Strength training workout bench

A rectangular workout bench with removable legs for use directly on the floor or raised on legs 12, 13, 108 has an inflatable flexible air filled plastic material cushion 2 work out area allowing a person to lay on for physical therapy, strength training and balance. The rectangular shape allows spine and neck support while the instability of the air filled cushion 2 allows muscles to activate. Beginners use the workout cushion 2 directly on the floor and advanced workouts are on the elevated bench with accessible footrests.

BACKGROUND

This invention relates to a person's strength training and balance while supported by a body length flexible cushion. The cushion instability allows movement and muscle activation while supporting the spine and neck. Footrest protrusions provide support and stability while working out.

Physical training and work out is a part of daily life for thousands of people over the world. A need for a work out medium which will support a body length when lying down and still allow movement of the body muscles is evident. Weck and Cotter U.S. Pat. No. 6,422,983 shows us the very popular spherical shaped Bosu ball design which provides a flexible single point support platform for stability training. The potential of misuse is great since only a local support of the body is achieved.

The proposed rectangular strength training work out bench overcomes this potential problem by supporting the body over its length allowing very active training in both the floor position for beginners and the elevated bench position for advanced work out.

SUMMARY

In accordance with the present invention an object of the invention is to provide a workout platform that supports the entire weight of a person while allowing the movement of the body muscles with the head, neck and spine held in suspension as movement is achieved. The legs of the preferred bench embodiment are removable allowing a safe floor platform for the beginner to workout on while the elevated configuration provides increased freedom of movement for the user while being stabilized using the foot rest protrusions provided on the far end of the rectangular cushioned platform.

In a preferred version of the invention there is a rectangular support and a base for holding the support above the ground, with a single, flexible rectangular gas filled cushion secured to the support. The cushion comprises a body with a dome-shaped upper surface, a bottom surface a length, and a longitudinal axis. The apex of the upper surface of the body extends along the length of the body parallel the longitudinal axis of the support for creating instability when exercising. A retainer secures the cushion peripheral rim to the support. The cushion has a peripheral rim along at least a portion of the edge of the bottom surface of the body.

Preferably the support is fastened to the base by hand releasable fasteners that can be released without tools for using the cushion, support, and retainer combination without the base.

Preferably the support provides space below the cushion for expansion of the cushion into the space when pressure is applied to the top surface of the cushion body.

The support has a head section and a foot section. Preferably the retainer comprises a foot support on each side of the apparatus at the foot section. Preferably there is a hand grip on each side of the apparatus at the head section.

DESCRIPTION

Reference toFIG. 1shows a work out bench having a rectangular steel frame1surrounding a flexible air filled plastic cushion2supported by a base board3shown inFIGS. 3 and 4resting on cross brace4,5and6attached to the rectangular steel frame1.

With reference toFIG. 5the air filled flexible cushion2resting on the base board3is clamped in place by molded plastic retainers7,8,9and10which are bolted to the steel frame1with self threading screws18into the plastic retainers7,8,9and10. The base board3and plastic retainers7,8,9and10capture the surrounding edge of the air filled flexible cushion2as shown inFIG. 5.

The plastic retainer10(seeFIG. 1) on the foot end of the workout bench is wide with a step in width from the adjacent plastic retainers7and8providing a resting place for your feet when working out on the work out bench.

The elevated bench assembly shown inFIG. 1rests on legs12,13and cross brace14shown inFIGS. 1 and 4. The legs are attached by removable means to cross brace4,5and6shown inFIG. 3. Removal of the legs12,13and cross brace14allows the work out bench to be placed directly on the floor resting on rubber bumper15shown inFIGS. 3 and 4to be used as a beginner's bench configuration as seen inFIG. 2.

FIG. 5shows the flexible air filled cushion2resting on the base3surrounded by the rectangular steel frame1. The edge of the flexible air filled cushion2is molded integral to the cushion and provides a semi rigid periphery to the flexible air filled cushion such that when clamped between the base3and the plastic retainers7,8,9and10surrounded by the rectangular steel frame the flexible air filled cushion expands upwards when air pressure is applied through port16filling the molded rectangular shape of the cushion as required to support the full weight of a person exercising on the work out bench. Fill port16shown inFIGS. 3,4and5is centrally located in the lower surface of the air filled plastic cushion such as to be accessible from the bottom of the work out bench through an access hole17located in the base3. Proper air filling of the cushion2provides support for various weight individuals. Air filling can be adjusted by removing the filler plug11shown inFIG. 5and adding or releasing air pressure to the cushion2and then replacing the filler plug11when the cushion2is properly inflated. Because of the large surface area of the flexible plastic cushion relative to an individual's size, pressure to support the individual laying down on the cushion requires only a low level of air pressure dependant on the weight of the individual using the workout bench.

