Portable Exercise Unit
A portable exercise device for performing Pilates-type exercises includes a base portion having first and second base members interconnected through a pivot member. In a first configuration, a first end portion of a bar is selectively connected to the pivot element while a second end portions of the bar is connected to the first and second base members by elastomeric bands. In a second configuration, first and second end portions of the bar are connected to corresponding ones of the first and second base members by elastomeric bands. When in the first configuration, a user selectively shifts the bar side-to-side about the pivot member to alternatingly stretch and relax the elastomeric bands. When in the second configuration, the user selectively manipulates the bar to simultaneously stretch and relax the first and second elastomeric bands through mainly vertical movements.
The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/929,347 entitled “Portable Exercise Unit” filed Jun. 22, 2007.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to the art of exercise devices and, more particularly, to a portable Pilates-type exercise unit.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
Certainly, a large number of portable exercise devices exist in the prior art. Currently available exercise devices span the spectrum of cost and complexity. Many existing exercise devices target a specific area of a body or are geared toward a particular exercise routine or program. Of these routines, the Pilates method or Pilates has been around for quite some time and is once again gaining in popularity. While several Pilates exercises require special equipment such as benches, many Pilates exercises can be readily performed with resistance bands which are available in various lengths and resistance levels. Typically, a band is anchored at one end portion while a user grasps and pulls on another end portion. The band can be anchored to a wall mounted hook, a door knob, or simply held under, for example, the user's foot. Once anchored, the user can perform a number of repetitive tension exercises to strengthen a particular muscle or muscle group. Alternatively, both end portions of the band can be anchored and exercising performed using a central area of the band.
Many exercise units include various adjustable components to accommodate a broad range of users and/or to facilitate additional exercises. That is, portions of the exercise unit can be adjusted to accommodate the physiology of a particular user and/or enable the user to perform exercises that target various body parts. Unfortunately, most exercise units are not both easily adjustable and portable. That is, a trade-off exists between adjustability and portability. If the device is readily portable, the exercises made possible with the device are generally more muscle specific. For example, devices for performing curls, shoulder presses and the like exercises which require movements that are generally along the body's longitudinal axis would not be readily adaptable to, for example, rowing exercises which would require movements that are generally normal to the body's axis. Of course the opposite would also hold true.
Despite the existence of portable exercise devices in the prior art, there is considered to still exist a need for an exercise device that both portable and adjustable. More specifically, there is seen to be a need for a Pilates-type portable exercise device that is not only readily adjustable to accommodate various users but also supports a broad range of exercises.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is directed to a portable exercise device including a base portion having first and second base members interconnected through a pivot member. The first base member includes a first end which is pivotally attached to the pivot member and extends in a first direction to a second end through an intermediate portion. The second base member includes a first end which is pivotally attached to the pivot member and extends in a second direction to a second end through an intermediate portion. In accordance with the invention, the exercise device also includes a bar having a first end which is selectively connected to the pivot element and extends to a second end through an intermediate portion. A cap member is detachably mounted at the second end of the bar. The exercise device further includes first and second foot pads that are selectively, adjustably positioned relative to corresponding ones of the first and second base members.
In further accordance with the invention, the exercise device includes first and second elastic cables respectively extending between first and second base members and the bar. More specifically, the first cable includes a first end connected at one of the second ends of the first base member and the first foot pad, and a second end detachably mounted to the cap member. The second cable includes a first end connected at one of the second ends of the second base member and the second foot pad, and a second end. It should be generally understood that the first end of each of the first and second cables is positioned adjacent or near the second or outer ends of corresponding ones of the first and second base members.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, when the portable exercise device is in a first configuration, the second end of the second elastic cable is connected to the cap member. In this configuration, a user selectively pivots the bar about the pivot member to alternatingly stretch and relax the first and second elastic cables respectively to perform a first exercise routine. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, when the portable exercise device is in a second configuration, the second end of the bar is detached from the pivot member and fitted with another cap member to which the second end of the second elastic cable is attached. In this configuration, a user selectively manipulates the bar to simultaneously stretch and relax the first and second elastic cables to perform a second exercise routine. The first and second elastic cables can be exchanged with other cables of varying length and/or resistance to further vary the available exercises.
Additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts in the several views.
