Abstract:
A portable exercise device including a support structure and a pair of opposing handrails pivotably connected to the support structure. The handrails are movable between a storage position and a use position. A platform is selectively positionable on the handrails for adjusting a vertical position of the platform relative to the handrails.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/221,394 filed on Jun. 29, 2009. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to exercise equipment, and more particularly to a portable exercise device that can be used in different locations for physical fitness and physical therapy. 
         [0003]    Regular exercise is vital to a person&#39;s physical fitness and can help protect a person from heart disease, stroke, and other health maladies such as high blood pressure, noninsulin-dependent diabetes, obesity, back pain and osteoporosis. Exercise also can improve a person&#39;s mood, help to manage stress and help a person recover from an injury through physical therapy. 
         [0004]    Many people exercise at gyms having exercise equipment such as treadmills, exercise bikes and machines. Other people purchase their own exercise equipment for exercising at home. 
         [0005]    Exercising becomes difficult and expensive for people who travel, however, because many hotels do not have exercise rooms or the exercise rooms have limited equipment. Furthermore, many travelers have to pay to use a local gym, which can be expensive if they are staying at a particular location for an extended period of time. Also, smaller towns do not tend to have gyms and therefore travelers are forced to drive a long distance to a gym, which is inconvenient, or not exercise at all. 
         [0006]    Additionally, conventional exercise equipment used for step-up and step-down progressions, push-up progressions, stable single leg training exercises and progressive sit to stand exercises is typically large, bulky and difficult to use for physically unstable persons, persons with disabilities and persons rehabbing injuries. Furthermore, such equipment is not readily portable between locations. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    The present portable exercise device provides a single, portable device for use in physical fitness and physical therapy that allows a user to perform several exercises at varying levels of difficulty in different locations. 
         [0008]    More specifically, a portable exercise device is provided that includes a support structure and a pair of opposing handrails pivotably connected to the support structure. The handrails are movable between a storage position and a use position. A platform is selectively positionable on the handrails for adjusting a vertical position of the platform relative to the handrails. 
         [0009]    In another embodiment, a portable exercise device is provided that includes a foldable support structure, a pair of opposing handrails connected to the support structure and a platform selectively positionable on the handrails for adjusting a vertical position of the platform relative to the handrails. The handrails are movable between a use position, wherein the handrails are substantially transverse to the support structure, and a storage position, wherein support structure is folded enabling the handrails to be moved inwardly until the handrails are adjacent to each other. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of an embodiment of the present portable exercise device; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  with the platform removed and the support is cross-braced with horizontal straps and a diagonal strap; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of another embodiment of the present portable exercise device with the platform removed and the support has a bi-fold structure; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of a removable arm pad and one of the supports of the present portable exercise device of  FIG. 1  or  3 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of the removable arm pad of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 3  shown in a compact, folded state; 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a front view of another embodiment of the support structure for the present exercise device; 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a front perspective view of the support structure of  FIG. 7 ; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is a front perspective view of the present exercise device including the support structure of  FIG. 7 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-9 , the present exercise device generally provides a single portable device for use in physical fitness and physical therapy that allows the user to perform several exercises at varying levels of difficulty in different locations. 
         [0020]    The present exercise device includes a support structure  1 , right and left handrails  2   a,    2   b,  an array of attachment ports or socks  8 - 31  and a removable platform including platform feet  32 . The exercise device may optionally include a platform cover. 
         [0021]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the support structure  1  includes two horizontal straps  3   a  and one diagonal strap  3   b  that are welded together. In another embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , the support structure  1  has a bi-fold back panel  3   c . The material used to build the support structure  1  is preferably metal but the support structure can be made with any suitable material such as metal, wood, plastic, synthetic materials, or other material of suitable strength. 
         [0022]    The left handrail  2   b  and the right handrail  2   a  are each generally arch-shaped and have a flat top surface. In a preferred embodiment, the handrails  2   a,    2   b  are each approximately 42 inches in height and 20 inches in width. It should be appreciated that the handrails may be any suitable height and width. The handrails  2   a,    2   b,  are connected to the support structure  1  using a means that will allow them to pivot or swing in and out like cabinet doors from a storage position where the handrails are pivoted inwardly against the support structure, and a use position where the handrails are transverse to the support structure ( FIG. 1 ). The means can be the hinges  4 ,  5 ,  6  and  7  which, in a preferred embodiment, are traditional door hinges or any suitable types of hinges. The parts of the handrails  2   a,    2   b  can be made of materials that are for example metal, plastic, wood, or synthetic material, but are not limited such materials and may be any suitable material or combination of materials. 
         [0023]    There are at least two vertical sections of each of the handrails  2   a,    2   b  and each vertical section has six receptors, attachment socks or ports  8 - 31 . These attachment socks are located on an inner or interior surface of the vertical sections of the handrail at intervals of approximately every six inches starting from the floor and going up to the top where the vertical section curves. These socks  8 - 31  can have the form of slots, keyholes, or any aperture that has the capability to support the platform  32  and the weight of a human being. 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the platform  32  is preferably a rectangular shaped piece of metal, wood, plastic, or any suitable synthetic material that is made to fit tightly between the four vertical sections of the handrails  2   a,    2   b.  The platform  32  has feet  40  which can be, but are not limited to, hooks or posts. The feet  40  can be located anywhere on each of the four corners of the platform  32 . The platform  32  can also have a cover  42  ( FIG. 5 ) for the comfort of the user or to prevent slipping. The platform cover  42  can be made of any suitable material and is preferably made of plastic, rubber, gel, cloth, or a synthetic material. 
