Stretching and conditioning fitness devices

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6206812
  • Patent Number
    6,206,812
  • Date Filed
    Friday, April 17, 1998
    26 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, March 27, 2001
    23 years ago
  • Inventors
  • Examiners
    • Donnelly; Jerome W.
    • Amerson; Lori Baker
    Agents
    • Riches, McKenzie & Herbert
Abstract
The present invention discloses a fitness device which includes a seat, a telescoping means which is attached to the seat at a terminal portion thereof by a pivot means and a support means which is attached to a second terminal portion of the telescoping means. The fitness device is adapted to support the hands and feet of a user who desires to stretch, strengthen and condition various muscle groups in the user's body.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




The present invention relates to fitness devices that can be used for stretching, physical therapy, and for strengthening and toning exercises. More specifically, the present invention relates to an improved fitness device which allows a user to perform, in either a sitting or lying position, a variety of stretching and conditioning exercises that utilize many of the major muscle groups of the body.




2. Description of the Prior Art




It is extremely beneficial to be able to achieve flexibility and conditioning during or prior to exercise routines or for cooling down purposes. Accomplishing full body stretching in an easy, effective and enjoyable manner is desirable.




Many prior art fitness devices designed to facilitate the performance of stretching exercises focus generally on stretching the leg muscles. Other stretching machines that provide exercises in addition to leg stretching are often limited to providing a small range of stretching and conditioning exercises.




A need exists for a compact, quiet device with minimal moving parts which allows performance of a broad range of exercises which target the arm, back, shoulder, abdominal and leg muscles.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The objectives of the present invention are accomplished by providing a fitness device that allows a user to perform a broad range of exercises that target muscles in the arms legs, back abdominal and shoulders. The fitness device of the present invention includes a seat, a telescoping means and a support means. The telescoping means is attached to the seat at a terminal portion thereof by a pivot means and the support means is attached to a second terminal portion of the telescoping means adapted to support the hands and feet of a user.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 2

is cross-sectional view taken along lines


2





2


of FIG.


1


.





FIG. 3

is a an exploded view of the pivot means of the present invention.





FIG. 4

is a cross-sectional view taken along lines


3





3


of

FIG. 1







FIG. 5

is a side view of an embodiment of the present invention with elongated elastic means.





FIG. 6

is an exploded view of the underside of the rolling means of the present invention.





FIG. 7

is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 8

is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 9

is an exploded view of the underside of the wheels of the present invention.





FIG. 10

illustrates a user in one possible stretching position that can be achieved by using the present invention.





FIG. 11

illustrates a user in another possible stretching and conditioning position that can be achieved by using the present invention.





FIG. 12

illustrates a user in yet another possible stretching and conditioning position that can be achieved by using the present invention.





FIG. 13

illustrates a user in another stretching position.





FIG. 14

illustrates a user in still another stretching position.





FIG. 15

illustrates a user in yet another stretching position.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION




The various aspects of the present invention are shown in the three embodiments of fitness device


10


disclosed in this application.

FIGS. 1 through 8

show an embodiment of fitness device


10


and

FIGS. 9 and 10

indicate two other embodiments of the present invention. Where common parts appear in the various embodiments, similar reference characters are used in each embodiment.




Referring to

FIG. 1

, a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention, seat


12


is preferably a rigid frame constructed from plastic, wood, or metal. Seat


12


can also be the surface of a floor. Seat


12


is connected to telescoping means


20


by pivot means


14


. Telescoping means


20


includes outer tube


16


and inner tube


22


.




Inner tube


22


includes a plurality of apertures


28


and at least one guide slot


30


. Inner circumference


32


of outer tube


16


contains at least one groove


34


and at least one port


38


. Groove


34


is adapted to allow the slots


30


on inner tube


22


to slide into position inside the outer tube


16


and port


38


is adapted to allow pin


18


to fit within it. First terminal portion


24


of outer tube


16


is connected to pivot means


14


. Inner tube


22


telescopically resides within outer tube


16


entering at second terminal portion


26


of outer tube


16


.




Alignment means


36


is preferably provided for the proper positioning of outer tube


16


and inner tube


22


with relationship to each other. A cross-section section of outer tube


16


is shown in FIG.


