Exercise Apparatus

An exercise apparatus is for use with a chair, the chair having a base, a pedestal, and a seat, with the exercise apparatus including a support structure that is adapted to removably attach to the chair pedestal, the support structure is also substantially adjustably interposed between the chair base and the chair seat. Also included in the exercise apparatus is a resilient rod having a first end portion and a second end portion, the rod first end portion is adjacent to the support structure in a cantilevered configuration with the rod second end portion free. Further included in the exercise apparatus is an attachment element adjacent to the rod second end, wherein the attachment element is adapted to removably engage to a portion of human anatomy for the purpose of exercise by omni directional flexing of the rod along its length causing a resistive force at the attachment element.

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Description
TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention generally relates to an apparatus for accomplishing exercise in a non traditional exercise or working out environment, wherein an individual does not have ready access to a gym, health club, spa, or other type of facility for exercise or working out. More particularly, the present invention is an exercise apparatus that is adapted to be adjacent to a readily available piece of furniture that an individual uses in an office or work environment to facilitate exercise in a convenient time and place, thus allowing the individual to enjoy the health benefits of exercise when circumstances don't readily allow for the time and expense of using a traditional exercise facility such as a gym, health club, spa, and the like.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

The health benefits of exercise are well known and applicable to all ages of individuals, including cardiovascular improvement muscle strengthening, stretching, increased blood circulation, better coordination, sharper motor abilities, flexible joint mobility, bone health, general overall wellness, and the like. One problem as an individual typically moves from being a child to being an adult, their physical activity levels decline just when maintaining good health is at its most important as an individual ages, topically their exercise levels decline that can work against maintaining good health, thus just when an individual should be exercising and being active, their exercise and activity levels tend to decrease. Children are normally active in going places (i.e. walking or riding a bike), playing active games in their spare time, such as football, soccer, baseball, tag, hide and seek, and the like, plus being in school children are also active in physical education classes and after school hours sports leagues. Thus as children we are normally plenty active and in the best of health due to our young age. However, as we become adults, societal norms tend to drive us into a much more sedentary lifestyle, for instance by having a car, we tend to walk very little, nor ride a bicycle much, and as an office worker we tend to sit at a desk for long periods of time, sit in meetings, sit on airplanes, and then go out for high fat and calorie content meals at high end restaurants, thus as a result most adults tend to gain weight by consuming more calories coupled with a lower activity lifestyle, just when our bodies should be in better shape to compensate for aging we topically get in worse shape.

Although the benefits of exercise especially for adults are acknowledged by most everyone for weight control, maintaining agility, preventing diabetes, preventing joint stain from excessive body weight, preventing higher various internal organ workloads (especially the heart) from excessive body weight, and so on, few adults are active enough to maintain even a recommended weight typically being only about one-fourth of the adult population is not overweight. So the question to ask is, why don't the majority of adults exercise especially if the health benefits are widely known? One probable answer is that available time and convenience are a problem for engaging in an exercise program, as most adults have a full time job, a family, and other interests that all together consume most of an adults time. Thus, a potentially helpful solution is to minimize the time and convenience obstacles to allow for an exercise program to be possible for a working adult.

This issue is well-recognized to the prior art wherein there are a number of portable exercise machines available that vary considerably in complexity and what they use to exercise with, such as a chair, or a desk, or the like, or the portable exercise machine can be a standalone type item. One prior example is in United States patent application publication number US 2005/0239616 A1 to Tuller et al., that discloses an abdominal exercise machine that includes a semi rigid center member having an upper member adapted to be grasped by the hands of the user and a lower member adapted to contact the user's lap, wherein the semi rigid member center member is placed adjacent to the chest of the user, with the user grasping the upper member with their hands and placing the lower member against their lap and performing abdominal type “crunch” exercises by leaning forward and flexing the semi rigid member. Thus, Tuller et al., is a small and portable device, however, being limited to strictly abdominal type exercises. Another example in the prior art of exercise machines using flexible members is given in U.S. Pat. No. 4,725,057 to Shifferaw which is a continuation U.S. Pat. No. 4,620,704 also to Shifferaw of which both patents disclose a portable universal exercise machine that includes a plurality of resilient flexible rods wherein each rod has one end that is fixed in a base portion of the exercise machine with each rod being positioned in a cantilever fashion having a free end that has are movable cable type member attached to it, wherein the cable type member is routed through a series of pulleys having on its other end a bar or a handgrip for the user to grasp. Thus, in Shifferaw when the user effectuates a movement upon the handgrip or with the bar the cable type member is moved through the pulleys and eventually creates a unidirectional force on the free end of the cantilevered resilient flexible rod which resists movement thereby creating resistance for the exercise movement. The advantage of Shifferaw is that a plurality of flexible members can be utilized to create varying levels of exercise movement resistance and also with the advantage of a more lightweight and compact exercise machine due to the relatively small size and lightweight of the flexible rod members as compared to conventional weight machines that would utilise steel weight plates there are quite heavy and bulky.

A further example in the prior art of exercise machines using flexible members is given in U.S. Pat. No. 5,453,064 to Williams, Jr. that discloses an exercise glove that incorporates flexible resistance strips parallel to the lengthwise finger portions of the glove, thus allowing the user to flex their hand while wearing the glove with the purpose to strengthen their hands due to the increased resistance of flexing the glove from the flexible resistance strips. Again, in Williams, Jr., Shifferaw, and Tuller et al., the current technology dictates that a portable exercise machine can beneficially take advantage of some sort of flexible composite elements to generate exercise movement resistance for the exercise desired and as previously stated these flexible composite elements are typically small and lightweight which is a necessary advantage of the portable exercise machine. However, there are other methods of creating exercise movement resistance besides use of a conventional weight mass, such as springs as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,816,983 to Dawes et al., or the form of a mechanical resistance clutch utilizing a cable attached to a handgrip, wherein pulling on the handgrip that is on the cable activates the resistance clutch that provides resistance to the cable movement for exercise with an example being in U.S. Pat. No. 5,813,953 to Whipple.

