Abstract:
The present invention is directed to an apparatus allowing a user to get an excellent whole-body work out. The invention includes a frame that has a region for completing a pull up type movement, a region for completing a push up style movement and a region for completing a dip style movement as well as variations of movements within. Additionally the assembled unit may act in a similar fashion to a ballet or balance bar to allow completion of a variety of movements and exercises.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention is directed to the field of exercise equipment and methods of using exercise equipment, in particular the invention is directed to exercise equipment allowing multiple exercises using numerous different muscles. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention is directed to an apparatus allowing a user to get an excellent whole-body work out. The invention includes a frame that has a region for completing a pull up type movement, a region for completing a push up style movement, and a region for completing a dip style movement as well as variations of movements. Additionally the assembled unit may act in a similar fashion to a ballet or balance bar to allow completion of a variety of movements and exercises. 
         [0003]    A platform may be added to the push up and dip region to create an elevated platform or step. An upper horizontal bar is optionally equipped with two or more suspended grips. These grips may rotate during use. The raised front bar region allows a user to perform dip and push up exercises and receives a step platform which may have foam rubber grips or other comfortable solutions for the gripping of the bars during exercises. 
         [0004]    The configuration of the machine also allows variations on several of the key movements to allow the exercises to become easier for the user. For example, an alternative to the pull up style movement allows the user to place their buttocks on the floor and execute the pull up motion more easily by virtue of lifting less body. Additionally variations on the design of the parts may allow for other various uses such as support for legs during stretches, the creation of a sling and other variations. The abdominals may also be used with the user&#39;s body in the pull up movement position and raising the legs upward and toward the user&#39;s hands. Variations on this movement are also possible. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    The invention may be more completely understood in connection with the following drawings, in which: 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of an apparatus made in accordance with an implementation of the invention. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of an apparatus made in accordance with an implementation of the invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  shows an alternative perspective view of an apparatus made in accordance with an implementation of the invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  shows an apparatus made in accordance with an implementation of the invention, the apparatus folded for storage or transport. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  shows a side view of an apparatus made in accordance with an implementation of the invention, the apparatus being used for an exercise. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  shows a side view of an apparatus made in accordance with an implementation of the invention, the apparatus being used for an alternative exercise. 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  shows a side view of an apparatus made in accordance with an implementation of the invention, the apparatus being used for an alternative exercise. 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  shows a side view of an apparatus made in accordance with an implementation of the invention, the apparatus being used for an alternative exercise. 
           [0014]      FIG. 9  shows a side view of an apparatus made in accordance with an implementation of the invention, the apparatus being used for an alternative exercise. 
           [0015]      FIG. 10  shows a side view of an apparatus made in accordance with an implementation of the invention, the apparatus being used for an alternative exercise. 
           [0016]      FIG. 11  shows a side view of an apparatus made in accordance with an implementation of the invention, the apparatus being used for an alternative exercise. 
           [0017]      FIG. 12  shows a side view of an apparatus made in accordance with an implementation of the invention, the apparatus being used for an alternative exercise. 
       
    
    
       [0018]    While the invention may be modified in many ways, specifics have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the invention to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives following within the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by the claims. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    Described herein is an exercise device, as shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , which allows in certain embodiments multiple exercises to be completed. The frame  1  of the device is constructed and arranged such that it can be assembled easily and fold to a flat configuration for storage, as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0020]    The device comprises, in certain embodiments, a frame that can vary in tube style and configuration but which has a region for completing a pull up type movement, a region for completing a push up style movement and a region for completing a dip style movement as well as variations of movements within. Additionally the assembled unit may act in a similar fashion to a ballet or balance bar to allow completion of a variety of movements and exercises. 
         [0021]    A platform may be added to the push up and dip region  FIG. 3  to create an elevated platform or step. This step may be used in the execution of a variety of movements including a calf raise style exercise, or a lunge style movement with one foot on the platform and one on the floor. Referring again to  FIG. 3 , the horizontal bar  11  may be used in conjunction with the raised platform  12  for additional exercises and movements. Additionally a softer foam matt may be used when placed along the floor about the machine for greater comfort. 
         [0022]    The upper most horizontal bar  11  is optionally equipped with two or more suspended grips  13 . These grips may rotate during use. The grips may also be adjustable in length. The grips are also allowed to be adjusted along the horizontal bar  11  to achieve different width hand positions. The material and construction of the grips may vary and can be imagined in plastic, steel or nylon webbing and foam as shown. 
         [0023]    The raised front bar region  14  allows a user to perform dip and push up exercises and receives the step platform  12  which may have foam rubber grips  16  or other comfortable solutions for the gripping of the bars during exercises. These foam grips  16  may also be used in conjunction with the step platform in exercise variations. 
