Abstract:
A torso pushup assistance device for assisting a user in performing pushups is disclosed. The torso pushup assistance device is comprised of a base component, a torso support component rotationally attached to the base component, and an elastic system that connects the base component to the torso support component in one or more optional configurations. In a first embodiment, the elastic system is comprised of a set of one or more pairs of matched elastic bands that removably connect the rear end of the torso support component to the rear end of the base component. The user lies on the torso support component with his or her feet on the floor, and does pushups in the usual way. Depending on the configuration of the matched elastic bands installed on the torso pushup assistance device, the user&#39;s effort varies from a small percentage to a large percentage of the force required to do an unassisted pushup.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of the U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/270,434 filed Jul. 8, 2009 by the present inventor. This provisional patent application is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The invention presented herein applies to devices for assisting in doing pushups, more particularly to devices that provide upper body assistance in doing pushups 
       BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0003]    Upper body strength is an important part of overall health. Pushup exercises are one of the best ways to build upper body strength. A problem with pushups is that if the user doesn&#39;t already have upper body strength, then pushups are very hard to do and the user inevitably does them incorrectly or not at all. For many people, the end result is to give up. 
         [0004]    There is a market for devices that provide assistance to users for doing pushups. The pushup assistance devices fit into several categories. In the first category are devices that are variations of individual handgrips for users. Typically, they allow the users to have a comfortable grip and often allow a user to rotate their hands while doing pushups. 
         [0005]    The second category of pushup devices provides devices that control the angle that the user&#39;s body makes to the floor while doing pushups. The greater the angle between the user&#39;s body and the floor, the less effort is required to do the pushup. These devices come in various forms; some position themselves on a stair step, others provide base platforms that are angled relative to the floor so that the user&#39;s body, when using the device, is also angled relative to the floor. 
         [0006]    The third set of devices allow the user to do pushups while in an approximately horizontal position, but assist the user to make the pushup effort easier. While several such devices exist, there is lacking a simple device that accomplishes this objective. 
       SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0007]    The torso pushup assistance device presented herein provides torso support that reduces the effort required for the user to perform pushups. The torso pushup assistance device is positioned on the floor; the user rests his/her torso on the present invention and starts doing pushups. The torso pushup assistance device, configured with elastic bands, assists the user in performing the pushups. The elastic bands come in matched pairs and different pairs may have different levels of elasticity. The user may install one or more matched pairs of elastic bands. By selecting the levels of elasticity of each matched pair and the number of matched band installed, the user may vary the amount of assistance in doing the pushups over a wide range. 
         [0008]    The torso pushup assistance device is comprised of a torso support component that provides torso support, a base component that rests on the floor, and an elastic system. The torso support component is pivotally attached to side brackets that are securely attached to the base component. One or more graduated elastic band matched pairs are attached to the rear of the torso support component and the base component. These elastic bands allow the user to perform pushups requiring less effort than when done without the support. As an example, the user can gradually start his/her exercise routine by using the torso pushup assistance device to initially lift only twenty five percent or less of his/her weight. As strength increases the user may progress to lifting fifty percent of his/her actual weight. As the upper body strength further increases, the user may start lifting seventy five percent of his/her body weight. Finally, the torso pushup assistance device may no longer be needed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  illustrates a left side perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  illustrates a left side exploded perspective view of the first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIGS. 3A ,  3 B, and  3 C illustrate a left side perspective view of the parts comprising the torso support component, the base component, and the elastic system respectively of the first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  illustrate a left side view of two positions of a user doing pushups using the first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  illustrates a left side perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  illustrates a left side perspective view of a third embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIGS. 7A ,  7 B, and  7 C illustrate a left side perspective view of the components of the third embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    In the following description and in the appended claims, the terms left side, right side, front and back refer to the embodiment as it appears to a user doing pushups using the torso pushup assistance device. In the figures, front occurs on the left in the figures, back occurs on the right in the figures, left occurs in the foreground and right occurs at the rear of the figures. If there are multiple identical parts, only one part may be indicated by a numeral in the figure. The terms “torso” and “upper body” as used in this specification and the appended claims have the same meaning, and generally refers to the human body excluding the head and limbs. However, based on the specific design parameters of a commercial implementation of the torso pushup assistance device, the term “torso” may also include portions of the upper legs. 