Moving to the prior art that discloses portable exercise machines that are adapted to attached to be piece of office furniture, for instance in United States patent application publication number US2004/0053756 A1 to Tremayne that discloses an exercise device utilizing handles having movement resistance connected to a chair, wherein the device is separable from the chair being adapted to attach to a standard chair. The exercise device in Tremayne has foldable handle supports and a leg exercise option with the resistance being in a combination of a resilient element and pulleys housed in a series of telescopic segments that extend when the handle is pulled to protect the user from exposure to the resilient element and to change pulley spacing to vary resistance. Similarly in U.S. Pat. No. 6,099,445 to Rovinsky et al., also disclosed is an exercise device that attaches to a chair by having its own separate frame for the exercise device that further includes several exercise attachments working in conjunction with resilient elements with handles and the tike for exercise movement resistance. Continuing, in a similar manner in United States patent application publication number US2002/0142898 A1 to Willis et al., disclosed is a pair of exercise handles that can each attach to an office chair or a desk, with variable resistance being effectuated by frictional members at joints or couples in the exercise handles, also to the same inventor Willis et al., in United States patent application publication number US2002/0137606 A1 as a complement to the previously described Willis et al., exercise handles, which disclosed is a portable leg or arm powered exercise device that rests on the ground wherein the resilient resistance elements are attached between the device and the chair seat enabling the user to exercise either their legs or arms.

Further, on exercise machines that are adapted to be attached to a conventional chair in U.S. Pat. No. 6,159,133 to Shugg disclosed is a seat mounted workout station that utilises springs, cables, and pulleys for exercise movement resistance as opposed to resilient elements, thus a drawback to Shugg would be in the mechanical complexity and additional weight and bulk that would accompany the use of springs, cables, and pulleys as opposed to resilient elements. Another prior example is in an exercise device that is adapted to attach to a chair using resilient elements being in U.S. Pat. No. 6,117,056 to Cataldi, Jr. et al. that discloses an isotonic exercise device that attaches to the chair utilising elastic or resilient bands that have removably engagable hand or ankle grips. Also, in this same area in U.S. Pat. No. 5,921,900 to Mankovits disclosed is an exercise apparatus for use with a chair having resilient elements that are attached to the chair frame and that are also affixed to the roller elements that are in contact with the floor surface, in using the exercise apparatus, the user's feet rest against the roller elements and exert force against the resilient elements for a leg exercise as the roller elements move along the floor surface. Other prior art examples for chair related exercise machines are in U.S. Pat. No. 5,362,296 to Wang et al., that discloses a chair mounted exercise unit that utilises elastic pull ropes and pulleys that attach to the seat back, wherein the ropes terminate in adjustable hand grips. Another prior example would be in U.S. Pat. No. 5,324,243 to Wilkinson that discloses a seat back unit similar to Wang et al., utilising either resilient elements or springs for resistance to the exercise movement having the addition of a rotatable hub, wherein the rotatable hub provides additional exercise options for the user's arms and legs. In a somewhat similar vein, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,090,694 to Pauls et al., disclosed is a chair exercise unit having hand grips on cord elements, wherein these cord elements are attached to a load resistance means in the form of a centrifugal friction system mounted underneath the se at back, as opposed to the more conventional resilient elements or spring type designs.

Another offshoot in the chair exercise machine prior art is in U.S. Pat. No. 4,921,247 to Sterling that discloses an exercise chair, wherein exercise machine is not adapted to be attached as an add-on to the chair but the chair itself is an integral exercise machine having built in hand grips with spring resistance elements and a bicycle type pedal arrangement that extends from the chair front. Also in the integral exercise chair machine area, an example is given in U.S. Pat. No. 217,918 to White that discloses an exercise chair having integral springs, pulleys, and ropes to exercise the arms and the legs.

A number of versions of portable exercise machines have been previously discussed, upon looking at the numerous disclosures in the prior art a few common attributes of portable exercise machines are noted, being the requirement of small size, lightweight, the ability to stow away easily and if a chair or desk is utilized in conjunction with the portable exercise machine wherein the portable exercise machine is sized and configured to attach/detach from the chair or desk in an easy and convenient manner. As all exercise machines rely upon a means to create exercise movement resistance, the portable exercise machine has a narrow group of options in this area, wherein conventional weights that are made from either steel or concrete are typically out of the question due to their size and bulk so that other means of exercise movement resistance must be used. These other means of movement resistance would include resilient elements similar to large robber bands, wherein the movement resistance is derived from stretching the rubber band, or a flexible rod wherein the movement resistance comes from the lateral bending of the rod, or springs, which would function similarly to the resilient elements in creating resistance, or some sort of mechanical friction device, such as a clutch that would typically resist lateral movement of a cable that is on a spool. The key of the movement resistance is that it needs to be variable which adds a further complication, such that multiple resilient elements, or multiple flexible rods, or multiple springs, or adjustment on the mechanical friction device is required. Thus, this requirement for variable exercise movement resistance adds a complication to the size, bulk, and weight requirements of the portable exercise machine. What is needed therefore, is a portable exercise machine that can accommodate variable exercise movement resistance without the aid of the bulk and weight adding multitude of resistance elements that each have a different level of exercise movement resistance as is disclosed in the prior art. This variable exercise movement resistance could be accomplished by the use of an asymmetrical or variable cross-section flexible rod that could be rotatable along its longitudinal axis to create a changing bending axis moment of inertia, thus resulting in variable exercise movement resistance potentially being accomplished by a single flexible rod mounting to a base member.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Broadly the present invention of an exercise apparatus is for use with a chair, the chair having a base, a pedestal, and a seat, with the exercise apparatus including a support structure that is adapted to removably attach to the chair pedestal, the support structure is also to be substantially adjustably interposed between the chair base and the chair seat. Also included in the exercise apparatus is a resilient rod having a first end portion and a second end portion, the rod first end portion is adjacent to the support structure in a cantilevered configuration with the rod second end portion free. Further included in the exercise apparatus is an attachment element adjacent to the rod second end, wherein the attachment element is adapted to removably engage to a portion of human anatomy for the purpose of exercise by omni directional flexing of the rod along its length causing a resistive force at the attachment element.

