MULTI-DIRECTIONAL EXERCISE APPARATUS
An exercise apparatus having, as its principal objective, the provision of a portable exercise apparatus that offers substantially more benefits than a number of existing apparatus without their obvious associated problems. The exercise apparatus (1) has a base (2) having an upper surface (3) a lower surface (5), the upper surface (3) including a platform (7) with contact areas including a front (9) and a back (11) perpendicular to a right side (13) and a left side (15) adjacent a central area (17) of platform (7), the lower surface (5) rib supports (19) including dependent wheel support members (23) each one with a wheel (25) adapted for multi-directional movement (X, Y or Z).
The invention relates generally to an exercise apparatus and more particularly to a portable multi-directional exercise apparatus constructed for use primarily in the conditioning and strengthening of the user's muscles.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONFitness or exercise equipment developed for work-out stations include articles of equipment chosen to work selective parts of the body in a variety of different ways. However, the varied assortment of equipment have a tendency to be overly large, heavy, cumbersome, difficult to manage and of a size too large to be able to move from one place to another. This equipment relies heavily on essential hand held fittings that if used incorrectly, will inevitably result in muscle and bone damage, hence the need for supervised personnel to provide in-depth instruction prior and during use. Other equipment of a lesser size rely on handle grips on an apparatus with wheels for use on a flat surface. Accordingly, in an attempt to make the most of poor design and construction, the user is inevitably forced to work the groups of muscles of the upper and lower arms while gripping handles or the sides of the exercise device in an attempt to fulfill a chosen exercise regime for working muscles elsewhere.
Accordingly, there is a need for a versatile and transportable multi-directional exercise apparatus for training and strengthening chosen body muscles in an environment conducive with the operation of the apparatus.
The present invention is directed to an improved exercise apparatus and has, as its principal objective, the provision of a portable exercise apparatus that offers substantially more benefits than a number of existing exercise equipment without their obvious associated problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is portable and easy to use wherever there is a supporting surface. More particularly, the exercise apparatus provides the user with a multi-directional exercise apparatus with wheels depending, the apparatus including a base with a platform having alloted areas of contact for encouraging the correct use thereof so as to effectively work chosen muscle groups while carrying out chosen exercise regimes.
Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention seeks to provide an exercise apparatus comprising a base having an upper surface, a lower surface, the upper surface including a platform with contact areas including a front and a back perpendicular to a right side and a left side adjacent a central area of the platform, the lower surface having rib supports and including dependent wheel support members each one with a wheel, at least one wheel adapted for multi-directional movement. A preferred embodiment of the apparatus includes a disproportionate height of the base. More specifically, the back of the base is higher than the front of the base providing a downward slope or slant.
An embodiment of the present invention provides for the base including removable and adjustable wheel support members with at least one wheel for directed movement on a supporting surface. In one embodiment of the invention the wheel support members are in vertical alignment with the front, the right side and the left side of the base. The base may have a generally heart shaped dimension. Wheel support members rotate about a releasably secured vertical axis relative to the base and the wheels rotate about a horizontal axis relative to the wheel support members.
A further embodiment of the present invention provides integral support members of the base for releasably securing a retaining member which is configured for releasably retaining a connector therein. In use the connector is attached to a resistance means. Preferably, the resistance means includes a length of cable, rope, belts or chains having a proximal end releasably attached to the connector and a distal end attached to weights.
A further aspect of the of the present invention seeks to provide a method of exercising muscle groups by means of operating the apparatus of the present invention by including the steps of (a) placing wheels of the base on a supporting surface, (b) positioning a part of a users body on the platform of the base in vertical alignment with an arrangement of wheels of the base; (c) positioning a further part of the users body on a kneeling pad or the supporting surface, and (d) moving the apparatus and users body in combination for working the chosen muscle groups in accordance with a chosen exercise for the apparatus.
Another aspect of the present invention provides for a method of exercising muscle groups placing the wheels of an apparatus on a supporting surface, positioning a part of a users body on a platform of a base of the apparatus, positioning a further part of the users body on the supporting surface or kneeling pad, and moving the apparatus in a chosen direction for working the muscle groups in accordance with a chosen exercise. An embodiment of the present invention provides for releasably securing a connector to a retaining member of the base, attaching a first end of a joining member to the connector, attaching a second end of the joining member to a resistance means and moving the apparatus in a multi-directional path with resistance applied.
A further aspect of the present invention seeks to provide a kit of parts for an exercise apparatus for exercising a user's body, the apparatus including a base having an upper surface, a lower surface, the upper surface including a platform with contact areas front and back perpendicular to a right side and a left side adjacent a central area of the platform, lower surface rib supports including dependent wheel support members each one with a wheel, at least one wheel adapted for multi-directional movement, and a kneeling pad for ease of use on a supporting surface. An embodiment of the kit of parts of the present invention further includes a retaining member for fixedly attaching to the base, a connector adapted for releasable securement to the retaining member, a joining member with a proximal end for releasable attachment to the connector of the base and a distal end for releasable attachment to a resistance means.
Other aspects, features, and details of the present invention can be more completely understood by reference to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the drawings and from the appended claims.
Referring to the drawings in more detail, numeral (1) generally designates a portable exercise apparatus constructed of a base (2) in accordance with the present invention. As seen in
Referring to
As seen from
As seen in
The user, while kneeling on supporting surface (37) or an edge of kneeling pad (35) as in this instance, approaches the higher part of the apparatus (1) from a proximal end of back area (11) and with head forward toward the distal end of front area (9) arches the back prior to moving apparatus (1) in chosen path (Z) while keeping the users (39) knees are kept stationary on the kneeling pad. The kneeling pad (35) is made from a suitable material for comfort and ease of use, and is an optional element in the apparatus.
