Exercise aid for a treadmill

An apparatus and method of use thereof for exercising on a treadmill, the apparatus includes a frame that mounts to handles of the treadmill. The frame is an arch shape having a proximal bar, a distal bar opposite the proximal bar, and a curved portion extending between adjacent ends of the proximal bar and the distal bar. The proximal bar is coupled to the handles. A protective cushioned seat extends between the proximal bar and the distal bar. To use the apparatus, an individual can unhook a proximal end of the seat from the proximal bar, position the seat behind the buttocks and between the legs, reengage the proximal end of the seat to the proximal bar, and can then walk or run on the treadmill.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to an exercise aid for a treadmill, and more particularly, the present invention relates to an exercise aid that allows obese people and people with weakness due to medical conditions to exercise on a treadmill.

BACKGROUND

A treadmill is well-known exercise equipment that is used for walking and running exercises. A treadmill is a compact device that requires lesser floor area and is a quite popular exercise equipment in gyms, offices, and residential buildings. A typical treadmill has a wide conveyor belt driven by a motor. An individual can step on the conveyor belt and can walk or run on the treadmill in an upright bodily position.

Like normal walking or running, the majority of the body weight of a person exercising on a treadmill is on the legs. Overweight people often find it difficult to walk or run because of being overweight. Similarly, people with weakness due to medical condition finds it difficult to walk or run. Using the treadmill to exercise is also not an option for overweight people as all the weight still falls on the legs. Also, it may not be recommended for overweight people to use the treadmill as this may negatively affect the joints.

Apparatuses are available that can suspend an individual in an upright position reducing the weight on the legs while walking or running. Such known apparatuses are however complex to use and require the aid of a coach and the like. Moreover, the known apparatuses are complex in construction, bulky, and costly.

Thus, a need is appreciated for an apparatus that allows overweight people or medically weak patients to exercise on the treadmill that is devoid of the aforesaid drawbacks of the known suspending apparatuses.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The principal object of the present invention is therefore directed to an apparatus that can aid exercising on a treadmill.

It is another object of the present invention that the apparatus can easily and quickly be installed and uninstalled from a treadmill.

It is still another object of the present invention that the apparatus is compact for storage and transport.

It is yet another object of the present invention that the apparatus is economical to manufacture.

It is a further object of the present invention that the apparatus can be used without help from a second person.

It is still a further object of the present invention that the effective weight of a person on legs can be controlled.

In one aspect, disclosed is an apparatus to aid in exercising using a treadmill, the apparatus comprising a pair of clamps configured to mount to a pair of handles of the treadmill; an upstanding leg coupled to the pair of clamps; a frame slidably mounted to the upstanding leg, the frame has a proximal bar and a distal bar, the proximal bar and the distal bar are spaced apart from each other and are substantially parallel to each other, the proximal bar is coupled to the upstanding leg; and a seat that has a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the seat configured to mount to the proximal bar, the distal end of the seat configured to mount to the distal bar.

In one implementation, the apparatus further includes a first bar that extends between the pair of clamps; and an L-shape angle bar that includes the upstanding leg and a short leg, the short leg is coupled to the first bar. The frame further includes a sleeve coupled to the proximal bar, the sleeve configured to slidably mount to the upstanding leg, wherein the apparatus further includes a restriction member coupled to the sleeve, the restriction member configured to limit movement of the sleeve relative to the upstanding leg.

In one implementation, each of the proximal bar and the distal bar comprises a plurality of spaced apart hooks, wherein the proximal end of the seat has at least one proximal strap, the distal end of the seat has at least one distal strap, the at least one proximal strap configured to engage with at least one hook of the plurality of spaced apart hooks of the proximal bar, the at least one distal strap configured to engage with at least one hook of the of plurality spaced apart hooks of the distal bar. The at least one proximal strap includes three proximal straps and the at least one distal strap comprises three distal straps. The at least one proximal strap has a plurality of spaced apart apertures and the at least one distal strap has a plurality of spaced apart apertures.

In one implementation, the seat is made of semi-rigid to flexible material. The frame further includes an arch bar that extends between adjacent ends of the proximal bar and the distal bar. Suitable cushioning can also be provided.

In one aspect, disclosed is a method for exercising on a treadmill, the method comprising the steps of providing an apparatus comprising a pair of clamps configured to mount to a pair of handles of the treadmill; an upstanding leg coupled to the pair of clamps, a frame slidably mounted to the upstanding leg, the frame has a proximal bar and a distal bar, the proximal bar and the distal bar are spaced apart from each other and are substantially parallel to each other, the proximal bar is coupled to the upstanding leg, and a seat that has a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the seat configured to mount to the proximal bar, the distal end of the seat configured to mount to the distal bar; disengaging the proximal end of the seat from the proximal bar; positioning the seat behind buttocks and between legs of an individual; and mounting the proximal end of the seat to the proximal bar.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description includes the best currently contemplated mode or modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is made merely to illustrate the general principles of the invention since the scope of the invention will be best defined by the allowed claims of any resulting patent.

