WHEELED EXERCISE APPARATUS

Abstract

A wheeled exercise apparatus may include a single wheel, a central axle, a contoured body, a pair of handles, a pair of paddles and a clamping mechanism or torsion spring. A single wheel may have an interior cavity in the center with an opening on both sides of the wheel. A central axle may be housed inside of the interior cavity of the wheel. The contoured body may be connected to the central axle protruding from the sides of the wheel. The contoured body may further include two storage areas where may house and secure a pair of knee pads. The pair of handles may be connected to the contoured body's left and right sides. The pair of paddles may be attached on either side of the central axle. Each of the paddle may slide over the central axle and fastens through a clamping mechanism or a torsion spring.

Description

BACKGROUND

The disclosure here relates to a wheeled exercise device, in particular, to a device for performing abdominal exercises.

One of the major themes in United States is health and wellness. Obesity, it is reported to be, a public health concern and is on the rise especially with a sedentary lifestyle not uncommon in suburban and urban environments. Naturally, in these areas, people are more likely to be passive and are more inclined to gain excess weight. This in turn creates health problems such as heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, etc. Conversely, active people who exercise frequently are less likely to be overweight and are thus less at risk for those maladies. These group of individuals therefore have a healthier lifestyle and live longer.

To avoid obesity and weight gain, people try to engage in physical activities during the week. A lot of exercise devices sold in the market—both for use at home and at the gym—are for the purpose of keeping people in shape and in good health. One of those kinds of devices is a wheeled training machine which has more than a dozen different designs and is made mainly for stimulation of abdominal muscles. However, not all of those devices are completely safe to use. Most of those wheeled training devices require the user to grab unto handles situated on the device. Invariably, some of these devices incorporate a wheel, mounted on a central axle, with the central axle acting as handle bars on both sides of the wheel. The user then gets on his/her knees, applies force on the handle bars and rolls the wheeled device over the surface by pushing forward and pulling back; thereby, exercising his/her abdominal region.

SUMMARY

In accordance with an aspect, there is provided an apparatus, including: a single wheel which may have an interior cavity in the center with an opening on both left and right sides of the wheel. The central axle which may be housed inside of the interior cavity of the wheel, protruding through the left and right sides of the wheel's openings and may be horizontal to the ground surface. The contoured body which may be connected to the central axle protruding from the sides of the wheel.

The wheel which may have the ultra-wide profile base, and may have surface characteristics that are either flat or domed. The contoured body may be a housing for both, the single wheel and the central axle such that the contoured body may be made to fit and partially cover the shape of the wheel in the central part of the contoured body. The contoured body has sections that may house and secure the central axle protruding from either side of the wheel. The contoured body sections may be set at three different distances relative to the front of the contoured body.

The contoured body may further include two storage areas on the underside of the contoured body where the storage areas may house and secure a pair of knee pads. The contoured body may also have a rectangular opening on the contoured body, may incorporate a counting device, located on the top part of it and may incorporate a mobile phone holder, located on the top of the contoured body.

The apparatus may have a pair of handles which may be connected to the contoured body. The pair of handles may be positioned forward from the central axle on the left and right sides of the contoured body and may form a 90-degree angle with the contoured body. The apparatus may have a pair of paddles which may be attached on either side of the central axle. The apparatus may have a pair of handles which may be connected to each respective paddle. Each of the paddle may slide over the central axle and fastens through a clamping mechanism or a torsion spring.

These, as well as other components, steps, features, objects, benefits, and advantages, will now become clear from a review of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments, the accompanying drawings, and the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments in accordance with the present invention are shown in the drawings and will be described below with reference to the figures, whereby elements having the same effect have been provided with the same reference numerals. The following is shown:

FIG. 1 shows a front perspective view of an apparatus in accordance with an embodiment having housing for a single wheel;

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the apparatus;

FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of the apparatus;

FIG. 4 shows a bottom perspective view of the apparatus;

FIG. 5 shows an exemplary application of the apparatus specifically depicting a user's arms positioned unto a contoured body;

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of the apparatus incorporating a counting device;

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of the apparatus incorporating a mobile phone holder;

FIG. 8 shows a front perspective view of another apparatus in accordance with an embodiment having a pair of handles;

FIG. 9 shows an exploded view of the other apparatus;

FIG. 10 shows an exploded view of the other apparatus;

FIG. 11 shows a bottom view of the other apparatus in accordance with an embodiment having paddles with clamping fasteners; and

FIG. 12 shows a side perspective view of the other apparatus in accordance with the embodiment with clamping fasteners.

DESCRIPTION

Exemplified embodiments are now described. Other embodiments may be used in addition or instead. Details that may be apparent or unnecessary may be omitted to save space or for a more effective presentation. Some embodiments may be practiced with additional components or steps and/or without all of the components or steps that are described.

