Universal, portable exercise apparatus adaptable to fit a chair

Portable exercise apparatus adaptable to fit a chair is provided. The apparatus comprises, in combination: (1) a back support removeably attachable to the backrest of a conventional chair; (2) at least one elongate extension member removeably and adjustably affixed to the back support such that the extension member extends through a point of reference located at a desired height on an imaginary vertical line which essentially bisects the backrest of the chair, the extension member extending through the point of reference and outwardly therefrom within a substantially vertical plane containing the line, the plane being parallel to and adjacent to the backrest of the chair, the outward end of the extension member having attached thereto, (3) a resistance mechanism to create resistance against movement, the resistance mechanism being engageable by a limb of a person when sitting in the chair. The apparatus has virtually an infinite number of resistance position locations which can provide universal exercise for arms, legs, back, neck, abdomen, ankles and wrists and which, in addition, is inexpensive to manufacture.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to apparatus for exercising the human body, more 
specifically, portable exercise apparatus adaptable to fit most chairs, 
which apparatus provides universal and total exercise for the arms, legs, 
abdomen, back, neck, ankles and wrists of the user while the user is 
sitting in a chair. While exercising according to the invention, the user 
may be occupied by other things, such as watching television. 
Different types of exercise apparatus are known. Many are complex, or 
limited in versatility in terms of the number of muscle groups an 
individual apparatus can adequately develop, and, not least in importance, 
are very expensive. 
The apparatus of the invention is a virtually universal exercise device and 
is inexpensive, being adaptable to fit conventional chairs in support 
thereof. 
The steadily increasing recognition of the importance of exercise in the 
maintenance of good health has led to a daily attention to such exercise 
by many people. The limited time available and the need for proper control 
and regulation of exercise to avoid harmful side effects has led to an 
increasing popularity of exercising apparatus designed to fulfill this 
need. 
Such apparatus generally makes provision for controlled resistance to a 
repetitive physical movement. As the participant gradually improves his 
muscle tone and general physical condition, the resistance to such 
movement is slowly increased. In many instances, such participants develop 
to such an extent that the resistance can be increased to a 
many-timesmultiple of that which initially is employed. 
Exercise apparatus included in chair means is also known. For example, the 
Nordic Track Company markets a chair apparatus having horizontal 
extensions extending outwardly from the back thereof and having resistance 
means therein which may be pulled repeatedly. See, e.g., Nordic Track 
Bulletin NFC-2-01 (1990). 
However, none of the known prior art devices provides portable, universal 
exercise apparatus, having virtually an infinite number of resistance 
position locations, which can provide universal exercise for arms, legs, 
back, neck, abdomen, ankles and wrists and which, in addition, is 
inexpensive. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Portable exercise apparatus adaptable to fit a chair is provided. The 
apparatus comprises, in combination, a back support means removeably 
attachable to the backrest of a conventional chair, at least one elongate 
extension member removeably and adjustably affixed to the support means 
such that the extension member extends through a point of reference 
located at a desired height on an imaginary vertical line which 
essentially bisects the backrest of the chair, the extension member 
extending through the point of reference and outwardly therefrom within a 
substantially vertical plane containing the line, the plane being parallel 
to and adjacent to the backrest of the chair, the outward end of the 
extension member having resistance means attached thereto to create 
resistance against movement, the resistance means being engageable by a 
limb of a person when sitting in the chair. The extension member may 
extend horizontally from the chair through the point of reference located 
at the approximate shoulder height of a user of the apparatus. The 
location of the extension member is adjustable vertically on the support 
means, and the outward projection of the extension means is adjustable 
lengthwise. The extension member may extend vertically upwardly, 
vertically downwardly or both vertically upwardly and downwardly. The 
extension member may be affixed to a rotatable hub affixed to the support 
means, which hub can be rotated throughout 360.degree. and which can be 
fixed at any desired angular position, the axis of rotation of the hub 
extending through the point of reference perpendicularly to the vertical 
plane. The resistance means may comprise elastic cords, springs or weights 
connected by a cable to handle means engageable by a limb of a person when 
sitting in the chair. The apparatus may include a plurality of extension 
members.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS WITH 
REFERENCE TO THE DRAWINGS 
Portable exercise apparatus adapted to fit a chair is provided. The 
apparatus comprises, in combination: (1) a back support removeably 
attachable to the backrest of a conventional chair; (2) at least one 
elongate extension member removeably and adjustably affixed to the support 
such that the extension member extends through a point of reference 
located at a desired height on an imaginary vertical line which 
essentially bisects the backrest of the chair, the extension member 
extending through the point of reference and outwardly therefrom within a 
substantially vertical plane containing the line, the plane being parallel 
to and adjacent to the backrest of the chair, the outward end of the 
extension member having attached thereto, (3) a resistance mechanism to 
create resistance against movement, the resistance mechanism being 
engageable by a limb of a person when sitting in the chair. The apparatus 
has virtually an infinite number of resistance position locations which 
can provide universal exercise for arms, back, neck, abdomen, ankles and 
wrists and which, in addition, is inexpensive to manufacture. 