These and other objects of the present invention will become more readily appreciated and understood from a consideration of the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention when taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which;

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an exercise apparatus;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the exercise apparatus denoting the expanded views as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4;

FIG. 3 shows an expanded perspective view of a selectably rotatable lockable socket;

FIG. 4 shows an expanded perspective view of an attachment element specifically a removable engagement with rotational and pivotal movement;

FIG. 5 shows an exploded perspective view of the exercise apparatus;

FIG. 6 shows an exploded front view of the exercise apparatus;

FIG. 7 shows an assembled front view of the exercise apparatus;

FIG. 8 shows sectional view 8-8 from FIG. 7 for an alternative embodiment of a flexible rod cross section with the attachment element;

FIG. 9 shows sectional view 9-9 from FIG. 7 showing the chair pedestal, base, seat, and support structure interposed bet we en the base and seat;

FIG. 10 shows an assembled top view of the exercise apparatus;

FIG. 11 shows a top view of the flexible rod with a non symmetric cross section;

FIG. 12 shows a side view of the flexible rod with the non symmetric cross section as shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 shows an end view of the flexible rod second end distal portion as shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 shows a side view of the distal end fitting for the flexible rod second end distal portion;

FIG. 15 shows an end view of the distal end fitting for the flexible rod second end distal portion;

FIG. 16 shows a side view of a proximal end fitting for the flexible rod first end proximal portion;

FIG. 17 shows an end view of the proximal end fitting for the flexible rod first end proximal portion;

FIG. 18 shows section 18-18 from FIG. 11 for the cross section of the non symmetric flexible rod cross section substantially in the form of a rectangle;

FIG. 19 shows a top view of the flexible rod with the non symmetric cross section substantially in the form of a rectangle with a stiffening sleeve slidably engaged;

FIG. 20 shows a side view of the flexible rod having the symmetric cross section with the stiffening sleeve slidably engaged;

FIG. 21 shows a front perspective view of the exercise apparatus in use for a butterfly type exercise;

FIG. 22 shows a rear perspective view of the exercise apparatus in use for a butterfly type exercise;

FIG. 23 shows a front perspective view of the exercise apparatus in use for a triceps type exercise;

FIG. 24 shows a rear perspective view of the exercise apparatus in use for a triceps type exercise;

FIG. 25 shows a front perspective view of the exercise apparatus in use for a shoulder shrug type exercise;

FIG. 26 shows a rear perspective view of the exercise apparatus in use for a shoulder shrug type exercise;

FIG. 27 shows a front perspective view of the exercise apparatus in use for a curling type exercise; and

FIG. 23 shows a rear perspective view of the exercise apparatus in use for a curling type exercise.

 REFERENCE NUMBERS IN DRAWINGS

  • 30 Exercise apparatus
  • 32 Chair
  • 34 Base of the chair 32
  • 36 Pedestal of the chair 32
  • 38 Seat of the chair 32
  • 40 Support structure
  • 41 Removable attachment of support structure 40
  • 42 Distance between the chair base 34 and the chair seat 38
  • 43 Adjustable interposing of support structure 40 between the chair base 34 and the chair seat 38
  • 44 Resilient flexing rod
  • 46 First end proximal portion of the resilient rod 44
  • 48 Second end distal portion of the resilient rod 44
  • 50 Attachment element
  • 51 Removable engagement of attachment element 50
  • 52 Exercising human
  • 54 Anatomy of the exercising human 52
  • 56 Curling exercise movement
  • 58 Butterfly exercise movement
  • 64 Triceps exercise movement
  • 68 Shoulder shrug exercise movement
  • 80 Omni directional movement of flexing rod 44
  • 82 Axis, lengthwise of rod 44
  • 84 Force, resistive for exercise movement
  • 85 Substantially symmetric cross section of rod 44
  • 86 Selectively rotatably lockable socket
  • 87 Rotational axis of socket 86
  • 88 Non symmetric cross-section of rod 44 substantially in the form of a rectangle
  • 89 Non symmetric cross-section of rod 44 substantially in the form of an ellipse
  • 90 Rotation of rod 44 about rod lengthwise axis 82
  • 91 Thickness of non symmetric cross section of flexible rod 44
  • 93 Radius of non symmetric cross section of flexible rod 44
  • 94 Handgrip of the attachment element 50
  • 96 Selectively lengthwise adjustable extension of attachment element 50
  • 98 Selectively removable engagement for the hand grip 94 of the selectively lengthwise adjustable extension 96
  • 102 Rod 44 non symmetric cross section substantially in the form of a rectangle
  • 104 Major axis of rod 44 non symmetric cross section
  • 106 Minor axis of rod 44 non symmetric cross section
  • 126 Strap
  • 128 Selectable lengthwise be king element for strap 126
  • 140 Disk for selectively rotatably lockable socket 86
  • 142 Apertures for disk 140
  • 144 Extension for selectively rotatably lockable socket 86
  • 146 Removable engagement for extension 144
  • 145 Socket 86 at a particular rotational position
  • 148 Internally engaging split clamshell for support structure 40 removable attachment 41
  • 149 Split line of clamshell 148
  • 150 Quick release fasteners that are adjacent to the split of the clamshell 148
  • 151 Inner engaging surface of split clamshell 148
  • 152 Split resilient liner of split clamshell 148
  • 154 Externally engaging substantially hollow lengthwise split shaped cylinder
  • 156 Engagement of substantially hollow lengthwise split shaped cylinder 154 and split clamshell 148
  • 158 Lengthwise telescopic movement of the support structure 40
  • 160 Variable distance between the chair base 34 and the chair se at 38
  • 162 Structure to rotatably and pivotally engage the rod second end 48 to the attachment element 50
  • 164 Rotational movement of the attachment element 50 to the rod second end 48
  • 165 Pivotal movement of the attachment element 50 to the rod second end 48
  • 166 Flexible sleeve
  • 168 Distal end fitting
  • 170 Proximal end fitting
  • 172 Outer surface of the flexible rod 44 having a cross section substantially in the form of a rectangle 88
  • 174 Outer surface of the flexible rod 44 having a cross section that is substantially symmetric 85
  • 175 Outer surface of the second end distal portion 48 of the flexible rod 44