FIG. 1 exemplifies a front perspective view of an embodiment of the apparatus 100. Unless otherwise noted, many of the components of the right side of the apparatus 100 have mirror parts on the opposite, left side. Referring to right side of the apparatus 100, it may include a contoured body 101 which may incorporate a handle 102 oriented upward from the contoured body 101 forming about a 90-degree angle between the contoured body 101 and the handle 102. The contoured body 101 may have grips on the handle 102 to provide for a firmer grasp of the handle 102. In some embodiments the grips may incorporate finger grooves for providing a firmer grasp. The contoured body 101 may further incorporate a single handle 111 in the form of a rectangular opening in the front part of the contoured body 101. The contoured body 101 may be made from tough plastic such as polypropylene or another comparable rigid material. However, it is not limited to plastic and it can be made of ceramic, steel, metal allow, glass or wood.

The apparatus 100 may further include a single wheel 112 which may have a surface portion 109 exemplified in this embodiment that abuts the edge of the wheel's side 110. The single wheel 112 may have a wide profile to provide stability during the operation of the apparatus 100. Other embodiments may incorporate different sizes and shapes of the single wheel 112 and its respective surface portion 109.

The single wheel 112 may be formed of a rigid plastic such as polypropylene or other suitable material. The surface portion 109 of the single wheel 112 may be shaped as a flat component or a domed (not shown here) component made from PET (polyethylene terephthalate).

The single wheel 112 is coupled with the countered body 101 (more detailed discussion further below). The surface portion 109 may be made from non-slipping PET to make user operation more comfortable and easy especially for oblique push offs by providing superior stability and comfort.

In the embodiment 100 the contoured body 101, the handle 102, the single wheel 112 and the surface portion 109 may vary in size. The handle 102 and the single wheel 112 may be removable for storage and traveling purposes. Furthermore, the handle 102 and the single wheel 112 may be interchanged with another size or shape handle 102 or single wheel 109.

FIG. 2 exemplifies a side view of the embodiment of apparatus 200. Unless otherwise noted many of the components of the right side of apparatus 200 have mirror parts on the opposite, left side. Referring to right side of apparatus 200, the handle 202 may have groves incorporated thereon. These groves allow the user's fingers to firmly grip the handles and provide a more ergonomic feel, thus, reducing stress on the hands. The handle 202 may be coupled with the contoured body 201 using screw 206 (further details to follow).

The single wheel 212 of the apparatus 200 may have a central axle 216 which may protrude from either side of the single wheel 212 and may be secured unto the contoured body 201 with use of the housing sections 222 or 220. The housing sections 222 or 220 containing the housing section walls 219, 221 and 223.

The apparatus 200 may have a knee pad storage 213 with a housing wall 215 incorporated in the underside of the contoured body 201.

FIG. 3 exemplifies an exploded view of the embodiment of apparatus 300 to show the constituent parts in more detail. As noted above, many of the components of the left side of the apparatus 300 have mirror parts on the opposite, right side. Referring to the left side of apparatus 300, the handle 302 may be composed of a support tube 304 which is partially inserted into the contoured body's socket 305 and secured by screw 306 from the underside of the contoured body 301. Support tube 304 may be encompassed by grip 303. In the exemplified embodiment of apparatus 300, the support tube 304 may be made from a metal such as steel, metal alloy, plastic or similar material and the grip 303 may be made from rigid plastic such as polypropylene or a similar material.

The apparatus 300 may further secure the knee pad 330 which may be secured in the knee pad storage area 313. For convenience to the user, the knee pad storage area 313 may have an opening 314 for easy ejection and insertion of the knee pad 330. The knee pad 330 may be made from PVC (polyvinyl chloride) but is not limited to PVC. A user may place the knee pad 330 in between the hard surface, such as a floor, and the user's knees in order to provide comfort to the user while he/she is using apparatus 300.

In the exemplified embodiment of apparatus 300, the single wheel 312 may have its surface portion 309 either as a domed or flat structure and with or without treads.

A fastening pin 331 may be used to secure the central axle 316 unto the contoured body 301. The central axle 316 has an opening 317 which aligns with openings located on the housing section walls 219, 221 and 223, depending on which housing section 222 or 220 the user has set the central axle 316 on which dictates how difficult of an exercise routine he/she is desiring to engage in. The fastening pin 331 is inserted first through an opening (not pictured) of one of the housing section walls 219, 221 and 223, then it is inserted through an opening 317 of the central axle 316 (perpendicular to the central axle 316) and finally through another opening (not pictured) of one of the other housing section walls 219, 221 and 223. The central axle 316 and the fastening pin 331 may be made from a metal, metal allow or any similar material.

