Total body conditioning system
A total body conditioning system has been developed for conditioning the muscles of a user's body and improving balance. The system includes a bench, a skid-resistant mat, a physio ball, a weight rack assembly supporting muscle conditioning equipment such as hand-held weights, medicine balls, ankle bungees, and bungee rods, and an instructional video (e.g. DVD) for instructing a user how to use the system.
The present application claims the priority of U.S. provisional application No. 60/696,883 filed Jul. 6, 2005.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe invention relates generally to the fields of physical fitness and weight training. More particularly, the invention relates to a system for conditioning the muscles of a user's body, and improving overall balance.
BACKGROUNDA system for conditioning muscles and improving balance that provides greater safety while conditioning muscles more effectively and expeditiously than currently available systems is highly desirable.
SUMMARYThe invention relates to a system for conditioning the muscles of a user's body and improving balance. The system includes a bench, a skid-resistant mat, a physio ball, a weight rack assembly supporting muscle conditioning equipment such as hand-held weights, medicine balls, ankle bungees, bungee rods, and an instructional video (e.g., DVD) for instructing the user how to use the system. The instructional video includes on-screen graphics that show the muscle groups being used for each exercise and when to inhale and exhale, a rating system for degree of difficulty, as well as demonstrations of correct and incorrect form.
Accordingly, the invention features a body conditioning system including a bench, an elastic band assembly operably attached to the bench, a skid-resistant mat, at least a first ball having a diameter in the range of about 18 inches to about 50 inches, a weight rack assembly including a plurality of hand-held weights, and at least one instructional video for instructing a user how to use the system. In this system, the bench includes a rigid frame adapted to be disposed upon a supporting surface, the rigid frame having a first end and a second end; a rigid shaft having a first end and a second end, the first and second ends each having a rigid projecting member projecting towards the supporting surface at a 90 degree angle from the shaft, the projecting member of the first end movably mounted to the first end of the rigid frame and the second end movably mounted to the second end of the rigid frame by a mounting means; a body support having a first portion that is rigidly mounted to the shaft and a second portion that is movably attached to the shaft by an attachment means, the second portion of the body support movable between a horizontal position which is planar relative to the first portion of the body support, and a vertical position which is at a 90 degree angle from the first portion of the body support, the rigid shaft and body support able to be simultaneously moved in a vertical orientation to increase or decrease the height of the body support from the supporting surface; a board removably attached to either the first end or the second end of the rigid frame by an attachment means; and an elastic band assembly including an elastic band holder removably mounted to the first end of the shaft and an elastic band partially disposed within the band holder and having two ends, each of the two ends connected to a handle for grasping and pulling the elastic band.
The body conditioning system can further include at least a second ball (e.g., a medicine ball) having a diameter in the range of about 5 inches to about 18 inches. The plurality of hand-held weights can each weigh in the range of about 3 pounds to about 25 pounds. The at least one instructional video can be a DVD. A skid-resistant mat provides a pliable surface for a user's body disposed thereupon and is adapted to be disposed upon a supporting surface.
The invention also includes a method for conditioning muscles and improving balance. This method includes the steps of: providing a body conditioning system including a bench, an elastic band assembly operably attached to the bench, a skid-resistant mat, at least a first ball having a diameter in the range of about 18 inches to about 50 inches, a weight rack assembly including a plurality of hand-held weights, and DVD's; and using the body conditioning system.
Unless otherwise defined, all technical and legal terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although systems, methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice of or testing of the present invention, suitable methods and materials are described below. In case of conflict, the present specification, including definitions, will control. In addition, the materials, methods, and examples are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting. Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, and from the claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention encompasses systems and devices for conditioning the muscles of a user's body and improving balance. In brief overview, referring to
A further component of the bench 20 is an elastic band assembly 64 (
Still another feature of the bench 20 is the foot plate 52 shown in
Shown in
In
Referring to
The system 10 also includes a skid-resistant mat 80 and a physio ball 90 or similar type ball (
Another component of the body conditioning system 10 of the invention is a weight rack assembly 110 shown in
An exemplary system of the invention also includes at least one instructional video (e.g., DVD) for instructing the user how to use the system. In some embodiments, the system includes a plurality of instructional videos for instructing a plurality of users having different levels of muscle strength. In one embodiment, the instructional video is a DVD that includes a front, side, and rear view of the human body. The muscles being used in each exercise will light up on the model in color to show the user which muscles to focus on. Preferably, a pair of lungs are also included that turn from Red(Exhale text) to Blue(Inhale text) to let the user know the proper times to breath during the exercise. A one to five difficulty rating system can also be included in the graphics to let the user know how difficult the exercise is. Another function of the DVD is that it will demonstrate correct and incorrect form. This informs the user how to properly perform the exercise, and also common mistakes to beware of that cause injury.
While the above description contains many specifics, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as examples of preferred embodiments thereof. Many other variations are possible. The components and devices of the conditioning system can be made from a variety of materials. The design of the system components can be altered somewhat and still allow for performance of the system as described above. The components can vary in size from what is shown in the figures herein and can come in a variety of colors. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined not by the embodiments illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.
Claims
1. A body conditioning system comprising a bench, an elastic band assembly operably attached to the bench, a skid-resistant mat, at least a first ball having a diameter in the range of about 18 inches to about 50 inches, a weight rack assembly comprising a plurality of hand-held weights, and at least one instructional video for instructing a user how to use the system.
2. The body conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the bench comprises:
- (a) a rigid frame adapted to be disposed upon a supporting surface, the rigid frame having a first end and a second end;
- (b) a rigid shaft having a first end and a second end, the first and second ends each having a rigid projecting member projecting towards the supporting surface at a 90 degree angle from the shaft, the projecting member of the first end movably mounted to the first end of the rigid frame and the second end movably mounted to the second end of the rigid frame by a mounting means;
- (c) a body support having a first portion that is rigidly mounted to the shaft and a second portion that is movably attached to the shaft by an attachment means, the second portion of the body support movable between a horizontal position which is planar relative to the first portion of the body support, and a vertical position which is at a 90 degree angle from the first portion of the body support,
- wherein the rigid shaft and body support can be simultaneously moved in a vertical orientation to increase or decrease the height of the body support from the supporting surface;
- (d) a board removably attached to either the first end or the second end of the rigid frame by an attachment means; and
- (e) an elastic band assembly comprising an elastic band holder removably mounted to the first end of the shaft and an elastic band partially disposed within the band holder and having two ends, each of the two ends connected to a handle for grasping and pulling the elastic band.
3. The conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the skid-resistant mat provides a pliable surface for a user's body disposed thereupon and is adapted to be disposed upon a supporting surface.
4. The conditioning system of claim 1, further comprising at least a second ball having a diameter in the range of about 5 inches to about 18 inches.
5. The conditioning system of claim 4, wherein the at least second ball having a diameter in the range of about 5 inches to about 18 inches is a medicine ball.
6. The conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of hand-held weights each weigh in the range of about 3 pounds to about 25 pounds.
7. The conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the at least one instructional video is a DVD.
8. A method for conditioning muscles and improving balance, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a body conditioning system comprising a bench, an elastic band assembly operably attached to the bench, a skid-resistant mat, at least a first ball having a diameter in the range of about 18 inches to about 50 inches, a weight rack assembly comprising a plurality of hand-held weights, and DVD's; and
- (b) using the body conditioning system.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 23, 2005
Publication Date: Jan 11, 2007
Inventor: John Black (Palm City, FL)
Application Number: 11/234,472
International Classification: A63B 21/04 (20060101); A63B 26/00 (20060101);