2


. Alignment means


36


may include grooves


34


in the inner circumference


32


of outer tube


16


and guide slot


30


in the outer portion of outer tube


16


.




Securing means


40


for temporarily securing and positioning inner tube


22


with relationship to outer tube


16


can be provided by a variety of means well known to those skilled in the art. Preferably, inner tube


22


includes a plurality of apertures


28


and outer tube


16


is provided with pin


18


and port


38


such that inner tube


22


may be positioned within outer tube


16


with the alignment of apertures


28


with port


38


. This alignment can then be secured by insertion of pin


18


through port


38


extending into inner tube


22


through apertures


28


. Pin


18


can be any suitable mechanism that allows inner tube


22


to be locked into position inside outer tube


16


by means of inserting pin


18


into a chosen aperture


28


. Preferably, pin


18


forms a spring type device that is easily moved by pulling upwards to dislodge and then releasing to lock into position with a chosen aperture.




Inner tube


22


which telescopically resides within outer tube


16


can be longitudinally adjusted by, for example, slidably removing pin


18


through port


38


to align a chosen aperture with port


38


and releasing pin


18


through port


38


into aperture


28


to achieve a desired length.




Support means


42


includes attachment means


44


which is connected to inner tube


22


at a terminal portion thereof in a substantially non-horizontally manner, i.e. preferably from less than about 75 degrees, more preferably about 45 degrees from the vertical. Extending from attachment means


44


proximate inner tube


22


, distant outer tube


16


are primary foot rests


46




a


and


46




b


. Extending from attachment means


44


, proximate the terminal portion of support means


42


, distant primary foot rests


46




a


and


46




b


extend primary hand grips


48




a


and


48




b


. Primary foot rests


46




a


and


46




b


and primary hand grips


48




a


and


48




b


extend substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of inner tube


22


.




In this embodiment, support means


42


further includes side foot rests


50




a


and


50




b


which extend from the portion of primary foot rests


46




a


and


46




b


focused substantially towards seat


12


. Auxiliary hand grips


52




a


and


52




b


are attached to terminal portions of primary hand grips


48




a


and


48




b


and extend towards inner tube


22


as shown in FIG.


1


. Also as show in

FIG. 1

auxiliary hand grips


52




a


and


52




b


are preferably connected to side foot rest


50




a


and


50




b.






As shown in

FIG. 3

pivot means


14


of the present invention includes inner housing


54


attached to seat


12


by means of first bolt


56


. First bolt


56


extends beyond the end portion of inner housing


54


distant the attachment area of inner housing to seat


12


. Outer housing


58


adapted to circumferencially surround inner housing


54


such that first bolt


56


resides within outer cylinder


58


As stated with regards to

FIG. 1

, pivot means


14


is connected to outer tube


16


at a first terminal portion. This assembly of outer tube


16


and outer housing


58


are secured to seat


12


through first bolt


56


. First bolt


56


is attached by means of washer


60


and nut


62


. The portion of outer housing


58


distant seat


12


can be enclosed by means of cap


64


which is useful to cover nut


62


and also for aesthetic purposes.





FIG. 4

illustrates a cross-sectional view of the securing means


40


. Securing means


40


is more clearly depicted with outer tube


16


, inner tube


22


, apertures


28


port


38


and pin


18


.




The embodiment shown in

FIG. 5

includes elongate elastic means


68




a


and


68




b


. Elongate elastic means


68


preferably have alternative hand grips similar to those shown in embodiment illustrated in FIG.


1


. The elements in this embodiment that are similar to those in other embodiments are indicated with the same numbers as shown in the other embodiments. The alternative hand grips


66




a


and


66




b


are attached to support means


42


. Elongate elastic means


68


travels through holding means


70


which is outboard to support means


42


. Preferably the terminal portion of elongate elastic means


68


are attached to hand grips


66




a


and


66




b


by means of hooks


72




a


and


72




b.






As shown in

FIGS. 5 & 6

, fitness device


10


, is preferably provided with rolling means


74


which is well known to those skilled in the art. Rolling means


74


are located on the underside of inner tube


22


, proximate support means


42


, distant seat


12


. Rolling means


74


includes base portion


76


which is attached to the lower portion of inner tube


22


with inwardly concave member


78


extending from base


76


to receive end cap


82


. End cap


82


is preferably attached to base


76


by press-fit or threading means. Rotating member


80


abuts concave member


78


and extends through an opening in end cap


82


such that the end portion of the fitness device


10


distant the seat means


12


is permitted to roll on the surface on which the device is placed.