FIG. 4 exemplifies an underside perspective view of the embodiment of apparatus 400 to show the constituent parts in more detail. As was noted above, many of the components of the left side of apparatus 400 have mirror parts on the opposite, right side of the apparatus 400. Referring to the left underside of apparatus 400 shows the central axle 416 housed inside of the interior cavity of the single wheel 412 and protruding through the left and right sides of the single wheel's 412 openings. The central axle 416 is secured in housing 422 by the fastening pin 431 which is inserted through opening 434 of the housing wall 423, the opening 317 of the central axle 416 and through opening 436 of the housing wall 421. The central axle 416 may instead be secured to another housing such as housing 420 or yet another one that is not pictured. The current embodiment has two housings, 420 and 422; however, another embodiment may have more than two housings.

The knee pad 430 may have an oval, circular or any other shape, corresponding to storage area housing 413 and may mimic the same shape of the knee pads 430 to secure them inside the walls 415 by firmly inserting the knee pads 430 into the storage area housing 413. The knee pad storage area 413 may have the opening 414 for the user to easily remove or insert the knee pads 430.

FIG. 5 exemplifies a user's operational view of the embodiment of apparatus 500. The user's hands are shown resting on the apparatus 500. The user's left and right hands are placed on 502B and 502A handles, respectively, of apparatus 500. User's left and right hands rest on support channels 507B and 507A, respectively, of contoured body 501. The positioning of the hands helps to reduce or eliminate the strain on the user's hands, wrist, forearm, associated joints, and tendons which is known to cause carpal tunnel syndrome. This embodiment of the apparatus 500 allows the user to comfortably concentrate on exercising their abdominal muscles rather than worrying about stressing out their anatomical parts.

FIG. 6 exemplifies a top perspective view of the embodiment of apparatus 600. The embodiment of apparatus 600 may have a counting device 642 integrated unto the contoured body 601. The counting device 642 may have workout data displayed for review by a user during the exercise routine. The workout data may be time, repetition, training programs and any other relevant information.

FIG. 7 exemplifies a top perspective view of the embodiment of apparatus 700. The embodiment of apparatus 700 may have a mobile phone holder 745 incorporated with the contoured body 701. The mobile phone holder 745 may hold phones of various sizes and shapes for the user's convenient use during the operation of apparatus 700.

FIG. 8 exemplifies a front perspective view of the embodiment of apparatus 800. As was noted above, many of the components of the left side of apparatus 800 have mirror parts on the opposite, right side. Referring to the right side of apparatus 800, the apparatus 800 may include the paddle 851 which may incorporate the handle 802. The handle 802 may be oriented upward from the paddle 851, forming about a 90-degree angle between the handle 802 and the paddle 851. The paddle 851 may have channeled support 853 for the user's hands. The paddle 851 may have housing 855 for providing therein the single wheel's 812 central axle (not shown here). The paddles 851 may be made from plastic such as polypropylene or some other rigid material.

The apparatus 800 may further include a single wheel 812 which may have a flat surface portion 809 exemplified in this embodiment that abuts to the edge of the wheel's side 810. Single wheel 812 may have a wide profile rim to provide stability during operation of apparatus 800. Other embodiments may include different sizes and shapes of the single wheel 812 and its surface portion 809. The surface portion 809 can be either a flat structure or a domed structure.

The single wheel 812 may be formed of a rigid plastic such as polypropylene or another suitable material such as PET. The surface portion 809 may be made from a non-slip PET for making user operation more comfortable and easy especially for oblique push offs by providing superior stability and comfort.

The single wheel 812 may couple with the paddle 851. In the embodiment of apparatus 800, the paddle 851, the handle 802 and the single wheel 812 may vary in size. The paddle 851 may be removable for storage and travel purpose. Furthermore, the paddle 851 may be replaced with another size or shape.

FIG. 9 exemplifies an exploded view of the embodiment of apparatus 900 to show the constituent parts in more detail. As was noted above, many of the components of the left side of apparatus 900 have mirror parts on the opposite, right side. Referring to the left side of apparatus 950, the handle 902 may be composed of a support tube 904 which is partially inserted into the receiving socket 926 and secured by screw 906 from the underside of the paddle 951. The paddle 951 is coupled with the single wheel 912 using a central axle 916 which is mated to housing 955. In the current embodiment of apparatus 900, the paddle 951 can be secured unto the central axle 916 at various distances from the single wheel 912, depending on which spring snap 925 or 924 is used when lightning up with the spring snap opening 929. The paddle 951 and the single wheel 912 can be coupled with any other known method.

