Exercise equipment adapted for use with a chair

Abstract

An exercise device includes a support member, including an interior surface for receiving and providing a tension fit with a pole received within an interior of the support member. A first arm is slidably mounted on the support member A second arm is slidably mounted on the support member. The first arm and the second arm are each slidable along the support member between at least a first position and a second position; the first arm and second arm are coaxial in the first position and the first arm and second arm are parallel in the second position. A first adjustment ring and a second adjustment ring are each slidably mounted along a respective one of the first arm member and second arm member A first elastic and a second elastic member are each affixed to a respective first adjustment ring and second adjustment ring. The position of a respective adjustment ring along a respective support arm controls the amount of force needed to perform an exercise by user.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention is directed to exercise equipment, and in particular, exercise equipment, which can be used in conjunction with a conventional office chair in an unobtrusive manner.

For more than a decade, it has been recognized, that fitness and exercise, including toning and muscle building are as important to good health as good nutrition. However, during the same period, time constraints from work, family, and social commitments have made it increasingly difficult for the average person to find time to exercise.

Additionally, in the prior art, weight training in particular requires elaborate equipment such as the Universal® gym, Bowflex® equipment, Nautilus® gym or the like. This requires great expense to obtain such equipment for the home, or a time commitment to travel to a health club to utilize such equipment.

Some equipment has been developed which allows exercise in an office, such as hand weights. Although satisfactory for developing and maintaining muscle tone, hand weights are difficult to store, particularly in today's cubicle society and require multiple sets of hand weights in order to do exercises of varying weights or to increase muscle mass as the exercises become easier and easier. This exacerbates the storage issue.

Accordingly, a device, which overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art and, among other things, is easily storable, provides multiple exercise movements, and resistance at a variety of weights is desired.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An exercise device includes a securing member for securing the device about a chair, an anchor mechanism extends from the securing member for preventing rotation of the device during use. A first arm is rotatably affixed to the securing member and a second arm is rotatably secured to the securing member, the first arm and second arm are capable of rotating through at least a 90° angle to a position between at least a first position in which the arms are substantially parallel to each other and a second position in which the arms are substantially coaxial with each other. A first elastic member is anchored to the first arm and a second elastic member is anchored to the second arm.

In a preferred embodiment, the first elastic member is selectively anchored to the first arm at one of at least two positions along the first arm. The second elastic member is anchored to the second arm at at least one of two positions. The elastic member is anchored at its proximate end to the arm and a handle is affixed to the distal end of each respective elastic member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is had to the following description taken in connection with the following drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exercise apparatus affixed to a chair in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the exercise apparatus affixed to a chair in a second position for performing difference exercises in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of an exercise device in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an exercise device in accordance with the invention;

FIGS. 5A, 5B are schematic representations of the use of the invention to exercise biceps;

FIGS. 6A, 6B are schematic views of the use of the invention to exercise triceps;

FIGS. 7A, 7B are schematic views showing use of the invention to exercise the stomach;

FIGS. 8A, 8B are schematic diagrams showing use of invention to exercise the legs;

FIGS. 9A, 9B are schematic diagrams illustrating use of the invention to exercise the shoulders.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is made to FIGS. 1 and 2 in which an exercise, generally indicated at 100 constructed in accordance with the invention is provided. The invention is directed to an exercise device adapted to operate in conjunction with conventional office chairs. Applicants submit that although the chair may be described in detail, the chair does not makeup part of the invention.

A conventional office desk chair 50 includes a seat 52 a back 54 connected thereto, and optionally arms 56 disposed on either side of seat 52 or extending from either side of back 54. A base 58 has a series of legs 60 with casters 62 affixed at the distal end thereof. A pole 64 either directly or through other mechanisms 66 supports seat 52 on base 58.

Exercise device 100 includes a support member 120 having an interior surface 122 adapted to receive and retain by friction fit center pole 64. In a preferred embodiment, the support member 120 is circular, the interior surface 122 of support member 120 is circular and is lined with a high friction substance such as rubber, etched plastic, light tacky glue or the like. In a preferred embodiment, support member 120 is formed by mirrored C-shaped halves 124, 126 which are rotatably attached to each other at a hinge 128. Threaded O-rings 130a, 130b O-shaped rings 130a (FIG. 4) are disposed on a respective C-shaped half 124 at an opposite side of support member 120 from hinge 128 (FIG. 3). Screws 132 are provided extending through a respective O-shaped ring pair 130a, 130b to secure support member 120 in a closed position. Other securing structures such as Velcro® straps, which hold halves 124, 126 together, may be used.

