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This invention relates to exercise and blood circulation devices and, more specifically, to a small, portable, light-weight non-electric exercise and blood circulation apparatus that may be used in small and confined spaces such as in the confines of an airplane seating area and underneath an office desk to provide for low impact exercise to increase blood circulation and improve physical fitness.
In today's society, people tend to work longer hours, which may prevent them from having adequate time to be active thereby leading to unhealthiness and weigh gain issues. This is especially true for individuals who have desk jobs during which the person may sit at a specific locations for hours upon hours. Sitting at a specific location for extended time periods may also lead to poor blood circulation and cramping. People who frequently fly for business or leisure may also sit in the confines of an airplane for extended time periods, which may also lead to cramping due to poor blood circulation. It is commonly known that doing relatively low impact exercise over a longer period of time promotes better blood circulation and not only alleviates cramping but is more efficient for weight loss than a vigorous exercise over a shorter period of time.
Exercise devices that are currently available generally are heavy and difficult to transport, are expensive and also complex in their structure, have electrical-based parts, which requires the use of electricity, and requires the user to be fully active. The aforementioned exercise devices are also not particularly ideal for use while at work or while sitting in an airplane due to office rules and airline regulations.
There thus is a need for a non-electrical low impact exercise apparatus that may be used in a variety of environment, including but not limited to while sitting in an airplane, sitting at a desk, sitting in trains or sitting at home and provides for improved blood circulation.
Briefly, the present invention comprises a non-electrical low impact exercise apparatus that is suitable for use in a variety of environment wherein its use provides for increase blood circulation to alleviate various problems that may occur during extended sittings and/or improve overall physical fitness. The aforementioned exercise apparatus comprises a base, a first footpad and a second footpad and at least one cross member pivotally attached to the base. The at least one cross member is swivelable with respect to the base and pivotally connects the first footpad to the second footpad with the first footpad and the second footpad swingable in a clockwise and arcing and a counterclockwise and arcing direction along a single plane with respect to the base by virtue of the pivotal attachment to the at least one cross member.
The present invention also comprises a non-collapsible and non-electric low impact exercise apparatus having a base, a first rigid cross member and a second rigid cross member pivotally attached to the base in a spaced condition from each other. The exercise apparatus also includes a first footpad and a second footpad pivotally connected to the first rigid cross member and the second rigid cross member with the pivotally connection of the first and second rigid cross members to the base and the pivotally connection of the first and second footpads to the first and second rigid cross members allowing the first and second footpads to swing in a clockwise and arcing and a counterclockwise and arcing direction along a single plane with respect to the base while limiting the range of movement of the first and second footpads through direct contact between the first footpad and the second footpad.
Referring now specifically to the drawings, in which identical or similar parts are designated by the same reference numerals throughout, a detailed description of the present invention is given. It should be understood that the following detailed description relates to the best presently known embodiment of the invention. However, the present invention can assume numerous other embodiments, as will become apparent to those skilled in the art.
Now referring to
The non-electric low impact exercise apparatus 10 generally comprises a base 11, a first footpad 12 having a first end 12a and a second end 12b, a second footpad 13 having a first end 13a and a second end 13b, and a first cross member 14 having a first end 14a and a second end 14b and a second cross member 15 having a first end 15a and a second end 15b. Although base 11 is shown in the embodiment of
In the assembled form of the non-electric low impact exercise apparatus 10, the first cross member 14 and the second cross member 15 are each pivotally attached to the base 11 in a spaced condition from each other with the first cross member 14 and the second cross member 15 swivelable with respect to the base 11. The first cross member 14 and the second cross member 15 also pivotally connect the first footpad 12 to the second footpad 13. More specifically, as shown in the embodiment of
Although the base, footpads and cross member(s) of the non-electric low impact exercise apparatus of the present invention may be pivotally connected to each other by a plurality of devices, the embodiment of
Although the embodiment of
Referring to
It is noted that the pivotal movement of footpads 12 and 13 in the clockwise and arcing and counter clockwise and arcing direction provides for semi-circular to semi-elliptical sliding movements preferably along a single plane that bring a greater number of muscle groups into play and increases their involvement for a more effective stationary workout and promoting greater blood circulation and overall user's health and physical fitness. However, due to the nature of its design, the non-electric low impact exercise apparatus 10 does not provide for a motion that would displace the first and second footpads towards or away from the base such as for example a stepping motion or the like. In view of the aforementioned, it is preferred that the cross member or cross members are rigid and have little to no flexibly to them.
In the operation of exercise apparatus 10, a user respectively places the user's left foot on the first footpad 12 and places the user's right foot on the second footpad 13. The user then uses his or her legs to continuously and slidingly pivot the first footpad 12 and the second footpad 13 between the left foot extended position and the right foot extended position in a synchronized motion. Although alternative embodiment of non-electric low impact exercise apparatus may include stoppers supported on the base to limit movement of first footpad 12 and second footpad 13 from moving beyond the left foot extended position and the right foot extended position, in the embodiment of
However, unlike non-electric low impact exercise apparatus 10, the first end 20a of the first cross member 20 of exercise apparatus 16 is pivotally connected to first footpad 18 proximal a midpoint 18c between the first end 18a and the second end 18b of first footpad 18. Similarly the first end 21a of the second cross member 21 of exercise apparatus 16 is pivotally connected to first footpad 18 proximal midpoint 18c of first footpad 18 and space from the first cross member 20. The second end 20b of the first cross member 20 is pivotally connected to second footpad 19 proximal a midpoint 19c between the first end 19a and the second end 19b of second footpad 19. Similarly the second end 21b of the second cross member 21 is pivotally connected to second footpad 19 proximal midpoint 19c of second footpad 19 but space from the first cross member 20. Similar to non-electric low impact exercise apparatus 10, the first footpad 18 and the second footpad 19, by virtue of their pivotal connection to cross members 20 and 21, function to swing in a direction arc with respect to the base 17. Swinging at a direction arc with respect to the base 17 permits the non-electric low impact exercise apparatus 16 to be used in small confined spaces such as underneath an office desk or underneath an airplane's chair.
In the assembled form of non-electric low impact exercise apparatus 22, a first end 26a of the cross member 26 is pivotally connected to first footpad 24 proximal a midpoint 24c between the first end 24a and the second end 24b of first footpad 24. The second end 26b of the first cross member 26 is pivotally connected to second footpad 25 proximal a midpoint 25c between the first end 25a and the second end 25b of second footpad 25. The first footpads 24 and the second footpad 25, by virtue of their pivotal connection to cross member 26, function to swing in a direction arc with respect to the base 23. Swinging at a direction arc with respect to the base 23 permits the non-electric low impact exercise apparatus 22 to be used in small confined spaces such as underneath an office desk or underneath an airplane's chair. In the embodiment of
Exercise apparatus 31 is also shown having an optional set of elevating members 37a, 37b, 37c, and 37d connected to an underside of the base 32 with the set of elevating members 37a, 37b. 37c, and 37d for supporting the base 32 on support surfaces such as carpet and linoleum.
This application claims priority to currently pending U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/277,812; filed on Sep. 30, 2009; titled NON-ELECTRICAL EXERCISE APPARATUS.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61277812 | Sep 2009 | US |