Features of this invention include:A. A rectangular bench like device for physical therapy, strength training and balance. An air filled rectangular shaped flexible cushion allows muscles to activate while supporting the neck and spine.B. An air inflatable flexible rectangular cushion supported on a bench like structure and anchored securely to the bench periphery.C. A rectangular bench like structure which supports an air filled cushion of sufficient length to support an individual laying down on the bench.D. A rectangular bench like structure with access to an air fill port on the resting surface of the cushion.E. A rectangular bench like structure with foot rest protrusions on each side adjacent to and below the air filled cushion on the foot end of the bench.F. A rectangular bench like structure of sufficient height and stability to allow exercise from a prone position laying on the bench cushion with foot clearance on the foot end and a wide stance on the head end for bench stability.G. Removable legs.H. A rectangular bench device with legs removed placed directly on the floor for beginner training work out.

A preferred version of an exercise apparatus102is shown inFIGS. 6-9, where the same reference numbers used forFIGS. 1-5are used for like features. The apparatus comprises generally a rectangular support104and a base106for holding the support104above ground. The base106comprises a pair of legs108connected by a cross brace110, each leg having a foot112that sits on the ground, and an upper header114. An upwardly extending brace118extends from the cross brace110to the underside of the support104and has a header120. The headers114,120are secured to the bottom of the generally rectangular support104by quick release hand release fasteners122received in fastener receiving pockets124. By “hand release fasteners” there is meant fasteners that can be released without tools. Optionally, one or both of the legs108can be provided with wheels (not shown) for moving the exercise apparatus102.

The flexible, rectangular gas filled cushion2is secured to the upper surface of the support104by a retainer130. The cushion2is preferably formed from a single, integral material. It can be made of a burst resistant material such as polyvinyl chloride, or elastomeric resin.

A core section132of support104can be hollowed out, or completely removed, to reduce weight. Ribs134can be provided in a cross pattern to support the cushion (also referred to as a bladder) with even weight distribution. There is an empty space or void between the ribs134into which the cushion2can expand when weight is placed on the cushion2. Preferably there is an upwardly projecting longitudinal rib134athat extends down the middle of the support104, the rib134aprojecting into a recess138in the cushion body for helping secure the cushion body in position. There is a rim139around the hollowed out section132fitting into a corresponding recess in the cushion, as shown inFIG. 9, also for holding the cushion2in position.

The cushion2has a body2awith a dome shaped upper surface, bottom surface, a length and longitudinal axis, and a peripheral rim2balong at least a portion of the edge of the surface of the body2a, and preferably around the entire edge. The apex2cof the upper surface of the body extends along the length of the body parallel to the longitudinal axis of the support104for creating instability when exercising.

The retainer130is frame shaped, surround the cushion2, with the peripheral rim2bof the cushion2sandwiched between the support104and the retainer130. Fasteners18are used to secure the retainer to the support.

The apparatus102has a head section142and a foot section144. The support and the retainer130provide a foot support140on each side of the support at the foot section144, which comprises a stepped out segment. Also preferably the support has a hand grip146on each side of the support at the head section142. Each hand grip146can be an indentation in the underside of the retainer.

Because of the quick release, hand releasable fasteners, the combination of the support cushion, and retainer can be quickly and easily removed from the base for use directly on the ground. By the term “ground” is meant any surface on which the combination can be used, including the outside ground, a mat, or flooring. The bottom of the support can have feet15for sitting on a surface.

Preferably the base is made of metal. The retainer and support can be made out of metal or durable plastic or elastomer.

An exercise bench apparatus according to the present invention has many advantages for fitness training. These include:

a) A user's back is supported when laying on the bench, and is allowed to be in a neutral position. This avoids pain and injury to the back. This feature is particularly important for men when doing exercise on the bench, such as bench presses. Men generally have a large trapezoidal area, and on a normal bench, because of this, there is no support for the lower back. With this bench, there is such support.

b) By having essentially the entire torso in a “neutral” position, injury to the spine is prevented.

c) The instability created by the cushion helps strengthen the back, neck and abdominal muscles, particularly the small muscles.

d) The bench helps my clients develop better body balance. This is particularly important for older users, who could suffer hip fractures if they fall.

e) Because the cushion engages substantially the entire torso and causes the entire torso to be engaged when exercising, users achieve “more bang for the buck” when using my bench. For example, a user doing bench presses is not only using the muscles normally engaged when bench pressing, but is also required to maintain balance using core muscles.

f) The bench is easier to get off of than conventional benches. This is important for older users, who can require assistance in dismounting from a bench.

g) The feet support allows a user to get their feet off the ground while exercising on the bench. This is particularly important when doing bench presses in that it helps minimize stress on the lower back.

h) The neck muscles of a user are strengthened using the bench.

While we have shown and described the preferred embodiments of my invention it will be understood the invention may be embodied otherwise then herein specifically illustrated or described, and that certain changes in form and arrangement of parts and the specific manner of practicing the invention may be made within the underlying idea or principles of the invention.