Exercise device

Various device and method embodiments for an exercise device are provided. In one such embodiment, the exercise device includes a trolley. The trolley includes at least one peg connected to the trolley, the at least one peg adapted to make contact with at least a portion of a user's foot. The exercise device also includes a shaft supported in an angled position to accommodate the trolley. The trolley is adapted to be pulled along the shaft towards the user by the at least the portion of the user's foot while the user is in a seated position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates in general to an exercise device, and more particularly to an exercise device with a trolley device for exercising the legs and upper body.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Exercise equipment is utilized in today's society for the enhancement and improvement of muscular strength, endurance, and overall physical and mental health. Many exercise devices, such as free weights, barbells, and dumbbells, are bulky and expensive. Failure to properly perform the intended exercise with these devices can result in significant injuries to the novice or inexperienced user. Over the years, progressive improvements to exercise equipment circumvent many of these dangers but often times are bulky, costly, and of great height. Other exercise devices require fixed and permanent installation absent any options for simple storage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The focus of an exercise device should provide protection to the user, as well as providing a safe and trouble free operation. The present invention is an improved exercise device designed to be simple and easy for all users.

In view of the foregoing, a need exists for an exercise device having a trolley that is safe to use, easy to store, cost effective, and is transportable. Accordingly, various device and method embodiments for an exercise device are provided. In one embodiment, by way of example only, an exercise device is provided. The exercise device includes a trolley. The trolley includes at least one peg connected to the trolley, the at least one peg adapted to make contact with at least a portion of a user's foot. The exercise device also includes a shaft supported in an angled position to accommodate the trolley; wherein the trolley is adapted to be pulled along the shaft towards the user by the at least the portion of the user's foot while the user is in a seated position. Related device and method embodiments are also disclosed and provide additional advantages.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring toFIG. 1, showing a three-dimensional side view, is a depiction of one example of an exercise device10. The exercise device10may be composed of steel, iron, a high-strength lightweight alloy material, any metallic material, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) material, polyurethane material, a composite material such as a carbon fiber layup, polymer, a joint metallic and polyurethane material, or any other material known in the art suitable for such an application. One useful option for the composition of the exercise machine10may, for example, include carbon steel.

The shaft2is the central piece and backbone for strength, stability, and durability for the exercise device10. The shaft2is connected to a front foot22, a seat8, a rear beam16, and a collapsible beam9as shown. The shaft2, front foot22, rear foot18, or the rear beam16may be of a variety of lengths, shapes and sizes, depending upon the users needs. One useful option for the shaft2may include either a straight or curved shaft with very strong and rigid 1.50″×1.50″ inch square steel tubing resistant to the wear and tear of the motion of the trolley4.

In one embodiment, the seat8may be a large, stable, and comfortable seat8, semi-permanently or permanently connected to the rear end of the shaft2. The seat8may be of any type of rubber, plastic, foam, fibrous substance, cloth, synthetic material, or any other type of material known in the art, which are suitable for such an application.

In one embodiment, the shaft2has a front end and a rear end. The front end is attached via a connection device21to a front foot22for stability and stabilization. The connection device21may include angled brackets, mounting clamps, or other type of connection devices known in the art for attaching structures together, and may be a separate component or as a permanent structure to either the shaft2or the front foot22.

In one embodiment, the exercise device10allows the trolley4to roll along the shaft2in a forward, backward, upward, downward, or any other directional motion. The trolley4consists of a peg6connected to the vertical plates32. Multiple pegs6may connect to the trolley4. The trolley4may include adding additional free or external weights to the peg6. Each of the vertical plates32are placed on opposite sides of the shaft2. The wheels20of the trolley4are connected to each of the vertical plates32. One useful option may include two wheels20connected to upper portion of the vertical plates32. The trolley4third wheels20may connect to each of the lower portion of the vertical plates32and be underneath the shaft2. The two top wheels20of the trolley4may span the width of the shaft2and roll along the top of the shaft2. The third wheels20of the trolley4, located on the lower portion of the vertical plates32, may also span the width of the shaft2but may or may not come in contact and roll along the shaft2. The shaft2includes various openings38allowing for the use of a ball lock pin, or other device commonly known in the art, allowing the trolley4to be positioned along the shaft2in various locations to accommodate various users' leg lengths. The various openings38may be placed throughout the shaft2and may include multiple various openings38.

