Patent Publication Number: US-2016220862-A1

Title: Plank Position Exercising Apparatus

Description:
The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 62/111,313 filed on Feb. 3, 2015. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of exercise equipment. More specifically, the present invention is a piece of equipment that provides assistances to efficiently perform plank circles. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A plank circle, also known as a bucket circle and a pommel circle, is a physical exercise that maximize the core strength of a person from hips to the shoulder. The plank circles are performed by balancing the body on two arms while rotating in place with the head region being the rotating axis, thus circling the entire body around the hands. In order to perform a proper plank circle, the user is required to maintain proper body posture throughout the duration of the exercise. This requires a lot of muscular strength, muscular stamina, and coordination. Currently, there is no exercising apparatus in the fitness industry which helps a user to properly and efficiently perform plank circles. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide an exercising apparatus that allows a user to properly perform plank circles. More specifically, the present invention enables the user to maintain proper body posture, a plank position or a reverse plank position in particular throughout the exercising process. The present invention also enables the user to easily use a full range of body motion to perform plank circles. A base unit, a rotor unit, and a rotary member of the present invention collectively perform as a single apparatus to adopt the different positioning and directions of the user&#39;s body during the performance of plank circles. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing the first rotational axis. 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing the second rotational axis. 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing the plane upon which a cross sectional view is taken shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 5  is a cross section view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention taken along line A-A of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the base unit for the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the support gimbal for the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of the support gimbal for the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the foot rest gimbal for the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a side view of the foot rest gimbal for the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the base unit for the alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the rotor unit for the alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 14  is a side view of the alternative embodiment of the present invention, showing the plane upon which a cross sectional view is taken shown in  FIG. 15 . 
         FIG. 15  is a cross section view of the alternative embodiment of the present invention taken along line A-A of  FIG. 14 . 
     
    
    
     DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION 
     All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. 
     The present invention is a plank position exercising apparatus that can be utilized for a variety of exercises, including, but not limited to, cross-fit exercises, rehabilitation exercises, aerobic exercises, and anaerobic exercise. The present invention is preferably utilized to perform plank circles, also known as bucket circles or pommel circles within the fitness industry, from the plank position and the reverse plank position. The present invention comprises a base unit  1 , a rotor unit  3 , and at least one rotary member  2  as shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 11 . In reference to the general configuration of the present invention, a spherical cavity  11  of the base unit  1  is concentrically positioned with the base unit  1  as the spherical cavity  11  traverses into the base unit  1  from a top surface  13  of the base unit  1 . A plurality of wheel assemblies  12  of the base unit  1  is oppositely positioned from the spherical cavity  11  and mounted onto the base unit  1 . Due to the placement of the plurality of wheel assemblies  12 , the base unit  1  is able to function as a mobile platform within the present invention. The rotor unit  3  is adjacently positioned with the spherical cavity  11  as the rotor unit  3  is engaged with the base unit  1  through the rotary member  2 . The rotor unit  3  is shaped and sized into a spherical form to match the spherical cavity  11  of the base unit  1  so that the rotor unit  3  is able to freely rotate about the rotary member  2  and is able to secure the user&#39;s feet during the exercise. 
     In reference to  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 12 , the base unit  1  functions as the mobile platform of the present invention so that the user is able to perform plank circles. The base unit  1  is preferably molded into a circular design or a triangular design for an aesthetic purpose. However, the base unit  1  is not limited only the circular design or the triangular design and can be molded into any other types geometric design as long as the spherical cavity  11  is positioned concentric with the base unit  1  to evenly distribute the forces applied from the rotor unit  3 . The plurality of wheel assemblies  12  is radially positioned around the spherical cavity  11  to efficiently balance the base unit  1  and provides multi-directional rotation for the base unit  1 . More specifically, each of the plurality of wheel assemblies  12  comprises a wheel frame, a wheel, and a central axis, wherein the wheel is rotatably connected to the wheel frame and the wheel frame is rotatably connected to the base unit  1  about the central axis. As a result, the wheel freely rotates within the wheel frame while the wheel frame rotates 360 degrees to accommodate the rotational direction of the plank circles. 
     In reference to a preferred embodiment of the present invention that is shown in  FIGS. 1-5 , the rotor unit  3  comprises a support gimbal  31 , a foot rest gimbal  32 , a first rotational axis  33 , and a second rotational axis  34 . Additionally, the rotary member  2  comprises a bearing and axle assembly  21 . More specifically, the support gimbal  31  is centrally positioned with the bearing and axle assembly  21  about the first rotational axis  33  and rotatably connected to the base unit  1  through the bearing and axle assembly  21 . As a result, the support gimbal  31  is able to make a 360-degree rotation about the first rotational axis  33 . The foot rest gimbal  32  is concentrically positioned with the support gimbal  31  about the second rotational axis  34  and rotatably connected to the support gimbal  31 . Consequently, the foot rest gimbal  32  is able to perform a 360-degree rotation about the second rotational axis  34 . Since the first rotational axis  33  and the second rotational axis  34  rotate independent of each other, the yaw of the present invention is accomplished through the support gimbal  31  while the pitch of the present invention is accomplished through the foot rest gimbal  32 . 
     In reference to  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 8 , the support gimbal  31  comprises a connecting member  41 , a first pivot arm  42 , and a second pivot arm  43 . More specifically, the connecting member  41  is rotatably connected to the base unit  1  through the bearing and axle assembly  21  and positioned concentric with the first rotational axis  33 . The first pivot arm  42  and the second pivot arm  43  are diametrically opposed of each other along the connecting member  41  and adjacently connected to the connecting member  41 . The first pivot arm  42  and the second pivot arm  43  are identical to each other and function as the securing arms for the foot rest gimbal  32 . 
     In reference to  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10 , the foot rest gimbal  32  comprises a base plate  44 , a lateral wall  45 , a first lateral support  46 , a second lateral support  47 , a layer of formfitting material  48 , and a pair of strap fasteners  49 . The lateral wall  45  is perimetrically connected around the base plate  44  forming the basic structure of the foot rest gimbal  32 . The first lateral support  46  and the second lateral support  47  are diametrically opposed of each other along the base plate  44 . The first lateral support  46  and the second lateral support  47  are adjacently connected to the lateral wall  45  and positioned opposite of the base plate  44 . As a result, the first lateral support  46  and the second lateral support  47  are able to secure the foot rest gimbal  32  to the support gimbal  31 . More specifically, the first lateral support  46  is rotatably connected to the first pivot arm  42  and positioned concentric with the second rotational axis  34 . The second lateral support  47  is rotatably connected to the second pivot arm  43  and positioned concentric with the second rotational axis  34 . Since the first lateral support  46  and the second lateral support  47  are concentrically positioned with the second rotational axis  34 , the foot rest gimbal  32  is able to make a  360 -degree rotation about the second rotational axis  34 . The layer of formfitting material  48  is superimposed over the base plate  44  and functions as a padding for the user&#39;s feet. As a result, the layer of formfitting material  48  provides a comfortable surface for the user&#39;s feet during the performance of plank circles. The layer of formfitting material  48  can additionally comprise a left foot pattern cut and a right foot pattern cut to accommodate both feet of the user. The pair of strap fasteners  49  traverses through the layer of formfitting material  48  and is adjacently connected to the base plate  44 . The pair of strap fasteners  49  allows the user to adjustably secure the user&#39;s feet to the foot rest gimbal  32  to ensure the proper connection between the preferred embodiment and the user&#39;s feet. 
     In reference to an alternative embodiment of the present invention that is shown in  FIGS. 11-15 , the rotor unit  3  comprises a spherical housing  35 , an access opening  37 , and a plurality of formfitting members  36 . Additionally, the rotary member  2  comprises a plurality of ball units  22 . The plurality of ball units  22  is connected to the spherical cavity  11  as each of the plurality of ball units  22  is evenly spaced apart from each other. Due to the placement of the plurality of ball units  22 , the spherical housing  35  is pivotally engaged to the base unit  1  through the plurality of ball units  22 . 
     In reference to  FIG. 15 , each of the plurality of ball units  22  comprises a stator portion  23  and a rotor portion  24 . The rotor portion  24  is rotatably engaged with the stator portion  23  in order to perform within the alternative embodiment. More specifically, the stator portion  23  is connected to the base unit  1  in such a way that the stator portion  23  is positioned flush with the top surface  13  of the base unit  1 . The rotor portion  24  is adjacently positioned with the spherical cavity  11  and externally engaged with the spherical housing  35 . 
     In reference to  FIG. 13 , the spherical housing  35  secures the user&#39;s feet within the alternative embodiment. More specifically, the access opening  37  traverses into the spherical housing  35  so that the user is able to position his or her feet into the spherical housing  35  though the access opening  37 . In order to provide comfort and secure placement, the plurality of formfitting members  36  is internally connected to the spherical housing  35 . Since the spherical housing  35  is pivotally engaged to the base unit  1  through the plurality of ball units  22 , the spherical housing  35  can be removed from the base unit  1  or placed upon the base unit  1  when required. For example, the user first secures his or her feet within the spherical housing  35  and then place the spherical housing  35  within the spherical cavity  11 . Then the user is able to perform plank circles through the alternative embodiment as the spherical housing  35  efficiently rotates upon the rotor portions  24  of the plurality of ball units  22  and retains within the spherical cavity  11  throughout the exercising process. 
     Due to the configuration of the base unit  1 , the rotor unit  3 , and the rotary member  2 , the user can use the full range of body motion to perform plank circles through the preferred embodiment or the alternative embodiment of the present invention as the user is able to easily maintain the plank position through the present invention. 
     Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.