DEVICE FOR ASSISTING WITH PLANK EXERCISES
A device for assisting with plank exercises includes an elongated main body having a first axial end, an oppositely disposed second axial end and opposite lateral side walls extending therebetween. The main body comprises at least two telescoping members that may be adjusted to vary the length of the main body and the corresponding degree of stress provided by the exercise. The device includes a support brace positioned in proximity to the first axial end and a base member positioned in proximity to the second axial end. An ankle support is mounted to or extends from the main body. A post extends outwardly from a top surface of the main body and may receive at least one circular weight. The device is oriented so that the support brace rests on the user's lower back and buttocks area and the anterior portions of a user's lower legs rest on the ankle support.
This application is related to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/130,663, filed on Mar. 10, 2015, and entitled “Device For Assisting With Plank Exercises”, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference and on which priority is hereby claimed.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to exercise equipment, and more particularly relates to devices for assisting with manual body stress exercises.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The plank exercise is a popular exercise that stresses the core muscles of the body such as the abdomen, lower back and upper legs. The plank exercise is utilized in a variety of exercise routines and is common in yoga studios and fitness classes. In fact, plank exercises are also often utilized by professional athletes.
The plank exercise is relatively simple. As can be seen in
The degree and location of stress and strengthening that can be obtained from a traditional plank exercise is limited by the distance between the forearms and feet of the user, as well as the relative angle created between the user and the ground. Accordingly, since the distance between a user's forearms and feet is generally unchangeable, the degree and location of stress and strengthening accomplished by plank exercises is restricted. Furthermore, the conventional plank exercise places as much stress on the shoulders and arms as on the core muscles, and thus does not effectively target the core muscles.
The present invention provides a novel apparatus for varying the degree and location of stress and strengthening that can be obtained from a plank exercise by mechanically varying the distance between a user's forearm and the point at which a user's feet would otherwise traditionally contact the ground.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is an object of the present invention to provide a device for assisting a user to perform a plank exercise.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a device for assisting a user in performing a plank exercise that focuses the exercise on the user's core muscles.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a device for assisting a user to perform a plank exercise which is selectively adjustable in length to vary the degree of stress placed on the user during the exercise.
In one form of the present invention, a device for assisting with plank exercises includes an elongated main body having a top surface and a bottom surface disposed opposite the top surface. The elongated main body has a first lateral side and a second lateral side. A support brace that supports and preferably conforms to the shape of a user's back is positioned on the elongated main body in proximity to a first end thereof.
The device preferably further includes a base member positioned in proximity to a second end of the elongated main body, opposite the first end, that is preferably formed as a stabilizing stand comprising at least two legs that extend outwardly and downwardly from the elongated main body. Furthermore, an ankle support is preferably positioned on and perpendicularly to the elongated main body, in proximity to the second end thereof, to support a user's ankles which rest thereon.
The elongated main body is preferably formed as at least two telescoping members that may be selectively extended and retracted within one another to vary the length of the elongated main body and the corresponding degree of stress placed on the user during the exercise. At least one post preferably extends outwardly and perpendicularly from the top surface of the elongated main body to receive circular, plate-type, weights that may further increase the degree of stress of the exercise.
In another form of the present invention, the device for assisting with plank exercises may include a leg support brace positioned perpendicularly to the elongated main body in proximity to the first end thereof. The leg support orients the device to rest on the user's legs during exercise instead of against a user's back.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments thereof, which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings.
As can be seen in
Preferably, the support brace 10 is formed as a concavely curved and contoured cushion to conform to the shape of a user's back. As can be seen in
The device 2 further may include a base member 14 affixed and positioned in proximity to the second end 8 of the elongated main body 4 so that the base member is in communication with the ground or floor 16. As can be seen in
Furthermore, as shown in
As can be seen in
As shown in
The elongated main body 4 may also be formed so that its length may be selectably adjusted by a user. More specifically, as shown in
The first and second telescoping members 36, 38 may further include means for engaging one another to fix the elongated main body 4 to a desired length. For example, as shown in
As can be seen in
The leg support 46 may be formed as a cross-member affixed perpendicularly to the elongated body 4 near the first end 6 thereof Furthermore, as shown in
Furthermore, it is also envisioned to be within the scope of the present invention to have the support brace 10, ankle support 28, leg support 46 and base member 14 be adjustably positionable along the length of the elongated main body 4. For example, a track or pin system (not shown) may be utilized to allow the support brace 10, ankle support 28, leg support 46 and base member 14 to be secured on the elongated main body 4 at various positions. Furthermore, it is envisioned to be within the scope of the present invention to have the base member 14 formed of a material that limits slippage with the ground, such as rubber, or to have a material attached to the base member 14 that limits slippage with the ground or prevents marring of the floor on which the exerciser 2 is used.
By utilizing the device 2 formed in accordance with the present invention, the lever arm relating to the core muscle stress is lengthened. More specifically, the lever arm that the core muscles are supporting is lengthened by mechanically extending the point at which a user's feet would otherwise traditionally touch the ground or floor 16 from the core muscles.
As can be seen in
Although illustrative embodiments of the present invention have been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various other changes and modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.
Claims
1. A device for assisting with plank exercises, which comprises:
- an elongated main body, the elongated main body having a first axial end and a second axial end situated opposite the first axial end; and
- a support brace, the support brace being positioned in proximity to the first axial end of the elongated body;
- wherein the support brace is at least partially in communication with the body of a user and the second axial end of the elongated body is at least indirectly in communication with the ground or floor when the device is being used by the user.