In one embodiment, the peg6allows the user to place on, beneath, inside, above, or securely fix the users feet to the peg6to pull the trolley4along the shaft. The peg6may include attachment devices, such as Velcro®, straps, pedals, or other devices to fix to users feet onto the peg6. One useful option may include the shaft2angled upwards towards the user, and with the users feet on the peg6of the trolley4, pull the trolley4along the shaft2upwards along the shaft2until the shaft2reaches a desired ending position or the top of the shaft2. Once the trolley4is at the peak or furthest closest position to the user, the trolley4may stop and roll down the angled shaft2to the original starting position for another repetition. For example, the trolley4may roll down the shaft by gravity, the flexible cord14, the users feet, or a combination of gravity, the flexible cord14, and the users feet.

In one embodiment, the rear end of the shaft2is connected, by a bolt15, to the seat8and the collapsible beam9. The bolt15may include any connective means such as a bolt, nail, screw, pin, rod, or other device commonly used in the art for connection. The collapsible beam9contains both an upper collapsible beam13and a lower collapsible beam12. The upper collapsible beam13connects to the shaft2while the lower collapsible beam12connects to the rear beam16. The collapsible beam9may either be designed as one singular piece, or the collapsible beam9may centrally connect two separate attachment pieces, by means of the bolt15located in the center of the collapsible beam9, so as to allow the collapsible beam9to pivot, extend, and collapse. Either as a singular piece or two separate pieces, the collapsible beam9may pivot, extend, or collapse. A slider5is a mechanism used to lock the collapsible beam9when the machine is in a set up, a ready, or an upright position. The slider5is capable of sliding along the collapsible beam9. The slider5may be a coupling device or housing device that surrounds the collapsible beam9. When the slider5is over the bolt15in a locked position, the collapsible beam9is unable to pivot, bend, or collapse. In other words, when the collapsible beam9is in a substantially straightened position, the slider5may slide along the collapsible beam9and be set to a locked position over the bolt15, which is located in the center of the collapsible beam9. The locked position of the slider5allows the user to be in a seated position on the exercise device10with the shaft2in an angled position and the rear beam16in an upright position to stabilize and support the exercise device10.

Hooks28are attached to rings44which are secured to the front foot22and rear foot18. The hooks28attach to the rings44providing the option for flexible hand held cords24to be used by the user's hands for additional support, resistance, stability, exercise or other various needs for using the exercise device10. Additional features, as described in earlier figures, are also depicted as illustrated examples.

Turning toFIG. 2, in one embodiment, again the exercise device includes a shaft2with a trolley4for rolling along the shaft2. The rear or right end of the shaft2is connected to the seat8and the collapsible beam9by a bolt15. The collapsible beam9contains both an upper collapsible beam13and a lower collapsible beam12. The upper collapsible beam13connects to the shaft2and the lower collapsible beam12connects to the rear beam16. The collapsible beam9may either be one piece or the collapsible beam9may centrally connect two separate attachment pieces, by means of the bolt15, the bolt15being any connective means such as a bolt, nail, screw, pin, rod, or other device commonly used in the art for connection, so as to allow the collapsible beam9to pivot, extend, and collapse. The shaft2has a front or left end where the shaft2connects to the front foot22by a connection device21.

More clearly depicted inFIG. 2, is one example of several bolts27connecting the seat8to the attachment pieces30which connect to the shaft2, the bolts27may be any connective means such as a bolt, nail, screw, pin, adhesive, or other device commonly used in the art for such connective purposes.

The front foot22may contain end caps29on each end to further provide security, stabilization, and protection of the exercise device10. More clearly depicted is the flexible cord14which connects to the trolley4. The flexible cord14may connect directly to either one or both of the vertical plates32or a connective pin84that is connected to the lower half of the vertical plates32. One useful option provides for the connective pin84device to connect to the lower half of each of the vertical plates32. The connective pin84may span the width, beneath the lower half, of the shaft2. The exercise device10enables the user to select multiple flexible cords14or a single flexible cord14for resistance to vary the trolley4speed, resistance, stroke, and position. The flexible cord14is connected to a pulley25just underneath the shaft2near the connecting device21. The flexible cord14rotates around the pulley25and travels back towards the right end of the shaft2to connect to the shaft2just underneath the shaft2and the seat8. The flexible cord14may also use the lower wheels20of the trolley4as an additional pulley. Depending upon the amount of weight the trolley4supports, a slight gap between the bottom of the shaft2and the lower wheels20of the trolley2may exist. The lower wheels20of the trolley4may work also as an additional pulley for the flexible cord14. For example, as the user is pulling the trolley4along the angled shaft2in an upward direction, the wheels20underneath the shaft2will spin in an opposite direction than the wheels20on the trolley4above the shaft2. The wheels20of the trolley4underneath the shaft2will rotate, in the direction of the flexible cord14, acting like a pulley.