         [0025]    The assembled device is designed to open up wide enough to attach and remove the platform  32 , and to connect and disconnect the platform posts or feet  40  to or from the attachment ports  8 - 31  at various points, in order to accommodate a person standing between the handrails  2   a,    2   b.  The ability to adjust the height of the platform  32  or to remove it completely makes it possible to do multiple exercises with varying degrees of difficulty. As shown in  FIG. 6 , with the platform  32  removed, and the exercise device no longer in use, the handrails  2   a,    2   b  can close in on the bi-fold panel  3   c  due to the hinges  4 ,  5 ,  6 , and  7  attached to all three parts, thus allowing for easy storage. 
         [0026]    The bi-fold panel  3   c  can be made of one solid sheet of metal, wood, or synthetic material, or combinations thereof. It could also be formed of two sheets of metal with hinges down the center ( FIG. 3 ). Alternatively, some formation of braces and straps  3   a,    3   b  could be used to allow the support structure  1  to fold ( FIGS. 1-2 ). 
         [0027]    The handrails  2   a,    2   b  can be made of solid metal or can be formed of metal tubing that is bent into the correct shape. The metal tubing can be drilled to make keyholes or slots in the vertical sections of the handrails  2   a,    2   b  to make the attachment ports  8 - 31 . Alternatively, a manufacturer could weld short pieces of metal tubing at each location for the attachment ports. 
         [0028]    The platform  32  could be as simple as a plank of wood with hooks or nails to serve as the platform feet  42 . In an alternative embodiment, the platform  32  is made by bending square metal tubing into a rectangle having supporting cross braces of the same material. A thin sheet of metal is then welded over the tubing structure to create the platform  32 . Welding on metal hooks, pins or sections of a smaller diameter metal tube makes platform posts or feet on such a metal construction. 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the exercise device also includes an arm pad  38  and armrest  39  that are bolted on to the horizontal top bar of the handrails  2   a,    2   b  for a user to grasp and support or stabilize themselves while using the device. Specifically, the arm pad  38  is positioned on a plate or board  44 , which is positioned on the armrest  39 . The arm pad  38  includes holes (not shown) that are aligned with holes  46  on the board  44  and holes  48  on the armrest  39 . Fasteners such as threaded bolts  50  are inserted respectively through the holes in the arm pad  38 , the holes  46  in the board  44  and the holes  48  in the armrest  39  and then through holes  45  defined on the top surface of the handrails  2   a  and  2   b  to secure an arm pad  38  and an armrest  39  to at least one and preferably both of the handrails. The bolts  50  are secured in place by washers  52  and wing nuts  54 . A grip  56  may optionally be secured to the armrest  39  to provide comfort for a user. The arm pad  38  substantially increases the functionality of the device. 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIGS. 7-9 , another embodiment of the present exercise device is shown and includes support structure  1 ′ having two generally square support posts  58  joined together by a horizontal beam  60  and angled gussets or cross beams  62  that are each connected to one of the posts and extend downwardly to a central portion of the horizontal beam. The ends of the horizontal beam  60  are welded to the posts  58 . Similarly, one end of each of the gussets  62  is respectively welded to the posts  58  and the opposing ends are welded to the horizontal beam  60  as shown in  FIG. 8 . It should be appreciated that the posts  58 , the horizontal beam  60  and the gussets  62  may be connected together by fasteners or any suitable connectors or connection methods. It should also be appreciated that the posts  58 , the horizontal beam  60  and the gussets  62  are made of metal but may also be made with a composite material or any other suitable material or combination of materials. 
         [0031]    At least one, and preferably two spaced collars  64  are connected to and extend laterally from a same side of the posts  58  as shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . Each of the collars  64  defines a throughole configured to receive an end of one of the handrails  2   a,    2   b  such that the end of one of the handrails slides through both collars aligned on one side of the support structure  1 ′ (see  FIG. 9 ). After insertion of the handrails  2   a,    2   b  through the collars  64 , the rear sides of the handrails are each positioned adjacent to and in front of the posts  58 . The inner diameter of the collars  64  is generally larger than an outer diameter of the handrails  2   a,    2   b  so that the handrails can be rotated from a storage position adjacent to the support structure  1 ′ to a use position ( FIG. 9 ) transverse to the support structure or further outwardly if needed. 
         [0032]    In the illustrated embodiment, one or more grips  68  may be attached to the handrails  2   a,    2   b  to provide comfort to a user&#39;s hands during use and to help prevent a user&#39;s hands from slipping on the handrails. The grips  68  may be out of rubber or any suitable non-slip material. 
         [0033]    The bottom ends of each of the handrails  2   a,    2   b  include at least one foot  66  for stabilizing the exercise device on the underlying support surface. Each foot is made out of rubber or other suitable non-slip, durable material. As shown in  FIG. 9 , an additional L-shaped foot support  70  is movably connected to each of the handrails  2   a,    2   b  to provide extra stability and support to the exercise device. The foot supports  70  are movable between a storage position adjacent to the support structure  1 ′ and a use position that is generally transverse to the support structure (see  FIG. 9 ). It should be appreciated that the foot supports  70  may be moved to any suitable position or positions relative to the support structure. Each of the foot supports  70  include at least one foot  66 . 
         [0034]    The present exercise device provides a compact, portable device that allows a user to do a full body workout. There is currently known to be available no single, portable exercise device that allows a person of any fitness level to do a variety of assisted and unassisted push-ups, step-ups and jump-ups, dips, squats, and lunges at various selected levels of difficulty. The arm pad and armrest  38 ,  39  provides convenience and comfort in those exercises which require the user to support part of his body weight with their arms. 
         [0035]    While a particular embodiment of the present portable exercise device has been described herein, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.