FIG. 7

shows another embodiment of the present invention. The embodiment shown in

FIG. 7

is similar to the embodiment shown in

FIG. 1

with several similar elements. Therefore, like elements have been indicated with the same numbers on both Figures. The embodiment illustrated in

FIG. 7

differs from the embodiment shown in

FIG. 1

from the stand point that the telescoping means


20


includes a four sided inner tube


22


and a four sided outer tube


16


. Further, the embodiment of

FIG. 7

does not utilize alignment means


36


, but only uses securing means


40


.





FIG. 8

illustrates yet another embodiment of the present invention. To those skilled in the art it is evident that either an outer tube or an inner tube can be connected to seat


12


. It is also know to those in the art that the shape of the material from which the outer and inner tubing is formed can be circular, or angular. The embodiment shown in

FIG. 8

preferably has inner tube


22


attached to seat


12


by pivot means


14


at a first end


100


and outer tube


16


attached to attachment means


42


at a second end position


102


The shape of the outer tube


16


and inner tube


22


are also preferably four sided.




Outer tube


16


includes a pin


18


, apertures


28


and port


38


. Securing means


40


for temporarily securing and positioning inner tube


16


with relationship to outer tube


22


can be provided by a number of means well know in the art. Preferably, inner tube


16


includes a plurality of apertures


28


and outer tube


22


is provided with port


38


such that inner tube


16


can be positioned within outer tube


22


with the alignment of an apertures


28


with port


38


and secured by insertion of pin


18


through port


38


extending into inner tube


16


through apertures


28


. With inner tube


16


telescoping with outer tube


22


, telescoping means


20


can be adjusted to a desired length by slidably removing and inserting pin


18


through port


38


with a chosen aperture


28


.




It is well know in the art that outer tube


16


can be made up of two or three parts that are connected together to form support means


104


. Preferably, support means


42


is a continuous member having a proximate end


106


, a distal end


108


and a middle section


110


. Support means


42


extends in a substantially horizontal manner, orienting in an angular position substantially upwards at an angle from about 60° to about 90° from the substantially horizontal portion of outer tube


16


and bending forward focused in the direction of seat


12


.




Extending outwardly on either side of outer tube


16


away from the distal end


108


of outer tube


16


are a pair of primary hand grips


94




a


and


94




b


. It is well know in the art that hand grips


94




a


&


94




b


can be any shape or length that would allow a user to comfortably grasp and hold on to when exercising. Preferably hand grips


94




a


and


94




b


extend out from outer tube


16


in a substantially horizontal manner and then extending downward to form auxiliary hand grips


95




a


and


95




b.






Primary foot rests


96




a


and


96




b


can be any shape or length that allows a user to comfortably rest his/her feet during exercising. Foot rest


96




a


and


96




b


preferably extend out from outer tube


16


at about the middle section


110


in a substantially horizontal manner then extends focused in the direction of seat


12


to form side foot rest


97




a


and


97




b


. The embodiment of

FIG. 8

may also have alternative hand grips


66




a


and


66




b


attached to support means


42


by elongate elastic means


68


similar to the embodiment described in FIG.


5


.





FIG. 9

illustrates an exploded view of wheel


98


of FIG.


8


. Wheel


98


is attached to the underside of outer tube


16


at about the middle section


110


. Wheel


98


is preferably attached to second base


116


by press-fit or threading means. Those skilled in the art are well aware that any means that causes the embodiment of

FIG. 8

to move or glide freely over the surface on which the device is placed can be used in this invention.




When in use, the fitness device


10


of the present invention serves a two fold purpose. It allows a user to perform stretching, exercises that affect and utilize many of the major muscles groups in the body. When the elongated elastic means


68




a


and


68




b


are used a user can also condition, strengthen and tone may of the major muscle groups in the body. Preferably the seat


12


of the present invention is placed on the floor with the weight of the user being used to secure the device on the horizontal surface, namely the floor.