         [0024]    The configuration of the machine also allows variations on several of the key movements to allow the exercises to become easier for the user. In a reclining pull up style movement shown in  FIG. 5 , the user may lay on the floor with the shoulders at the corner and arms in line with the upward support bar  15 . The user may grab the pull up grips  13  and perform the movement by pulling their body upward. By virtue of a portion of the users body being placed on the floor the exercise is more easy for the user to execute, allowing greater number of repetitions. In the pull up style movement the user may chose to place their heels on the floor with the body in a straight configuration as depicted in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0025]    An alternative to the pull up style movement allows the user to place their buttocks on the floor and execute the pull up motion more easily by virtue of lifting less body weight  FIG. 6 . Another method would allow the user to place the feet flat on the floor and while holding the pull up grips pull the body upward keeping the knee joint at approximately 90 degrees. During any of the pull up style movements the hands may be rotated to a variety of positions to execute the exercise or rotated during the movements. 
         [0026]    The pull up grips  13  may be used in different exercises from various positions about the machine. Additionally variations on the design of the parts may allow for other various uses such as support for legs during stretches, the creation of a sling and other variations. The abdominals may also be used with the users body in the pull up movement position and raising the legs upward and toward the users hands. Variations on this movement are also possible. 
         [0027]    The raised front bar region  14  may be used for a push up style movement. In a traditional movement the hands are placed on the foam grips  16 , facing downward with the body stretched outward to execute a push up style movement  FIG. 7 . The raised front bar allows the user to execute the movement range closer to the floor achieving a deeper motion. A variation of the movement allows the user to place the hands on the foam grips  16  with the knees in contact with the ground and performing the push up style movement  FIG. 8 . 
         [0028]    This action allows the exercise to become easier by virtue of using less of the users body weight allowing greater frequency of the movement. It is the case that the raised front bar region  14  also allows the push up style movement to become more easy by virtue of creating an angle less than parallel to the floor and so less of the users body weight is being used in the motion. 
         [0029]    The front raised bar region  14  may also be used to complete a dip style movement. With the hands placed on the foam grips  16  in a seated type position and the legs extended outward the user may raise up against their body weight up and down creating a dip style movement  FIG. 9 . Variations on this movement may be conceived as well. By virtue of a portion of the body being in contact with the ground the dip style movement is also easier for the user to execute. 
         [0030]    The front raised bar region  14  may also be varied by the user to create a greater or lesser space between the foam grips  16 . This change may be created dynamically during exercise or adjusted to a static position. Additionally the vertical height of the front raised bar region  14  may be adjusted upward or downward. 
         [0031]    The elevated platform  12  may be used in a range of exercise methods. Shown is use in a lunge style movement with one foot on the floor and the alternate foot placed on the platform  FIG. 10 . The platform  12  may be used as a conventional step platform known to the industry while providing additional enhancements using the multiple gripping regions and the support of the frame for assistance. The secure mounting of elevated platform  12  requires no tools to maintain placement. The platform  12  is attached and removed passively yet allows use of the outer edges of the platform  12  without loss of placement or movement. This secure placement of the elevated platform  12  is the result of the relative geometry between the elevated platform  12 , and the parts that comprise the front raised bar region  14 . 
         [0032]    The apparatus of the invention may be used from various directions. From the rear as shown in  FIG. 11  various movements may be completed such as with a ballet bar or balance bar. 
         [0033]    The horizontal bar  11  is adjustable vertically for use in various movements, as shown in  FIG. 12 . The adjustment and be upward or downward as needed and can be used in conjunction with the other features of the apparatus. Additionally the horizontal bar  11  in product variations may adjust pivot ably to produce a more upright angle of the upward support bar  15 . Additionally machine  17  may allow various gripping positions along the length of the horizontal bar  11  as well as along the length of the upward support bar  15 . 
         [0034]    The raised front bar region  14  may also vary in vertical adjustment as well, allowing various grip positions. Additionally the raised front bar region  14  and the foam grips  16  may adjust inward or outward either dynamically or in a fixed position. 
         [0035]    The height adjustment of the upward support bar  15 . or the front bar region may occur by various methods. The upward support bar  15  is adjusted by means of spring loaded lockable spring pins  18  known to the industry. The vertical adjustment of the upward support bar  15  also occurs within a channel formed in one or both of the mating tubes to maintain rotational alignment. 
         [0036]    The frame design of the machine  17  may vary in material, configuration, number of parts and design while still allowing similar function of the primary exercises as shown in  FIG. 5  through  FIG. 12 . The exercises described in  FIG. 5 through 12  do not define the entirety of the possible exercises. 
         [0037]    The folding of the machine  17 , may occur in various methods. The current embodiment shown in  FIG. 4  uses the locking spring pins  18 , to allow the parts that comprise the machine  17  to fold into a mostly flat position. The method and placement of the folding positions may vary with the same desired result to minimize the size of the machine  17 .