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Broadly with initial reference to FIG. 1 shown is a perspective view of the exercise apparatus 30, FIG. 2 also shows a perspective view of the exercise apparatus 30 denoting the expanded views of a selectively rotatable lockable socket 86 as shown in FIG. 3 and an attachment element 50 as shown in FIG. 4, with FIG. 3 showing an expanded perspective view of the selectively rotatable lockable socket 86 associated with the support structure 40, the base 34, and the resilient flexing rod 44. Continuing, FIG. 4 shows an expanded perspective view of the attachment element 50 associated with the resilient flexing rod 44, the strap 126, and structure 162 to rotatably 164 and pivotally 165 engage the rod 44 second end 48 to the attachment element 50. Further, FIG. 5 shows an exploded perspective view of the exercise apparatus 30, while FIG. 6 shows an exploded front view of the exercise apparatus 30, and FIG. 7 shows an assembled front view of the exercise apparatus 30. FIG. 8 shows sectional view 8-8 from FIG. 7 for an alternative embodiment of a flexible rod 44 cross section substantially in the form of an ellipse 89 with the attachment element 50, with FIG. 9 showing sectional view 9-9 from FIG. 7 that denotes the chair 32 pedestal 36, base 34, seat 38, and support structure 40 that is interposed between the base 34 and seat 38.

Further continuing, FIG. 10 shows an assembled top view of the exercise apparatus 30, FIG. 11 shows a top view of the flexible rod 44 with a non symmetric cross section substantially in the form of a rectangle 88, with FIG. 12 showing a side view of the flexible rod 44 again with the non symmetric cross section substantially in the form of a rectangle 88 as shown in FIG. 11. Yet, further FIG. 13 shows an end view of the flexible rod 44 second end distal portion 48 as shown in FIG. 11 and FIG. 14 shows a side view of the distal end fitting 168 for the flexible rod 44 second end distal portion 48. Moving to FIG. 15 shown is an end view of the distal end fitting 168 for the flexible rod 44 second end distal portion 48, FIG. 16 shows a side view of a proximal end fitting 170 for the flexible rod 44 first end proximal portion 46, and FIG. 17 shows an end view of the proximal end fitting 170 for the flexible rod 44 first end proximal portion 46. Next FIG. 18 shows section 18-18 from FIG. 11 for the cross section of the non symmetric flexible rod 44 cross section substantially in the form of a rectangle 88, FIG. 19 shows a top view of the flexible rod 44 with the non symmetric cross section substantially in the form of a rectangle 88, with the stiffening sleeve 166 slidably engaged to the outer surface 172, and FIG. 20 shows a side view of the flexible rod 44 having the symmetric cross section 85 with the stiffening sleeve 166 slidably engaged to the outer surface 174.

Continuing, FIG. 21 shows a front perspective view of the exercise apparatus 30 in use for a butterfly 58 type exercise by an exercising human 52, FIG. 22 shows a rear perspective view of the exercise apparatus 30 in use for the butterfly 58 type exercise by the exercising human 52, and FIG. 23 shows a front perspective view of the exercise apparatus 30 in use for a triceps 64 type exercise by the exercising human 52. Further continuing, FIG. 24 shows a rear perspective view of the exercise apparatus 30 in use for the triceps 64 type exercise by the exercising human 52, FIG. 25 shows a front perspective view of the exercise apparatus 30 in use for a shoulder shrug 68 type exercise by the exercising human 52, and FIG. 26 shows a rear perspective view of the exercise apparatus 30 in use for the shoulder shrug 68 type exercise by the exercising human 52. Next, FIG. 27 shows a front perspective view of the exercise apparatus 30 in use for a curling 56 type exercise by the exercising human 52 and FIG. 28 shows a rear perspective view of the exercise apparatus 30 in use for the curling 56 type exercise by the exercising human 52.