With initial reference to
As further shown in
Referring to
Referring back to
As noted above, second intermediate section 109 is secured to first intermediate section 108. Towards that end, second intermediate section 109 includes a first end 127 having a reduced diameter portion (not separately labeled) configured to be received by second end 122 of first intermediate section 108. First end 127 extends to a second end 128 through an intermediate portion 129. Second intermediate section 109 is provided with a spring lock 131 provided in the reduced diameter portion of first end 127. Spring lock 131 is designed to engage into opening 125 of first intermediate section 108. With this configuration, first and second intermediate sections 108 and 109 can be joined and readily disconnected as necessary. Finally, second end section 110 is connected to second end 128 of second intermediate section 109. Towards that end, second end section 110 includes a first end 136 that extends to a second end 137 through an intermediate or handle portion 138. Preferably, both first and second ends 136 and 137 are externally threaded, with the external threading on first end 136 facilitating the attachment to second end 128 of second intermediate section 109. In addition, handle portion 138 is provided with a cushioned grip 140, e.g., neoprene, to provide comfort for the user. As will be discussed more fully below, a cap member 147 is threadably attached to second end 137 of second end section 110.
As best shown in
Again referring back to
In accordance with the invention, end caps 196a and 196b are adapted to be secured to a cable block 209 that is pivotally mounted at second end portion 14 of base member 6. Likewise, end caps 199a and 199b are secured to a cable block 210 pivotally connected at second end 24 of base member 7. As each cable block 209, 210 is identical, a detailed description will follow referencing cable block 209, with an understanding that cable block 210 is similarly formed and mounted.
As best shown in
Depending on which exercise is chosen, cable block 209 is rotated and locked into position allowing cables 186, 187 to be attached thereto by connecting end caps 196a and 196b to corresponding cable receiving members 250 and 251 provided on upper surface 222. Of course, end caps 196a and 196b could also be connected to, for example, cable receiving member 73 provided on foot pad 34 depending upon the exercise to be performed. Generally speaking, the first end(s) of each of first and second resistance bands 182 and 183 are connected adjacent second ends 14 and 24 of first and second base members 6 and 7 respectively. Cable blocks 197-200 are configured to provide robust attachment points for first and second resistance bands 182, 183 and may include various locking structure such as external threads, grooves for receiving detent balls, openings for receiving pins and the like.
As best shown in
In accordance with the invention, exercise device 2 is designed to be arranged in a first configuration, such as shown in
In the first configuration, a user, after properly adjusting foot pads 34 and 35, grasps handle member 110 and shifts bar 105 side-to-side about an axis defined by pivot member 9. The action of pivoting bar 105 causes resistance bands 182 and 183 to alternatingly load and unload. The amount of energy required to alternatingly load and unload resistance bands 82 and 83 depends upon the length and resistance of the resistance bands and the added resistance provided by spring portion 97. For this reason, resistance bands 182 and 183 can come in a variety of lengths and resistance levels in a manner that will be discussed more fully below.
Exercise device 2 can also be employed in a second configuration as shown in
When in the second configuration, a user grasps first and second end sections 107 and 110 to perform various exercises, such as bicep curls, standing presses and the like, while also being able to replace the particular resistance band members 182 and 183. That is, shorter bands allow a user to perform bicep curls, while longer bands enable a user to perform military-style or standing shoulder press exercises. In any case, it should be readily understood that the length, number of cables and resistance of resistance band members 182 and 183 can vary in accordance with the invention depending upon the particular exercise desired and particular fitness level of the user. As a user progressively becomes stronger, more and/or higher resistance bands are used.
At this point, it should be understood that the portable exercise device constructed in accordance with the present invention provides for a readily assembled mechanism for performing Pilates-type exercises that can be employed in various configurations to enable multiple, distinct exercises. Exercise device 2 is also readily disassembled and placed into a compact configuration for storage. In order to store exercise device 2, a user may simply disconnect bar 105 from pivot member 9, then separate bar 105 into two sections at first and second intermediate sections 108 and 109, with first end section 113 being stored in cap member 10a and second end section 137 being stored in cap member 106. At this point, first and second base members 6 and 7 are folded upward such that bar 105 nests within channels 18 and 28 respectively, while foot pads 34 and 35 can also be rotated and compactly aligned. In this configuration, exercise device 2 can be readily stored under a bed, in a closet or elsewhere and does not provide a large foot print to take up space unnecessarily.
Although described with reference to a preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be readily understood that various changes and/or modifications can be made to the invention without departing from the spirit thereof. For instance, the particular threaded connections employed in the construction of the bar could be replaced with various other mechanisms for joining tubular components. In addition, the elastomeric cables can be attached using various other connecting structures such as clips, hooks, etc. and connected in a number of configurations using cable blocks 209, 210, cable receiving members 73-76 and/or cap members 147, 210. In general, the invention is only intended to be limited by the scope of the following claims.