FIG. 10

shows a user


118


in a stretching position with his hands on primary hand grips


48




a


and


48




b


and feet pushing against primary foot rest


46




a


and


46




b


. In this position a user by pulling himself forward to the point where he is experiencing mild tension, and holding this position the user is performing a stretching function in his calf, ham strings and lower back.





FIG. 11

illustrates a user with his feet on primary foot rest


46




a


and


46




b


and his hands grasping and pulling on alternative hand grips


66




a


and


66




b


. In this position a user is able to tone strengthen and condition the muscles in the arms shoulder and back. The present invention allows user


118


to stretch out his or her muscles and then using elongated elastic means


68




a


&


68




b


strengthen, condition and tone the same muscles that were stretched. The user can control the level of resistance required by either shortening elastic means


68




a


&


68




b


or using the full length provided. As shown in

FIG. 12

, user


118


is achieving a greater level of resistance by wrapping elastic means


68




a


and


68




b


around primary hand grips


48




a


&


48




b.






User


118


in

FIG. 12

is shown with his left foot on primary foot rest


46




b


and his right foot positioned on telescoping means


20


. User


118


is stretching his calf, hamstring and lower back muscles and conditioning and toning them as he stretches elongated elastic means


68




a


and


68




b


holding onto alternative hand grips


66




a


and


66




b


. To provide more resistance in stretching, toning strengthening toning the following muscles, elongated elastic means


68




a


and


68




b


are looped over primary hand grips


48




a


and


48




b.







FIG. 13

illustrates user


118


in a stretching position. His legs are spread apart to allow him to roll fitness device


10


from one leg to the other at the same time, pulling forward to stretch muscles in the groin and inner thighs.





FIG. 14

illustrates user


118


with his legs pulled up against his body as he leans over and grasps the primary hand grips


48




a


and


48




b


. In this position, the user is benefiting from stretching muscles at the back of his lower body such as hamstrings, soleus, gastrocnemius and gluteus maximus and in his upper body stretching his deltoids.




The user


118


in

FIG. 15

displays another stretching position that can be achieved by using the fitness device


10


of the present invention. In this position user


118


has crossed his left leg over his right leg while pulling with one hand on the primary hand grips


48




a


and


48




b


. The user


118


as shown in this position is able to achieve stretching of his deltoids in his arms and his gluteus maximus hamstrings and soleus in his lower body.















