Universal exercise apparatus
A new, safely-designed and portable exercise apparatus (10) comprising of a platform (20) on which a user performs a variety of resistance and cardiovascular exercises; a balance bar (50) to assist with balance as a user performs lower body exercises with elastic cords (82) for resistance; for stepping up and down the platform (20) to maintain balance for coordination and for cardiovascular benefit; a chair (70) to assist a physically challenged user to perform upper and lower body resistance exercises.
Not Applicable
FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCHNot Applicable
SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAMNot Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION—FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to an exercise apparatus, specifically to an improved design, that provides safety, adaptability, portability and complete functionality.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONMuscular endurance, muscular strength and cardiovascular fitness are three of the five components of physical fitness. In general, a large percentage of the exercising population is involved in cardiovascular activities, forsaking the benefits of resistance training to maintain and improve muscular endurance and strength. As people get older, the importance of exercise, specifically muscular endurance and strength, becomes more relevant. The present invention seeks to provide an improved apparatus which provides a safe, portable, adaptable, functional, and simple to use exercise apparatus for people 50 years old and above.
The most significant loss as we age is the loss of balance. This is the primary reason why falling is the most dangerous accident among the aging population. Statistics show that when an older person falls and fractures a bone, it leads to inactivity and eventually premature death. Another significant loss which we do not see with our naked eyes until it gets very serious, is loss of bone mass or a disease called osteoporosis. Studies show that among women at age 70, 30 percent of the bone mass is lost. This makes resistance training more critical because engaging in regular resistance training improves our overall muscle mass which results in postural integrity; and retards the progress of osteoporosis by increasing bone mineral content. This invention is to provide a versatile exercise apparatus for this group of people to engage in a regular exercise program that provides safety in balancing, a complete resistance workout from top to bottom and a cardiovascular exercise.
There are many existing exercise devices; some are now being sold in the market and some have yet to enter the market. However, none of this equipment is geared to meet the physical challenges of the aging population. Inventions such as that of U.S. Pat. No. 6,267,711 to Hinds (2001) discloses resistance training equipment that can be mounted on the face of the door and uses elastic cords as resistance; however, since the device needs a fixed vertical area to anchor or a selective area to perform exercises, it is considered non-portable. Additionally, the device does not provide assistance to help a user maintain his or her balance during lower body exercises. U.S. Pat. No. 6,063,014 to Scoggins (2000) discloses a light-weight, portable, multifunction exercise piece of equipment using cords; and in several exercises showing modifications by using a chair. However, the design doesn't show adequate support to keep the equipment in place especially when performing several exercises for the upper body in vertical plane. This means a user has to be concerned about the equipment being lifted off the floor as he or she pulls the cords. U.S. Pat. No. 6,120,423 to Mackey et al. (2000) shows an exercise device for resistance exercises using nylon cables in supine and seated positions; however, it does not assist in any lower body exercises.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,152,866 to Kuo (2000) shows a collapsible exercise device for resistance exercise using elastic cords; however, it limits a user to seated exercises and supine exercises only; it does not allow a user any standing exercises to work the lower body that contributes greatly to maintaining balance. U.S. Pat. No. 5,571,064 to Holm (1996) shows an exercise device in the form of elastic cords, handles and attachments for resistance training; however, this device can only be used in specific areas of a house where there is a door to attach the cords. Additionally, it does not provide any support when doing lower body exercises in a standing position. U.S. Pat. No. 5,529,562 to Glaser (1996) shows an exercise device that can be used for resistance exercises using elastic cords and a cardiovascular movement of stepping up and down on the platform focusing on the leg muscles; however, this device requires a user with adequate balance to begin with to exercise on this equipment because the platform rocks back and forth; an unstable platform is detrimental to someone who has poor balance. U.S. Pat. No. 5,540,642 to Sprague (1996) shows an exercise device that can be used for cardiovascular exercise such as stepping and resistance exercises using cords; however, the device does not provide support for a user performing lower body exercises in a standing position. The device also requires additional weights to be placed in its compartments to keep the equipment down during use, otherwise the device is unstable. This can be a burdensome process to some users.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION—OBJECT AND ADVANTAGESIt is the object of the present invention to provide an exercise apparatus and methods of exercising that satisfy the deficiencies of these prior inventions relating to the following:
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- 1. Adaptability: The present invention is suitable in any environment, home or institutions. It is a great home exercise apparatus because of its size and weight, easy storage, and functionality. It is also appropriate for institution use such as rehabilitation centers, nursing homes and health clubs as multiple users can use the equipment at different intervals.
- 2. Portability: The present invention is a stand-alone exercise apparatus which means it does not require other devices to make it work or specific areas to make it work.
- This exercise apparatus is also suitable in recreational vehicles to use while traveling, in homes where there is limited space and stowing is the only option, or in any environment that requires the apparatus to be moved around.
- 3. Functionality: The present invention is designed to provide a method to perform a complete resistance exercises for the upper and lower body. The rotating eyelet bolts allow the user to perform exercises in different directions without changing positions. The elastic cords are represented by different strength or intensities that meet the appropriate load for every user. The upper body elastic cords are cut according to the user's height, providing the right length to achieve effective resistance training.
- This exercise apparatus can also be adapted to a cardiovascular piece of apparatus by detaching the chair and its accessories. The user can step up to and down from the platform safely using the balance bar, to develop coordination and mainly work on the lower body and cardiovascular system.