As can also be seen from both
Preferably, the user's (39) positional coverage of weight is directed from the user's (39) elbows on the right side (13) and left side (15) with both hands face down on the front area (9), of the platform (7) forming the triangular formation. Use of the apparatus (1) is not limited to the exercise regimes (as shown in
The aforesaid examples of exercises of power crunches and cyclones are by no means limiting as one skilled in the art exercising muscle groups would recognize the availability of the apparatus for further exercise regimes applicable for the exercise apparatus (1) of the present invention.
The exercise apparatus components (e.g., the base, the platform, the wheel supports, the wheels, and the kneeling pad, may be available individually as spares, or packaged as a kit. Specifically, the kit for the apparatus (1) includes base (2), with platform (7), wheel support members (23) and wheels (25), kneeling pad (35) and a portable carrier (not shown) shaped to easily accommodate for the generally heart-shaped base (2).
Optionally, retaining members (27), preferably in the form of lock-tight Allen key bolts, for insertion into integral support members (21), an Allen key for adjustment thereof and the at least one connector (29), can be supplied separately.
It will be appreciated that the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings represent only a few of the many ways of implementing the apparatus (1), the method of use and the kit therefore.
Claims
1. An exercise apparatus (1) comprising a base (2) having an upper surface (3) a lower surface (5), the upper surface including a platform (7) with contact areas including a front (9) and a back (11) perpendicular to a right side (13) and a left side (15) adjacent a central area (17) of the platform (7), the lower surface having rib supports (19) and including dependent wheel support members (23) each one with a wheel (25) at least one wheel adapted for multi-directional movement (X, Y or Z).
2. The apparatus (1) of claim 1, wherein the front (9) and the back (11 of the base (2) are of disproportionate heights in relation to one another.
3. The apparatus (1) of claim 1, wherein the at least one wheel (25) is in vertical alignment with the front, the right side and the left side of the platform.
4. The apparatus (1) of claim 1, wherein the wheel support members (23) rotate about a vertical axis.
5. The apparatus (1) of claim 1, wherein the wheels (25) rotate about a horizontal axis on the wheel support members (23).
6. The apparatus (1) of claim 1, further comprising integral support members (21) of the base (2) for releasably securing a retaining member (27).
7. The apparatus (1) of claim 6, wherein the retaining member (27) is configured for releasable securement of a connector (29).
8. The apparatus (1) of claim 7, wherein the connector (29) is adapted to be proximally attached to at least one joining member (31) attached to a resistance means (33).
9. The apparatus (1) of claim 8, wherein the at least one joining member (31) includes a predetermined length of cable, rope, belts or chains having a proximal end (31a) adapted to be releasably attached to the connector (20) and a distal end (31b) adapted to be releasably attached to weights.
10. The apparatus (1) of claim 9, wherein the base (2) is generally heart-shaped and made from a functional and sustainable material.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the base (2) is made from at least one type of plastic.
12. The apparatus (1) of claim 1, further comprising a kneeling pad (35) therewith.
13. The apparatus (1) of claim 1, wherein the platform (7) and the kneeling pad (35) are made from a foam material substantially impervious to water.
14. A method of exercising muscle groups by means of the apparatus (1) of claim 1, comprising the steps of:
- (a) placing wheels (25) of an apparatus (1) on a supporting surface (37),
- (b) positioning a part of a users body (30) on a platform (7) of a base (2) of the apparatus (1),
- (c) positioning a further part of the users body (39) on the supporting surface (37) or a kneeling pad (35), and
- (d) moving the apparatus (1) in a chosen direction for working the muscle groups in accordance with a chosen exercise.
15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of:
- (e) releasably securing a connector (29) to a retaining member (27) of the base (2),
- (f) attaching a proximal end (31a) of a joining member (31) to the connector (29),
- (g) attaching a distal end (31b) of the joining member (31) to a resistance means (33), and
- (h) moving the apparatus (1) in a multi-directional path (X, Y or Z).
16. A kit of parts for an exercise apparatus (1) for exercising a user's body (39), the apparatus comprising a base (2) having an upper surface (3), a lower surface (5), the upper surface including a platform (7) with contact areas front (9) and back (11) perpendicular to a right side (13) and a left side (15) adjacent a central area (17) of the platform (7), lower surface rib supports (19) including dependent wheel support members (23) each one with a wheel (25), at least one wheel adapted for multi-directional movement (X, Y or Z), and a kneeling pad (35) for ease of use on a supporting surface (37).
17. The kit of parts of claim 16, further comprising a retaining member (27) for fixedly attaching to the base (2), a connector (29) adapted for releasable securement to the retaining member (27), a joining member (31) with a proximal end (31a) for releasable attachment to the connector (29) of the base (2) and a distal end (31b) for releasable attachment to a resistance means (33).
18. The kit of parts of claim 17, wherein joining member (31) includes a predetermined length of cable, rope, belts or chains having a proximal end (31a) for releasable attachment to the connector and a distal end (31b) releasable attachment to a pulley (high or low) with weights thereon.
19. The kit of parts of claim 16, further comprising a portable container for removeably retaining the kit of parts therein.
20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one wheel (25) with support members (23) is adapted for multi-directional movement (X, Y or Z).
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 14, 2009
Publication Date: May 19, 2011
Inventors: Robert M. Caya (Kanata), Marshal H. Page (Carp)
Application Number: 13/003,818
International Classification: A63B 22/00 (20060101);