Portable Exerciser

Abstract

Portable tension type exerciser that allows the user to exercise almost anywhere, being this at home, office or anywhere the user chooses to exercise. The exerciser consists of a rectangular base with straps or ties underneath, a top that opens to expose the mechanism, two vertically oriented pulleys in front and one vertically oriented pulley on each side mounted on extendable bars. These vertically oriented pulleys can be install with a mechanism that will allow the pulleys to rotate. Pull handles may be installed either in front (two front pulleys) or one on each side (side pulleys). The exercise mechanism inside is comprised of two large horizontal pulleys side by side. These contain hooks on top to install one end of the tension bands. The other end of the tension bands is installed on similar hooks attached to the base. Wire is wound around the two horizontal pulleys that may be routed out through the front or side pulleys to the pull handles. As the handles are pulled, the wire turns the large horizontal pulleys, which in turn stretch the tension bands.

Description

The portable exerciser may be used almost anywhere. The exerciser is a rectangular base that may be set flat on the floor. Inside, the unit is comprised of two large horizontal pulleys. These pulleys have a hook attached to the top. There is another pair of hooks, one to match each hook on the pulleys, which are attached to the base. Between these pairs of hooks, a stretch band(s) is installed. A wire is wound around each pulley with a pull handle on the outside of the base unit. The base has a set of four vertically oriented pulleys, two on front and two to its sides. These side pulleys are attached to extending bars that enable the user to adjust the width for comfort.

The user stands or sits on the base to perform the exercises. The user uses the front pulleys of the base to perform exercises with their arms extended to the front of the body or the side pulleys to perform exercises with their arms extended to the side. The user pulls the handles that are attached to wires that are wound around the two large horizontal pulleys inside the unit. This action makes the large pulleys turn, causing the hooks on top of the horizontal pulleys to move away from the hooks that are attached to the base. This movement causes the band(s) to stretch providing tension for the exercise. When the user releases, the tension of the band(s) retracts and brings the pulleys back to their original position. The user may use one or multiple bands to create the tension required for their specific level of exercise. When using the side pulleys, the user may extend or retract the bars for comfort.

The user may choose to use the exerciser while standing with the exerciser in front or in back of the user. This is possible by means of the two straps or ties beneath the unit. These may be attached to the wall or any adequate vertical fixture. The method of use is similar to the one described above.

The base is of a size and weight that makes the exerciser portable. The top of the unit opens to allow easy access to the mechanism for stretch band installation and for maintenance.

This invention is different of other inventions because it uses tension bans in a more effective and space efficient way by winding the bands instead of stretching them to the sides. It also provides more comfort to the user by adding extra width adjustment by using expandable bars. This design also allows the user to exercise each arm or any extremity independently. This is accomplished by attaching one end of the rubber band to the horizontally oriented pulley and the other end to the base, this way each pulley winds its own set of rubber bands independently from each other.

REFERENCE FOR THIS APPLICATION

There is an existing provisional patent for this invention from which I am the applicant, Jorge G. Normandia Urbina, Application No. 60/609,475 filed on Sep. 14, 2004 and is under the title Portable Exerciser and I claim its benefits. The drawings of the provisional patent application show a few elements of the invention that have been eliminated later for this non-provisional patent application. The reason for the deletion of these elements such as the roller, the leveling and stabilizing bars and a minor change of the large pulley was to have a more lightweight and cost effective design, but the purpose and focus of the design is still the same.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Drawing 1:

1.) This is the large, horizontally oriented pulley.

2.) This are the hooks attached to the top of the pulley.

3.) This piece helps the rubber bands to stretch more efficiently.

4.) This is the female thread.

5.) This section prevents the rubber bands to roll off of their position.

Drawing 2: This piece holds the large, horizontally oriented pulley to the base.

1.) This is the male thread.

2.) This is the disc that has the male thread attached to it.

Drawing 3: Multiple views of the male thread disc.

Drawing 4: View of the assembled apparatus.

1.) This is the rectangular base.

2.) These are the large, horizontally oriented pulleys with hooks attached to them.

3.) These are the extension bars with vertically oriented pulleys.

4.) These are the hooks attached to the base.

5.) This is the storage compartment for the rubber bands.

6.) This is the top of the base.

7.) These pulleys guide the pull cords to the exterior of the base.

8.) These are the front vertically oriented pulleys of the base.

9.) These are the male threads that cross the female thread for keeping the pulleys secured to the base.

Drawing 5: Multiple views of the apparatus.

Claims

1. A portable tension type exerciser with a rectangular base that has a top that opens to expose the mechanism inside.

2. The mechanism inside the base of claim 1 consist of (2) large, horizontally oriented pulleys with hooks attached to their top and a set of hooks that matches with each hook on top of the pulley attached to the base.

3. The base of claim 1 may be put flat on the floor for the user to exercise while standing or sitting on the base.

4. The base of claim 1 has two straps or ties underneath to securely fasten the exerciser either to the wall or any adequate vertical object the user may choose, this is used to perform exercises standing with the exerciser in front or in back of the user.

5. The base of claim 1 has (2) extendable bars with vertically oriented pulleys attached to them to its sides and (2) vertically oriented pulleys on front of the base.

6. The user can adjust the width of the position of the side pulleys by using the extendable bars described in claim 5 when the user needs to exercise with his arms stretch out to his sides and use the front pulleys when the user exercise with his arms stretch to the front.

7. The pulleys of claim 6 can be installed with a mechanism that enables them to rotate.