EXERCISE APPARATUS

Abstract: The present exercise apparatus comprises a two-piece plane (1, 2) provided with a linkage (3) for folding the plane sections to an angle relative to each other and means (5, 6, 7, 11) for locking the plane in an upright position, for supporting the plane as a horizontal plane as well as for supporting the plane as an inclined plane. A fixed linkage (4) at the lower part of an exercise apparatus is adapted to be mounted on a fixed base, such as a floor (L). The two-piece plane linkage (3) is further provided with locking means (7). The top portion of an exercise apparatus carries an extending member (5) adapted to serve as a support pedestal and fitted with a horizontal bar (R). The exercise apparatus is also provided with ladder rungs (P).

Description: Exercise apparatus The present invention relates to an exercise apparatus, comprising a two-piece plane provided with a linkage for folding the pieces of said plane to an angle re¬ lative to each other. Such exercise apparatus further includes means for locking the plane in an upright po¬ sition, for supporting the plane as a horizontal plane and for supporting the plane as an inclined plane. The above type of exercise apparatus is known from Finnish Patent application No. 852684. In this prior solution, the lower section of an exercise apparatus is provided with a linkage, which is fixed relative to the exercise apparatus and elevated from the floor and around which a two-piece plane is revolved in a vertic¬ al plane for bringing the exercise apparatus into a variety of functional positions. This prior solution set forth in the cited Patent application is advantage¬ ous provided that there are no restrictions set e.g. by room height. In low-ceilinged premises like base¬ ments, due to the very installation of a fixed linkage above the floor, the length of a two-piece plane cannot be made functionally sufficient. An object of this invention is to provide an exercise apparatus, which is particularly suitable for low- ceilinged premises, e.g. basement rooms, and whose exercise planes are sufficiently long even though room height may induce restrictions. In addition, an exer¬ cise apparatus of the invention has certain extra fea¬ tures compared to the prior art, in itself advantage¬ ous exercise apparatus. In order to achieve this object, an exercise apparatus of the invention is substantially characterized in that a fixed linkage in the lower section of an exercise apparatus is adapted to be mounted on a fixed base, such as a floor, that the linkage of said two-piece plane is provided with locking means and that the upper section of an exercise apparatus carries an extending member adapted to serve as a support pedestal. This solution provides an exercise apparatus, the func¬ tional length of whose two-piece plane begins immediate¬ ly at floor surface. By means of the linkage locking means of a two-piece plane the exercise apparatus can be set in positions suitable for various workout exer¬ cises, such as horizontal plane and inclined plane, whereby the latter, due to a possibility of locking the linkage, can even be set in at least two angular posit¬ ions. The extending member in the upper section of an exercise apparatus serves as a support pedestal in all lowered positions of an exercise apparatus in a manner that the outermost portion of such extending member supports itself against the floor. Other characterizing features of the invention are set forth in the annexed subclaims. The invention will now be described in more detail with reference made to an embodiment shown in the accompany¬ ing drawings. In the drawings fig. 1 is a perspective view of an exercise apparatus in an upright position, fig. 2 is a perspective view of an exercise apparatus in a second position, the apparatus being fitted in a horizontal plane and to be used e.g. as a table top or for dorsal muscle workouts, fig. 3 is another perspective view of an exercise appa¬ ratus in its third position, which is at the same time a first position for using the exrcise appa¬ ratus as an inclined plane and fig. 4 is also a perspective view of an exercise appa¬ ratus in a fourth position, which is a second position for using the exercise apparatus as an inclined plane which, likewise the position of fig. 3, is intended for abdominal muscle work¬ outs. As shown in the drawings, the exercise apparatus can be used to perform a great variety of workout exercises as the exercise apparatus can be handily set in various positions. For example, when fastened to a wall S in an upright position (fig. 1), the exercise apparatus provides so-called ladder rungs P and the additional fixture in this position is a horizontal bar R. From the position shown in fig. 1 the upper piece 2 of a two-piece plane 1 , 2 can be lowered onto a fixed hori¬ zontal base, such as a floor L, as shown in fig. 2. Now, the upper piece of a two-piece plane provides a horizontal plane carried, on the one hand, by a link¬ age 3 of such two-piece plane and on the other hand by the floor L with the help of an extending member 5. Proceeding from the position of fig. 1 to that of fig. 2 is effected by removing the locking means of two clamps 6 secured to wall S from the upper plane section 2. Both clamps 6, mounted on either side of the upper plane section 2, include as a locking means a turnable metallic locking tongue which in a locking position is connected to the upper plane section 2, engaged in a corresponding groove 6' ' in metal plates 6' , the latter being fastened to the lateral faces of the stringers 10a, 10b of upper plane section 2. The linkage 3 of two-piece plane 1 , 2 is provided with locking means 7 which must also be unlocked for setting an exercise apparatus in the position shown in fig. 2. The locking means 7 comprise locking pins 7' , which are mounted on the extensions of the longitudinal stringers 9a, 9b of a lower (first) plane section 1 and which are in cooperation with holes 8 made in the longitudinal stringers 10a, 10b of an upper (second) plane section 2. Stringers 9a, 9b are positioned so as lie on the outside of stringers 10a, 10b of said upper plane sect¬ ion 2 whenever the plane sections 1 , 2 are parallel to each other. Thus, locking pins 7' can be inserted in holes 8 by manipulating a locking means operating button 7* '. A fixed linkage 4 comprises two cross-sectionally U- shaped plates 4' , between which are fitted the bottom parts of stringers 9a and 9b of lower plane section 1. Turning of the first plane section in vertical plane proceeds around horizontal pins 4" fitted between members 4' and 9a (respectively 4' and 9b). Plates 4' are fastened either to wall S and/or to floor L. In the position shown in figs. 1 and 2, said lower plane section is further secured to wall S by means of two clamps 11 which structurally correspond to clamps 6. Each clamp 11 acts on a corresponding groove 11" in metal plates 11 ' mounted on the lateral faces of stringers 9a and 9b of lower plane section 1. When a respective locking tongue of the above-mentioned clamps 11 is unlocked, the position of fig. 3 is reached from that of fig. 2, said lower plane section 1 turning to extend parallel to floor L around linkage 4 supporting itself against the floor at stringers 9a, 9b and the upper plane section 2 is set by means of extending mem¬ ber 5 in an inclined plane that can be used for ab¬ dominal muscle workouts. If the two-section or two- piece plane 1 , 2 is clamped by locking means 7 in a parallel position, there will be provided a continuous inclined plane shown in fig. 4, the linkage 3 of two- piece plane 1 , 2 being elevated from the floor where it was lying flat in the position of fig. 3. The extending member 5 consists of two pairs of stringers 12a, 12b secured to the longitudinal stringers 10a, 10b of upper plane section 2 at the top thereof. Stringers 12a, 12b are set in an inclined position so as to join each other at the free ends thereof. The pairs of stringers are linked by a horizontal bar R. The dis¬ tance of a fulcrum T in the pairs of stringers from the surface of upper plane section 2 corresponds to the dis¬ tance between linkages 3 and 4. The top plate 13 of upper plane section 2 is a two-piece element, the lower piece 13' being removable for alter¬ native series of workouts. The apparatus is naturally also provided with a necessary foot strap (not shown) for securing the feet of a user during workout movements.

