BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the portable exercise machine of the present invention supported by a floor cradle;
FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the exercise machine as shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a vertical perspective view of the exercise machine removed from the floor cradle;
FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the exercise machine as shown in FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the exercise machine as shown in FIG. 3;
FIG. 6 is a sectional side elevational view of the exercise machine taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a sectional side elevational view of the exercise machine shown in FIG. 6, showing the third pair of bolsters moved to an end of the tube to tension all of the resistance elements providing maximum resistance;
FIG. 8 is a sectional side elevational view of the exercise machine similar to FIG. 6 showing only one resistance element connected in an operative position to provide a more reduced resistance than that shown in FIG. 6;
FIG. 9 is a sectional side elevational view of the exercise machine shown in FIG. 8 showing the third pair of bolsters pushed to the end of the tube to tension the single resistance element;
FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of the machine being used for a leg press;
FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of the machine being used for exercising a person's abdominal muscles;
FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of the exercise machine and its associated floor cradle being used for a bun kick;
FIG. 13 is a top plan view of the exercise machine of the present invention being used for exercising a person's inner thigh; and
FIG. 14 is a top plan view of the exercise machine used for exercising a person's outer thigh.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 1, the portable exercise machine 1 of the present invention comprises an elongated tube 2, elliptical in cross-section, as shown in FIG. 5, and having a pair of bolsters or handles 3 and 4 fixedly attached to each end thereof. A third pair of bolsters or handles 5 is positioned intermediate the handles 3 and 4 and is slidably mounted on the tube 2 in a reciprocatory movement relative to the pairs of bolsters 3 and 4.
The movable bolsters 5 are connected to the tube 2 by means of a transversely extending spindle 5a extending through elongated slots 2a provided in the sidewalls of the tube 2. As will be seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, the spindle 5a is connected to a carriage 6 slidably mounted in the tube 2.
The carriage 6 comprises a piston having a plurality of axially extending partitions forming chambers 6a. One end of each chamber 6a communicates with a respective socket 6b provided in one end of the carriage 6 and the opposite end of each chamber communicates with a slot 6c formed by radially inwardly and outwardly extending flanges 6d and 6e. Elastic straps 7 are contained within the tube 2 to provide the desired resistance to the movement of the bolster 5 from the position shown in FIG. 6 to the position shown in FIG. 7. Each elastic strap 7 has a collar 7a fixedly connected to one end thereof and received in a respective socket 6b in the carriage 6. The opposite end of each strap 7 also has a collar 7b fixedly connected thereto. A transversely extending partition 8 is fixedly connected to the interior wall of the tube 2 and is provided with slots 8a, as shown in FIG. 3, for receiving the corresponding end portion of a respective strap 7 and for providing a shoulder for releasably holding the collar 7b.
By the construction and arrangement of the pair of bolsters 5 and the carriage 6, as shown in FIGS. 3, 6 and 7, when the bolsters 5 are pushed from the initial position shown in FIG. 6 to the position shown in FIG., 7, the straps 7 are stretched accordingly to provide resistance to the movement of the bolsters 5.
Each elastic strap 7 provides an increment of resistance; therefore, the arrangement shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 will provide the maximum amount of resistance. The strength of the elastic straps may vary which potentially provides more than just three resistance levels. If it is desired to reduce the amount of resistance, a selected number of elastic straps 7 can be disconnected from the partition 8, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, so that the elastic straps 7 not in use are merely carried by the carriage 6. As will be seen in FIG. 3, the tube 2 has a removable cover 2b whereby access to the interior of the tube 2 is provided to facilitate the selective connection of the elastic straps 7 to the partition 8.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, in order to store the portable exercise machine or for using the machine during a bun kick, a stand 9 is provided which comprises a base portion 9a adapted to engage the ground, and an upwardly extending arm portion 9b hingedly connected as at 9c to the base portion 9a. The exercise machine 1 is adapted to be detachably connected to each end of the stand 9, by a rotatable latch 2c on one end of the tube 2, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, receivable in an aperture 9d provided in the rear portion 9b. The opposite end of the tube is provided with an aperture 2d adapted to receive a hook member 9e in the corresponding end of the tube 2.
The use of the portable exercise machine for various exercises is illustrated in FIGS. 10 to 14 wherein it will be seen in FIG. 10 the machine is being used for a leg press exercise in which, while in a seated position, the exerciser positions the machine 1 so that handles 4 are on the floor and the exerciser's foot pushes downwardly on the bolsters 5 in the direction of the large arrow.
FIG. 11 illustrates the use of the machine for exercising a person's abdominal muscles wherein the exerciser, while in the seated position, holds the bolsters 4 and bends the chest forward in the direction of the right arrow, whereby the bolster 5 moves in the direction of the left arrow to thereby tension the straps.
FIG. 12 illustrates the use of the machine for a bun kick exercise wherein the machine 1 is mounted in the stand 9 resting on the floor and while standing, the exerciser places the rear portion of his lower leg against the bolster 5 and moves his leg in the direction of the small arrow thereby causing the bolster 5 to move in the direction of the large arrow.
FIG. 13 illustrates the use of the machine for exercising a person's inner thigh wherein, while seated, the person places the handle 4 on the inside of one leg and the bolster 5 on the inside of the other leg. The legs are then moved in the direction of the small arrows causing the bolster to move in the direction of the large arrow, thereby tensioning the straps.
FIG. 14 illustrates the use of the machine for exercising a person's outer thigh wherein, while seated, the person places the handle 3 on the outside of one leg and the bolster 5 on the outside of the other leg. The legs are then moved in a direction indicated by the small arrows thereby causing the bolster 5 to move in a direction of the large arrow, thereby tensioning the straps.
From the above description, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the exercise machine of the present invention is an improvement over heretofore employed bun, thigh and abdominal muscles exercise machines in that the machine I is readily portable and the resistance forces can be easily adjusted to accommodate various uses. For a portable machine, it is quite efficient exercising one's entire lower body, inner and outer thighs, quadriceps and hamstrings, calves and the buttocks.
It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the subjoined claims.