.S. Pat. No. 7,748,082 to Harald), and where a rotary damper is used it may be at the pivotal connection between the arms 17A/17B and legs 12A/12B. In another embodiment, each of the resistance members may be a friction brake (see e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,907,677 to Yamashita). In yet another embodiment, each of the resistance members may be a spring, or may instead be the elastic bands 13 and 13A, as shown in
The resistance band 13 may have a first end secured to a first portion of the u-shaped member and a second end secured to a first portion of the arm 17A, while the resistance band 13A may have a first end secured to a second portion of the u-shaped member and a second end secured to a second portion of the arm 17B. In one embodiment, as shown in
The multi-function exercise device 10 may also include a second pair of resistance bands, where a first resistance band 16 of the second pair of resistance bands has a first end secured to a first portion of the arm bar 11 (e.g., proximate to a first end of the arm bar), and a second resistance band 16A of the second pair of resistance bands may have a first end secured in proximity to a second end of the arm bar. Each of the seconds ends of the resistance bands 16 and 16A may have a respective foot loop 23/23A secured thereto, as seen in
Additionally or alternatively, to better keep the resistance bands 16 and 16A from sliding laterally while in the rolled condition, respective reels 11Ri and 11Rii may be used on the arm bar 11, and the bands may be wound within the bounds of the reel, and those bands may also still be secured using the hook and loop materials. In one embodiment, the reels may each be a separate part that may be secured onto the bar, which reel may resemble a fishing reel or a spool upon which thread is typically wound and stored. In another embodiment each reel may consist of only a pair of annular flanges being integrally formed as part of the arm bar 11.
The multi-function exercise device 10 being so configured may be used for over 30 different exercises, to enable a user to complete a total body workout.
With the multi-function exercise device 10 being configured as shown in
With the arm bar 11 detached from the arms 17A/17B and with the resistance bands 16 and 16A hanging down therefrom, as shown in
In another embodiment, the multi-function exercise device 10 may also include a first telescoping bar 15 and a second telescoping bar 15A that may respectively telescope outwardly from within the hollow arm bar 11, as shown in
In yet another embodiment, as shown in
While illustrative implementations of one or more embodiments of the disclosed apparatus are provided hereinabove, those skilled in the art and having the benefit of the present disclosure will appreciate that further embodiments may be implemented with various changes within the scope of the disclosed apparatus. Other modifications, substitutions, omissions and changes may be made in the design, size, materials used or proportions, operating conditions, assembly sequence, or arrangement or positioning of elements and members of the exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of this invention.
Accordingly, the breadth and scope of the present disclosure 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 claims priority on U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/821,038, filed on Mar. 20, 2019, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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62821038 | Mar 2019 | US |