         [0017]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 A,  3 B, and  3 C, first embodiment  100  is comprised of a base component  102 , a torso support component  104  including two hex nuts  108 , and an elastic system  105  comprised of one or more pairs  106 P of matched elastic bands  106 . 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  illustrates a left side perspective view of a first embodiment  100  of the present invention.  FIG. 2  illustrates a left side perspective exploded view of first embodiment  100 .  FIG. 3A  illustrates the parts comprising the torso support component  104 .  FIG. 3B  illustrates the parts comprising the base component  102 .  FIG. 3C  illustrates the parts comprising the elastic system  105 . 
         [0019]    Base component  102  is constructed using a bottom frame  110  with a bottom frame front  110 F, a bottom frame left side  110 L and a bottom frame right side  110 R. Bottom frame  110  has a left bottom knob  114 L of diameter slightly larger than the diameter of bottom frame  110  that is located at the left side of the base back end  112 B of the bottom frame left side  110 L. Bottom frame  110  has a right bottom knob  114 R the same size as the left bottom knob  114 L that is located at the right side of base back end  112 B of the bottom frame right side  110 R. Base component  102  has two side brackets  116 R and  116 L composed of flat plates as shown in  FIG. 1 . Side brackets  116 L and  116 R are permanently attached to bottom frame  110  at the bottom frame left side  110 L and the bottom frame right side  110 R. The left and right side brackets  116 L and  116 R respectively have bracket circular holes  201 L and  201 R going through each bracket near the top center of the bracket. 
         [0020]    Torso support component  104  has a first top frame  124  constructed out of a rigid tubular material configured as illustrated in  FIG. 3A . First top frame  124  has a rigid left cylindrical shaft  208 L with a threaded end  210 L attached to the left side of the first top frame  124  and has a rigid right cylindrical shaft  208 R with a threaded end  210 R attached to the right side of the first top frame  124 . Threaded ends  210 L and  210 R accommodate hex nuts  108 . The first top frame  124  left side has a left top knob  126 L and the right side has a right top knob  126 R positioned at the left and right sides respectively of the first top frame  124  located at the torso back end  112 T of the frame. These top knobs  126 L and  126 R have the same dimensions as the left bottom knob  114 L and right bottom knob  114 R. 
         [0021]    Elastic system  105 , comprised of one or more pairs  106 P of matched elastic bands  106 , are composed of an elastomeric material such as rubber. They all have substantially the same shape, and come in matched pairs. Different matched pairs may have different levels of elasticity. Each of the elastic bands  106  has a top band circular hole  204 T, a bottom band circular hole  204 B, and a central cavity  206 . The top and bottom band circular holes  204 T and  204 B are dimensioned so that they will fit over the top and bottom knobs  126 L,  126 R,  114 L, and  114 R when a user forces them so they fit securely on the first top frame  124  and bottom frame  110 . They can be removed by applying force in the reverse direction. The central cavity  206  is configured so the elastic bands  106  functions similar to a rubber band, stretching when force is applied to opposing ends, and contracting when the force is relaxed. 
         [0022]    Torso support component  104  has two front semi-rigid solid cylinders  128 FL and  128 FR, two middle semi-rigid solid cylinders  128 ML and  128 MR and a back semi-rigid solid cylinder  128 B. Each semi-rigid solid cylinder has a cylinder circular hole  202  centered and extending through their lengths. These five semi-rigid solid cylinders are mounted on the first top frame  124  as shown in  FIG. 1  so they support a user&#39;s body comfortably. 
