Abstract:
A portable exercise device that allows a person to do Pilates type exercises without using traditional, cumbersome equipment. The device uses a pair of wheel assemblies each attached to each end of a central shaft. The shaft height can be adjusted from the center of each wheel to a lower point closer to the ground. Adjustable cam lockable hand/foot plates are attached to the shaft allowing the user to attach his or her feet to the shaft. Each hand/foot plate assembly includes a rotational plate that allows the hand/foot plate to be positioned at various angles in relation to the shaft. Resistance bands are attached on one side to the shaft and on the opposite side to a resistance source. The resistance source can be the user&#39;s own hands or feet, or a retaining strap attached to the lower portion of a door or wall.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates generally to the field of exercise devices and more specifically to portable exercise devices to facilitate performing Pilates type exercises and other muscle strengthening exercises. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Portable exercise devices are well known. They have evolved from simple hand weights to elaborate electro-mechanical devices which offer various types of resistance elements that the user engages to introduce resistance to various muscle groups. 
         [0003]    One category of portable exercise devices involves the use of one or more wheels attached to a shaft where the user engages his or her hands or feet with the shaft and proceeds to roll the wheels back and forth to engage specific muscle groups. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,595,197 by D Hagstrom et al describes a two wheeled exercise device where the user either advances the wheels with his hands or feet to cause various muscles to be worked. U.S. Pat. No. 6,017,296 by J. Tang describes an exercise wheel assembly that has an internal resistance band to cause the wheel to be harder to push along a floor as distance increases. 
         [0004]    Another category of exercise devices has been developed to help the user perform Pilates type exercises. Pilates is a body conditioning routine that helps build flexibility, muscle strength, and endurance in the legs, abdominals, arms, hips, and back. It puts emphasis on spinal and pelvic alignment, breathing, and developing a strong core or center, and improving coordination and balance. Pilates&#39; system allows for different exercises to be modified in range of difficulty from beginning to advanced. Intensity can be increased over time as the body conditions and adapts to the exercise. Various pieces of equipment have been designed and marketed to facilitate Pilates exercise; however they tend to be expensive, large and heavy assemblies that are usually found in dedicated Pilates exercise studios. The bulky equipment restricts the possibility for a person to practice Pilates exercises in the privacy of their own home unless they are willing to invest in commercial grade equipment and have the available square footage in their home to accommodate the large size of the standard equipment. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    It is important to note that even though the present invention is ideal for doing many Pilates type exercises, it is also ideal for doing a wide variety of other muscle strengthening exercises that might not be considered to be Pilates exercises 
         [0006]    The primary object of the invention is to provide a portable exercise device that allows a person to do Pilates type exercises without the need for a large cumbersome apparatus. 
         [0007]    Another object of the invention is to provide a portable exercise device that can provide either resistance or assistance to the user&#39;s muscles as needed during an exercise routine. 
         [0008]    Another object of the invention is to provide a portable exercise device that allows the user to easily and quickly adjust the height of the foot or hand placement with respect to the ground. 
         [0009]    A further object of the invention is to provide a portable exercise device that can be easily and quickly disassembled for compact storage. 
         [0010]    Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. 
         [0011]    An embodiment disclosed is a portable exercise device comprising: a pair of wheel assemblies, a pair of wheel retaining outer hubs, a shaft, a pair of shaft end plates, a pair of hand grips, a pair of strap retaining rings, a pair of hand/foot retaining plate assemblies, said shaft including threaded portions extending from each end of said shaft, said shaft end plates fixedly attached to each end of said shaft, said wheel assemblies each having wheels approximately fourteen inches in diameter and having an inner stationary portion, a middle bearing portion and an outer rotatable rim and tire portion, said inner stationary wheel portion of said wheel including a slot starting at the center of said wheel and ending approximately four inches from said center of said wheel, said inner stationary wheel portion of said wheel also including apertures for removably retaining posts extending from said shaft end plates, said stationary wheel portion trapped and supported between said shaft end plate and said outer hub, said hand/foot assembly including a shaft retaining collar, a first support plate fixedly attached to said shaft retaining collar, a second rotatable plate positioned above said first plate and a spring biased locking pin assembly to selectively lock said second rotatable plate to said first plate at a desired angle, said hand/foot assembly also including an adjustable foot or hand retaining strap, said hand grips attached to either end of said shaft, and said retaining rings attached to either end of said shaft in close proximity to said hand grips. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment with the shaft in the low position. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an embodiment without the hand/foot plates with the shaft in the center position. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the hand/foot plate assembly. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a side section view of the hand/foot plate assembly. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a front plan view of the wheel assembly. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is an exploded view of the wheel and shaft assembly. 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a side view of a person using an embodiment with a resistance boot. 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a side view of an embodiment in use with a door. 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of an embodiment in use with a door. 