Broadly in referring to FIGS. 1-20, the present invention of an exercise apparatus 30 is for use with a chair 32, the chair 32 having a base 34, a pedestal 36, and a seat 38, with the exercise apparatus 30 including a support structure 40 that is adapted to removably attach to the chair 32 pedestal 36. In addition, the support structure 40 is also to be substantially adjustably interposed between the chair 32 base 34 and the chair 32 seat 33, with the preferred purpose being to adjustably restrict movement of the support structure 40 as between the base 34 and the seat 38, thus helping to restrict the support structure 40 moving in relation to the pedestal 36 in a limited manner. Also included in the exercise apparatus 30 is a flexible resilient rod 44 having a first end proximal portion 46 and a second end distal portion 48, with the rod first end proximal portion 46 positioned adjacent to the support structure 40 in a cantilevered configuration (as best shown in FIG. 1) with the rod second end distal portion 48 free to flex in an omni directional 80 manner (in referring to FIGS. 21-28). Further included in the exercise apparatus 30 is an attachment element 50 that is adjacent to the rod second end 48, wherein the attachment element 50 is adapted to removably engage to a portion of human 52 anatomy 54 for the purpose of exercise by omni directional flexing 80 of the rod 44 along its length, referring to a lengthwise axis 82, thus causing a resistive force 84 at the attachment element 50 for the purpose of exercise by the human 52.

Optionally, the exercise apparatus 30 support structure 40 can include a selectively rotatably lockable socket 86 that is sized and configured to rotationally receive the rod 44 first end portion 46, as best shown in FIG. 3, wherein the socket 86 facilitates rotational movement 90 of the rod 44 substantially about the rod 44 longitudinal axis 82 by the socket 86 rotating about its axis 87, wherein axis 87 and axis 82 are substantially parallel but not necessarily co-axial. Further, the selectively rotatably lockable socket 86 includes a disk 140 affixed to the support structure 40 that has a plurality of apertures 142 and an extension 144 affixed to the selectively rotatable lockable socket 86, wherein the extension 144 removably engages the apertures 142 through a manual removable engagement 146 that is operational to selectively secure the selectively rotatable lockable socket 86 at a particular rotational position 145, thus resulting in the rod 44 rotation 90 being secured at a particular rotational position. In referring to FIGS. 21-28 the preferred purpose of the rod 44 rotation 90 is to allow for the desired benefit of variable rod 44 flexing or movement 80 resistance thus resulting in variable exercise resistive force 84 for the human 52 to accommodate a larger number of exercises that would be possible, without the need for using different rods 44 for different flexing or exercise resistive force 84 levels. Additionally the exercise apparatus 30 can optionally have a plurality of selectively rotatable lockable sockets 86 and/or rods 44 adjacent to the support structure 40, with the plurality of sockets 86 and/or rods 44 being operational to further increase the number of exercises accommodated on the exercise apparatus 30.

To eliminate the need for using different rods 44 for different flexing or exercise resistive force 84 levels, the use of a rod 44 that can have various a non symmetric cross sections, referring specifically to FIGS. 8, 11, 12, and 18 is employed. Thus, when the rod 44 is rotated about its axis 82 the bending area moment of inertia changes, due to the rod 44 bending plane which would be substantially parallel to the resistive force 84 (see FIGS. 12-28) such that the rod 44 bending plane is changing in its relationship to the non symmetrical cross section of the rod 44. As an example in looking specifically at FIG. 18, if the rod 44 bending plane was substantially parallel to the major axis 104 the rod 44 flexing strength would be higher and if the rod 44 bending plane was substantially parallel to the minor axis 106 the rod 44 flexing strength would be lower. This rod 44 flexing strength can be defined as a mathematical relationship for a defined non symmetric cross section, as an example in FIG. 18, starting with a round rod 44 of radius 93 wherein the rod 44 had shaved sides that result in a substantially rectangular 102 cross section, with the shaved sides resulting in thickness 91 being the cross sectional distance along the minor axis 106 with two times the radius 93 being the cross sectional distance along the major axis 104. Thus, for the non symmetric rod 44 cross section as previously defined in FIG. 18 the thickness 91 equals two times the radius 93 divided by the square root of the ratio of bending stiffness desired, which is the maximum differential between the rod 44 flexing strength by bending in a plane substantially parallel to the minor axis 106 (minimal flexing strength of the rod 44) and major axis 104 (maximum flexing strength of the rod 44). As an example, if the radius 92 equals one inch, and the desired stiffness ratio is five (meaning that the rod 44 is five times as strong bending along the major axis 104 as opposed to bending along the minor axis 106) the calculated thickness 91 is equal to about nine-tenths of an inch, or the non symmetric cross section has a ratio of about two between the non symmetric cross section along the major axis 104 to the non symmetric cross section along the minor axis. Note that the aforementioned equation relationship is irrespective of the materials of construction used, as the equation is geometric in nature. Although FIGS. 1-7 and 21-28 show the rod 44 somewhat tapered from the first end 46 to the second end 48, the rod 44 can also be non tapered.

The preferred materials of construction for the rod 44 are DuPont DELRIN acetal resin, specifically being part number 570 NC000 that is a twenty percent glass filled acetal, other acceptable acetals would include acetal copolymers, DELRIN homopolymers, DELRIN AF PTFE filled, or various other materials such as nylon, fiberglass, composites, and plastics, or even spring steels that can exhibit the properties of flexing repetitively in the range of motion or omni directional movement 80 up to about one-hundred pounds of exercise resistive force 84 created at the attachment element 50 from the rod 44 flexing. In referring to FIGS. 14-17, to better accommodate the rod 44 preferred materials of construction, the rod 44 first end proximal portion 46 preferably uses the proximal end fitting 170 that engages the outer surface 172 or 174 of either the non symmetric or symmetric rod 44 respectively to protect the rod 44 preferred materials of construction while the rod 44 first end 46 is received in the socket 86. Also, correspondingly the rod 44 second end distal portion 48 uses the distal end fitting 168 that engages the outer surface 175 of the rod 44 second end distal portion 48 to protect the rod 44 preferred materials of construction at the attachment element 50 interface with the rod 44 second end distal portion 48. The preferred materials of construction for the distal end fitting 168 and the proximal end fitting 170 are aluminum or any other alternative material that would meet the aforementioned functional requirements.