A detailed description of the invention and preferred embodiments is best 
provided with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein FIG. 1 
depicts a front elevational, schematic view of a person sitting in a chair 
equipped with the exercise apparatus of the invention and performing 
repetitive arm exercises. In FIG. 1, the exercise apparatus 10 is shown 
fitted to chair 16 by means of rear support 12, described in detail below, 
affixed to front support straps 14 by fastening means 13. Horizontal 
extension member 18, which may be of rigid plastic, aluminum or other 
similar and suitable material, extends horizontally outwardly on both 
sides of said chair 16 at a vertical height which corresponds 
approximately to the shoulder height of the person exercising, while he 
sits in the chair 16. Attachment assemblies 20, which may include pulley 
and brake mechanisms discussed below, affixed to the outer ends of 
extension member 18 as shown, provide for anchoring of the resistance 
means 22 which, in the embodiment illustrated, are elastic cords 22 having 
handles 24 which may be grasped by the user. 
The user, while sitting in chair 16, may grasp handles 24 and perform 
repetitive pulling exercises, thereby exercising his arms, shoulders and 
wrists, all while possibly being engaged in other activity such as 
watching television. One may also perform back exercises by positioning 
handles 24 in front of the user and leaning forward at the waist using the 
back muscles to push forward against the resistance of the resistance 
cords 22. 
The cords 22 may actually comprise a set of interchangeable pairs of cords 
covering a range of elastic tensions, and thus enabling a wide variety of 
persons, i.e., children through adults, very weak to very strong, to use 
the exercise apparatus of the invention. 
FIG. 2 shows the front fastening means for the apparatus depicted in FIG. 
1. In FIG. 2, the front of the backrest of the chair 16, broken away and 
in phantom, is shown in front elevation. Rear support means 12 is affixed 
to the backrest of chair 16 by fastening means 13 and front vertical 
straps 14 and horizontal straps 26, all held together by rings 27. Straps 
14 and 26 may be of any suitable material such as nylon. The ends of the 
horizontal straps 26 may be held together in the center of the backrest of 
chair 16 by means of Velcro.RTM. closure 28, or by other suitable 
closures. 
FIG. 3 shows a schematic rear elevation of the embodiment of the invention 
10 depicted in FIG. 1. The invention includes rear support bracket 12 
mounted on chair 16 by means of fasteners 13 and straps 26, the latter 
held by strap anchors 40 attached as shown to rear support bracket 12. 
Imaginary vertical line L, shown dotted, bisects chair 16 vertically. Rear 
support brackets 30 have top and bottom openings 38 therein to allow for 
vertical placement of the extension member(s) therethrough and side 
openings 37 therein to allow for horizontal placement of the extension 
member(s) therethrough. Extension members 18 are shown extending 
horizontally through extension adjustment tubes which in turn extend 
through openings 37 of the uppermost support bracket 30, which is at the 
approximate vertical height of the shoulders of a user sitting in chair 
16. The horizontal extension member assembly 18, 32 is adjustable 
lengthwise by telescopic adjustment of member 18 and anchoring at the 
desired location by set screws 34. 