A first arm member 140 is slideably rotatably mounted to support member 120. A second arm member 142 is slideably rotatably mounted to support member 120. In a preferred embodiment, a respective arm member 140, 142 is slideably mounted to a respective C-shaped half 124, 126. Each respective arm 140, 142 includes a mounting member 146 which is received within a slot 129 of each respective C-shaped member 124, 126 and travels along the slot between the first position in which arms 140, 142 are substantially coaxial to a second position where arms 140, 142 are in substantially parallel, i.e., substantially along the entire arc formed by the C-shaped halves 124.

Anchors 150 extend from support member 120 and engage legs 60 of base 58 to further prevent rotation of support member 120 about support pole 64 and movement of support member 150 along center pole 64.

For ease of description, the structure of a single arm, 140 will be described with the understanding that the corresponding numbered “b” component of arm 142 is the mirror image of the structure in arm 140. Arm 140 is formed with at least a first slot 148a formed therein. A plurality of notches 150a are formed at spaced intervals along slot 148a.

An adjustment ring 160a is slideably mounted about the exterior of arm member 140. Adjustment ring 160a has a gnarled outer surface 161a to facilitate gripping and movement along arm 140. A hook 162a extends from the interior of adjustment ring 160a through slot 148a into a cavity formed by the interior of arm member 142. Hook 162a is dimensioned to freely slide along slot 148a and to be selectively maintained in each of respective notches 150a.

An opening 164a is formed at the end of arm member 140 farthest away from support member 120. In a preferred embodiment, a circular member 166a having smooth rounded surfaces is disposed at opening 164a. An elastic band 170a has a first end and a second end. The first or proximal end of elastic band 170a is secured by hook 162a. A second or distal end of elastic member 170a extends through opening 164a and about rounded member 166a. It's noted, that rounded member166a may be beveled or formed with a groove to guide, receive and aid in retaining elastic member 170a in place during exercise. In a preferred non-limiting example, a gripping handle 172a is affixed to the distal end of elastic member 170a.

In a preferred embodiment, elastic band 170a is formed of rubber, but may be also formed of a spring, a silicon based material, or the like which allows elastic deformation in the direction of a force without breaking and return to an underformed state. In a preferred embodiment, the material is selected such that the property of the material is that it provides a constant resistance through the entire stretch length.

The use of adjustments rings 160a, hooks 162a and slot 148a is a preferred embodiment for invention which allows adjustment of the amount of work required to exercise as discussed below. However, any fastening means such as Velcro® loops, a series of hooks to receive circular end of elastic band 178, or the like, which allow for adjustment of the length of elastic band 170a prior to being stretched are within the scope of the invention.

During use, screws 132 are removed from O-shaped rings 130b to allow support member 120 to open around hinge 128 to receive support pole 64. Interior surface 122 of support member 120 engages support pole 64 and a tension fit is created as C-shaped halves 124 are tightened about center pole 64 by screws 132 and O-shaped rings 130b. Anchors 136 are fixed to legs 60 of base 58.

Anchors 136 may be hooks integrally formed with support member 120 dimension to engage leg 60 or they may be Velcro® straps, elastic bands, strings or the like, to prevent movement of support member 120 along support pole 64.

Reference is now made specifically to FIG. 4. Assuming that hook 162a is engaged within notch 150a second most from support member 120 as seen in FIG. 5. Adjustment ring 160a is rotated in direction of arrow A to move hook 162 into slot 148a. Because with many materials the resistance increases with stretch length, resistance can be increased or decreased dependent upon the notch 150a selected for receiving hook 162a. Accordingly, to adjust the tension, adjustment ring 160a along with hook 162a is slid along slot 148a to a desired notch 150a corresponding to the desired tension.