FIG. 10 exemplifies a back-perspective view of the embodiment of apparatus 10001060. As was noted above, many of the components of the left side of apparatus 1000 have mirror parts on the opposite, right side. Referring to the left side of apparatus 1000, the apparatus 1000 may include the paddle 1065 which may incorporate the handle 1061. The handle 1061 may be oriented upward from the paddle 1065 to form about a 90-degree angle in between the handle 1061 and the paddle 1065. The paddle 1065 may have channeled support for the user's hand 1053. The paddle 1065 may have a clamp system 1064 for securing therein the single wheel's 1067 central axle 1062.

Thus, apparatus 1000 can transform any conventional wheeled exercise apparatus to a much safer and comfortable exercise apparatus by allowing attachment of the paddle 1065. The paddle 1065 are made to fit common abdominal roller exercise machines which have a removable handle and incorporate the spring snap attachment features. The paddle 1065 may be made from plastic, such as polypropylene or some other similar material. The paddle 1065 and the handle 1061 may vary in size and shape. Furthermore, the paddle 1065 and the handle 1061 may be disassembled for storage and traveling purposes or they may be replaced with parts of other sizes or shapes.

FIG. 11 exemplifies an underside view of the embodiment of apparatus 1100, more specifically, the paddle 1165. Many of the components of the left side of the apparatus 1100 have mirror parts on the opposite, right side. Referring to the left side's interior part of apparatus 1100, the paddle 1165 may incorporate a clamp system 1164. The clamp system 1164 may include a lower plate 1176, an upper plate 1254 (not shown here) incorporated unto the 1165 paddle. Plate 1176 and 1254 may have knuckles 1171, 1173 and 1170, 1172, and 1174, respectively configured to intermesh or interlink with each other. The upper plate 1254 (not shown here) may have knuckles 1170, 1172 and 1174 spaced apart from each other to align with knuckles 1171 and 1173 on the lower plate 1176. The intermeshed knuckles joined together by the pin (further details to follow). The lower plate 1176 may move rotationally relative to the upper plate 1254. The lower plate 1176 and the upper plate 1254 (not shown here) may have in other embodiments any number of knuckles. The training wheel's central axle 1162 may be secured in between the lower plate 1176, an upper plate 1254 by applying pressure to lower plate 1176 by tightening wing nut 1175 to bolt 1178 and wing nut 1177 to bolt 1187. Bolts 1178 and 1187 may be molded on the other end to the paddle's underside surface 1153. The lower plate 1176 may have openings 1179 and 1180 for receiving the bolts 1178 and 1187.

FIG. 12 exemplifies a side perspective view of apparatus 1200, more specifically, paddle 1265. Many of the components of the right side of apparatus 1200 have mirror parts on the opposite, left side. Referring to the right side of apparatus 1200, the paddle 1265 may incorporate a clamp system 1264. Clamp system 1265 may include the upper plate 1254 molded to paddle 1265 and the lower plate 1276. When the knuckles (1272, 1273, 1274, etc.) are aligned by intermeshing, they make up a barrel 1281. The intermeshed knuckles are then joined together by pin 1282 inserted through the barrel 1281. The training wheel's central axle 1262 may be secured in between the lower plate 1276 and the upper plate 1254 by tightening wing nuts 1275 and 1277 (discussed above).

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising: a single wheel having an interior cavity in the center with an opening on both left and right sides of the wheel;a central axle housed inside of the interior cavity of the wheel, protruding through the left and right sides of the wheel's openings horizontal to the ground surface; anda contoured body connected to the central axle protruding from the sides of the wheel.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an ultra-wide profile wheel base.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a wheel with surface characteristics that are either flat or domed.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the contoured body is a housing for both, the single wheel and the central axle such that the contoured body is made to fit and partially cover the shape of the wheel in the central part of the contoured body; andthe contoured body has sections that house and secure the central axle protruding from either side of the wheel.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the contoured body sections are set at three different distances relative to the front of the contoured body.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the contoured body further includes two storage areas on the underside of the contoured body where the storage areas house and secure a pair of knee pads.

7. The apparatus of claim 4, having a rectangular opening on the contoured body.

8. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the contoured body incorporates a counting device, located on the top part of the contoured body.

9. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the contoured body incorporates a mobile phone holder, located on the top of the contoured body.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a pair of handles connected to the contoured body.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the pair of handles are positioned forward from the central axle on the left and right sides of the contoured body.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the pair of handles form a 90-degree angle with the contoured body.

13. An apparatus comprising: a single wheel having an interior cavity in the center with an opening on both left and right sides of the wheel;a central axle housed inside of the interior cavity of the wheel, protruding through the left and right sides of the wheel's openings horizontal to the ground surface; anda pair of paddles that are attached on either side of the central axle.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a pair of handles, each of which is connected to each respective paddle.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein each paddle slides over the central axle and fastens through a clamping mechanism or a torsion spring.