Therefore, in still referring to FIG. 1S in using the above example the maximum difference available between the maximum and minimum exercise force 84 is five, thus when the rod 44 is rotated 90 to having a bending plane intermediate to the major axis 104 and the minor axis 106, of necessity the rod 44 bending or flexing strength and thus exercise force 34 will be in between the maximum and minimum exercise force 34 of five to one, such that as an example the minimum exercise force 34 is ten pounds force and the maximum exercise force 34 in fifty pounds force. The intermediate exercise force 34 can be calculated by applying the parallel axis theorem in engineering statics to the rod 44 as a beam, wherein the bending plane is at a position intermediate to the major axis 104 and the minor axis 106 with the rod 44 non symmetric cross section subdivided into sections parallel to the bending plane, with an area moment of inertia calculated for each section, then adding the section inertias by the parallel axis theorem to obtain a composite area moment of inertia for the non symmetric cross section at a bending plane in between the major axis 104 and the minor axis 106 per normal engineering standards. Through normal statics engineering calculations once the composite area moment of inertia is known, then various stresses, forces, and deflections can be calculated for the rod 44. Accordingly, the rod 44 is rotatable 90 about its lengthwise axis 32 through the socket 36 being operational to allow for selected different resistive forces 34 at the attachment element 50 by varying the rod 44 effective area bending moment of inertia in relation to the rod 44 flexing along its length. Thus, in summary the non symmetric cross section rod 44 allows for the same rod 44 to be able to have different flexing strengths, that results in different variable exercise resistive forces 84 by utilising the rotatable locking socket 36 that allows for a selected rod 44 rotational position 145 by the rod 44 rotating 90 about its longitudinal axis 82. Although the rod 44 non symmetric cross section substantially in the form of a rectangle 102 has been described, other non symmetric cross sections of the rod 44 can be utilised such as an ellipse (as shown in FIG. 8), or semi circular, triangular, or any other number of non symmetric cross sectional shapes for which area moment of inertia equations have been developed in engineering statics.

Further, the attachment element 50 is preferably a hand grip 94 and a selectively lengthwise adjustable extension 96 between the hand grip 94 and the rod 44 second end portion 43. The hand grip 94 is a conventional type as best shown in FIG. 1 and the lengthwise adjustable extension 96 is preferably a selectable lengthwise locking element 123 for a strap 126 in the form of a compression clamp 123 similar to a furniture strap or motorcycle tie down strap. Wherein the strap 126 is selectably adjustable lengthwise by manually pushing a lever that releases the compression clamp 123 allowing the strap 126 to freely move lengthwise and when the lever is manually released the clamp 123 “pinches” the strap to secure its lengthwise selected position. Alternatives for the lengthwise adjustable extension 96 would include double D rings, a belt type buckle, a hook and loop fastener, a fold over strap clamp, any other structure that can accomplish selectively securing the strap at a particular lengthwise position. Optionally, the selectively lengthwise adjustable extension 96 can selectively removably engage 93 from itself 51, preferably by way of a auto seatbelt type of lengthwise fastener or any other functional alternative that is operational to allow replacement of the hand grip 94 with a foot harness (not shown) for instance as is known in the art, wherein the foot harness or any other attachment element 50 to a portion of the human 52 anatomy 54 would preferably utilize the previously mentioned lengthwise adjustable extension 96 and the selectively lengthwise adjustable extension 96 that can selectively removably engage from itself 51 or any other alternative that would be functionally acceptable as also previously described. Another option for the attachment element 50 that is adjacent to the rod 44 second end portion 43 is to include structure to rotatably 164 and pivotally 165 engage the rod 44 second end 43 as best shown in FIG. 4. As the rod 44 while in use engages in rotational movement 90 and omni directional movement 50 from the rod 44 flexing along its length, having the attachment element 50 that is adjacent to the rod 44 second end 43 rotatably 164 and pivotally 165 engage the rod 44 second end 43 will help to keep the strap 126 straight regardless of the rod 44 movement as previously described. The structure to accomplish rotation 164 and pivot 165 can be conventional pins, collars and the tike.