Index of elements in the Drawings


























10




fitness device




70




holding means






12




seat




72a&b




hooks






14




pivot means




74




rolling means






16




outer tube




76




base portion






18




pin




78




inward concave member






20




telescoping means




80




rotating member






22




inner tube




82




end cap






24




first terminal portion




84






26




second terminal portion




86






28




plurality of apertures




88




inner section of section









outer tube






30




guide slot




90






32




inner circumference




92






34




groove




94a & b




primary hand grips






36




alignment means




95a & b




auxiliary hand grips






38




port




96a & b




primary foot rests






40




securing means




97a & b




side foot rests






42




support means




98




wheels






44




attachment means




100




first end






46a & b




primary foot rest




102




second end






48a & b




primary hand grips




104






50a & b




side foot rests




106




proximate end






52a & b




auxiliary hand grips




108




distal end






54




inner housing




110




middle section






56




first bolt




112




second bolt






58




outer housing




114




second nut






60




washer




116




footing






62




first nut




118




user






64




cap




120






66a & b




alternative hand grips




122






68a & b




elongated elastic means




124













Claims
  • 1. A fitness device comprising:(a) a seat; (b) an elongated telescoping means extending from a first terminal portion to a second terminal portion, the telescoping means attached to said seat at said first terminal portion thereof by a pivot, wherein said second terminal portion of said telescoping member is pivotally movable about said pivot relative to said seat; and (c) a support attached to said second terminal portion of said telescoping means distant said seat for pivotal movement with the telescoping means about said pivot, said support for supporting the hands and feet of a user.
  • 2. The fitness device of claim 1 further comprising elongated elastic means.
  • 3. The fitness device of claim 2 wherein the device includes hand grips which are attached to said elastic means by a pair of hooks.
  • 4. The fitness device of claim 2 wherein the device includes a holding means for said elongated elastic means, said holding means being coupled to an outboard portion of the support means remote from the seat.
  • 5. The fitness device of claim 1 wherein the seat forms a rigid frame, said frame is constructed from materials selected from the group consisting of, wood, plastic and metal.
  • 6. The fitness device of claim 1 wherein the telescoping means includes an outer tube and an inner tube, said inner tube selectively telescopically movable within said outer tube.
  • 7. The fitness device of claim 6 wherein the inner tube includes a plurality of apertures and at least one guide slot.
  • 8. The fitness device of claim 6 wherein the outer tube comprises an inner circumference, said inner circumference includes at least one Groove and at least one port, such that the inner tube may be positioned within the outer tube by aligning an aperture with said port, the alignment of said aperture with said port being achieved by the insertion of a pin through said port extending into said inner tube through said aperture.
  • 9. The fitness device of claim 1 wherein the support means includes an attachment means, said attachment means is connected to said inner tube at a terminal portion thereof in a substantially non-horizontal manner.
  • 10. The fitness device of claim 9 wherein said attachment means forms primary foot rest, proximate said inner tube and distant said outer tube.
  • 11. The fitness device of claim 10 wherein said primary foot rests extend, focused substantially towards said seat to form side foot rests.
  • 12. The fitness device of claim 10 wherein said support means further includes primary hand grips, said primary hand grips extend from the attachment means proximate the terminal portion of said support and distant the primary foot rests.
  • 13. The fitness device of claim 12 wherein said primary hand grips extend to form at a terminal portion thereof, auxiliary hand grips, said auxiliary hand grips extending towards said inner tube and connected to said side foot rests.
  • 14. The fitness device of claim 6 further comprising a rolling means.
  • 15. The fitness device of claim 14 wherein said rolling means includes a base portion, an end cap and a rolling member, the base portion attached to the lower portion of said inner tube and forming an inwardly concave member receiving the end cap with the rotating member abutting said concave member and extending through an opening in said end cap, such that the second terminal end portion of said fitness device is permitted to roll on a surface on which the device is placed.
  • 16. The fitness device of claim 1 wherein the telescoping means forms a rounded tube.
  • 17. The fitness device of claim 1 wherein the telescoping means forms a four sided tube.
  • 18. A fitness device comprising:(a) a seat; (b) a telescoping means, said telescoping means attached to said seat at a terminal point thereof by a pivot means; and (c) a support means attached to a second terminal portion of said telescoping means distant said seat, said support means for supporting the hands and feet of a user, wherein the telescoping means comprises an inner tube and an outer tube, said inner tube is connected to said pivot means at a first end, said pivot means forms a pivotal attachment to said seat and said outer tube forms said support means.
  • 19. The fitness device of claim 18 wherein said support means includes a proximate end, a middle section and a distal end, extending from said distal end are hand grips.
  • 20. The fitness device of claim 18 wherein said outer tube extends in a substantially horizontal manner and then projecting downward to form auxiliary hand grips.
  • 21. The fitness device of claim 18 wherein said support means further includes a primary foot rest extending out from said outer tube at about the middle section in a substantially horizontal manner.
  • 22. The fitness device of claim 21 wherein said primary foot rests extend focused in the direction of said seat to form said side foot rests.
  • 23. A fitness device comprising:(a) a seat; (b) a telescoping means, said telescoping means attached to said seat at a terminal point thereof by a pivot means; (c) a support means attached to a second terminal portion of said telescoping means distant said seat, said support means for supporting the hands and feet of a user; and (d) a rolling means, wherein said rolling means includes a base portion attached to a lower portion of said telescoping means, said base portion forms an inwardly concave member for receiving an end cap with a rotating member abutting said concave member and extending through an opening in said end cap such that the second terminal portion of said fitness device is permitted to roll on a surface of which the device is placed.
Parent Case Info

This application claims priority based on provisional application Serial No. 60/054,007 filed on Jul. 29, 1997 by the inventor.

US Referenced Citations (5)
Number Name Date Kind
4743010 Geraci May 1988
4988096 Jones Jan 1991
5007632 Wilkinson Apr 1991
5421795 Chen Jun 1995
5645514 Chen Jul 1997
Provisional Applications (1)
Number Date Country
60/054007 Jul 1997 US