2. A device for assisting with plank exercises as defined by claim 1, which further comprises:
- a base member, the base member being situated on the elongated main body in proximity to the second axial end and extending downwardly therefrom.
3. A device for assisting with plank exercises as defined by claim 2, wherein the base member includes at least two legs that extend outwardly and downwardly from the elongated main body in proximity to the second axial end thereof.
4. A device for assisting with plank exercises as defined by claim 1, wherein the elongated main body includes a top surface, and wherein the device further comprises:
- at least one post, the at least one post extending outwardly from the top surface of the elongated main body and being dimensioned to receive a plate-type weight thereon.
5. A device for assisting with plank exercises as defined by claim 1, which further comprises:
- an ankle support, the ankle support being affixed to the elongated main body between the first and second axial ends thereof, and extending outwardly therefrom to provide support to a user's ankles.
6. A device for assisting with plank exercises as defined by claim 5, wherein the ankle support is formed as a cross-member that is perpendicularly situated on the elongated main body.
7. A device for assisting with plank exercises as defined by claim 5, wherein the elongated main body includes opposite lateral side surfaces, and wherein the ankle support is formed as a pair of diametrically opposing posts that extend outwardly from the opposite lateral side surfaces of the elongated main body.
8. A device for assisting with plank exercises as defined by claim 1, wherein the elongated main body comprises at least a first telescoping member and a second telescoping member, the second telescoping member being at least partially receivable within the first telescoping member and being selectively extendable therefrom and retractable therein to adjust the overall length of the elongated main body.
9. A device for assisting with plank exercises as defined by claim 8, which further comprises:
- a reducer, the reducer being interconnected between the first telescoping member and the second telescoping member to center and align one of the first and the second telescoping members at least partially within the other of the first and second telescoping members.
10. A device for assisting with plank exercises as defined by claim 8, wherein at least one of the first telescoping member and the second telescoping member has at least one hole formed diametrically therein, and at least the other one of the first telescoping member and the second telescoping member has a plurality of spaced apart holes formed diametrically therein and at least partially along the axial length thereof, and wherein the overall length of the elongated main body is fixed by aligning the holes in the first telescoping member and the second telescoping member and inserting a pin therethrough.
11. A device for assisting with plank exercises as defined by claim 8, which further comprises:
- means for adjustably locking the first and second telescoping members in a relative position to one another.
12. A device for assisting with plank exercises, which comprises:
- an elongated main body, the elongated main body having a first axial end and a second axial end situated opposite the first axial end; and
- a leg support, the leg support being positioned in proximity to the first axial end of the elongated body;
- wherein the leg support is at least partially in communication with the legs of a user and the second axial end of the elongated body is at least indirectly in communication with the ground or floor when the device is being used by the user.
13. A device for assisting with plank exercises as defined by claim 12, which further comprises:
- a base member, the base member being situated on the elongated main body in proximity to the second axial end and extending downwardly therefrom.
14. A device for assisting with plank exercises as defined by claim 13, wherein the base member includes at least two legs that extend outwardly and downwardly from the elongated main body in proximity to the second axial end thereof.
15. A device for assisting with plank exercises as defined by claim 12, wherein the leg support is formed as a cross-member that is perpendicularly situated on the elongated main body.
16. A device for assisting with plank exercises as defined by claim 12, wherein the elongated main body includes opposite lateral side surfaces, and wherein the leg support is formed as a pair of diametrically opposing posts that extend outwardly from the opposite lateral side surfaces of the elongated main body.
17. A device for assisting with plank exercises as defined by claim 12, which further comprises:
- an ankle support, the ankle support being affixed to the elongated main body between the first and second axial ends thereof, and extending outwardly therefrom to provide support to a user's ankles.
18. A device for assisting with plank exercises as defined by claim 17, wherein the ankle support is formed as a cross-member that is perpendicularly situated on the elongated main body.
19. A device for assisting with plank exercises as defined by claim 17, wherein the elongated main body includes opposite lateral side surfaces, and wherein the ankle support is formed as a pair of diametrically opposing posts that extend outwardly from the opposite lateral side surfaces of the elongated main body.
20. A device for assisting with plank exercises as defined by claim 12, wherein the elongated main body comprises at least a first telescoping member and a second telescoping member, the second telescoping member being at least partially receivable within the first telescoping member and being selectively extendable therefrom and retractable therein to adjust the overall length of the elongated main body.
21. A device for assisting with plank exercises as defined by claim 20, which further comprises:
- a reducer, the reducer being interconnected between the first telescoping member and the second telescoping member to center and align one of the first and the second telescoping members at least partially within the other of the first and second telescoping members.
22. A device for assisting with plank exercises as defined by claim 20, wherein at least one of the first telescoping member and the second telescoping member has at least one hole formed diametrically therein, and at least the other one of the first telescoping member and the second telescoping member has a plurality of spaced apart holes formed diametrically therein and at least partially along the axial length thereof, and wherein the overall length of the elongated main body is fixed by aligning the holes in the first telescoping member and the second telescoping member and inserting a pin therethrough.
23. A device for assisting with plank exercises as defined by claim 20, which further comprises:
- means for adjustably locking the first and second telescoping members in a relative position to one another.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 9, 2016
Publication Date: Sep 15, 2016
Inventor: William Edward Carney (Ridgewood, NJ)
Application Number: 15/065,308