Dependent upon the exercise desired, arm members 140, 142 are rotated about support member 120 and locked in a desired position. For ease of discussion the exercises to be discussed shall be done in a position in which either arms 140, 142 are substantially coaxial or a second position as shown in FIG. 2 where arms 140, 142 are substantially parallel. However, it should be understood that it is well within the scope of the invention to lock either one of the arms independently at any position in between those shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 5a-9b in which exercises in accordance with the invention sharing use are provided. In a first exercise, for exercising biceps, arms 140, 142 are placed in the coaxial position. A user 300 grasps handles 172a, b which hold the user's arms at a 90° angle at the elbow and moves the handle towards the body in the direction of arrow C.

Shoulders may be exercised as shown in FIGS. 9a, 9b by grasping the handle 172b across the chest and pulling on elastic band 170b in a direction to bring an arm 310 of user 300 at a substantially right angle with a torso 320 in at least two planes.

As seen in FIGS. 6A, 6B, arms 140, 142 are then rotated to be in a second position in which they are substantially parallel with each other extending in the direction of chair back 56. Triceps are exercised by bending arm 310 at a right angle and moving arm 310 in the direction of arrow D to extend arm 310. As seen in FIGS. 7a, 7b with the same orientation of arms 140, 142 the stomach may be exercised by user 300 grasping handles 172 behind the head and bending at the stomach in the seating position to rotate the body in the direction arrow E. Lastly, legs 330 of user 300 may be exercised by wrapping handles 172a around an ankle or replacing handles 172a with foot cuffs and extending legs 330 in the direction of arrow F.

It should be known that, among the other advantages of the invention, because of the rounded surface of rounded member 166, wear and tear on elastic band 170a is significantly decreased. By providing an apparatus, which is secured to the chair and in the position in which arms 140, 142 run parallel, is substantially coextensive with the chair, the storage issue is solved because the device may be neatly folded in place on the chair. In a preferred, but not limiting example, the exercise device is made from high strength lightweight plastics and is formed as a top half and bottom half. However, it is contemplated that the device may be made of other materials such as lightweight metals like aluminum by way of non-limiting example, and may be formed from a unitary construction.

By providing an exercise apparatus, which easily mounts to pre-existing office furniture, and is capable of providing a resistance device at a variety of positions through the use of the movable arms or at various positions about the support member, a variety of exercises are offered to the user. By offering adjustable tension, there is no need to store or utilize several pieces of equipment to perform the same exercise.

Thus, while there have been shown, described and pointed out novel features of the present invention as applied to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and change in the form and detail are contemplated and may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is the intention therefore to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto. It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention, which, as a matter of the language, might be said to fall there between.

Claims

1. An exercise device comprising a support member, the support member including an interior surface for receiving and providing a tension fit with a pole received within an interior of the support member,

a first arm slidably mounted on said support member;

a second arm slidably mounted on said support member, said first arm and said second arm each being slidable along said support member between at least a first position and a second position, the first arm and second arm being substantially coaxial in the first position and the first arm and second arm being substantially parallel in the second position;

a first elastic member and a second elastic member each being selectively affixed to at least one of two positions along a respective arm, the position along the arm at which the elastic member is affixed controlling the amount of force needed to perform an exercise with said first and second elastic members.

2. The exercise device of claim 1, further comprising a first adjustment ring and a second adjustment ring, each being slidably mounted along a respective one of the first arm and second arm.

3. The exercise device of claim 1, further comprising a first handle and a second handle, a respective first handle and second handle being affixed at an end of a respective first elastic member and second elastic member.

4. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein said first elastic member and second elastic members are each disposed within a respective first arm and second arm; and at least a first end of ach of first and second members extending from the respective first arm and second arm.

5. The exercise apparatus of claim 4, wherein each of first arm and second arm has an exit, the respective elastic member extending through said exit, a rounded member being disposed at each respective exit the first elastic member and second elastic member contacting a respective first rounded member and second rounded member as it extends from a respective arm.

6. The exercise device of claim 2, further comprising a first hook and a second hook extending from a respective adjustment ring, the first elastic member and the second elastic member being affixed to said respective first and second hook, a respective adjustment ring moving a respective hook between said at least one position to at least a second position.

7. The exercise device of claim 6, further comprising a slot formed in each one of the first and second arms, a plurality of notches formed along each slot, each hook extending through a respective slot, the adjustment ring being movable along the slot, each hook selectively engaging any one of the notches along the slot for adjusting the tension experienced during an exercise.

8. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the pole is a support pole for a chair.

9. The exercise device of claim 1, further comprising anchors extending from the support member to prevent movement of the support member along the pole.