Patents Examined by Daniel Roland
  • Patent number: 8172736
    Abstract: The present invention includes an exercise apparatus adapted to exercise a user's gluteus muscles. The exercise apparatus and method of use allow the user to focus on and exercise gluteus muscles with specificity. Embodiments of the exercise apparatus include an upper body support, a foot support, and an exercise space. The exercise space is typically disposed substantially between an upper body support and a foot support, and permits substantial movement of a user's hips in both a forward direction and a rearward direction, substantially in or parallel to a user's sagittal plane. The exercise apparatus is adapted to load a user's gluteus muscles throughout a generally large range of gluteus muscle flexion and extension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Inventor: Bret Contreras
  • Patent number: 8152702
    Abstract: Apparatuses having selective having selective resistance, related mechanisms and devices, and methods to operating exercise equipment are provided. In one embodiment, the exercise apparatus includes a frame and at least one guide member coupled with a portion of the frame. A weight stack, including a plurality of weight plates, is associated with the at least one guide member. The exercise apparatus also includes a resistance selector having at least one rail coupled to an uppermost weight plate of the plurality of weight plates. A body is slidably coupled to the at least one rail. A pin is slidably coupled to the body and configured to be displaced between at least a first position and a second position relative to the body. An engagement structure is coupled with the pin and configured to selectively engage at least one abutment shoulder of at least one weight plate of the plurality of weight plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Icon Health & Fitness, Inc.
    Inventor: Chad R. Pacheco
  • Patent number: 8152693
    Abstract: A method for providing an exercise goal using an exercise data device, the method including: receiving input indicating a selected exercise goal; obtaining exercise goal data relating to the selected exercise goal; obtaining a current performance measurement related to exercise performance of a user of the exercise data device, the current performance measurement including a current distance and a current time measurement; calculating a current progress indicator using the current performance measurement and the exercise goal data; and providing the current progress indicator to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Marja-Leena Nurmela, Heini Tuorila, Dominick Reed
  • Patent number: 8147391
    Abstract: An exercise bar for motocross muscle development. One embodiment has a bar and a special rocker member for use on floor exercises. A second embodiment has a spring-loaded pivot hub. That embodiment also has folding handgrips that make the device easy to story and carry. Both embodiments have handgrip eyes that can support the ends of the bar for a number of different exercises. Both embodiments have an eye that can support the handlebar as well. A sliding hook can be used to can carry weights and can act as a support when the device is used on a floor. The rocker member is an important feature that allows a user to do intensive push-up type exercises using the bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Inventor: Donald R. Hill
  • Patent number: 8147383
    Abstract: A vaulting pole apparatus having a predetermined angular displacement at an end of a vaulting pole, attributable to the vaulting pole being constructed with an inherent structural deviation located along and offset from its longitudinal axis. The vaulting pole may be constructed with a fixed structural deviation or with a removable structural deviation, wherein an end of the vaulting pole deviates or is offset from the vaulting pole's central longitudinal axis. Embodiments of this structural deviation may be fixed during vaulting by a vaulter athlete or may be adjustable by a vaulter athlete in real-time or near-real-time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Inventor: William Childress Bentley
  • Patent number: 8137245
    Abstract: A non-electric low impact exercise apparatus comprising a base, a first footpad having a first end and a second end and a second footpad having a first end and a second end, and at least one cross member pivotally attached to the base with the cross member swivelable with respect to the base and pivotally connecting the first footpad to the second footpad with the first footpad and the second footpad swingable in a clockwise and arcing and a counterclockwise and arcing direction along a single plane with respect to the base by virtue of the pivotal attachment to the cross member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Inventor: Patrick J. Tittle
  • Patent number: 8123662
    Abstract: A dumbbell and incremental weight plate for same comprise a bar that extends generally axially between opposing end regions, a weight plate mass mounted about the bar at each end region, and at least one incremental weight plate mountable on the dumbbell. The weight plate mass and the incremental weight plate have respective magnetic regions that cause the incremental weight plate to be selectively magnetically secured to the weight plate mass or to be magnetically repelled from the weight plate mass to assist the user in removing the incremental weight plate from the dumbbell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignees: Ace Specialty, Inc., Grace Premier Fitness and Wellness Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Karl Anderson
  • Patent number: 8109862
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for a physical training device is provided to accommodate one or more athletes during support of a plurality of independent training scenarios for each athlete. The physical training device provides a plurality of training stations, where each training station may be specific to martial arts training activities, or may be generalized to facilitate training that is effective for a plurality of other sporting disciplines. The physical training device provides removable casters that facilitate maneuvering and reconfiguration of the physical training device. Lifting devices may also be configured along the bottom surface of the physical training device so as to provide a mechanism whereby the casters of the physical training device may be lifted off of the surface that is supporting the casters. Two or more physical training devices may be interconnected so as to provide a localized cluster of physical training devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Inventor: Scott R. Cooper
  • Patent number: 8105219
    Abstract: A training apparatus for use by flyers in a cheerleading squad includes a stable base assembly, a balancing assembly, and a fixed or adjustable column located between the stable base assembly and the balancing assembly. The balancing assembly includes a deflectably resilient member and a standing surface that promotes proper alignment and mimics the feel that a flyer experiences when being supported by a base cheerleader. The deflectably resilient member provides two degrees of freedom of movement to the standing surface when the standing surface is under an external load. The standing surface preferably provides about the same standing area that typically provided by a base cheerleader. The column may be a fluid-activated cylinder that moves between a first and second vertical position and simulates a flyer being raised by the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Inventors: Paula E. Sloan, Jody A. Sloan
