Patents Examined by Lori Amerson
  • Patent number: 7462142
    Abstract: An inflatable mat for use as a training aid and supporting and rebound surface, such as for a gymnastics mat, and fall breaking landing pad, such as for a high jump and pole vaulting landing pit, includes a closed inflatable body having opposite sides and a plurality of bungee cords secured to and extending between the opposite sides whereby, when the body is inflated, a force applied to the mat, such as by an athlete jumping on the mat or falling onto the mat, will cause stretching of at least one of the bungee cords to aid in absorbing the force applied to the mat. With a closed or sealed inflatable body, the mat can be adjusted by adjusting the amount of inflation to provide shock absorption and rebound when jumping on the mat similar to a trampoline surface or to provide more deceleration and absorption of a fall onto the mat and less rebound as needed for landing pit applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Inventor: Donald W. Gordon
  • Patent number: 7458923
    Abstract: The riding trainer structure includes a foundation, a drive motor, a first drive gear, a vertical rocker, a swinging seat frame, a second drive gear and a vertical guide set. The first drive gear is screwed onto the standing support, and a first drive wheel is eccentrically arranged at one side of the first drive gear. The bottom of the vertical rocker is screwed onto the foundation for horizontal swinging. A limit guide portion is placed at one side of the vertical rocker. The second drive gear driven by the first drive gear can rotate synchronously, and an eccentric second drive wheel of the second drive gear drives the vertical guide set, enabling the top of latch rod to drive the swinging seat frame vertically. The swinging amplitude of the vertical rocker could be changed to achieve better swinging strength and stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: King I Tech Corporation
    Inventor: Ming-Fu Chou
  • Patent number: 7458924
    Abstract: A frame for use with a removable switch-carrying platform during machine dance activity. The frame includes a horizontal member that serves as an anchor, and typically is disposed below the platform. An upstanding member, typically cantilevered from the anchor, may be provided to hold a trickbar, or a video display device. Sometimes, two upstanding members are provided, each at opposite front and rear ends of an installed platform, to hold a trickbar and a display device, respectively. The frame may be configured to accommodate either a single-user or dual-users. In a preferred arrangement, the frame is modular, to permit a user to form: 1) only a trickbar, 2) a trickbar in combination with a display holder, and 3) a dual-user platform. A modular dual-user platform may include a trickbar for either, both, or none of the dance platforms, as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Inventor: Ladd Anderson
  • Patent number: 7455633
    Abstract: The abdominal exerciser of the present invention is an exercise device designed to work the abdominal and oblique muscle groups. The abdominal exerciser includes a leg support that can slide or roll along a track and an upper body support. The abdominal exerciser device is designed to simulate an abdominal exercise “crunch” motion when the knees are brought within proximity of the upper body support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: AB Coaster Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Wallace Brown, Robert W. Nelson
  • Patent number: 7455629
    Abstract: A safety locking system is used on an exercise device. The locking system includes a first pawl that is mounted to a pawl shaft. The pawl shaft is movably mounted to a lock frame, which can also support a weight collar, adapted to receive weight plates to provide additional resistance to exercise. A second pawl is movably mounted to the lock frame and is connected to the first pawl by way of a spring or other bias mechanism. The lock frame limits the movement of the second pawl so as to provide a bias of the first pawl toward engagement of the pawl to a rack provided with the exercise device. The engagement of either pawl with the rack restricts movement of the lock frame in at least one direction, with gravity. If the bias spring breaks or becomes disengaged from either the first pawl or the second pawl, the second pawl is counterweighted to engage with the rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: The Brinkmann Corporation
    Inventor: Kevin G. Abelbeck
  • Patent number: 7452314
    Abstract: A stability adjustable unit for a seat of an exercise device that is configured for movement on the device may include a sub-assembly connected between the seat and a roller assembly of the device on which the seat rests. The unit may include a selector provided on the sub-assembly and operable by a user seated on the seat to vary a degree of stability of the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Core Perform, LLC
    Inventors: Alden Morris Mills, John James Argitis, David Hawley
  • Patent number: 7452313
    Abstract: A curved, partial barrel shaped body has a bottom surface shaped to rest on a portion of a planar surface such as a pad or a floor and an upper curved surface formed by a first cylindrical surface portion having a first radius of curvature about a first axis and a second cylindrical surface portion having a second radius of curvature about a second axis spaced from and parallel to the first axis. The second radius is different from the first radius of curvature. The first and second surface portions preferably tangentially merge together to form a continuous smooth, curved, upper surface with different curvatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Balanced Body, Inc.