In one embodiment, a side view of the collapsible beam9is more clearly observed. The upper collapsible beam13connects to the shaft2by the bolt15, the bolt15being any connecting device such as a bolt, nail, screw, or other known adhesive commonly known in the art suitable for such purposes. The lower collapsible beam12is connected to the rear beam16with the bolt15. In the center of the collapsible beam9, the bolt15acts as a pivot structure allowing for the upper collapsible beam13and the lower collapsible beam12to rotate, pivot, extend, and pivotally move about the bolt15. Additional features, as described in earlier figures, are also depicted as illustrated examples.

Turning toFIGS. 3A and 3Bcollectively, depicts more clearly the exercise device10in an exemplary embodiment from a front view,FIG. 3A, a side viewFIG. 3B. As seen in both the front view and side view, in one embodiment, again the exercise device includes a shaft2with a trolley4for rolling along the shaft2. The rear or right end of the shaft2is connected to the seat8and the collapsible beam9by a bolt15. One example may include several bolts27connecting the seat8to the shaft2, the bolts27being any connective means such as a bolt, nail, screw, pin, adhesive, or other device commonly used in the art for such connective purposes. The collapsible beam9may either be one piece or the collapsible beam9may centrally connect two separate attachment pieces, by means of the bolt15, the bolt15being any connective means such as a bolt, nail, screw, pin, rod, or other device commonly used in the art for connection, so as to allow the collapsible beam9to pivot, extend, and collapse. The shaft2has a front or left end where the shaft2connects to the front foot22by a connection device21.

In one example, both the front and side view illustrate that the collapsible beam9, containing both the upper collapsible beam13and a lower collapsible beam12being connected to the shaft with the bolt15, but a spacer3is utilized to provide a distance between the collapsible beam9and the shaft2. The spacer3allows the collapsible beam9to extend, collapse, and for the slider5to move up and down the collapsible beam9without any contact with the shaft. The spacer3allows for the exercise device10to be set up or taken down with ease and simplicity. The spacer3may be of any type of material commonly used in the art for providing spacing and a buffer zone between the shaft and the upper collapsible beam13and the lower collapsible beam12. The seat8also provides a seat handle26for gripping and holding on the to seat during exercise or for moving, lifting, holding, and transporting the exercise device10.

In one exemplary embodiment, in both the front view and the side view, the wheels20of the trolley4, which connect to the vertical plates32, span the width of the shaft to a degree that vertical plates32are set out past the shaft2. The spacing between the shaft and the vertical plates32allows for the trolley4to smoothly roll along the shaft. Additional features, as described in earlier figures, are also depicted as illustrated examples.

Turning toFIG. 4, an exemplary embodiment is depicted from the top view of an exercise device10. The assembled exercise device10illustrates from a top view the top portion of the seat8and the seat handle26attached to the shaft2. Further depicted, is the front side of the shaft2being attached via a connection device21to a front foot22for stability and stabilization. The front foot22may be straight, curved, or other geometric shape. The hooks28are attached to rings44which are secured to the either the front foot22and rear foot18, both of which may include the rings44positioned at various locations on the front foot22or the rear foot18. The hooks28attach to the rings44providing the option for flexible hand held cords24to be used by the user's hands for additional support, resistance, stability, exercise or other various needs for using the exercise device10. The flexible hand held cords24may include a variety of handles commonly used in the art for providing a structure that holding or connecting to a rope. The flexible hand held cords24may be designed with differing strengths, lengths, materials, and resistance capabilities. The flexibility hand held cords24may easily attach and be removed from the rings44using the hooks28. Additional features, as described in earlier figures, are also depicted as illustrated examples.