           [0022]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of an alternate shaft assembly with the shaft in the raised position. 
           [0023]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the alternate shaft assembly with the shaft in the lowered position. 
           [0024]      FIG. 12  is a side view of the resistance band retaining member. 
           [0025]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a person using the hand/foot plate when it is parallel to the shaft. 
           [0026]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of a person using an embodiment in a kneeling position. 
           [0027]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view of a person using an embodiment in a plank position. 
           [0028]      FIG. 16  is a perspective view of a person using an embodiment with arms in a bent position. 
           [0029]      FIG. 17  is a perspective view of a person using an embodiment with arms in a straightened position. 
           [0030]      FIG. 18  is a perspective view of a person providing his own resistance by having his feet inserted in the hand/foot plate assemblies and ready to pull on the resistance bands. 
           [0031]      FIG. 19  is a perspective view of a person providing his own resistance with resistance bands in the pulled position. 
           [0032]      FIG. 20  is a perspective view of a person using a support staff. 
           [0033]      FIG. 21  is a partial perspective view of a person&#39;s foot while retained under an alternate foot holding strap. 
           [0034]      FIG. 22  is a partial perspective view of a person&#39;s foot while the heel is retained by the alternate foot holding strap. 
           [0035]      FIG. 23  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment with cross bar in the up position. 
           [0036]      FIG. 24  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment with cross bar in the low position. 
           [0037]      FIG. 25  is an exploded view of the alternate embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0038]    Detailed descriptions of the various embodiments are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner. 
         [0039]    Referring now to  FIG. 1  we see a perspective view of an embodiment apparatus  100 . In this view the shaft  6  is in the low position. Wheel assemblies  2 ,  4  are attached to each end of the shaft by threaded posts  90  as shown in  FIG. 6 . Wheel assemblies  2 ,  4  are approximately fourteen inches in diameter and include a stationary inner member  18  and a rotatable outer ring  24  that is supported by a ball bearing  60  inner ring  58  as shown in the plan view of the wheel assembly in  FIG. 5 . The outer ring  24  is capped by a rubber tire  26 . The configuration shown allows the user to choose whether to place the shaft  6  in the center position as shown in  FIG. 2 , or the low position as shown in  FIG. 1 . The low position is helpful when doing certain exercises such as the one shown in  FIG. 13 . As may be readily understood from the drawings, the word “stationary” as used herein means that the inner member  18  may be generally rotationally stationary during operation with respect to the floor, while rotating with respect to the outer ring  24  of the wheel assembly. 
         [0040]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the hand/foot plate assembly  8 . The lower part of the assembly includes a disk plate  38  attached to a shaft collar  44 . The shaft collar  44  includes a cam type tightening member  46  so that the user can slide the assembly  8  to the left or right and then quickly lock it in place via the cam lock  46 . The disk plate  38  includes a central threaded post  40  which engages a central aperture  110 . Cap nut  44  engages thread  40  to rotatably retain the top hand/foot plate  30  in place. Spring post  42  can engage one of the radial apertures  32  in the hand/foot plate to lock it in at the desired angle with respect to the shaft  6 . A standard hook and loop strap  28  is attached to the hand/foot plate in a standard way so that it can retain a person&#39;s foot or hand as needed. The strap  28  can be used to hold the top of the foot in certain exercise applications, or can be used as a modified cup shape to hold the heel of the foot in other exercise applications. The curved under portion  48  provides a comfortable grip for the user&#39;s fingers when the hand/foot plate assembly is being used for an exercise that requires the hands to be placed on the plate  36 . Counterweight  34  helps make the weight of the forward and rear portions of the hand/foot assembly balance out so that the entire hand/foot plate assembly tends to remain in a horizontal position with respect to the ground. This helps the user when sliding his or her foot into the hand/foot assembly. However, it should be noted that the present invention may be used without the foot/hand assembly  8  as shown in  FIGS. 23, 24, 25 . 