Referring toFIG.1which shows the disclosed apparatus100mounted to a treadmill200. The disclosed apparatus can be used to suspend a person in a partially sitting position such that only a portion of the body weight falls on the legs. Moreover, the bodyweight on the legs can be adjusted by increasing or decreasing the height of the apparatus from the conveyor belt of the treadmill. The treadmill200can be any conventional treadmill having handles210that can be grabbed by a person while exercising for support.

The disclosed apparatus100includes two clamps110that can mount to the two handles210of the treadmill200. The two clamps can mount to the two handles and can be of any shape including square, U-shape, or L shape.FIGS.1and2show the clamps as square shape sleeves that can slide over the two handles. The clamps can be made from strong and durable materials, such as iron. The two clamps110can be coupled at two ends of a first bar120. The length of the first bar120can be proportional to the distance between the two handles210of the treadmill200. The length of the first bar may allow mounting the two clamps to the two handles of the treadmill. In one exemplary embodiment, the length of the first bar120can be varied using an extension means that allows increasing and decreasing the length of the first bar120. For example, the first bar can be provided in two parts coupled by the extension means, which allows moving the two parts away from each other and towards each other.

The disclosed apparatus further includes an L-shape angle bar130having a short leg132and a long leg134, the short leg132of the angle bar130can be coupled to the first bar120, preferably at a midpoint of the first bar120. WhileFIG.1shows a single angle bar130, however, more than one angle bars are within the scope of the present invention. Moreover, the angle bar130can have multiple short legs that attach to different points on the first bar120. The long leg134of the angle bar130can extend upwards and/or downwards.

Preferable, the long leg134of the angle bar1360can extend perpendicular to an imaginary horizontal plane. The long leg134of the angle bar130can allow adjusting a height of a seat of the apparatus100from the conveyor belt220. The apparatus100further includes a frame140that can be of an arch shape having a proximal end and a distal end. Frame140can include a proximal bar142at the proximal end, a distal bar144at the distal end, the proximal bar can be substantially parallel to the distal bar, and a curved portion146extends between ends of the proximal bar and the distal bar to form an arch shape frame140. To the proximal bar142and the distal bar144can be coupled several hooks150at spaced intervals.FIG.2shows a total of six hooks, three hooks on each of the proximal bar and the distal bar. A sleeve160can be coupled to the proximal bar142that allows mounting the frame140to the long leg134of the angle bar130. The sleeve160can slide up and down on the long leg134of the angle bar130. Suitable restriction member162, such as a height adjustable knob can also be provided coupled to the sleeve160that allows restricting the sleeve160at the desired position on the long leg134of the angle bar130. For example, the long leg134can have threaded apertures and the restriction member162can be a threaded fastener that passes through the holes in the sleeve160and the threaded apertures in the long leg134of the angle bar130. Alternative pass-through holes can be provided in the long leg134(upstanding leg) and the sleeve160, and a fastener can restrict the movement of the sleeve over the long leg. The long bar can include spaced-apart holes at regular intervals, and the height of the sleeve can be adjusted relative to the long bar. While FIG. shows the arch-shaped frame, however, it is obvious to a skilled person that the frame can be of any other shape such as three perpendicular bars.

The apparatus further comprises a seat170that can be mounted to frame140. The seat can have suitable cushioning. The seat can include a proximal end and a distal end. Several straps180can be provided extending outwards from the proximal end and the distal end of the seat170, the several straps are spaced apart from each other, for example, at regular intervals. The number of straps180can be proportional to the number of the hooks150in the frame, however, the number of straps180can be different from the number of hooks150. Each strap can include spaced-apart apertures182and through one aperture of the spaced-apart apertures in each strap, the each strap can be hooked to the relative hook of the frame. The straps on both sides of the seat can couple to the hooks150on the proximal bar142and the distal bar144of the frame. The seat170extends between the proximal bar142and the distal bar144of the frame140. The seat170can be made from a rigid or flexible material, and the slack in the seat can be adjusted by engaging the straps at different points. Also, it is understood that the apertures in the straps and hooks can be substituted by any other suitable fastening mechanism without departing from the scope of the present invention. The straps can be elastic power band.

To use the apparatus, an individual can mount the apparatus to the handles of the treadmill. The apparatus can be assembled first and then mounted to the treadmill. Alternatively, the clamps and frame can be mounted first to the treadmill, and thereafter, the seat can be mounted to the frame. The proximal end of the seat can be disengaged from the frame and the seat can be positioned between two legs of the individual, and then the seat can be put behind the buttocks. The proximal end of the seat can then be fastened to the frame and the individual can somewhat sit on the seat putting his body weight on the seat. The legs can be in touch with the conveyor belt. The majority of the bodyweight of the individual can be on the seat and the individual can easily walk or run on the treadmill without undue force or pressure on the legs or joints. The seat can be raised to put more weight on the seat. Similarly, the seat can be lowered to put more weight on the legs.