- 4. Safety: The present invention is designed with safety in mind to meet the needs of those individuals who are physically-challenged with balancing or unable to stand for a period of time. Such individuals require a method to keep their balance while standing or a method of exercise while sitting down.
- The balance bar provides a user means to balance while performing lower body exercises while standing with one-leg. The balance bar is also an excellent support for a user stepping up and down the platform for cardiovascular training.
- Another feature of the apparatus that adds to the safety of the user is the anti-skid mat used on the platform. The anti-skid mat reduces the possibility of slipping since the platform has a flat and typically, a smooth surface finish.
- The chair provides a user means to perform resistance exercises for upper and lower body even when seated. Depending on the user, the chair can be moved up and down the platform to adjust for height, reach and exercise movement. The frame members on both sides of the chair provide the user means of support when performing leg exercises and when preparing to stand.
- The balance bar, the mat and the chair provide the safety mechanism in order for these individuals to engage confidently in a regular resistance training program.
In accordance with the present invention an exercise apparatus system comprising of a platform, a chair, a balance bar, a mat, a plurality of pivoting eyelet bolts, swivel pulley device, elastic cords with predetermined lengths and strengths, fitted with handles and ankle strap; method to perform safe and complete resistance and cardiovascular exercises.
DRAWINGS—FIGURESIn these drawings, closely related figures have the same number but different alphabetic suffixes.
A reference numeral (10) represents an exercise apparatus of a present invention as shown in
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Accordingly, the reader will be able to determine the advantages and benefits of this present invention as it relates to its features and function. This exercise apparatus is designed in response to meet the needs of a specific group of population, namely the seniors and those individuals who are physically challenged to perform the normal movements of a physically-able person while exercising.
Although the description above explains many details, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but merely to illustrate some of the preferred embodiments. Another embodiment of the present invention is for two users performing resistance exercises simultaneously. For example, one user is performing a lower body exercise with one-leg by the balance bar while the other user is performing an upper body exercise at the other end of the platform standing off the platform or on the floor. Another embodiment is a larger, circular-shaped platform with more than one balance bar, more than one chair and a plurality of rotating eyelet systems that makes a work station for multiple users.
As a result, the extent of the present invention should be determined by the claims and their legal equivalent.
Claims
1. A light weight exercise apparatus system comprising of a substantially
- (a) a ground engaging platform made of a substantially rigid material, with a substantially rigid internal support structure for supporting body weight, and of predetermined size and shape at an elevation for stepping onto, and
- (b) said platform having a rotatable balance bar of predetermined height positioned at one end of the platform, and
- (c) said platform having a plurality of cups of predetermined size and position recessed from the surface of the platform, and
- (d) said platform having a plurality of eyelet bolts attached pivotably inside the recessed cups just below the surface of said platform, and
- (e) one of said eyelet bolts having a swivel pulley device attached to said eyelet bolt, and
- (d) said eyelet bolts wherein a predetermined eyelet bolt has a predetermined length of elastic cord fitted with an ankle strap on one end, is slipped through said swivel pulley device, and
- (f) said eyelet bolts wherein a plurality of predetermined lengths of elastic cords are attached to said eyelet bolts by means of a clip on the connecting end of each elastic cord and a hand grasp on each of the opposite ends of the elastic cords for grasping by user, and
- (g) said platform having a chair for sitting by the user designed to be placed over the platform surface, and
- whereby the platform and its' components shall provide a stage for an individual user to conduct various resistance exercises in both standing and sitting positions.
2. The resistance exercise device system as in claim 1, wherein the balance bar is rotatably connected to said platform and selectively positionable between a first position wherein, the handlebar is generally perpendicular to the platform surface, and a second position, wherein the balance bar is generally parallel to the platform surface.
3. The resistance exercise device system as in claim 2, further comprising a means for locking said balance bar in the first position.
4. The resistance exercise device system as in claim 1, wherein the top of the eyelet bolts are positioned completely below said platform surface.
5. A method of performing resistance exercises comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a ground engaging platform made of a substantially rigid material, with a substantially rigid internal support structure for supporting body weight, and of predetermined size and shape at an elevation for stepping onto, and
- (b) providing a balance bar at one end of the platform, and
- (c) said platform having recessed cups of predetermined size and at a predetermined position and positioning an eyelet bolt pivotably mounted within each cup, and
- (d) selectively engaging at least one elastic cord within a chosen eyelet of the eyelet bolt, and
- (e) a user positioning at least a part of the user's person on the platform, and
- (f) the user performing resistance exercises from a seated position on the chair and using the frame members for balance and leverage while performing lower body exercises and
- (f) performing a resistance exercise by the user stretching the elastic band.
6. A method of performing exercises comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a ground engaging platform made of a substantially rigid material, with a substantially rigid internal support structure for supporting body weight, and of predetermined size and shape at an elevation for stepping onto, and
- (b) providing a balance bar at one end of the platform, and
- (c) said platform being used as a device to step up to and down from in a continuous fashion for cardiovascular improvement and using the balance bar at one end of the platform for balance while the user is making the steps up and down.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 22, 2004
Publication Date: Jun 22, 2006
Inventor: Melanie Owen (Overland Park, KS)
Application Number: 11/022,492
International Classification: A63B 21/02 (20060101);