         [0041]      FIG. 4  is a side section view of the hand/foot assembly as it is mounted on shaft  6 . A groove  6 A running the length of shaft  6  can engage a tab  44 A on the inner surface of shaft collar  44 . This configuration helps keep the two hand/foot plate assemblies  8 ,  10  in the same plane with respect to the ground. Post  42  is radially held by lever arm  50  which is pinned  52  to the disk plate  38 . Spring  54  provides positive bias for the post  42 . To change the rotational angle of top plate  36 , the user presses on lever arm  50  to disengage post  42 , and then rotates the top plate  36  to the desired angle before releasing lever arm  50 . 
         [0042]      FIG. 5  is a front plan view of the wheel assembly  4 . The stationary portion of the wheel  18  includes a center plate with a four inch slot  19  starting from the center of the wheel to and ending approximately three inches from the ground plane. Circular dotted line  19  indicates the location of the inner and outer wheel clamping members  14 ,  17  while the shaft  6  in the upper position. Circular dotted line  19 A indicates the location of the inner and outer wheel clamping members  14 ,  17  when the shaft  6  is in the lower position. The remainder of stationary portion  18  forms the support for an inner race that retains ball bearings  60 . An outer race  58  is supported by the opposite side of the ball bearings  58 . A rubber tire portion  26  is attached to the outer surface of the outer race  58 . Bearing restraining ring plates  23 ,  24  shown in  FIG. 6  capture the bearings  60  so that they remain in contact with the outer perimeter of stationary portion  18  and the inside perimeter of rotating race  58 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 6  is an exploded view of the wheel and shaft assembly. The hand/foot plates have been removed for clarity purposes. The user can remove wheel assembly  4  by unscrewing outer clamping hub  14 . Hub  14  includes a centrally located threaded aperture. The threads match those of protruding shaft threads  90 . The user can also partially unscrew hub  14  to allow posts  92 ,  94  to disengage from holes  106 ,  108  to allow the shaft  6  to be repositioned to the lower setting  102 ,  104 . Optional springs  96 ,  98  help the wheel assembly  4  push away from inner clamp member  17  as the hub  14  is being unscrewed thereby causing posts  92 ,  94  to disengage from holes  106 ,  108 . Resistance band retaining rings  12 ,  13  are clearly seen mounted to shaft  6  next to hand grips  20 ,  22 . The opposing apertures of the rings  12 ,  13  allow a total of four resistance bands to be attached, two to ring  12  and two to ring  13 , so that bands can be stretched in opposing directions for certain exercises. 
         [0044]      FIG. 7  is a side view of a person wearing a specially designed pair of booties  60  that include a resistance band retaining ring  62  firmly attached. Resistance band  64  is made of elastic material such as latex rubber. The band is attached on one side to band retaining ring  12  mounted to shaft  6  and on the other side to ring  62  mounted to bootie  60 . As the user  68  stretches out into the plank position, the band  64  provides resistance to arm, leg and abdomen muscles. As the user  68  returns to the kneeling position, the band  64  provides assistance to help return to that position. Alternately, the resistance band may be attached to a person via a standard strap, however there is a danger that the strap may ride up on the leg of the user during certain exercises. 
         [0045]      FIG. 8  shows a side view of another method of retaining resistance band  64 . A strap  74  is attached to padded block  72  on one side of a door  70  and shaft  76  on the opposite side of the door  70 . An attachment clip  78  connects the resistance band  64  from the shaft  76  to the shaft  6  of the wheel assembly  100 .  FIG. 9  shows the same configuration in a perspective view. Padded restraining blocks  72 ,  73  are shown in dotted line behind door  70 . Resistance bands  64 ,  65  are attached to shaft  76  via rings  78 ,  79 . It should be noted that an additional attachment ring can be located at the center of the shaft  76  for doing additional exercises that require a central resistance band location. 
         [0046]      FIG. 10  shows a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the high-low shaft assembly. Shaft  206  is slidably retained by side tracks  210 ,  211 . Lower cross brace  208  firmly holds side tracks  210 ,  211  in position. Outwardly protruding threaded shaft  212  engages central wheel bearing  216 . and accepts wheel assembly  204  which is held in place by locking hub  214 . A similar mechanism holds wheel  202 . Spring biased pins  222 ,  224  can be disengaged by pulling in on arms  218 ,  220  allowing the shaft  206  to slide down to the lower position as shown in  FIG. 11 . 