    Inventor: Ken Endelman
  • Patent number: 7445586
    Abstract: A combination chair and leg extension apparatus is provided. The apparatus uses a pneumatic source of resistence to provide a stowable flexor for the leg muscles which remains connected to the chair. Variations of the combination also provide for a combination desk, chair and leg extension apparatus, and a combination office chair and leg extension apparatus. The invention is to assist in prevention of obesity, particularly in children.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Inventor: John Gibson
  • Patent number: 7442153
    Abstract: An exercise and/or rehabilitation machine includes a support having a rounded upper surface for supporting a person's anterior pelvic area. A first extension arm is pivotally connected to the support at a fixed pivot point and has a bar at a free end thereof as a first force resistance arrangement and a cushion at the free end thereof for engagement by a person's lower body. A second extension arm is pivotally connected to the support at a fixed pivot point and has a bar at a free end thereof as a second force resistance arrangement and a cushion at the free end thereof for engagement by a person's upper body while the first extension is engaged by the person's lower body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Inventor: Marc A. Chasnov
  • Patent number: 7435207
    Abstract: A core muscle exercising apparatus has a support platform that is held off the ground in an operative position by opposed front support legs and opposed rear support legs. A front support leg on one side of the apparatus is pivotally secured to a rear support leg on that same side, and a front support leg on the other side of the apparatus is pivotally secured to the rear support leg on that side. In the operative position, the front support legs hold the support platform in an operative position, generally parallel to a ground surface on which the front and rear support legs stand. In a storable position, the front support legs are pivoted relative to the rear support legs on their respective pivot assemblies, and the support platform further pivots toward the front support legs to provide the apparatus in a collapsed, readily storable position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Inventors: John W. Cook, Matthew A. Heinle, Detlev F. Smith
  • Patent number: 7427257
    Abstract: A multi-party, multi-purpose and collapsible fitness machine comprising an upper body workout unit, a leg curl/extension workout unit, a leg press workout unit and a cardiovascular workout unit with all the units being structured and combined to work cooperatively to enable three or more users to simultaneously exercise and strengthen various muscles of their bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Inventor: Ayele Chernet
  • Patent number: 7384379
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a fitness device (1) in the form of a garment, comprising at least one skin stimulation means (5) which is actuated by fluid pressure and, in a stimulation area (13, 16), acts on the skin surface of a wearer (2) of the fitness device. Such fitness devices are known as low pressure suits. To enhance the action of said fitness devices, the skin stimulation means (5) is transferred according to the invention from a low pressure state, in which a low pressure acts on the skin surface (19) in the stimulation area (20), into an overpressure state, in which an overpressure acts on the skin surface (19) in the stimulation area (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Inventor: Norbert Egger
  • Patent number: 7384384
    Abstract: An exercise apparatus including two parallel, longitudinally extending hand rails, a longitudinally extending base unit, legs that connect the hand rails to the base unit, the base unit including a rail assembly and a rail support frame, and four roller pads mounted on the rail assembly so as to be individually movable along the rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Inventor: Juliu Horvath
  • Patent number: 7384377
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for training facial muscles to reduce wrinkles employs a flexible stretchable membrane held in contact with the skin over a muscle group while manipulating a hand-held device with a motorized rotary brush over the membrane, so that the bristles stimulate and train the muscle group while the flexible membrane protects and stabilizes the skin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Inventor: Ellen R. Berman
  • Patent number: 7384385
    Abstract: An abdominal bench having an extendable and retractable assist and resist assembly that will, depending upon how it is connected, provide variable levels of assistance forces to help pivot a torso section of the bench into an upright position and/or variable levels of forces that will resist the pivoting of the torso section. The extendable and retractable assist and resist assembly can include one or more elastic members that can work solely or in tandem to provide the assistance and resistance forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: J.E.M. Concept International, Inc.
    Inventors: David W. Dise, Peter W. Gowdey
  • Patent number: 7381171
    Abstract: A back and abdomen exercising apparatus includes a base and a back rest, and the backrest is provided at the rear portion of the base. The backrest is mounted on the base with two resilient members. A user sits on the base with back abutting against the backrest and presses the backrest backward, the resilient members provide a biasing force against the user. During the process, the muscle back and abdomen of the user is exercised and trained. In addition, the exercising apparatus has simple components, a simple operation method, a small size and light, and is convenient to carry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Inventor: Chih-Liang Chen
  • Patent number: 7381170
    Abstract: An apparatus for exercising abdominal muscles in a sitting position, the apparatus including an elastic belt that constrains the abdomen by exerting tensile force and is moved by the user by active muscular exertion, and to a system for detachably fastening the belt to a backrest of a chair, car seat, or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: SOZ
    Inventor: Sadik Öz
  • Patent number: 7381172
    Abstract: A device for support and elevation of the lower extremities. More specifically, the invention is a leg elevator that provides calibrated, adjustable support for the upper leg, the lower leg and the foot. The leg elevator is adjustable to many different positions through the use of three independent adjustment mechanisms. The upper leg portion of the leg elevator can be adapted to accommodate people that have upper legs of various lengths. The height of the lower leg portion is also adjustable, and the relative angular position of the upper and lower leg can be varied from a generally flat position, to a substantially bent position. The invention can be used to provide elevation for either leg separately or for both legs simultaneously. The leg elevator is lightweight, easily disinfected, and can be collapsed to a relatively flat position for ease in transport and storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Innovative Ellavations, LLC
    Inventor: Jon C. Gehrke
  • Patent number: 7377887
    Abstract: Exercise apparatus for guided exercise movement includes a primary arm pivotally mounted to a frame for pivotal movement about a fixed pivot relative to the frame, a movement arm pivotally mounted to the primary arm for pivotal movement relative to the primary arm about a floating pivot relative to the frame, a stationary cam fixed on the frame, and a follower on the movement arm engaging the stationary cam and guided thereby to control the path of movement of the movement arm about the floating pivot during movement of the primary arm about the fixed pivot. The cam has a cam track surface controlling compound movement of the movement arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Charles J. Rosenow, John M. Cassidy
  • Patent number: 7377889
    Abstract: A general use chair that is configured to provide a dynamic thrust motion to exercise the lower lumbar area of the user's spine to reduce pressure on the user's spine, joints and tissue and promote improved circulation throughout the user's body, particularly the lower back and legs, so as to reduce fatigue, pain and general discomfort from sitting for long periods of time. The chair has a conventional seat and leg assembly components. In one configuration, a back support assembly is pivotally connected to a pair of vertical members extending upwardly from the seat. A lumbar thrust assembly connects to the back support assembly to project a lumbar roller forward and upward to apply the dynamic thrust motion to the user's lower back. The lumbar thrust assembly motion can be manually initiated by the user, by leaning back on the chair, or operatively controlled by a motor and controller unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Inventor: Stanley M. Cusak