Turning toFIG. 5an exemplary embodiment depicts a three-dimensional view lower and back view of seat8connected to the shaft2. As depicted in this example, the seat8has two substantially planar or horizontal surfaces; a top surface for seating upon the exercise device10and a bottom surface for connecting to the shaft2. As illustrated from the back view looking at the bottom surface of the seat8, the thickness of the seat8from the top surface to the bottom surface may vary depending upon the type of seat8. The seat8may be made of any type of material for sitting, as commonly used in the art for sitting to accomplish such purpose. The seat8may have a handle attached to the rear of the seat8, either assembled as a separate attachment or may be formed and created as one piece at the time of the creation of the seat8. The bottom surface of the seat8is connected to the shaft2with two attachment piece30. Depicted as opposites in construction. The attachment piece30may be a separate connective piece used to connect the seat8to the shaft2, or, in the alternative, the shaft2and the attachment piece30may be constructed as one singular piece.

As depicted in this example, the attachment piece30is separate from the shaft2and the seat8. The rear end of the shaft2connects to the attachment piece30by bolt15and bolts17. The attachment piece30is designed with a top surface that is substantially planer and substantially parallel with the seat8. The attachment piece30has two sides that run from end to end, the height or depth of the left side begins to angle downward and longer than on the right side of the attachment piece30. The angular depth of the longer left side allows the shaft2to fit into the attachment piece30, the angle of the left side being nearly identical with the angle of the shaft2. The right end of the attachment piece30includes additional depth for connecting the attachment piece30to the rear beam16. The attachment piece30may connect to the shaft2on the left side of the attachment piece30, the seat8on the top surface of the attachment piece30, and the rear beam16on the right side of the attachment piece30. On the top surface of the attachment piece30, the seat8sits flush with the shaft2and is connected to the attachment piece30with the connecting bolts27. The number of connecting bolts27may vary with the size, shape, and various dimensions of the seat8. The attachment piece30connects to the rear beam16by a bolt19. The attachment piece30and the seat8may be constructed and positioned allowing the option of adding an additional pulley under the seat8. The additional pulley allows the option to connect the flexible cord14to the front foot22in a fixed position. For example, the flexible cord being connected to the front foot22may connect to the additional pulley under the seat. The additional pulley provides the flexible cord14to travel back down along the shaft2and attaching to the trolley4. Reversing the attachments of the flexible cord14provides the capabilities for the user to start the trolley4near or at the top of the shaft. The user may then push downward on the peg6of the trolley4towards the ground with resistance to the person legs. Additional features, as described in earlier figures, are also depicted as illustrated examples.

Turning toFIGS. 6A and 6B, an exemplary embodiment depicts a three-dimensional view a trolley4and the wheels of the trolley4. The embodiment inFIG. 6Aillustrates one example of the trolley4assembled together with the wheels20attached, and inFIG. 6Bone example illustrates the wheels20of the trolley4.

Turning toFIG. 6A, in the depicted embodiment the trolley4is formed by using two vertical plates32and three wheels20. The vertical plates32may be designed using a variety of shapes, sizes, and materials, commonly known in the art to accomplish such purpose. One useful option may include the vertical plates32to be designed so the upper portion of the vertical plates32may connect or attach the two wheels20to each end of the upper portion of the vertical plates32. In the center of the upper portion of the vertical plates32a structural pin88may be inserted for structural integrity, support, and stabilization of the trolley4. The structural pin88may be a separate piece or may be a designed and manufactured as one singular piece; the two vertical plates32and the structural pin88being one singular piece with the wheels20to be attached separately.

Each of the vertical plates32may include openings for the wheels20and the structural pin88to be attached with any pin, bolt, peg, nail, screw, dowel, shaft, drill blank, or any other connective device commonly used in the art to accomplish such purposes. This method of attachment may be either temporary such as bolt and nut or permanent such as welding or a press fit. The vertical plates32may include a third wheel20to be attached and connected to the lower portion of the vertical plates32. The wheels20, being connected to the upper portion of the vertical plates32, may span the width of the top portion of the shaft2and assist in rolling the trolley4along the shaft2. The wheels20, being connected to the lower portion of the vertical plates32, may roll along the bottom of the shaft to assist the trolley4moving along the shaft2. Alternatively, the wheels20connecting to the bottom portion of the vertical plates32may also assist the flexible cord14by serving as an additional pulley for the flexible cord14. For example, depending upon the amount of weight placed upon the trolley4, the wheels20, connected to the lower portion of the vertical plates32, may not touch or roll along the shaft2. Rather, sufficient spacing exits between the bottom of the shaft2and the bottom wheels20of the trolley4. The wheels20on the bottom portion of the vertical plates32may be free spinning acting as a pulley for the flexible cord14; the bottom wheels20of the trolley4may be spinning in the same direction as the flexible cord14and opposite the direction of the top wheels20of the trolley4.