         [0023]    Base component  102  has legs  122  attached to the bottom frame  110  that keep the frame slightly elevated above the floor, and left and right handgrips  120 L and  120 R attached to bottom frame  110  on the bottom frame left side  110 L and bottom frame right side  110 R near the bottom frame front  110 F. Base component  102  has a counter  134 , located on the bottom frame front  110 F that counts the number of pushups done during a session. Counter  134  is incremented when it is depressed by torso support component  104  pressing against reset button  136  on each downward motion of the user doing a pushup. The user may manually reset counter  134  at the start of a session by grabbing the reset button  136  and exerting an upward force. 
         [0024]    The apparatus components are dimensioned and assembled as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Torso support component  104  is pivotally attached to base component  102  as follows: The rigid left cylindrical shaft  208 L passes through bracket circular hole  201 L of the left bracket  116 L and is secured by hex nut  108 . The rigid right cylindrical shaft  208 R passes through bracket circular hole  201 R of the right bracket  116 R and is secured by second hex nut  108 . 
         [0025]    At least one matched pair  106 P of elastic bands  106  are mounted on the torso pushup assistance device, one on left side of the torso pushup assistance device and the other on the back of the right side of the torso pushup assistance device. To install an elastic band on the left side, the bottom band circular hole  204 B is mounted on the bottom frame  110  and the top band circular hole  204 T is mounted on the first top frame  124  on the left side. Similarly, to mount an elastic band on the right side, the bottom band circular hole  204 B is mounted on bottom frame  110  and the top band circular hole  204 T is mounted on the first top frame  124  on the right side. Additional matched pairs of elastic bands  106  may be added to the torso pushup assistance device, and a different matched pair with different levels of elasticity may replace a given matched pair. 
         [0026]    The handgrips  120 L and  120 R shown in first embodiment  100  are optional. They may be rotated around its attachment point to allow the user to use various positions in doing pushups. Alternately, handgrips  120 L and  120 R may be omitted and the user places his/her hands directly on the floor. 
         [0027]    The precise configuration and dimensions of the parts of torso support component  104 , base component  102  and the matched pair elastic bands  106 P are chosen so that when a user attempts to lift his/her upper body doing pushups, the torso pushup assistance device provides an appropriate amount of assistance in lifting the user&#39;s upper body. By properly selecting the number and the elasticity characteristics of the matched pairs of elastic bands  106 P, the effort required for lifting the user&#39;s body when doing a pushup can range from a first percentage of effort, e.g. twenty five percent, to do the pushup with assistance to an amount requiring a second percentage of effort, e.g. eighty percent as compared to performing an unassisted pushup. For example, a user may start so a pushup using the torso pushup assistance device requires only twenty five percent of an unassisted pushup. This may be achieved by installing several bands on each side. Over a period of weeks or months when the user&#39;s upper body strength improves, the user can remove a pair of matched bands to provide less assistance. 
         [0028]      FIG. 4A  shows a user U positioned to do a pushup in a rest position on the torso pushup assistance device.  FIG. 4B  shows a user U positioned on the torso pushup assistance device doing a pushup in an extended position. To use the torso pushup assistance device, the user U places one or more matched pairs of elastic bands  106 P on first embodiment  100 . The user lies face down on torso support component  104  and places his/her left hand on the left handgrip  120 L and his/her right hand on the right handgrip  120 R with user&#39;s feet touching floor F. The user&#39;s body remains substantially rigid throughout the exercise. With a proper selection of matched elastic bands  106  installed on the torso pushup assistance device, first embodiment  100  compresses towards the floor as shown in  FIG. 4A . When the user starts lifting his/her body, the torso pushup assistance device reduces the effort required as compared to an unassisted pushup. Depending on the number and elasticity of the elastic band matched pairs chosen, the amount of assistance the torso pushup assistance device provides may be varied. 