Returning to the support structure 40, in referencing FIGS. 1-7 and 9, the support structure 40 includes a removable attachment 41 is preferably in the form of a split clamshell 14S as best shown in FIGS. 5-7 and 9, the split clamshell 14S includes a pair of outer removably attachable semicircular lengthwise split 149 clamshell halves that are adjacent at a split line 149, including a plurality of quick release fasteners 150 that are also adjacent to the split line 149. With the clamshell 148 also including a split resilient liner 152 that is preferably made of a stiff yet resilient material, such as rubber, that is operational to substantially accommodate differing pedestal sizes and functionally keeping the support structure 40 substantially centered about the pedestal 36 to minimize the lateral “looseness” of the support structure 40 or the clamshell 148 in relation to the pedestal 36. In conjunction with the aforementioned lateral looseness minimization issue for the clam shell 148 to the pedestal 36, another issue is the vertical looseness of the support structure 40 between the base 34 and the seat 38, with the support structure 40 being about the pedestal 36 due to the varying distance 42 between the base 34 and the seat 38 wherein the desirable adjustable interposing 43 of the support structure 40 between the base 34 and the seat 38 to also minimize the vertical looseness of the support structure 40 to the chair 32 to better enable a higher number of multiple exercises to be performed with the exercise apparatus 30. The support structure 40 adjustable interposing 43 is preferably accomplished by use of an externally engaging substantially hollow lengthwise split shaped cylinder 154 that is removably engaged 156 to an inner matably engaging surface 151 of the clamshell 148 being operational to selectively adjust the support structure 40 telescopically lengthwise 158 to substantially match the variable distance 160 between the chair base 34 and the chair seat 38. Thus resulting in the support structure 40 that has the telescopic lengthwise adjustment 158 to substantially fill in the distance 42 between the base 34 and the seat 38 to minimize the vertical looseness of the support structure 40 to the chair 32 to better enable a higher number of multiple exercises to be performed with the exercise apparatus 30 as best shown in FIG. 9. Further, optionally structure could be added preferably in the form of an anti rotation pin 180 adjacent to the base 34, as shown in FIG. 1, wherein the pin 180 could be added to help prevent rotational movement 178 of the support structure 40 in relation to the pedestal 36 to add to the exercises that would be possible on the exercise apparatus 30. The materials of construction for the clamshell 148, cylinder 154, fasteners 150, pin 180, and selectively rotatably lockable socket 86 can be metals or composites that meet the aforementioned functional requirements, wherein the selectively rotatably lockable socket 86 is disposed on an exterior of the clamshell 148 as best shown in FIG. 3.

As an option to the previously described non symmetric cross section for the rod 44 to have the advantage of helping to have variable resistive force for exercise movement 84 with the use of a single rod 44, another option would be to utilise a flexible stiffening sleeve 166 as best shown in FIGS. 19 and 20 that slidably engages the outer surface 172 of the non symmetric rod 44, (see FIG. 19) or that slidably engages the outer surface 174 of the symmetric rod 44 (see FIG. 20). Note that the flexible stiffening sleeve 166 could slidably engage the outer surface of any cross sectional configuration rod 44 as previously mentioned such as other non symmetric cross sections of the rod 44 can be utilized such as an ellipse (as shown in FIG. 8), or semi circular, triangular, or any other number of non symmetric cross sectional shapes for which area moment of inertia equations have been developed in engineering statics, wherein the sleeve 166 could slidably engage any configuration of the outer surface of the rod. The flexible sleeve would be constructed of materials same as previously described for the rod 44, wherein the flexible sleeve 166 would add stiffness to the rod 44, thus reducing rod 44 flexing, thereby increasing the exercise resistive force 84 by adding to the bending area moment of inertia to the rod 44. A plurality of sleeves 166 could be used with varying wall thicknesses to further vary the range of rod 44 stiffness increases resulting in further varying the exercise resistive force 84.

Method of Use

A method is disclosed for the multitude of uses or types of exercises that can be performed on the exercise apparatus 30, however, the following is not to be construed as limiting in any way the number of exercises that can be performed on the exercise apparatus 30. Referring in particular to FIGS. 21-28 a sampling of potential exercises is shown, starting with FIG. 21 showing a front perspective view of the exercise apparatus 30 shown in use for the butterfly 58 type exercise by an exercising human 52, with FIG. 22 showing a rear perspective view of the exercise apparatus 30 in use for the butterfly 58 type exercise by the exercising human 52, and FIG. 23 showing a front perspective view of the exercise apparatus 30 in use for the triceps 64 type exercise by the exercising human 52. Further, continuing to FIG. 24 shown is a rear perspective view of the exercise apparatus 30 in use for the triceps 64 type exercise by the exercising human 52, FIG. 25 shows a front perspective view of the exercise apparatus 30 in use for the shoulder shrug 68 type exercise by the exercising human 52, and FIG. 26 shows a rear perspective view of the exercise apparatus 30 in use for the shoulder shrug 68 type exercise by the exercising human 52. Next, FIG. 27 shows a front perspective view of the exercise apparatus 30 in use for the curling 56 type exercise by the exercising human 52, and FIG. 28 shows a rear perspective view of the exercise apparatus 30 in use for a curling 56 type exercise by the exercising human 52.

Note that a number of other exercises could be done on the exercise apparatus 30 that are not shown in FIGS. 21-28, such as referencing FIGS. 21 and 22 for a front butterfly by the human 52 leaning back in the chair 32 and referencing FIGS. 25 and 26 for a rear butterfly by the human 52 straddling the chair 32 backwards, or referencing FIGS. 27 and 28 for a military press by the human 52 that can be accomplished by selectively lengthening the attachment element 50, or referencing FIGS. 25 and 26 by the human 52 bending over to simulate a rowing type exercise or even a type of vat exercise by the human 52 pulling their arms to their sides. Also, in referencing FIGS. 27 and 28 the human 52 by pulling their arms in front of themselves could simulate a chest pull type of exercise, further by having the attachment element 50 removably attach to the human's 52 legs or feel, leg adduction and abduction exercises could be performed, as well as leg lifts and leg extensions, in addition referencing FIGS. 25 and 26 reverse leg extensions could be done to tone the gluteal, thigh biceps, and calf muscles. In addition, the attachment element 50 could attach to any other portion of the human 52 anatomy 54 outside of the human's hands, arms, legs or feet, for a multitude of possible other exercises to be performed with the exercise apparatus 30 by the human 52.

CONCLUSION

Accordingly, the present invention of an exercise apparatus 30 has been described with some degree of particularity directed to the embodiments of the present invention. It should be appreciated, though, that the present invention is defined by the following claims construe din tight of the prior art so modifications of the changes may be made to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention without departing from the inventive concepts contained therein.