         [0047]      FIG. 12  is a front plan view of resistance band retaining ring  12 . The central aperture slides over shaft  6 . The outer apertures  13 ,  15  can removably retain a standard Carabiner-type fitting which is in turn attached to a resistance band. 
         [0048]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a person  68  using the apparatus  100  with the hand/foot plate rotated so that it is parallel to the shaft  6 , which is helpful when doing slide out leg exercises. As shown, the shaft is in the center or upper position, but as has been described above and is shown in  FIG. 24 , the shaft may be lowered by the user towards the ground to improve stability and posture while exercising. 
         [0049]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of a person  68  getting ready to stretch forward. Resistance bands  64 ,  65  are positioned with the door restraining assembly described in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . 
         [0050]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view of a person  68  after they have stretched out causing bands  64 ,  65  to offer resistance on the forward stretch and assistance on the return to the kneeling position. 
         [0051]      FIGS. 16 and 17  are perspective views of a person  69  using the booties  60  described in  FIG. 7  so that as the person  69  extends her arms the resistance bands  64 ,  65  can work the arm muscles. 
         [0052]      FIGS. 18 and 19  are perspective views of a person  68  using the resistance bands  64 ,  65  of the apparatus  100  to exercise leg muscles by rolling the wheels  2 ,  4  forward and backward. 
         [0053]      FIG. 20  shows the user  68  employing a support staff  86  to help support the user  68  while doing an exercise by a forward and backward rolling of the apparatus  100 . The support staff  86  is made of two sections  82 ,  84  that are screwed, or otherwise held together. The two halves  82 ,  84  can be unscrewed for compact storage. 
         [0054]      FIG. 21  is a partial perspective view of a person&#39;s leg and foot  304  being held on platform  36  by alternate design strap  302 . In this use, the foot  304  is retained under the strap  302 . Standard hook and loop fasteners hold each end  306 ,  308  of the strap  302  together so that the user can adjust the length of the strap  302 . 
         [0055]      FIG. 22  is a partial perspective view of a person&#39;s leg  304  where the heel is cradled in strap  300  which is desirable in performing certain exercises. 
         [0056]    The present invention can be used in different positions and configurations in conjunction with resistance bands to work every muscle in the body. A support pole or poles can be used by a person to help stabilize them while they are inserting their feet into the hand/foot plate assembly straps. Obviously, a version of the invention can be envisioned where the shaft is stationary at the center point of the wheel and cannot be adjusted to a lower position. Additionally, there are other standard ways to attach the wheels to the shaft. Also, the wheels may be a larger or smaller diameter than the ones described above. Finally, because the wheel assemblies can be easily removed and replaced, the entire invention can be stored in a relatively small container for storage or shipment. 
         [0057]      FIG. 23  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the invention  400 . In this embodiment, a central wheel portion  428  is trapped between an outer plate  412  and an inner plate  414 . This present description assumes that inner and outer plates  412 ,  414  are identical in design for both wheels. A spring plunger post assembly  406  includes a post that engages a hole,  430  shown in  FIG. 24 . The plunger post  406  keeps the cross shaft  438  in an upper, centrally located position. When a user wishes to change the bar  438  to the lower position, he or she pulls on plunger knob  406  which disengages the plunger post from hole  430 , allowing the inner and outer plates  412 ,  414  to slide down to the lower position as shown in  FIG. 24  where post plunger  406  engages hole  440  as shown in  FIG. 25 . Slots  402 ,  404  engage with bolts  408 ,  410  and nuts  415 ,  416  to help keep the inner and outer plates  412 ,  414  in proper orientation with respect to central wheel portion  428 . When the user wishes to raise the bar  438  back to the upper position, he or she pulls on plunger knob  406  and lifts slide plates  412 ,  414  and attached cross bar  438  back to the up position. 
         [0058]      FIG. 25  is an exploded view of the alternate embodiment  400  of the present invention. To remove the wheels  450 ,  460  from the cross bar  438 , the user pulls retaining pins  420 ,  422  from apertures  424 ,  418 . This allows cross shaft collar  426  and its counterpart on wheel  450  to be released from shaft  438 . 
         [0059]    As may be seen from the drawings of various embodiments, the dimensions of the apparatus, including the sizes of the inner and outer wheel assembly structures, the shaft length and diameter, and the shaft end structures encompass a large range so as to be suitable for portability and the dimensions of a person using the apparatus. 
         [0060]    While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.