The bottom portion of the vertical plates32may include a connective pin84for attaching the flexible cord14to the trolley4. The connective pin84may be a separate piece or may be a designed and manufactured as one singular piece, meaning the two vertical plates32and the connective pin84being one singular piece with the wheels20to be attached separately. The connective pin84may be any pin, bolt, peg, nail, screw, or any other connective device commonly used in the art to accomplish such purposes. If the connective pin84is a separate piece, the connective pin84be removed, interchanged, and replaced. Various tolerance levels may be determined by the type, shape, and durability of the material of the connective pin84for supporting and providing resistance to the flexible cord14. One or multiple flexible cords14may be attached to the connective pin84.

Turning toFIG. 6B, in the depicted embodiment, the wheels20of the trolley4are more clearly displayed. The trolley4may use a total of three wheels20. The design of the wheels20may use three double-flanged wheels for the trolley4spanning the width of the shaft2. The wheels20may be a spool design with a variety of materials for minimizing rolling resistance while providing support for the trolley4. The wheels20may have wheel edges40that are higher on the sides than in the center of the wheels20. The material for the wheels may include, but not limited to, plastic, fiber, fiberglass, carbon fiber, composite, polymers, sponge, metal, or any other type of material or combination of materials commonly know in the art for a wheels to accomplish such purposes. The wheels20may include a center piece42, which may include more than one bearing, bushings, or other devices for assistance in rolling as commonly used in the art. Such designs may eliminate tolerance stacking and simplifies fabrication and assembly costs. The wheels20may include a center opening for a pin, screw, bolt, or other device commonly used in the art. The wheels20may be machined inside to various tolerances and bearing depths. One useful example may include the bearings positioned inside of the wheels20adapted to avoid riding on the threads of a bolt or pin to prevent fretting.

Turning toFIG. 7, in the depicted embodiment the trolley4, shaft2, and the front foot22are more clearly displayed. In one embodiment, the shaft2has a front end. The front end is attached via a connection device21to a front foot22for stability and stabilization. The connection device21may include angled brackets, mounting clamps, or other type of connection devices known in the art for attaching structures together, and may be a separate component or as a permanent structure to either the shaft2or the front foot22.

In one embodiment, the peg6allows the user to place on, beneath, inside, above, or securely fix the users feet to the peg6to pull or push the trolley4along the shaft. The peg6may include attachment devices, such as Velcro®, straps, pedals, or other devices to fix to users feet onto the peg6. One useful option may include the shaft2angled upwards towards the user, and with the users feet on the peg6of the trolley4, pull the trolley4along the shaft2upwards along the shaft2until the trolley4reaches a desired ending position or the top of the shaft2. Once the trolley4is at the peak or furthest closest position to the user, the trolley4may stop and roll down the angled shaft2to the original starting position for another repetition. For example, the trolley4may roll down the shaft by gravity, the flexible cord14, the users feet, or a combination of gravity, the flexible cord14, and the users feet. The flexible cord14is more clearly depicted in wrapping around the pulley25. If needed, the flexible cord14may also use the lower wheels20of the trolley to assist as an extra pulley.

Hooks28are attached to rings44which are secured to the front foot22and rear foot18. The hooks28attach to the rings44providing the option for flexible hand held cords24to be used by the user's hands for additional support, resistance, stability, exercise or other various needs for using the exercise device10. The end caps29are more clearly depicted as they connect semi permanently or permanently to the front foot22. Additional features, as described in earlier figures, are also depicted as illustrated examples.

FIG. 8depicts one exemplary method200of manufacturing an exercise device. The method of manufacturing begins (step202) with providing a trolley4(step204). As a next step, at least one peg is provided connected to the trolley4(step206). As a final step, a shaft is provided connected to the trolley4(step208). The method200then ends (step210).