  • Patent number: 8105213
    Abstract: An exercise apparatus includes a foot member configured to pivot about a horizontal pivot axis, the foot member supporting a footpad, a first surface coupled to the foot member to pivot with the foot member about the horizontal pivot axis, a second surface stationarily supported by the frame, and a bumper between the first surface and the second surface. The bumper resiliently compresses during pivoting of the first surface in the arc towards the second surface while in contact with the first surface and the second surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Precor Incorporated
    Inventors: Jonathan M. Stewart, Rodney P. West, David E. Dyer, James S. Birrell, Sean Horita
  • Patent number: 8100776
    Abstract: A safer, more user-friendly spring-balance single-rider teeter-totter includes manual adjustments for both the vertical position of the spring, which adjusts the rest height of the seat, and the horizontal position of the spring from the pivot, which adjusts the counterbalance resistance. A safety cover may be provided for the spring or other counterbalance mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Dream Visions, LLC
    Inventor: Theodore G. Habing
  • Patent number: 8100816
    Abstract: A training device for an ambulatory user is disclosed. The training device includes a harness to attach to the ambulatory user, a pair of wheels extending from opposite sides of a crossbar, and a weight holder connected between the crossbar and the harness. The weight holder is adapted to hold one or more removable weights. The training device can further include an elongated shock absorber connected to the harness to absorb compressive and expansive forces exerted on the harness at least in part by the ambulatory user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Leed By Example
    Inventor: Steven Daniel
  • Patent number: 8096924
    Abstract: Hand therapy methods and hand therapy exercise tools used with graded resistance putty to simulate fine/gross motor skills to improve hand/digit/forearm conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Inventor: Carolyn S. Mittelsteadt
  • Patent number: 8096927
    Abstract: A shaft-mounted clamp includes a pair of clamp members that are pivotably coupled to one another at one end, each clamp member including a through-hole for receiving the shaft to which the clamp is to be mounted. At least one of the clamp members includes a push rod that extends through the opposite clamp member, and which has a distal end portion that is contacted by an article supported on the shaft to increase the engagement of at least one of the clamp members on the shaft. A coupling device may be provided at one of the clamp members for suspending an article therefrom. The clamps may be readily repositioned along the shaft by squeezing the clamp members together (such as against the biasing force of a spring) to more closely align the through-holes with one another and thereby release the engagement of the clamp members with the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Inventor: Frederick C. Hamilton
  • Patent number: 8092347
    Abstract: A device for training and/or analyzing a user's musculoskeletal system includes a stepping plate mounted on a base plate and periodically or aperiodically moveble by a driving mechanism encompassing a drive shaft on which a cam is disposed. On the bottom side of the stepping plate is a roll that rolls off an external surface of the cam. The stepping plate is connected to the base plate by vertical guides stationarily disposed on the base plate such that the mounted stepping plate follows a lifting movement caused by the driving mechanism. The cam has a first eccentric zone truncated such that the distance traveled by the roll rolling off the surface of the zone increases along the axial extension of the cam. A vertical adjusting mechanism allows the lift of the stepping plate to be modified by changing the position between the roll and the cam that cooperates therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: MLS Lanny GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Lanny
  • Patent number: 8092348
    Abstract: An exercise apparatus to simulate climbing is described that includes such features as arm handles that move in synchronism with the motion of foot pedals to provide a total body workout; side handrails; a mounting step; linear foot movement at a simulated climbing angle; a three point support structure using a vertical support column; pedal track covers; a mechanism to provide constant resistance to pedal motion; and pedal impact absorption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy T. Anderson, Juliette C. Daly, Byron T. DeKnock, Joe Immordino, Marcos Roimicher, Eric White
  • Patent number: 8088050
    Abstract: An exercise device having a thin, hollow, rectangular body and having a planar upper surface to receive a portion of a user's body thereupon. Each of a pair of handles is attached to respective ends of a cord that passes through a first guide mechanism located at a front corner of the upper surface, through an interior portion of the body and back through a second guide assembly located at a second front corner of the upper surface. Each guide assembly consists of four mutually orthogonal rollers defining a central, rope-accepting opening in the middle thereof. One or both handles may be adjustably attached to the cord to allow use of the exercise device by different height. The exercise device may include a handle attached to the body and one or more feet disposed on a lower surface of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Inventor: Frederick P. Aucamp
  • Patent number: 8083653
    Abstract: An exercise device having a door anchor is described. The anchor is fixed to a pair of elongated members each having a grip. The anchor stands off from the door by 1 to 18 inches before attaching to the elongated members. In one embodiment, the exercise device is sewn together. In another embodiment, a ring holds the various components together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Fitness Anywhere, LLC
    Inventor: Randal Hetrick
  • Patent number: 8075459
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an adjustment device (2) for a training machine (1), especially a triceps extension or a biceps curl, for strengthen training and rehabilitation, having an arm or elbow rest member (50, 51) and pivotably connected handles (23, 24) are provided on each side of a seat (17). Furthermore, the arm or elbow rest members (50, 51) as well as the handles (23, 24) are provided at the lower ends of at both sides of the seat arranged arms (18, 19) pivotably suspended at a position at the top of the training machine (1). Moreover, the adjustment device (2) includes control element (41, 42, 48, 49) for laterally adjusting the positions of the arms and in turn also the arm or elbow rest members (18, 19) as well as the handles (23, 24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Inventor: Kjell Axelsson
  • Patent number: 8075456
    Abstract: A squat training device. A generally planar base is shaped to receive a shoed foot of a user. A plurality of straps are coupled to the base and are configured to secure the shoed foot to the base. A vertical member is detachably coupled to a front toe portion of the base and extends upwardly from the base to provide the user thereof with feedback regarding a predetermined exercise form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Inventor: Nathan B. Fugitt