         [0029]      FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of a second embodiment  300  of the present invention. Second embodiment  300  is similar to first embodiment  100 ; therefore, only the differences between the first and second embodiments are presented herein. Referring to  FIG. 5 , the two front semi-rigid solid cylinders  128 FL,  128 FR of first embodiment  100  are replaced by a single front semi-rigid solid cylinder  302 F. The two middle semi-rigid solid cylinders  128 ML and  128 MR of first embodiment  100  are replaced by single middle rigid solid cylinder  302 M. The first top frame  124  of first embodiment  100  is replaced by a second top frame  304  that accommodates the single front semi-rigid solid cylinder  302 F and the single middle rigid solid cylinder  302 M. The knobs  114 L,  114 R,  126 L and  126 R of first embodiment  100  are not present, so elastic system  105  removably attach directly to the second top frame  304 . The rigid left cylindrical shaft  208 L and rigid right cylindrical shaft  208 R and hex nuts  108  are not illustrated in second embodiment  300 , these attachment means exists but are hidden; embedded within side brackets the two side brackets  306 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 6  illustrates a perspective view of a third embodiment  500  of the present invention.  FIGS. 7A ,  7 B, and  7 C illustrate the components of third embodiment  500 . Third embodiment  500  is similar to first embodiment  100 ; therefore, only the differences between the first and third embodiments are presented herein. 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIGS. 6 ,  7 A,  7 B and  7 C, the base component  502  is similar to base component  102  the first embodiment  100 . The main differences are that no legs or handgrips are used in base component  502 ; the side brackets  508 L and  508 R in third embodiment  500  have a smaller height H then the height of the two side brackets  116 L and  116 R of first embodiment  100 ; the knobs  114 L, and  126 L,  126 R of first embodiment  100  are replaced by knobs  510 TL,  510 BL,  510 TR,  510 BR on third embodiment  500  that allows springs to be attached in third embodiment  500 . Knobs  510 TR,  510 BR are hidden in  FIGS. 6 and 7B . The elastic bands  106  of first embodiment  100  are replaced by matched springs  506  of third embodiment  500 . 
         [0032]    The torso support component  504  of third embodiment  500  differs from torso support component  104  of first embodiment  100  in the following ways. The first top frame  124  and five semi-rigid solid cylinders  128 FL,  128 FR  128 ML,  128 MR and  128 B of first embodiment  100  is replaced by a rigid curved plastic sheet  512  shaped as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7A . The left and right back tubular sides  514 L,  514 R of torso support component  504  in third embodiment  500  are attached to the rigid curved plastic sheet  512  and contain three knobs  510 TL on the left side and three knobs  510 TR on the right side (not shown in the figure). Matched springs  506  of third embodiment  500  are used instead of elastic bands  106  of first embodiment  100 .  FIGS. 6 and 7C  show only one set of matched springs  506  being used; more than one set may be used simultaneously to increase the amount of the assistance to the user. Furthermore, different matched pair springs may have different levels of elasticity. 
         [0033]    Various modifications to the two embodiments presented herein are possible. Elastic system  105  comprised of elastic bands  106  or matched springs  506  may be replaced by other mechanisms with similar tension/compression properties such as, but not limited to, rubber belts, bungy cords, shock absorber devices, and torsion assemblies. Elastic system  105  may be placed toward the front of the torso pushup assistance device, rather that at the rear of the torso pushup assistance device. The handgrips  120 L and  120 R are optional, and other handgrips may be used such as free standing handgrips. Different materials may be used in construction of torso support component  104  and base component  102 . Torso support component  104  may be rotationally secured to base component  102  devices such as, but not limited to, rivets instead of nuts and threads. The base component  102  of the torso pushup assistance device may have a mat or a plate that is associated with it, so that the user places his or her toes on the plate rather than directly on the floor. Therefore, the term “floor” in the claims covers this situation also. 
         [0034]    The disclosure presented herein gives two embodiments of the present invention. These embodiments are to be considered as only illustrative of the present invention and not a limitation of the scope of the present invention. Various permutations, combinations, variations, and extensions of these embodiments are considered to fall within the scope of this invention. Therefore, the scope of this invention should be determined with reference to the claims and not just by the embodiments presented herein.