Claims: Claims 1. An exercise apparatus, comprising a two-piece plane (1, 2) provided with a linkage (3) for folding the plane sections to an angle relative to each other and means (5, 6, 1, 11) for locking the plane in an upright posit¬ ion, for supporting the plane as a horizontal plane and for supporting the plane as an inclined plane, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that - a fixed linkage (4) in the lower section of an exercise apparatus is adapted to be mounted on a fixed base, such as a floor L, that linkage (3) for said two-piece plane is provided with locking means (7) and that - the upper section of an exercise apparatus carries an extending member (5) adapted to serve as a support pedestal. 2. An exercise apparatus as set forth in claim 1 , c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the lower plane sect¬ ion (1) is provided with two longitudinal stringers (9a, 9b) , a pivot axle (4") for a fixed linkage (4) be¬ ing secured to the lower portion of such stringers. 3. An exercise apparatus as set forth in claims 1 and 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said locking means (7) comprise pins (7 1 ) mounted on stringers (9a, 9b) included in lower plane section (1) or corresponding counterpart holes (8) or the like made in corresponding longitudinal stringers (10a, 10b) of upper plane sect¬ ion (2) . 4. An exercise apparatus as set forth in claim 3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said locking means (7) are mounted on the extensions of stringers (9a, 9b) of lower plane section (1) in a manner that said extensions, whenever plane sections (1, 2) are parallel to each other, are positioned at stringers (10a, 10b) of upper plane section (2) preferably on the outside thereof. 5. An exercise apparatus as set forth in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said exercise appa¬ ratus is provided at a vertical base with clamps (6, 11) . , the first (6) of which, preferably a pair, act on upper plane section (2) and the second (11), preferably a pair, act on lower plane section (1). 6. An exercise apparatus as set forth in claim 5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said clamps (6, 11) are adapted to act on stringers (9a, 9b; 10a, 10b) of plane sections (1, 2), said stringers having means, such as grooves (6", 11") for locking tongues or the like. 7. An exercise apparatus as set forth in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said extending member (5) comprises two pairs of stringers (12a, 12b), whose coinciding free ends provide a fulcrum (T) for support member (5) bearing itself against a horizontal base (L) and which pairs are secured to stringers (10a, 10b) of upper plane section (2) and linked at their free ends by a horizontal bar (R) .

Inventors: NIEPPOLA HEIKKI, NIEPPOLA, HEIKKI
Applicants: NIEPPOLA HEIKKI, NIEPPOLA, HEIKKI
Application year: 1987
Main classification: A63B17
IPC codes: A63B9, A63B21