Claims

1. An exercise apparatus for use with a chair, having a base, a pedestal and a seal, said exercise apparatus comprising:

(a) a support structure adapted to removably attach to the chair pedestal, said support structure also to be substantially adjustably interposed between the chair base and the chair seat;
(b) a resilient rod having a first end portion and a second end portion, said rod first end portion is adjacent to said support structure in a cantilevered configuration with said rod second end portion free; and
(c) an attachment element adjacent to said rod second end, wherein said attachment element is adapted to removably engage to a portion of human anatomy for the purpose of exercise by omni directional flexing of said rod along its length causing a resistive force at said attachment element.

2. An exercise apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said support structure includes a selectively rotatably lockable socket that is sized and configured to receive said rod first end portion.

3. An exercise apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said rod has a non symmetric cross-section, wherein said rod is rotatable about its lengthwise axis through said socket being operational to allow for selected different resistive forces at said attachment element by varying a rod effective area bending moment of inertia in relation to the rod flexing along its length.

4. An exercise apparatus ac cording to claim 3 wherein said attachment element includes a hand grip and a selectively lengthwise adjustable extension between said hand grip and said rod second end portion.

5. An exercise apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said hand grip selectively adjustable extension is selectively removably engagable from itself.

6. An exercise apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said attachment element includes a foot harness and a selectively adjustable extension between said foot harness and said rod second end portion.

7. An exercise apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said foot harness selectively adjustable extension is removably engagable from itself.

8. An exercise apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said rod non symmetric cross-section is substantially in the form of a rectangle with a major to minor axis relationship of about two (2).

9. An exercise apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said rod is constructed of materials selected from the group consisting essentially of nylon, fiberglass, composites, and plastics.

10. An exercise apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said rod is constructed of materials selected from the group consisting essentially of spring steels.

11. An exercise apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said selectively lengthwise adjustable extension includes a strap and a selectable lengthwise locking element that is selected from the group consisting essentially of double D rings, a compression clamp, a belt buckle, a hook and loop fastener, and a fold over strap clamp.

12. An exercise apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said selectively rotatably lockable socket includes a disk affixed to said support structure that has a plurality of apertures and an extension affixed to said selectively rotatable lockable socket, wherein said extension removably engages said apertures being operational to selectively secure said selectively rotatable lockable socket at a particular rotational position.

13. An exercise apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said support structure removable attachment is in the form of a split clamshell having a split line including a plurality of quick release fasteners that are adjacent to said split line, said clamshell also including a split resilient liner being operational to substantially accommodate differing pedestal sizes.

14. An exercise apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said support structure adjustable interposing is in the form of an externally engaging substantially hollow lengthwise split shaped cylinder that is removably engaged to an inner surface of said clamshell being operational to selectively adjust said support structure telescopically lengthwise to substantially match the variable distance between the chair base and the chair seat.

15. An exercise apparatus according to claim 3 further comprising a plurality of selectively rotatable lockable sockets and rods that are operational to further increase the number of exercises accommodated.

16. An exercise apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said attachment element that is adjacent to said rod second end portion includes structure to rotatably and pivotally engage said rod second end.

17. An exercise apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a flexible sleeve that slidably engages said rod being operational to decrease said flexing thereby increasing said resistive force.

18. An exercise apparatus for use with a chair, having a base, a pedestal, and a seat, said exercise apparatus comprising:

(a) a support structure in the form of a shell that includes a pair of outer removably attachable semicircular lengthwise split clam shell halves that are adjacent at a split line, that include a selectively rotatable lockable socket disposed on an exterior of said shell, said socket having a rotation axis, said shell halves substantially encase the pedestal, said support structure also includes a telescopically connected inner pair of semicircular shell halves that selectively removably engage lengthwise said outer shell halves being operational to be substantially adjustable to be interposed between the chair base and the chair seat;
(b) a resilient rod having a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein said first end portion is selectively rotationally received into said socket in a cantilevered configuration with said rod second end portion free, with said socket rotation axis substantially about a rod lengthwise axis, said rod also including a non symmetric cross-section; and
(c) an attachment element adjacent to said rod second end, wherein said attachment element is adapted to removably engage to a portion of human anatomy for the purpose of exercise by omni directional flexing said rod along its length resulting in a variable resistive force at said attachment element from selectively rotating said rod about its lengthwise axis.

19. An exercise apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said rod non symmetric cross-section is substantially in the form of a rectangle with a major to minor axis relationship of about two (2).

20. An exercise apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said rod is constructed of materials selected from the group consisting essentially of nylon, fiberglass, composites, and plastics.

21. An exercise apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said rod is constructed of materials selected from the group consisting essentially of spring steels.

22. An exercise apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said support structure removable attachment includes a plurality of quick release fasteners are adjacent to said split.

23. An exercise apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said attachment element that is adjacent to said rod second end includes structure to rotatably and pivotally engage said rod second end.

24. An exercise apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said shell also includes a split resilient liner being operational to substantially accommodate differing pedestal sizes.

25. An exercise apparatus according to claim 18 further comprising a flexible sleeve that slidably engages said rod being operational to decrease said flexing thereby increasing said resistive force.

Patent History
Publication number: 20080039301
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 19, 2006
Publication Date: Feb 14, 2008
Inventor: Adam Halbridge (San Diego, CA)
Application Number: 11/458,549
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: Utilizing Resilient Force Resistance (482/121)
International Classification: A63B 21/04 (20060101);