At the outer ends of the extension members 18 are fixed attachment means 20 
held in place by fastening means 19. The fastening means 19 hold 
resistance means 22 to the horizontal extension members 18. The resistance 
means 22 in this instance are elastic cords having handles 24 at their 
outer ends for grasping by the user. 
The vertical height of the extension members 18 may be varied by changing 
the position of these members from one bracket 30 to another. Tie cords 4 
affixed to back support 12 by means of rings 42 may be tied to the legs 46 
of chair 16 to provide further support and rigidity to the apparatus 10. 
FIG. 3a shows schematically an alternative resistance means, being a rigid 
cable 22A affixed to weights (not shown) and passing over pulley 20 
affixed to extension member 18, the tension in cable 22A being further 
controlled by friction brake mechanism 19A. 
FIG. 4 and 4a shows one means for holding the back support bracket 12 to 
the back of chair 16, shown in phantom. Back support bracket is shown 
affixed to strap 14 by nut and bolt mechanism 13, further shown in an 
exploded view in FIG. 4a. Openings 15 in back support 12 and strap 14 
permit the apparatus to be adapted to chairs having different thicknesses. 
FIG. 5 shows an alternate arrangement in which extension member 18 is 
oriented vertically and the attachment assembly 20 and a pair of 
resistance means 22 (elastic cords) extend from a common origin 
approximately positioned behind the head of a user. Support 12 is affixed 
to chair 16 as before. The vertically oriented extension member 18 extends 
into extensible support 32 which is held in support brackets 30 by set 
screw 34 at the desired height. 
FIG. 6 shows a still further embodiment in which the extension member(s) 18 
are held by a rotatable hub assembly 68. Rotation is indicated by the 
double-headed arrow. The hub assembly 68 may be rotated and fixed there by 
tightening bolt 70, which affixes the entire assembly to the back of 
support bracket 12. Multiple extension members 18 may be employed, as 
indicated in phantom, for exercising both legs and both arms 
simultaneously. In this embodiment, elastic cords 22 having handles 24 are 
again depicted. 
FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 6A--6A of 
FIG. 6. Therein, chair 16 (in phantom) has back support bracket 12 affixed 
thereto by means of bolt 70 which also extends through and supports hub 72 
and hub receptacle bracket 74. Extension members 18 are held in hub 72, 
which is shown as a male-threaded cap assembly, which screws into female, 
threaded receptacle bracket 74. Once the desired angular orientation of 
the extension members 18 is set, the entire assembly 68 is fixed in place 
by tightening bolt 70. 
FIG. 7 shows a "T"-bracket 5D attached to an extension member 18 held in 
support sleeve 48. Elastic cords 22 with handles 24 may be affixed to the 
T-bracket 50 instead of the pulley attachment assembly 20. 
FIG. 8 shows a further alternative resistance mean comprising springs 52 
mounted by means of snap/clip/loop assembly 56 and ring 58 to an 
attachment assembly 20. Handles 24 are attached to springs 52 by snap 
clips 54. Variable resistance may be provided by using different springs 
having different spring constants. 
FIG. 9 shows an exploded view of an alternative rear support bracket 12a 
having a slotted channel 60 for receiving a vertical angle bracket 62 
which, in turn, holds, the extension member assembly. As shown, the 
T-support 50 is mounted at the end of extension member 18 which is held in 
support sleeve 48 and is lengthwise adjustable by means of openings 36 and 
bolt 66. The extension member and T-support assembly are held to back 
support 12a by means of adaptor bracket 64, as shown. 
Use of this slotted channel support assembly to provide for leg and ankle 
exercise is depicted in FIG. 10 wherein like components have reference 
characters as described above and wherein the resistance cords 22 are 
affixed to a foot strap 25 which may be held to the foot by Velcro.RTM. 
closures. 
While the invention has been disclosed herein in connection with certain 
embodiments and detailed descriptions, it will be clear to one skilled in 
the art that modifications or variations of such details can be made 
without deviating from the gist of this invention, and such modifications 
or variations are considered to be within the scope of the claims 
hereinbelow.