Claims
1. A portable exercise device comprising:
- a base portion having first and second base members interconnected through a pivot member, said first base member including a first end pivotally attached to the pivot member and extending, in a first direction, to a second end through an intermediate portion and said second base member including a first end pivotally attached to the pivot member and extending, in a second direction, to a second end through an intermediate portion;
- a bar including a first end selectively connected to the pivot member and extending to a second end through an intermediate portion;
- a first elastic cable having a first end connected adjacent the second end of the first base member and extending to a second end that is connected to the second end of the bar; and
- a second elastic cable having a first end connected adjacent the second end of the second base member and extending to a second end wherein, when the portable exercise device is in a first configuration, the second end of the second elastic cable is connected to the cap member with said bar being selectively pivoted about the pivot member to alternatingly stretch and relax the first and second elastic cables respectively and, when the portable exercise device is in a second configuration, the first end of the bar is detached from the pivot member and the second end of the second elastic cable is connected to the first end of the bar whereby, the bar can be manipulated to simultaneously stretch and relax the first and second elastic cables.
2. The portable exercise device according to claim 1, further comprising: first and second foot pads, each of said first and second foot pads being adjustably connected to corresponding ones of the first and second base members.
3. The portable exercise device according to claim 2, wherein each of the first and second foot pads includes a foot retention strap.
4. The portable exercise device according to claim 1, further comprising: first and second cable blocks connected to the second ends of the first and second base members respectively, said first and second elastic cables being connected to corresponding ones of the first and second cable blocks.
5. The portable exercise device according to claim 4, wherein each of the first and second cable blocks is pivotally connected to the respective second ends of the first and second base members.
6. The portable exercise device according to claim 1, further comprising: a cap member detachably connected to the second end of the bar.
7. The portable exercise device according to claim 6, wherein the second end of each of the first and second cables includes corresponding first and second cable blocks, each of said first and second cable blocks being adapted to be detachably connected to the cap member.
8. The portable exercise device according to claim 7, wherein the first and second cable blocks are detachably mounted to the cap member through a twist lock arrangement.
9. The portable exercise device according to claim 6, wherein the pivot member includes a stationary portion and a pivot portion, said pivot portion being connected to the base section through a ball and socket arrangement.
10. The portable exercise device according to claim 9, wherein the bar includes multiple, detachably interconnected sections.
11. The portable exercise device according to claim 10, wherein the multiple, detachably interconnected sections include first and second intermediate sections and first and second end sections.
12. The portable exercise device according to claim 11, wherein the first and second end portion define corresponding first and second handles, each of said first and second handles being provided with a cushioned grip.
13. The portable exercise device according to claim 11, wherein the first end section is detachably connected to the cap member and the second end section is adapted to be detachably connected to the pivot member when the portable exercise device is in the first configuration.
14. The portable exercise device according to claim 6, further comprising: another cap member selectively connected to the first end of the bar, said second end of the second elastic cable being adapted to be connected to the another cap member when the portable exercise device is in the second configuration.
15. The portable exercise device according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second elastic cables is constituted by first and second pairs of cables.
16. A method of configuring a portable exercise device to perform multiple exercises comprising:
- slidably connecting first and second foot pads to corresponding first and second base members, said first and second base members being interconnected through a pivot member;
- connecting a first end of a first elastic cable adjacent a first end of the first base member and a first end of a second elastic cable adjacent a first end of the second base member;
- configuring the portable exercise device in a first configuration to perform a first set of exercises by: connecting a first end of a bar to the pivot member; connecting a second end of the first elastic cable to a second end of the bar; connecting a second end of the second elastic cable to the second end of the bar, whereby a user can selectively pivot the bar about the pivot member to alternatingly stretch and relax the first and second elastic cables respectively; and
- reconfiguring the portable exercise device in a second configuration to perform a second set of exercises by: disconnecting the second end of the second cable from the second end of the bar; disconnecting the first end of the bar from the pivot member; and connecting the second end of the second cable to the first end of the bar, whereby the user can selectively manipulate the bar to simultaneously stretch and relax the first and second elastic cables.
17. The method of claim 16, further comprising: attaching a cap member to the second end of the bar wherein, when in the first configuration, the second ends of respective ones of the first and second elastic cables are detachably connected to the cap member.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the second ends of respective ones of the first and second cables are twist-locked to the cap member.
19. The method of claim 16, further comprising: attaching another cap member to the first end of the bar when the portable exercise device is reconfigured to the second configuration, said second end of the second cable being connected to the another cap member.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the second end of the second elastic cable is twist-locked to the another cap member.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 16, 2008
Publication Date: Dec 25, 2008
Inventor: Maurizio M. Barra (Las Vegas, NV)
Application Number: 12/139,624
International Classification: A63B 26/00 (20060101);